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We here at Decider conclude our week-long celebration of James Van Der Beek — aptly titled James Van Der Week — by celebrating the 41st birthday of the man himself. Beek burst onto the scene with his portrayal of school bully Rick Sandford in the 1995 comedy Angus. Since then, the actor’s played an array of characters as he gracefully transformed from incorrigible young thespian to doting pappa and full-fledged adult who wants you to KEEP IT DOWN OVER THERE.
Today we look back at Beek’s best role to date. Varsity Blues? A rewatchable classic, but sorry, incomplete pass. Dawson’s Creek? An iconic staple of the teen drama genre, but *Paula Cole voice* you don’t gotta wait for this article to be over to know right now that will not be the answer. The actor’s best role is his portrayal of, you guessed it, James Van Der Beek in ABC’s canceled way too soon gem Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23.
Before ABC pivoted to family comedies, they lodged an impressive slate of sitcoms (with admittedly questionable titles) including Happy Endings, Suburgatory, Selfie, Cougar Town, Trophy Wife, and, of course, Don’t Trust The B. The sharp comedy centered around a New York City party girl (a pre-Jessica Jones Krysten Ritter) who incites an unrelenting whirlwind of drama for her new roommate, June (the perpetually underrated Dreama Walker), and her best friend, James Van Der Beek. Portraying an over-the-top version of himself, the fictionalized Beek is a narcissist desperately trying to revitalize his acting career by appearing on shows like Dancing with the Stars (ABC synergy, baby!) and concocting promotional schemes like “Beek Jeans.”
“Beek Jeans. Put your cheeks in a Beek.”
The comedy exuded a sardonic charm and had tons of fun with the salty vs. sweet dynamic between Ritter and Walker, but the Beek stole the show. The actor had previously shown glimpses of his formidable comedic talents, most notably in a scene-stealing performance in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (“you wouldn’t last a day on the Creek“) and his James Van Der Memes project with Funny or Die. His decision to embrace his infamous “Dawson crying meme” not only showcased Beek’s comedy chops, but it also led to a meeting with Don’t Trust the B creator Nahnatchka Khan.
Beek fully committed to the parody of himself. Not in a “wink-wink, I’m in on the joke” way, but in an earnest, hilarious manner. The actor’s lampooning of Dawson’s Creek and celebrity culture in general on the series is enhanced by the fact that, in his own way, he was also a really supportive friend to Ritter’s caustic Chloe. It’s a delicate balance to nail, but the actor did so with oodles, that’s right oodles, of charisma.
If you haven’t had a chance to watch the show, it’s only 26 episodes and is now streaming on Hulu.
Maybe you don’t agree that Don’t Trust the B is peak Beek. You may prefer Dawson’s Creek Beek or might be on the Rules of Attraction train. That’s fine. If 41 years have taught us anything, it’s that there’s no wrong answer when it comes to the question of James Van Der Beek.
