Perhaps as a primer for his character on "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23," James Van Der Beek played a fictional version of himself on "After Lately" (Sun., 11 p.m. EST on E!). The partially improvised show features parodies of all of its characters, but Van Der Beek has come to make a name for himself lately by playing essentially himself.
He's becoming famous for being himself in the same way that Adam West and David Hasselhoff have before him. It's something he seems to have embraced, and can make incredibly entertaining.
When he discovered Chris Franjola was wearing the same shirt at him, he said, "If you had a show named 'Franjola's Creek,' you can wear the shirt."
Chelsea Handler solved the dilemma by throwing food all over Franjola's shirt, making the decision for Van Der Beek, but it's pretty clear he wasnt going to change. The hits kept coming, when Handler asked him if he'd spoken to Katie Holmes lately. "F**k no!" he said emphatically. "Hate that b***h!"
If this is the kind of Van Der Beek fans can expect to see in his supporting role on "Apartment 23," he could well become the breakout star of that show in the same way Neil Patrick Harris is on "How I Met Your Mother."
Catch all the backstage antics on "After Lately" every Sunday night at 11 p.m. EST on E!
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