ABC's newest comedy, "Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23," would be pretty hilarious even without the incredible self-parody from James Van Der Beek, but The Beek from the Creek is a revelation here. He is an unexpected joy in flannel.

In "Don't Trust the B" (I don't have to explain to you what the "B" stands for, do I?), a naive woman moves from the Midwest to New York City to start a promising career in the financial sector, but when everything falls apart (pretty much as soon as she arrives in the city), June (Dreama Walker) can either retreat in defeat or stay and conquer the big city on her own.

June decides to stay and conquer, and the first step in starting her new life is finding an apartment and a roommate. Unfortunately, she falls in BFF-love with Chloe (Krysten Ritter), whose scam is collecting "first and last month plus security" from trusting roommates and then turning full-blown "B" to scare them off. And I'm not talking about leaving the milk on the counter and playing the stereo too loud. Chloe's tactics are evil and over-the-top and hilarious.

I didn't read the novel that "Jodi Picoult's Salem Falls" (8 tonight, Lifetime) is based upon, but I have a feeling fans of the book will be disappointed. Unless they were expecting a film that's stilted and clumsy.

Jack McBride (James Van Der Beek) is on his way out of town. A teacher and soccer coach, he got in trouble at his all-girl's school because he's cute and teen girls get crushes. Now he's out of work and a registered sex offender. An accident on the road gets him stuck in Salem Falls, where he's befriended by Addie (Sarah Carter), who is really kind, owns the local diner and has some emotional issues, plus a father who enjoys getting drunk and cutting up.

Also residing in the town is rich girl Gillian (AJ Michalka) and her two friends. The girls practice Wicca, and when Gillian spots Jack, she swears he's the one who has come to take her away to California.

The Case for Christmas (8pm, Hallmark) - An ambitious lawyer (Dean Cain) defends Kris Kringle (George Buza), who's being sued by a selfish businessman for not bringing him the toys he wanted as a child. The case causes Christmas spirit to sink to an all-time low, putting the future of the holiday in jeopardy. Also stars Rachel Blanchard and Barry Flatman. (Personal note: I do not like the looks of that Santa.)

Jodi Picoult's Salem Falls (8pm, Lifetime) - A former teacher (James Van Der Beek) living in a small New England town is accused by some local teen girls of sexual misconduct, which brings his secret past to light. Based on a novel by best-selling author Jodi Picoult. Read the review here.

Walking the Amazon (8pm, Discovery) - A two-hour special following two explorers as they travel the length of the Amazon River. Along the way they encounter dangerous wildlife, drug traffickers and wary villagers.

Pit Bulls and Parolees (10pm, Animal Planet) - Two parolees are sent to Texas to rescue a pair of pit bulls that were injured in an encounter with a porcupine.

Saturday Night Live (11:29pm, NBC) - Jason Segal ("How I Met Your Mother," "The Muppet Movie") hosts, and Florence and the Machine is the music guest.

Austin City Limits Presents: Americana Music Festival 2011 (Midnight, UNC-TV) - Performers include Gregg Allman, the Civil Wars, Justin Townes Earle, Jessica Lea, Mayfield, Robert Plant, and Lucinda Williams.

There's lots of pretty faces on the new, tonight at 8, "Vampire Diaries", (it's the CW, after all) but it's the name behind the show that matters most.

That name is Kevin Williamson, the show's co-creator and one of its main writers, who is from Oriental (near New Bern), the son of a fisherman.