The O.C.
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The O.C. (O.C. stands for Orange County) is an American television dramedy/soap opera program broadcast on the Fox Network. The series, created by Josh Schwartz, debuted on August 5, 2003, with the tagline, "The best new show of the fall is coming this summer." This fall, the show's third season will air in the USA on Thursday nights at 8pm/7c, the same timeslot as it held in the second season. The series has been noted for its music selections, which has helped some previously little-known bands gain a certain level of fame (exposure at the least), so much so that to date, the producers have released four compilation albums featuring highlighted performers. The show has been criticized by local Orange County residents who feel that the show misrepresents their community.
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Plot
Main article: The O.C. episode guide
The show revolves around two upper-class families in the southern California city of Newport Beach, in Orange County. The story follows Ryan Atwood, a troubled teenage boy from a dysfunctional family in Chino, California, who is transplanted to a high-class society focused on wealth and reputations. He is taken in under the care of Sandy Cohen, a successful lawyer who himself rose from humble roots; and his wife Kirsten, daughter of enormously-wealthy Orange County real estate mogul, Caleb Nichol. Ryan becomes good friends with the Cohens' geeky misfit son Seth, and falls in love with beautiful girl next door, Marissa Cooper.
Unlike other family-friendly teen shows, The O.C. takes on the gritty issues of the rich and wealthy, such as marital problems, drugs and alcohol, and familial relationships. As Seth remarks to Ryan (and later Ryan to Seth) as they enter an extravagant Newport party, "welcome to the dark side."
The show also often makes fun of its soap opera elements and often includes self-referential jokes. Notable examples include comments about Benjamin McKenzie's likeness to Russell Crowe, Peter Gallagher's eyebrows, and Mischa Barton's weight - things often cited by fans - in addition to the show featuring its own soap opera entitled The Valley, which is similar to The O.C. An episode of the first season entitled "The L.A." introduced us to some of the actors from that show. Additionally, many of the characters make fun of their stereotypes, such as when Ryan escapes a conversation by saying, "I'm going to go brood silently".
The Main Cast
- Peter Gallagher plays Sandy Cohen, a former public defender who brings an outsider to his home in Newport Beach, California.
- Kelly Rowan plays Kirsten Cohen, Sandy's wife who works as a CFO for a real estate development company.
- Benjamin McKenzie plays Ryan Atwood, an outsider from Chino, California who is brought to live with the Cohen family in Newport.
- Mischa Barton plays Marissa Cooper, a girl who seems normal on the outside but has many problems on the inside (which include, from time to time, drinking, dealing with her dysfunctional family, her romantic relationships).
- Adam Brody plays Seth Cohen, the only child of the Sandy & Kirsten, a stereotypical nerd who is known for his quick quips and popular culture references.
- Melinda Clarke plays Julie Cooper (formerly Julie Cooper-Nichol), who was married to Jimmy Cooper in the beginning of the series, but she divorced him after he lost tons of money on the stock market. She then married Caleb Nichol but their marriage ended when Caleb died of a heart attack. Currently, she and Jimmy are trying to start their relationship up again.
- Rachel Bilson plays Summer Roberts, the love interest of Seth (& later Zach), and spent a significant time fighting to try and choose between them.
- Tate Donovan plays Jimmy Cooper, Marissa (and sister Kaitlyn)'s father/Julie's husband as a regular cast member episodes 1-34, when his character left for Maui. However, his return in the season 2 finale episode has created the expectation he will return as a regular for season three.
Former Regulars
- Chris Carmack played Luke Ward, Marissa's ex-boyfriend and regular cast member episodes 2-24.
- Alan Dale played Caleb Nichol, Kirsten's Father and eventually Julie Cooper's husband. His character was recurring throughout the first season until he became a regular during the second season. Additionally, his is the first main character to be killed off when he had a heart attack.
Notable Recurring Cast
- Bradley Stryker played Trey Atwood for two episodes as Ryan's older brother, only to be replaced for the second season.
- Samaire Armstrong played Anna Stern, a female version of Seth who initially appeared for one episode but was brought back at fan request for several episodes of the first season.
- Bonnie Somerville played Rachel, a colleague of Sandy's, for several episodes of the first season.
- Rosalind Chao played Dr. Kim, the dean at the local high school.
- Navi Rawat plays Theresa, an old girlfriend of Ryan's.
- Taylor Handley played Oliver Trask, a teenager who, after meeting Marissa in a therapy clinic, begins to infatuate over her.
- Amanda Righetti plays Hailey Nichol, Kirsten's sister and love interest for Jimmy, who eventually left for Japan to pursue a job in the fashion industry.
- Shailene Woodley played Kaitlyn Cooper, Marissa's rarely seen younger sister.
- Eric Balfour played Eddie, Theresa's abusive fiancee.
- Linda Lavin plays Sophie Cohen, Sandy's mother, often referred to as "The Nana".
- Michael Nouri played Dr. Neil Roberts, Summer's father.
The following cast members appeared in season 2:
- Michael Cassidy plays Zach Stephens, who became Summer's boyfriend after the departure of Seth, but she eventually broke up with him for Seth. He started to get cozy with Summer again after she caught Seth licking whipped cream of a girl chest on TV. He eventually decided to let Seth & Summer be together.
- Nicholas Gonzalez played D.J., a gardener, one of Marissa's love interests in the beginning of the season.
- Shannon Lucio played Lindsay Wheeler, a fellow student and Ryan's love interest, who currently lives with her mother, Renee Wheeler, in Chicago, Illinois.
- Olivia Wilde played Alex Kelly, who worked at the Bait Shop, who is Seth's, and then Marissa's, love interest.
- Kathleen York played Renee Wheeler, Lindsay's mother, who had an affair with Caleb Nichol.
- Kim Delaney played Rebecca Bloom, an old flame of Sandy's who started to come between his marriage with Kirsten.
- Billy Campbell played Carter Buckley, the former editor of Newport Living Magazine, he left after he got a new job and came close to having a sexual relationship with Kirsten.
- Johnny Messner played Lance Baldwin, an opportunistic man from Julie Cooper's past.
- Logan Marshall-Green plays Trey Atwood, Ryan's older brother who is released from jail. At the end of season two Trey is shot by Marissa, whether he is alive or dead remains to be seen.
- Marguerite Moreau played Reed Carlson, the Comic Book Executive
- Nikki Griffin plays Jess, the sexy cocaine-addicted blonde to whom Trey was attracted.
Season 1
The first season ran from 2003 to 2004 and comprised 27 episodes, including a seven-episode "season zero" that ran in the summer of 2003, several months before the next twenty. Notable plots included:
- Ryan's introduction and integration by Sandy into Orange County society, and his growing relationship with Marissa Cooper.
- The destruction of Marissa's relationship with her boyfriend Luke, and his subsequent change in personality.
- Seth's love for Marissa's best friend, Summer Roberts, becoming a strange relationship.
- The marriage breakdown of Marissa's parents, Jimmy and Julie, as his fraud was made public.
- Sandy's jealousy over Kirsten and Jimmy's old relationship.
- Sandy's changing of jobs from public defender to private attorney, which soon saw him disillusioned with the industry.
- Sandy and Jimmy eventually going into business with a restaurant, only to be bought out by Caleb.
- Ryan dealing with the manipulative Oliver, who tried to take Marissa away.
- The manipulations of Kirsten's unscrupulous father Caleb.
- Marissa dealing with a substance abuse problem of drinking and drugs.
- Seth having to choose between Summer and his good friend Anna.
- Julie's short-lived relationship with Luke, and her subsequent engagement to Caleb (which many suspected was simply for money).
- Ryan's ex-girlfriend and good friend Theresa, from Chino, who came to stay for a while and whose abusive fiancee Eddie forced her to flee.
- Sandy's overbearing mother, Sofia, (nicknamed 'the Nana') coming to stay and announcing that she was dying of cancer.
- Luke's discovery of his father's homosexuality and eventual moving away from Orange County (and the series).
- Kirsten's sister Hailey, notorious for not doing anything with her life, coming to stay and developing a relationship with Jimmy.
In the season finale, many events came to a head: Caleb and Julie were married in a surprisingly uneventful ceremony, however Caleb later revealed to Sandy that he was on the verge of bankruptcy; Marissa moved in with Julie and Caleb, but had redeveloped her drinking problem; Jimmy and Sandy's restaurant seemed likely never to open; Seth and Summer had problems after her father did not take a liking to him; Ryan discovered Theresa was pregnant, possibly by him, and decided to move back to Chino to support her; and Seth ran away on the Summer Breeze, his sailboat, distraught by Ryan's departure.
Season 2
The second season, November 2004 - May 2005, contained 24 episodes and once again ended with a cliffhanger.
- Theresa lying to Ryan, telling him that she had a miscarriage.
- Seth's refusal to leave Portland, Oregon where he was staying with Luke and his father after running away in the season one finale.
- Seth and Ryan's eventual return to Newport Beach.
- The introduction of Summer's new boyfriend, Zach Stevens, a "WASP version of Seth."
- Marissa's new boyfriend, D.J., the Cooper-Nichol family's then Hispanic yard worker, who breaks up with Marissa after realizing that they were going out just to anger Julie.
- Ryan's relationship with Lindsay, fellow student at Harbor High School on an academic scholarship, which complicates under the realization that Lindsay is actually Seth's aunt.
- Caleb's arrest on bribery and related charges, ending with his acquittal after former employee, Renee Wheeler, testifies about their past affair.
- Caleb's resignation as CEO of the Newport Group, and corresponding appointment of Julie as CEO and Kirsten as CFO.
- The introduction of Alexandria 'Alex' Kelly, a 17-year-old who works at The Bait Shop nightclub with Seth, and both of them having an ensuing relationship.
- The discovery of Caleb's affair with Renee Wheeler, with whom he has a child, Lindsay, and attempts to develop a relationship with, culminating in his offer to adopt her.
- Jimmy Cooper's having an affair with Julie, who leaves for Maui after realizing that she and Caleb should try their marriage.
- Alex's ex-girlfriend arriving in town, and Seth finding out that Alex is bisexual.
- Julie's ego-driven project of "Newport Living", a lifestyle magazine.
- Zach, Seth (and Summer) creating a comic book (and then graphic novel) based on the lives of their friends.
- Alex having a passionate, but short-lived, lesbian relationship with Marissa, and her low-key departure from Newport Beach.
- Caleb suffering a minor heart attack, and his subsequent desire to become more-family oriented.
- The arrival and departure of Rebecca Bloom, Sandy's previous flame, wanting to clear her name for a crime that occurred years ago (and the death of her father, Sandy's mentor).
- Lindsay being confirmed by a DNA test to be Caleb's daughter, only to leave for Chicago with her mother.
- Summer breaking up with Zach after realizing she still had feelings for Seth, with whom she gets back together.
- The arrival and departure of Lance Baldwin, a man from Julie Cooper's past, who blackmails Julie with an 80's pornographic videotape (The Porn Identity) starring herself and Lance, which debuted at the Newport Living launch.
- The arrival and departure of Carter Buckley, the new magazine editor for Newport Living, and his sexual tension with Kirsten.
- Trey Atwood's release from jail, temporary lodge with the Cohens, and move into Alex's old apartment.
- Trey's arrest (and subsequent acquittal) on charges related to a local bad girl, Jess, overdosing on drugs and nearly drowning at his 21st birthday party, with whom he begins to have a sexual relationship.
- The deterioration of Caleb and Julie's marriage, and his threatening to divorce her.
- Trey (while under the influence of drugs) attempting to rape Marissa.
- Kirsten being involved in a car crash and her addiction to alcohol.
- Seth meeting George Lucas and Zach taking Summer to the prom. Eventually, Zach meets Lucas and Seth goes after Summer.
- Caleb's death from a heart attack.
The Season Finale opens with Caleb's funeral, for which Hailey and Jimmy return. After Kirsten gets drunk yet again, Sandy decides to send her to a rehabilitation clinic. Initially unwilling to go, Kirsten is convinced by the intervention of her whole family. Jess and Trey become involved in a drug deal at the Bait Shop. Ryan finds out about Trey's attempted rape of Marissa, and confronts him. They fight, and Marissa arrives as Trey is in the process of strangling Ryan. She shoots Trey in the back, and it is unsure if he lives or dies.
Show trivia and miscellany
- Due to labor union salary rules about filming outside of Los Angeles County, The O.C. is actually filmed in Hermosa Beach (40 miles away from the actual Newport Beach) to reduce costs.
- Though the show isn't shot on location, characters frequently mention popular Orange County hangouts like South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island. Newport Harbor High School is also a real high school as are other schools mentioned on the show, such as Mater Dei High School and UCI. Sage Hill School, an elite private school in the hills of Newport Coast, is also rumored to be inspiration for the show. The TV show's Balboa Wetlands appear to be based upon real-life Orange County's Bolsa Chica Wetlands.
- Before the show aired, Orange County residents referred to their county by its full name. At first, the name of the show was met with scorn, but since then, some people call it "The O.C." as a joke.
- The show is called "The O.C.", and not "Orange County" as originally planned, because a movie of that name was released shortly before the show premiered.
- Orange County Supervisor Chris Norby went as far as to propose changing the name of Orange County's John Wayne Airport to The O.C. Airport, John Wayne Field but backed down the next day after his office received negative phone calls and emails from angry county residents.
- The trailer for Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith aired during the March 10th episode of the second season, precursored by a scene with OC star Adam Brody (acting as Seth).
Episode list
Season 1
- Pilot
- The Model Home
- The Gamble
- The Debut
- The Outsider
- The Girlfriend
- The Escape
- The Rescue
- The Heights
- The Perfect Couple
- The Homecoming
- The Secret
- The Best Chrismukkah Ever
- The Countdown
- The Third Wheel
- The Links
- The Rivals
- The Truth
- The Heartbreak
- The Telenovela
- The Goodbye Girl
- The L.A.
- The Nana
- The Proposal
- The Shower
- The Strip
- The Ties That Bind
Season 2
- The Distance
- The Way We Were
- The New Kids On The Block
- The New Era
- The SnO.C.
- The Chrismukkah that Almost Wasn't
- The Family Ties
- The Power of Love
- The Ex-Factor
- The Accomplice
- The Second Chance
- The Lonely Hearts Club
- The Test
- The Rainy Day Women
- The Mallpisode
- The Blaze of Glory
- The Brothers Grim
- The Risky Business
- The Rager
- The O.C. Confidential
- The Return of the Nana
- The Showdown
- The O.Sea
- The Dearly Beloved
Season 3
Fox has announced that the series will be renewed for a third season.
It is rumored that season 3 will pick up where 2 left off starting in August 2005. Season 3 will be similar to "Season 0" in that it will be aired from August to whenever Fox's coverage of the World Series begins.
Specials
The O.C. has had several television specials, detailing behind-the-scenes information, interviews, and bloopers.
- The O.C. - Obsess Completely (First Aired 9-16-04)
- Welcome to The O.C. - A Day In The Life (First Aired 9-23-04)
Around The World
The O.C. is as of May 2005 aired in the following countries and channels:
- Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela - Warner Channel
- Australia - Ten Network, although it began on the Nine Network, before Ten purchased the rights to the series.
- Austria - ORF 1
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Canada - CTV
- Denmark - TVDanmark
- Finland - MTV3
- Germany - Pro Sieben
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Republic of Ireland - TG4
- Israel - yes Weekend
- Italy
- Malaysia - 8TV
- Netherlands - NET 5
- New Zealand - TVNZ/TV2
- Norway - TV 3 Norge
- Philippines - ETC Entertainment Central; RPN 9
- Portugal - RTP 1
- Serbia and Montenegro - TVPink
- Singapore - CH 5
- South Africa - Go
- Spain - TVE 1, Canal Fox
- Sweden - Kanal 5
- Switzerland - SF2
- Turkey - CNBC-e
- UK - Channel 4 & E4
- USA - Fox & ABC
External links
- FOX's The O.C. website (http://www.fox.com/oc/)
- TV Tome "The O.C." Guide (http://www.tvtome.com/OC/)
- Television Without Pity >> The O.C. (http://televisionwithoutpity.com/show.cgi?show=112)
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