The O.C.

About The O.C.

The O.C., short for Orange County, is an American teen drama that originally aired on the Fox Network from August 5, 2003, to February 22, 2007. It was created by Josh Schwartz and is a modern and sunlit take on the coming-of-age drama. The series narrative follows troubled teenager Ryan Atwood, who is adopted from the gritty chord of Chino by the wealthy lawyer, Sandy Cohen and his wife Kirsten in their idyllic suburb of Newport Beach. Ryan forms a close bond with the Cohen's son, Seth, and gradually become involved with the community's privileged youth.

Making / Production

The show was created by Josh Schwartz, who also served as the showrunner alongside Bob DeLaurentis. The series was filmed in Manhattan Beach, California, despite taking place in Newport Beach. Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins directed a few episodes while Tony Wharmby and Ian Toynton directed the majority of the series.

Actors

• Benjamin McKenzie as Ryan Atwood - A troubled teenager from Chino who is taken in by the philanthropic lawyer Sandy Cohen. McKenzie portrayed this character with quiet strength, capturing Ryan's journey from a troubled past to a brighter future.
• Adam Brody as Seth Cohen - Brody played the awkward, comic-loving son of the Cohen family whom Ryan forms a brotherly bond with. His witty banter and quirky personality made him a fan favorite.
• Mischa Barton as Marissa Cooper - Barton played the girl-next-door who struggles with alcoholism and her parents' turbulent marriage. Her character's tumultuous storyline captured audiences' attention throughout the series.
• Rachel Bilson as Summer Roberts - Initially introduced as a shallow friend of Marissa's, Rachel Bilson's character Summer evolved throughout the series to become a strong, independent woman. Bilson's performance was highly praised.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The show originally ran for four seasons with a total of 92 episodes.
• All the opening credits are accompanied by the Phantom Planet song "California".
• Bonnie Somerville, an actress who played Rachel Hoffman in the series, is a cousin of real-life New York City firefighter Damien Meehan, who died on the 101st floor on 9/11.
• Series creator Josh Schwartz is the youngest person in network history to create a network series.

Awards

The O.C. was accoladed with many awards throughout its four-season run. In 2004, it won the Teen Choice Award for Choice Breakout TV Show and Choice TV Drama. Notably, Mischa Barton was awarded with the Choice TV Actress Drama in 2005. It also scored numerous nominations in various categories throughout its airing period.

Quotes

• "Welcome to the O.C., bitch!" - Luke Ward
• "I'm a big believer in 'everything happens for a reason.' You know, fate." - Summer Roberts
• "You know what they say. The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." - Seth Cohen

Music & Soundtrack

• "California" by Phantom Planet - Used as the opening theme for the series.
• "Dice" by Finley Quaye - The song that plays during the New Year's countdown in the first season.
• "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley - Used in the emotional final moments of the second season.