The O.C. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The O.C. |
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Intertitle used in Seasons 3 and 4
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| Genre | Teen drama |
| Created by | Josh Schwartz |
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| Opening theme | "California" by Phantom Planet |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 92 (list of episodes) |
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| Production location(s) | California |
| Running time | 42 minutes |
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| Release | |
| Original network | Fox |
| Original release | August 5, 2003 – February 22, 2007 |
The O.C. is an American teen drama television series. It was created by Josh Schwartz. The show aired on the Fox network in the United States. It ran for four seasons, from August 5, 2003, to February 22, 2007. "O.C." is a short way of saying Orange County. This is a real place in Southern California where the show is set.
The story is about Ryan Atwood. He is a smart young man from a difficult background. He gets adopted by the kind and wealthy Sandy and Kirsten Cohen. Ryan and his new brother Seth face life in the fancy world of Newport Beach. Seth is a bit shy but very witty. Ryan and Seth spend a lot of time with their friends. These include Marissa Cooper, Summer Roberts, and Taylor Townsend. The show explores the differences between the caring Cohen family and the more focused-on-money community they live in. It mixes serious drama with funny moments.
The series started with high viewership. It was one of the most popular new dramas in the 2003–2004 TV season. Many people called it a big pop culture event. Critics generally liked the show. However, fewer people watched it over time. This led to its cancellation in early 2007. Even a petition with over 700,000 signatures could not save it.
The O.C. was shown in more than fifty countries around the world. You can also find the series on DVD. It is available on iTunes and streaming services like Hulu and Max.
Contents
What is The O.C. About?
Season 1: Ryan's New Life
Season 1 begins with Ryan Atwood moving to Newport Beach. Sandy and Kirsten Cohen take him in after his mother asks him to leave. A big part of this season is Ryan getting used to his new life. He goes from a difficult past to a wealthy society.
He quickly becomes good friends with Seth Cohen. Ryan also starts a romantic relationship with Marissa Cooper. Even though they come from different worlds, Ryan finds he shares similar problems with his new friends. These include finding out who they are and dealing with family issues. Ryan and Marissa's relationship grows as he supports her through her parents' divorce. Ryan becomes very protective of Marissa. This shows he is a more stable person than he first seemed.
Other stories include Seth becoming more outgoing. He goes from being a loner to having two romantic interests, Summer and Anna. New characters also arrive. These include Oliver Trask, a troubled teen who befriends Marissa. Theresa Diaz, Ryan's old friend from his hometown, also appears. Meanwhile, Sandy Cohen often disagrees with Caleb Nichol. Caleb is Kirsten's rich father.
Season 2: New Challenges and Relationships
Season 2 continues to follow the complicated romantic lives of Ryan and Marissa. It also shows Seth and Summer, and Sandy and Kirsten. Josh Schwartz, the show's creator, said this season would be about Ryan's future. It would also slow down the stories and help characters grow.
For example, Ryan takes an advanced physics class. He has tension with another student, Lindsay. Lindsay thinks Ryan will not be a good lab partner. Ryan stands up for himself and convinces her to work together. They later start a romantic relationship. This creates new problems for the "Cooper-Nichol" family. A place called The Bait Shop becomes a popular spot for the teens.
Many new characters are introduced. These include Lindsay Gardner, Zach Stevens, and Alex Kelly. Ryan's brother, Trey Atwood, gets out of jail. He threatens to bring Ryan's old life back. Sandy and Kirsten also face new problems. Season 2 ends with Marissa shooting Trey after Ryan confronts him.
Season 3: Big Changes and Sadness
Season 3 brings many big changes to relationships. Marissa is expelled from the Harbor School. The Cooper family loses money and has to move to a trailer park. Julie Cooper-Nichol, once very rich, struggles to provide for her daughters. Marissa's life becomes difficult after her friend Johnny dies.
Kirsten starts a business with a dishonest person. The other characters think about college. Seth and Summer compete for a spot at Brown University. Sandy's good values are tested when someone from his past returns. He takes over Caleb's old job. He tries to build more low-income housing in Newport.
Ryan also tries to fix his relationships with his mother and Theresa Diaz. He considers going to college, encouraged by Sandy and Kirsten. However, Ryan's life changes quickly. In the season 3 finale, Ryan drives Marissa to the airport. They are run off the road by Kevin Volchok, Marissa's ex-boyfriend. Ryan pulls Marissa from the burning car. He watches her die in his arms.
Season 4: Moving Forward and Finding Themselves
The fourth and final season starts five months after Marissa's death. Ryan is sad and alone. He wants revenge on Volchok. With help from Julie, they find Volchok in Mexico. They turn him in to the authorities. The love of the Cohen family and the friendship of Taylor Townsend help Ryan heal.
Meanwhile, Seth and Summer deal with a long-distance relationship. Summer leaves for college. The first part of the season is about the characters accepting Marissa's death. The second part focuses on them "finding themselves." This final season has surprises. These include a new addition to the Cohen family. There is also a visit to a different world where Sandy is mayor. A natural disaster also hits Newport.
Meet the Characters
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- Peter Gallagher plays Sandy Cohen. He is a lawyer who helps people. He takes in Ryan Atwood, even though his wife Kirsten is unsure. Sandy is Kirsten's husband and Seth's father. He is also Ryan's legal guardian. He lives in a rich area, but he has open-minded views. This sometimes causes problems with the community.
- Kelly Rowan plays Kirsten Cohen. She used to be a chief financial officer. She is Sandy's wife and Seth's mother. Before meeting Sandy, she dated Jimmy Cooper. She remains friends with him. Kirsten later starts a dating service with Julie. She becomes a mother of two by the end of the show. Her views are more traditional than her husband's.
- Ben McKenzie plays Ryan Atwood. He is a troubled teenager from Chino. He comes to the wealthy area of Newport Beach, California. His mother, Dawn Atwood, kicks him out. Sandy Cohen, his lawyer, takes him in. He quickly connects with the Cohen family, especially Seth. He also connects with Marissa Cooper, the girl next door. Ryan slowly finds his place in this new world. He finishes high school and goes to university.
- Mischa Barton plays Marissa Cooper (seasons 1–3). She is Summer's best friend and Ryan's on-and-off girlfriend. Marissa is shown as a "spoiled girl who adjusts to being poor." Her relationships with her parents, boyfriends, and friends are often difficult. Mischa Barton left the show at the end of season three. Her character died in a car accident.
- Adam Brody plays Seth Cohen. He is Sandy and Kirsten Cohen's son. He is known for his quick jokes, love for comic books, and pop culture knowledge. Seth is also the love interest of Summer Roberts. He had a crush on her since third grade. Seth has been called a "Jewish nerd into obscure emo bands."
- Chris Carmack plays Luke Ward (season 1, special guest star season 2). He is Marissa's first boyfriend. Luke is at first the main rival in the series. But he later becomes more of a funny character. Luke leaves Newport Beach to live with his father in Portland at the end of the first season.
- Tate Donovan plays Jimmy Cooper (seasons 1–2, recurring season 3, special guest star season 4). He is Marissa and Kaitlin's father and Julie's ex-husband. He gets into trouble for stealing money. He has to deal with the effects on his reputation and personal life. Jimmy is often seen as a "lovable dad who struggles with money."
- Melinda Clarke plays Julie Cooper. She is the mother of Kaitlin Cooper and Marissa Cooper. At the start of the show, she is married to Jimmy Cooper. She is often seen as clever, self-centered, and not very deep. However, she also shows a more caring side many times.
- Rachel Bilson plays Summer Roberts. She is a popular socialite. She is Seth's girlfriend and Marissa's best friend. Rachel Bilson's character was only supposed to be in a few episodes. But she quickly became popular. She ended up being a main character for the rest of the series. Summer is first seen as a "snotty, superficial rich girl." But she shows hidden depth when she falls for Seth. She is the daughter of Dr. Neil Roberts. Summer surprises people by being much smarter than expected. She gets into Brown University, beating out many students. She also becomes an activist for animals.
- Alan Dale plays Caleb Nichol (season 2, recurring season 1). He is Kirsten's businessman father. He later marries Julie Cooper. His character is in the first season. He becomes a regular in the second season. But he dies suddenly from a heart attack in the season 2 finale.
- Autumn Reeser plays Taylor Townsend (season 4, recurring season 3). She is introduced in season 3 as a very organized student who wants everything to be perfect. Taylor starts as a challenging character. She eventually becomes the second main female character in the fourth season. Critics praised Autumn Reeser's acting.
- Willa Holland plays Kaitlin Cooper (season 4, recurring seasons 1 and 3). The role was first played by Shailene Woodley in season 1. Kaitlin spends much of the series at boarding school. She returns in season 3 (played by Holland). She becomes a regular character in season 4. She is the daughter of Jimmy and Julie and Marissa's sister. Her personality is more like her mother's.
How The O.C. Was Made
Creating the Show
In 2002, creator Josh Schwartz met with Joseph "McG" McGinty Nichol and Stephanie Savage. They worked for a company called Wonderland Sound and Vision. They wanted to make a TV show set in McG's hometown of Newport Beach. Schwartz had met people from Newport Beach when he was at the University of Southern California. He came back to them with his own ideas for characters.
Schwartz first suggested a story about a romance between Lucy Muñoz and Ryan Atwood. Lucy's father worked on the wealthy Atwood family's estate. Warner Bros. Television was interested. But they asked for changes because other shows had similar stories. Schwartz and Savage changed the idea. They described it as The Breakfast Club set in a rich, gated community. Fox liked the idea in August 2002. They planned to launch the show in the summer. Doug Liman was chosen to direct the first episode. The show was confirmed for the 2003–2004 TV schedule in May. It first aired on August 5, 2003.
Schwartz later said that The O.C. was like a "trojan horse". He said it looked like a fancy evening soap opera. But inside, it had characters inspired by shows like Freaks and Geeks. Schwartz said The O.C. was based on his college experiences. He was a "Jewish kid from the East Coast" surrounded by "blonde girls who only wanted to date" water-polo players. He felt like an outsider. He also said the Cohen family in season one was like his own family. He added that the relationship between Sandy and Seth was like him and his dad. Schwartz believed that viewers liked seeing the wealthy world. But they truly wished for a family like the Cohens. A family where parents were cool, grounded, and loving.
Schwartz wrote the first episode script in his boxer shorts. He said he had no idea what would happen. The script attracted most of the main actors. Peter Gallagher, a film star, said the script was amazing. He thought it was the right story for that time. It was about a family in a community that did not share their values. But they still helped an outsider kid. He felt it showed a good kind of America. It also had a sense of humor.
Where The O.C. Was Filmed
Even though the show is set in Newport Beach, much of it was filmed in Manhattan Beach. This is in Los Angeles County. Many beach scenes were filmed in Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, and Torrance. Places in Los Angeles County were used for many different locations. These included Ryan's hometown of Chino.
For the first episode, "Premiere", the Cohen family home was filmed in Malibu. A fake pool house was built for the pilot episode. It was taken down after filming. The Cohens' home was rebuilt on a soundstage in Manhattan Beach for the rest of the series. The pool was only 4 feet deep. This meant the actors had to act on their knees. Outside shots of the original house were used throughout the show.
The Harbor School is the local school the teens attend. It is based on Corona del Mar High School in Newport. The filming location was Mount St. Mary's College. This is a private women's college in Brentwood, Los Angeles. The University of California, Los Angeles was used for Berkeley. The University of Southern California was used for Brown University. The FAA First Federal Credit Union building in Hawthorne was used for the Newport Group in season two. Wayfarers Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes was used three times. It was used twice for weddings and once for a funeral. The Cohens' original home in Berkeley was filmed in South Pasadena.
The restaurant called the Crab Shack on the show is actually a real place called The Crab Cooker. Julie mentions the restaurant by its real name in a Season 3 episode. Scenes were also filmed at the Wattles Mansion in Hollywood.
The Cohen Family Home on Set
The Cohen household is a made-up "McMansion". It was built by Caleb Nichol and The Newport Group. The house is based on two homes in Malibu, California. The outside shots of the front of the home and the driveway were filmed at a house in Malibu. This was used for all four seasons. The inside, backyard, and infinity pool were filmed for the first episode at another Malibu home. The pool house was built just for the pilot episode.
After the show was picked up, the inside, backyard, and pool house were rebuilt at Raleigh Studios in Manhattan Beach. This was to save money. In some early season 2 episodes, the Cohens were doing major renovations. This was probably written in because the new set did not look exactly like the original Malibu home. The kitchen counter changed from dark gray granite to light beige marble. The sink moved, and the backsplash tiles changed. In the pilot, Ryan walked out of the pool house to see the ocean view. There were houses, streets, and land between the house and the ocean. After the set was made, there was only an ocean and sky backdrop. It looked like the house was on a cliff. Also, the fake grass and studio lights looked less real than in the pilot.
Music in The O.C.
Alexandra Patsavas was the music supervisor for The O.C.. She worked with creator Josh Schwartz to choose the music. Schwartz said he always wanted music to be like a character on the show. The O.C. made indie rock a main focus. It also used it in its marketing. Six soundtracks were released during the series.
In the second season, a fictional new club called The Bait Shop was introduced. Bands like the Walkmen, the Killers, Modest Mouse, and Death Cab for Cutie performed there. The show also played many new songs from artists like the Beastie Boys, U2, and Gwen Stefani.
Many bands became more well-known because of the show. Their music sales increased. For example, Rooney saw a "200 percent increase in sales" after their appearance. Even artists whose songs were just featured benefited. Imogen Heap became "a household name." However, not all bands wanted to be on the show. Some worried it would make them seem like "sell-outs."
Generally, the music was well-liked. Ben Spier from Entertainment Weekly called the show a "mixtaper's dream." Rolling Stone said the soundtrack was why people kept watching.
Special Themes in The O.C.
The series explores themes like family disagreements and social differences. It also looks at feelings of being an outsider, hope, and loneliness. Other topics include environmentalism and political activism. These ideas are shown through both funny and dramatic stories.
Chrismukkah: A Special Holiday
In the series, Seth Cohen has a Jewish father and a Christian mother. To combine their religions, Seth says he "created Chrismukkah" when he was six years old. The show had special Chrismukkah episodes every season. Seth said it was "eight days of presents, followed by one day of many presents." Chrismukkah was even mentioned in the TV show Grey's Anatomy.
In December 2011, a website called The A.V. Club reviewed all four Chrismukkah episodes. The writer said that Chrismukkah is about traditional Christmas togetherness. It is also about people coming together to create something special.
Funny Self-References
Several episodes feature a fake show called The Valley. This show is like The O.C. within the show itself. The Valley also has a fake reality TV version called Sherman Oaks: The Real Valley. This makes Seth ask, "Why watch fake characters when you can watch real people in made-up situations?" Season 2 also shows Seth Cohen creating a comic book called Atomic County. This is used to make fun of the show itself.
The Valley and Atomic County are used to comment on parts of The O.C.. For example, they talk about how fans complain about too many love triangles. They also joke about older actors playing teenagers. And they comment on whether the show would get another season. Some characters even act like they know they are in a TV show. One episode in season two has Seth saying, "we tried some new things," but "last year was just better." This was a nod to fans who thought season two was not as good as season one.
USA Today said that The O.C.'s "sarcasm and self-parody" made it interesting. Writer Ken Barnes said The O.C. took "meta-TV" to a high level with The Valley. This allowed the creators to make fun of how critics and the public saw The O.C..
Where and How The O.C. Was Shown
First Airing and International Broadcast
The first season premiered on August 5, 2003, at 9:00 p.m. (EDT) on Fox. It was also shown at the same time in Canada on CTV. The show also aired in other countries. In the United Kingdom, the first episode aired on March 7, 2004, on Channel 4. Later episodes were shown on E4 a week earlier. In Australia, the first episode was on the Nine Network. But the channel later dropped the show. Network Ten then picked it up. By the fourth season, episodes aired within days of the U.S. broadcast.
It also aired in countries where English is not the main language. In Brazil, it was called O.C. – Um Estranho no Paraíso. In France, it aired as Newport Beach. In Germany, it was on ProSieben. In Russia, it was called OC – Lonely Hearts.
Why The O.C. Ended
Because of low viewership, there were rumors that the show would not have a fifth season. In June 2006, Fox confirmed that they had ordered only 16 episodes. But they said there was a chance for more. In September 2006, Rachel Bilson said she felt "the show is over." Co-star Kelly Rowan said many cast members knew the show was ending.
On January 3, 2007, Fox announced that The O.C. was canceled. Josh Schwartz said it felt like the best time to end the show. He added that it was good to end "creatively on top." Fox started a campaign called Save The O.C. on their website. It got over 740,000 signatures. There were rumors that The CW might save the show. But The CW decided not to.
Where to Watch The O.C. Now
The O.C. was shown on Soapnet from 2007 to 2012 in the United States. It started airing on Pop in 2016. The show became available for streaming on The CW Seed in 2015 and Hulu in 2016. In 2020, it moved from Hulu to Max.
DVD and Digital Releases
All four seasons are available on DVD.
| Season | DVD | Release date | |
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| Season 1 | The O.C. – The Complete First Season | October 26, 2004 | |
| Season 2 | The O.C. – The Complete Second Season | August 23, 2005 | |
| Season 3 | The O.C. – The Complete Third Season | October 24, 2006 | |
| Season 4 | The O.C. – The Complete Fourth and Final Season | May 22, 2007 | |
The O.C. The Complete Series was released on November 27, 2007, in Canada and the United States. It included the first season in widescreen. The complete series was also released as a Region 2 DVD on November 19, 2007. This version did not have the remastered first season. The box set also included a note from Josh Schwartz and other bonus items.
You can also buy and download the complete series from some iTunes Stores. The seasons are also available as video on demand from Amazon Video in the US.
Other The O.C. Creations
The characters and setting of The O.C. have appeared in other official products. These include books and online content.
Books About The O.C.
Eight novelizations (books based on the show) have been released by Scholastic Inc.. They are:
- The Outsider
- The Misfit
- The Way Back
- Spring Break
- Summer of Summer
- Bait & Switch
- 'Twas the Night Before Chrismukkah
- Cohen!
Most of these books were written by Cory Martin and Aury Wallington. An official biography book called Meet The O.C. Superstars was also published.
Several unofficial books about the show have also been published.
- O.C. Undercover includes biographies of the cast, fashion tips, and information about trends.
- Stop Being a Hater and Learn to Love The O.C. talks about why the show is good.
International Versions of The O.C.
| Country | Local title | Channel | Dates aired |
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| Thailand | City of Light: The O.C. Thailand | One31 | March 8, 2016 – May 17, 2016 |
| Turkey | Medcezir ('tide') | Star TV | September 13, 2013 – June 12, 2015 |
Turkish Adaptation
A Turkish version, called Medcezir ('tide'), was made in 2013. It aired on Star TV. The first season had 38 episodes. It stars young Turkish actors Çağatay Ulusoy and Serenay Sarıkaya.
Thai Adaptation
A Thai version, called City of Light: The O.C. Thailand, was made in 2016. It aired on One 31. The first season had 21 episodes. It stars young Thai actors Chaiyapol Julien Poupart and Marie Broenner.
Licensed Products
Many products based on the series have been released. These include clothes, toys, and games.
- Clothes like T-shirts, jumpers, and flip-flops were sold.
- Other items included keychains and notepads.
- An official bath set was released in 2004.
- AMC Beauty released perfumes called "The O.C. for Him" and "The O.C. for Her" in October 2006.
- LeSportsac released The O.C. collection of bags in August 2006.
Screenlife Games and Mattel launched a The O.C. version of Scene It?. This is a DVD trivia game based on the first three seasons. Cardinal Games released The OC Game, another trivia board game. In 2006, Gameloft released a mobile game based on the show.
A partnership with Sephora included one of their beauty editors writing on the official OC Insider site. This site and Starbrand.tv also had guides to fashion from the show.
Spin-off Ideas
The O.C. led to several spin-off ideas. Some were developed, others were not. Atomic County was a spin-off based on the cartoon characters in Seth's comic book. It was created by The O.C. writer John Stephens and artist Eric Wight.
In 2005, Schwartz announced he was writing a spin-off. It would follow Marissa's younger sister Kaitlin at boarding school. It was planned for January 2006, but it never aired.
There were also plans to connect the show to Schwartz's other series, Gossip Girl. He wanted to tie in younger versions of characters from both shows.
The O.C. Musical took place on August 30, 2015, in Los Angeles. Tickets sold out quickly. The show's cast and producers supported this musical. Autumn Reeser played Julie Cooper and briefly reprised her role as Taylor Townsend. Creator Josh Schwartz and stars Rachel Bilson, Melinda Clarke, and Kelly Rowan also reunited at the musical. The cast included Greer Grammer as Summer Roberts and Brendan Robinson as Seth Cohen.
See also
In Spanish: The O. C. para niños
