Breakout hit 'The O.C.' shows adults as real people
| • | Plots make 'The O.C.' a cut above most TV dramas |
By Ann Oldenburg
USA Today
Things are as crazy as ever in the fictional version of Orange County, Calif.
Photo by Fox Studio
Last week's episode of Fox's hit show "The O.C." (8 p.m. Wednesdays) was called "The Proposal." The first of the last four new episodes, it featured Caleb Nichol, patriarch of a rich Newport Beach family, proposing to Julie Cooper, who's half his age. Tonight, Julie's wedding shower is sure to provide some sudsy sparkle.
Peter Gallagher and Kelly Rowan play the parents in Fox hit series "The O.C." The show has appealed to teens and their parents with emotional characters, humor, wit and even fistfights.
The April 28 episode will feature a bachelor party trip to Las Vegas and new music from the Beastie Boys. The season finale, Caleb and Julie's wedding, will air May 5.
Focusing on the adult characters in "The O.C." and not just on the young hot stars is one key way the popular teen soap has separated itself from the pack and built a broader audience.
It's the No. 1 drama among 12- to 17-year-olds, and No. 1 new drama in the hard-to-tap young-adult 18-34 age bracket. It's also second to "Las Vegas" among new dramas in the wider 18-49 age group.
Photo by Fox Studio
The adult lure is story lines like the one facing the Kirsten Cohen character: Caleb, her father, is marrying her friend's ex-wife. "Kirsten's going through a lot of emotional stuff," says Kelly Rowan, 36, who plays Kirsten.
Benjamin McKenzie and Mischa Barton play the show's central teen couple.
That's the hallmark of the show. Emotional stuff, along with fistfights and humor.
"It's got all the wonderful teeny-bop drama, but then also the dialogue is witty and funny," says Brittany Kent, 26, author of "O.C. Undercover: An Unofficial Guide to the Stars and Styles of The O.C.," due out May 5 (St. Martin's, $11.95). "The parents are actually interesting to watch — and attractive. If you think about it, they're probably the first teen parents with an interesting plot line."
Instead of being embarrassments or dorks or even nonexistent, as they often are portrayed on teen shows, these parents play a role in everything that goes on.
Kirsten is rich, smart and stylish. Her husband, Sandy Cohen, played by Peter Gallagher, is scruffy, endearing and a champion of underdogs. They live in a fabulous house with a pool overlooking the ocean. Their relationship works. "They fight, yet you know they love each other," says Rowan. "That's a real marriage."
As for the finale, Rowan says, "Let's just say a lot happens in the episode. There could be Kleenex involved."
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| Five reasons to watch
1. The dialogue. When "The O.C." is on a roll, no show except "The Gilmore Girls" matches its rapid-fire rants and clever asides. Seth's snide deprecation (self- and otherwise) is the main attraction, but Summer (Rachel Bilson) is a fount of sizzling sarcasm. 2. The acting. Adam Brody as Seth deftly portrays a smart-kid observer type who's willing to act the fool to achieve cool. The rest of the cast, except for one-dimensional Mischa Barton (Marissa), are at least serviceable with flashes of subtlety and depth. 3. The scenery. Posh Newport Beach is showcased at its most gorgeous and envy-inspiring: The Cohens' house may not survive global warming, but it's got a view to die for. 4. The Valley. A fictional teen soap used by "O.C." creator Josh Schwartz to mock the living daylights out of his own show. Endless self-referential bits made this arguably the standout episode (it aired March 24). Once it's on DVD, it's sure to be pored over like an ancient biblical manuscript (the "O.C." Scrolls?). 5. The time slot. Now that "The West Wing" is a pale shadow of its Aaron Sorkin-era self and "Angel" is on its way out, you have no viable alternatives. And no, fetishes for "Extreme Makeover" and "The King of Queens" are no excuse. |
