If ya ain't a hip-hop fan, you woulda hated the post-Grammys OutKast party in the Hollywood Hills. Ready to shake things up, were was that cozy trio from The O.C....Mischa Barton, Benjamin McKenzie and Tate Donovan, all of whom strolled into the joint like they leased it, putting on the gleeful-social-puss parade, even the usually expressionless Ben. Tate dressed and acted like he was younger than he really is (a crime!) and was hanging out with, er, kiddos he could have had himself--in every possible way, mind you.
At another party, hardly audible out on the superpacked dance floor was our cutie-tamootie...B. McKenzie, who gave barely a booty-wiggle (sorry, gals 'n' gents) and just did the hand-in-the-pocket, "I'm a white guy over here sippin' my Red Stripe" bit. At first, Mischa and Ben wouldn't leave each other for a second, touching each other on the hips, abiding by the junior-high flirting handbook. But soon, they split off--only briefly!--probably to suppress rumors of coupledom. ____________________
The O.C. Let's just say it: We love Luke! Not only did he see through crazy Oliver, but it's looking like he's about to get his Ashton on with Julie Cooper. Now, if they had let Ollie shoot himself, this would have been a perfect episode, since that way, we'd be spared any special-guest returns. But he lives on off-screen and we'll have to settle for that. Thankfully, Ryan isn't going to just settle for Marissa's weepy apologies. Nope, Coop. You are in the doghouse with our troublemaker from Chino. Better hope his ex, Theresa, doesn't find out... heeheee. ____________________
How to Save 'The O.C.' You know when you go to high school and college reunions and they always ask you what your proudest accomplishment to date is? I already have my answer - from the moment I watched the pilot episode of "The O.C.," I knew it would be a hit. But lately I've been a little worried about my friends in Orange County. By becoming a hit so quickly and being picked up for like a gazillion episodes (many more than the typical 22 for network dramas), the show has had to scramble to come up with ways to fill the hour. It was smart to make Luke the Steve Sanders of the group and turn him into a nice guy. But the Oliver story line was way too out there. I mean, I think a tawdry romance between Luke and Julie could be interesting. It's so "All My Children" when Tad was sleeping with both his girlfriend Liza and her mother (I told you I used to watch the soaps). But I have three primary concerns about "The O.C." Please allow me to share them with you.
1. Marissa has got to stop being so stupid: It's really hard to root for someone who seems like she can't even dress herself in the morning. 2. "The O.C." is seriously underpopulated: We need more randy teenagers roaming around if we are going to make the romantic permutations interesting. And here's a crazy thought I want to throw out there. I know it's Newport Beach, but perhaps they could actually cast someone who isn't white. 3. No more Oliver story lines: A good soap opera always needs outlandish plots. But this was too much, too soon, and the show seemed very ill-equipped to deal with a topic as serious as teen suicide and depression. Adam Brody's public service announcement at the end of the episode seemed so out of place. It's moments like these that I can look out past the Cohen home and see the sharks circling.
Are you worried about "The O.C.?" Talk about it on the TV Gal Message Board.
Seth Cohen Quote of the Week "Life is gritty enough? We live in Newport Beach." Seth to his father, after Sandy said he preferred the fun comic books because "life is gritty enough." ____________________
Buzz and friends visit the OC set. Read, listen and soon see all accounts on his glorious day in OC Land ____________________
Check out this website to play dress-up with the ill-fated pair of Seth and Anna. Become their fashion designer and create a unique style that only these two can share. Best if played after applying Bengay and before a round of Jenga.
posted by Jen @ 7:17 AM |
Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Fox's email says to TUNE IN TONIGHT! ____________________
On tonight's episode of The O.C., the clichéd plot device commonly known as Oliver Trask makes a dramatic exit from the hit soap — and not a moment too soon. Fox's first-year dramedy flirted with some serious jump-the-shark territory with its introduction of the cookie-cutter villain, whose only purpose in life was to throw a kink in Marissa and Ryan's blossoming romance. It was a glaring misstep for a show that seems to pride itself on being the thinking person's 90210. To commemorate Oliver's hotly anticipated swan song, we rang up series creator (and recent Writers Guild of America Award nominee) Josh Schwartz to find out what the heck he was thinking.
TV Guide Online: Dude, what were you thinking? Love the show. Hate Oliver. The guy's a cartoon. Josh Schwartz: That's fair. But I make the argument that his actions are coming from a place of loneliness. He's not like [John] Malkovich in In the Line of Fire, where he's plotting to kill the president. He's a lonely kid, and he's desperate and sad, and in [tonight's] episode, you'll really see that loneliness. And I don't know if that will humanize him enough for you, but for me, certainly, it provided human motivation. And it wasn't just psychosis for the sake of psychosis. That being said, every episode is a learning experience.
TVGO: Do you get why viewers are upset? Schwartz: Yeah. I've been told that [shows] don't go down a path like this until Season 2. We don't ever want to do the same kind of episode twice. We don't ever want to have things get stale. And I think the alternative, had we kept everything sunny and happy and rosy, people would have gotten real bored. I think in the long run, people will feel like this was done very smartly.
TVGO: Was his exit tonight a knee-jerk response to the backlash? Schwartz: No. It was always designed as a six-episode arc where we would bring in a character whose circumstances coming into this world were not unlike Ryan's. Everything was a little perverted. Instead of being poor, he was extremely wealthy. Instead of being a good guy, this was a guy with an agenda and a little bit, ummm... not well. He was a lonely, lonely kid who was really going to get in the way and disrupt the relationship between Ryan and Marissa and significantly demonstrate just how tenuous Ryan's relationship is with all of these people. He's still a stranger in this world. And just because he believes something doesn't mean everyone else is going to trust him. And it's gonna kick off the next arc that's gonna take us through the end of the season that's really going to have him question his whole life in this town.
TVGO: The buzz is, you weren't a big fan of Oliver yourself — and that Fox foisted him on you to goose ratings. Schwartz: Oh, that's not true. I think this story has been great for us. It's been a huge learning experience for me, just in terms of the amount of controversy this character has raised. But for everyone who has said what you said — that it's beneath us — there's people who say, "I love this character. He's shaking up the world. He's giving us someone that we love to hate. He's so delicious. He's really challenging Ryan."
TVGO: So, Oliver wasn't Fox's idea? Schwartz: No. The idea is actually based on a guy a friend of mine dated who faked having cancer to [hang on to her]. That kind of desperation and loneliness was really fascinating to me, and that's what inspired the Oliver character. As far as the network is concerned, they are constantly in favor of introducing new characters that challenge and mess up some of the relationships we have... This was the first time where we kicked up some real dust in terms of splitting people's opinions in a dramatic way. But I think that's good for a show; it gives people something to talk about. I'm actually real proud of it and excited that we did it.
TVGO: Do you think it hurt other characters' credibility? I'm sorry, but Marissa looked like a moron throughout this whole ordeal. Schwartz: You have to remember that the audience was given a lot of information that these characters do not have. The audience has seen a lot of things — and that was a choice that we made. We could have really hit the ball and made it like you don't know what you're watching. I don't know that that isn't too soft of a way to go with the story. So, we made the conscious decision to let the audience see a lot of stuff that certainly Seth wasn't seeing and Marissa wasn't seeing as well.
TVGO: Still, I don't understand why Seth would believe a total stranger over Ryan. Schwartz: It's not that he believes a total stranger over Ryan. In the last episode, Seth is saying to him that either the guy committed suicide or he faked it — either way, that's pretty crazy. But look, buddy, you're on thin ice all of the time. In your best interests, just try and embrace this guy and let it go. His siding with Oliver has less to do with him believing Oliver over Ryan than it does with him wanting to protect Ryan from his own jealous, baser instincts.
TVGO: You said this was a learning experience. What have you learned? Schwartz: [Long pause] I don't know. I guess if you're going to introduce something controversial, just be willing to ride it out.
What side of the Oliver debate do you fall on? Cast your vote in today's poll.
TV Guide Online: Entertainment JOEY SCOOP: The sleuths over at FilmJerk.com have obtained some casting scoop on Matt LeBlanc's upcoming Friends spin-off, Joey. His newest friends will include a hairdressing sister, a nephew described as a socially awkward Seth Cohen-type and a love interest/next-door neighbor named Allison. As previously reported, Joey will be set in Los Angeles, where Tribbs moves to pursue his acting career. Man, is he gonna be confused when he finds out Days of Our Lives tapes out there and not in New York City. ____________________
From klutzybabe73: The O.C.! Can I have Seth? If you can claw him out of my kung-fu grip. By the way, the Joey peeps also want him. Casting notes were just released for the main characters, and Joey's sister has a 21-year-old son who was specifically described as a "Seth Cohen type." As if he were cloneable! Puh-leeze. We've tried.
From evanichole: How long do you think Joey will last? Honestly? Love Matt LeBlanc, but I'd start the death-pool bidding at December. Preliminary descriptions just sound more After M*A*S*H than Frasier, in my humble opinion, and we all know the second coming of Adam Brody is not likely. But, of course, it's way too early for me to be running off at the mouth, so I'm zipping my yapper! Mmbsm bsmbbs mmmmm.
From Liz_Csogi: Do you know if The O.C. is getting a second season? As sure as the hair on my chinny-chin-chin. No official word yet, but Fox is all over that like white on rice.
From piperlvr33: What else can you tell us about Joey? As I mentioned, I have details on casting. Looks like Joe's headed to L.A. (as anyone not living under a rock would have guessed). There we find one of his many sisters, Gina, a hairdresser with a 21-year-old son (the aforementioned "Seth Cohen type"). She's outspoken and a charming flirt just like her bro--but smarter and more grounded. They're very close. And Joey's love interest looks to be the girl next door, literally. Joey's neighbor is (currently) being called Alison, a smart, upbeat girl who is in an unhappy marriage--because really, nothing says must-see comedy like marital woes! Looks like there's an immediate connection between neighbor chick and Joe.
From affgomes: The O.C. is finally back. Thank God! Have you heard about a pregnancy? Could it be the Cohens or someone more shocking? Yes, finally it's back! I haven't heard about a pregnancy. I have heard about a proposal, though. ____________________
Teen People March issue
-In the Trendspotter Zone: Adam Brody (w/pic) and the O.C. is the TOPS of the Hit List -Star Tracks: Say Cheese--pic of Samaire, Topher Grace (from That 70's Show) and Rachel -Gossip: At a secret Stroke's show, Gwen Stefani shared a table with Kelly Osbourne, Adam & Rachel with Drew Barrymore across the room with friends -Prom Hair: Short Cuts--pic of Samaire -Teen People's Artist of the Year party had Rachel and Samaire (w/ separate pics) signing themusicedge.com petition to save music education in schools -Paul Wasilewski (Donnie, if you forget him he's from a "bad area" like Ryan, worked with Ryan at his job--whatever happened to that--hung out with Seth, tried to get with Summer and shot Luke, all in a days' work) modeling prom attire and sharing prom memories with the Everwood cast -Trendsetter Beauty Awards: pic of Micha and her favorite nail polish -Style Trends: Athletic--look closely at one of the lockers and you'll see a pic of Ryan ____________________
18. The Truth: Changes are happening within the couplehoods of the O.C.ers. Lines seem to be blurred. Oliver reveals himself as he falls apart, but not before Ryan is completely left in the cold. Someone loses school, one loses work, two lose their partners, and one more loses it all.
This is Taylor Handley's (Oliver) final appearance on The O.C. Tate Donovan (Jimmy) does not appear in this episode.
20. The Telenovela (aka "The F-Word") gs: Samaire Armstrong (Anna Stern) Alan Dale (Caleb Nichol) Navi Rawat (Theresa) Eric Balfour (Eddie)
The "F-Word" is "Friends". "Telenovela" is the word for "soap opera" in spanish.
21. The Goodbye Girl gs: Samaire Armstrong (Anna Stern)
This is Samaire Armstong's (Anna) final appearance on 'The O.C.'
What nitpicks and blunders? Go here ____________________
Ok, now I actually don't know the answer to this but thought all of you might. Let's call it an ultimate trivia question or something. Who is Norland and who is Nordlund? Are they supposed to be the same character? Maybe one of Luke's friends (before they all bailed when his father is outed)? Norland was played by Drew Fuller (now on Charmed) and appeared in "The Pilot" yet Nordlund was played by Adam Grimes and appeared in episodes "The Debut", "The Gamble" & "The Model Home". Their names are quite similar but aren't spelled the same. It boggles my mind.
Please let me know your answers. I can be reached at psychoitaliano@hotmail.com. Please put The O.C. in the subject or my email system might just delete you. Sorry, I have no prizes to award anyone except self-satisfaction. And feel free to email me about any other O.C. news, updates, spoilers, pics, mentions, gossip or close encounters of the O.C. kind.
posted by Jen @ 9:14 AM |
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
WB Scales McG's 'Mountain'; ABC, NBC Add Pilots (Monday, February 09 01:40 PM)
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - In the latest round of pilot orders at the networks, The WB has ordered a drama from "The O.C." executive producer McG. ABC has asked for a new cop show from Steven Bochco's company, and NBC likes a comedy from network execs-turned-producers Jamie Tarses and Karey Burke.
McG is executive producing a pilot called "The Mountain" for The WB, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It tells the story of a young man who inherits a mountaintop resort when his father dies.
Stephanie Savage, McG's producing partner and writer of the "Chrismukkah" episode of "The O.C.," wrote the pilot script and will also serve as an executive producer, as will director David Barrett ("Without a Trace," "Jake 2.0")...(blah blah blah-read more on the site) ____________________ TV GAL
Wednesdays are back to being stressful when "The O.C" returns (Wednesday, FOX, 9 p.m.). I'll concede that the Oliver story line is way too over-the-top -- very "Melrose Place"-ish in its final seasons. ____________________
• Episode 1.20 - The Telenovela [Airing February 25]: Seth argues with Summer over her agreeing to be the kisser in a kissing booth. Anna tells Seth he has to say something about it. Sandy has a talk with someone who is being sued by The Newport Group. This man threatens to tell the D.A. about some of Calebs secrets. Meanwhile, Ryan is taking a walk with Theresa, his girlfriend from his old neighbourhood. Seth finally stands up to Summer and makes her choose, kiss lots of unknown guys or go with him.
• Episode 1.21 - The Goodbye Girl [Airing March 3]: Sandy is at the Country Club playing golf. He runs into Greg Hodes, an attorney he faced when he was still with the P.D.’s office. They talk about the lawsuit that The Newport Group filed against a man. Apparently Caleb has hired Sandy to defend The Newport Group.
Ryan won't be able to forgive Marissa for what happened with Oliver on "The O.C." And Theresa (remember her? She's Ryan's ex-girlfriend from Chino) will just happen to cater the gang's big Valentine's Day dance. What a coincidence. And don't forget that Seth and Summer try to get to know each other in the biblical sense. ____________________
From laurend18: When does Anna's character leave The O.C.? I heard episode 22.
From Kimberly: Why is Samaire Armstrong leaving The O.C.? What storyline will be used? I had heard, weeks ago, that the plan was to ship her off to the East Coast like a box of Boston baked beans. (Baaad reference--I claim low blood sugar due to lack of lunch!) And I haven't seen confirmation on that yet, but that was the tentative plan--to send her away.
From seba_88: In which episode does Luke sleep with Julie? Eeesh. I'm not sure, to be honest. I believe it's some time in the next five.
Also, don't forget to log on later today to E! Online to chat with Kristin and ask for more O.C. spoilers and exclusives. ____________________
Check out Fox's official website for new fashion information & a new official The O.C. screensaver
