TVGuide-apooloza Matt Roush Review Over the Top Angst is out of control on One Tree Hill It's a shame the brooding brats of WB's One Tree Hill can't watch The Valley, the fictional soap-within-a-soap that's a running gag on Fox's The O.C." It might help to lighten things up on the Hill. One reason The O.C. is more enjoyable than One Tree Hill, besides the writing and acting, is that The O.C. rarely takes itself seriously. I loved it when O.C.'s bad-boy hero, Ryan, got a look at one of the Valley stars and muttered, "How does that guy play high school?" This from an actor who, par for the teen-soap norm, looks more grad school himself. On One Tree Hill, the young stars aren't just overripe, they're overwrought. A bad time is had by all. If this was the show intended to be WB's next Dawson's Creek, it has failed. Besides, Everwood got there first, and it just keeps getting better. One Tree Hill was doomed from the start by its downbeat premise: the bitter rivalry of two half-brother basketball jocks who share the same jerk of a father. If pouting were poetry, these guys would be positively Shakespearean. Lucas (Chad Michael Murray), raised without a dad, is all noble suffering, drowning his sorrows in classic lit. Nathan (James Lafferty), who got the dad and the bank account, is a selfish clod who impulsively filed for instant emancipation from his estranged parents. You'd need a geometry degree to figure out all the love triangles these boys and their folks are involved in. True, the show has gotten sexier lately, but no one's enjoying it. Until these losers get over themselves, we can't enjoy it, either. ~~~ Matt Roush Dispatches While the Friends finale got all the hype, the first-season climax for the year's most entertaining new prime-time soap, Fox's The O.C., actually intrigued me more. Was the show going to go out with a Melrose Place-like melodramatic shocker? (After all, we'd just seen a catfight in a pool the week before at Julie Cooper's bachelorette party, shades of Melrose tomcat-foolery.) Would they take a more ironic approach? Or simply aim for the heartstrings? As the weepy, surprisingly solemn episode played out, it was clear the emphasis would be on emotion, with just enough wit to keep it from being a total downer. Still, I had expected to enjoy it more, especially the wedding of Caleb to Julie Cooper ("the most unholy of all unions," Sandy called it), which was actually kind of anticlimactic. Too much of the final hour dealt with the pregnancy of spoilsport Theresa, Ryan's ex from Chino. Would she or wouldn't she have the baby? Would she ever leave? And (here's the rub) would she take Ryan with her? A gloomy cold front set in over The O.C. as everyone dealt with losing Ryan, who had started the episode by announcing, "Gotta keep a sense of humor no matter what." I wish. If it weren't for Seth Cohen's antics - chanting "pudding" as a mantra, trying to lift Ryan's spirits with "banter about boats and Hansen" - the episode might have been a snooze. But in the final scenes, as Kirsten collapsed in tears while stripping Ryan's poolhouse bed and Marissa hit the bottle again after a final "I love you" embrace, what became clear is that the heart of The O.C. is the buddy-love story between Ryan and Seth. As Seth contemplates a future without the "first real friend I've ever known" and a potential return to the time when he was a social outcast living in a high-school hell, he decides to go it alone. Leaving letters behind as he sets off into the sunset on a boat named after his girlfriend, Summer, Seth's quiet departure brought an unexpected poignancy to a show better known for its snarky attitude. Turns out we really do care after all. But come the new season this fall, once everyone's back in place if not back to normal and Theresa is just another bad memory like psycho Oliver, I can't wait for The O.C. to start cracking wise and funny again. ~~~ Wednesday's Watercooler The O.C. Nooooooo!! Ryan, get out of that car, go back to Marissa, take that bottle out of her hand and alert the Coast Guard that there's a Cohen loose on the open sea! Criminy, how can they do this to us, close the season with everything up in the air? So not fair. Excellent, but so not fair. I knew that skank Theresa would ruin everything. Fox, you're lucky this is coming back next fall, because my inner 12-year-old is seething. Nice touch, though, having Seth throw Oliver in Marissa's face, referencing the fashion-show fiasco, softening Caleb with the bankruptcy crisis and making his wedding to Julie the first violence-free shindig we've attended all year. The problem is, it may take me all summer to bounce back from that music montage at the end. Between Kirsten's breakdown and Coop's return to the edge, that may have been three of the most emotional, dramatically hefty minutes of any drama this season. ~~~ Thursday's Watercooler Friends So no formal critique or review, just some random observations from a forever fan: -Chandler and Joey share a poignant goodbye, just like Ryan and Seth on The O.C. For the first (and only, sorry) time tonight, I get a little misty. ____________________ Zap2It.com TV Gal Quotes of the Week "Jeffery here may be a stripper, but, honey, you're a whore." Haley to Julie on "The O.C." Their catfight in the pool was so reminiscent of "Melrose Place," not to mention "Dynasty." Seth Cohen Quote of the Week "I want to marry the hotel and have little gambling addicted alcoholic kids with it." Where Have I Seen Him/Her? Kevin Rankin was the pimp on "The O.C." Rankin played Doc on "My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star" and was Tara's brother, Donny, on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Thanks to TV Gal reader Lisa for recognizing that familiar face. ____________________ The ratings are in, and the O.C. was tied for first!!!! WHOOHOOO!!! ____________________ Hit teen show O.C. gives fresh spin to old-time rocker Bob Seger By Adam Graham / The Detroit News Fox’s hit teen drama The O.C. is known for its witty dialogue, its rapid-fire pop culture references and its use of edgy, left-of-center music from artists such as Joseph Arthur, Jem and Death Cab for Cutie. In other words, The O.C. is not the kind of place you’d expect to see Bob Seger hanging out. Yet Seger keeps cropping up on the show, which wraps up its first season tonight. His 1976 hit Night Moves has played on two episodes, and the show’s resident villain queen, Julie Cooper (Melinda Clarke), can’t seem to get enough of the Michigan rocker. My wedding planner is a passive-aggressive nitwit who has the audacity to question my taste in music, she lamented in a recent episode. Bob Seger is not so over. O.C. creator Josh Schwartz says he himself is a big Seger fan. I love Bob Seger. Who doesn’t love Bob Seger? says Schwartz, 27. How can you not love Bob Seger? He’s awesome. He says the spirit of Seger speaks to the character Julie Cooper. You just have these connotations of people in bars, drinking beers and listening to Seger, and it just seemed like something Julie would do, Schwartz says. Punch Enterprises, Seger’s management company, was approached with a request for the use of Night Moves in late January. They reviewed it and granted the show permission to use it for an undisclosed sum of money, though Schwartz notes it was the most expensive song they cleared all season. But there was no way we weren’t getting it, he says. If we didn’t have it, I don’t know what we would have done. The O.C. - the first season is due on DVD in October - has acted as a launching pad for bands such as Phantom Planet and Rooney to reach bigger audiences, but Schwartz thinks it may work in reverse with established artists like Seger too. The younger portion of our audience doesn’t know, necessarily, who Bob Seger is, Schwartz says. I’m a fan of turning people on to older stuff, as well as stuff that isn’t on the radio yet. ____________________ Official O.C. website New Fashion Report ____________________ New The O.C. TV Schedule Friday May 7th 6:00PM MTV, various repeat times An O.C. cast member or two TRL Presents Teen People's Hottest 25 Under 25 2004 This also means to be on the look-out for Teen People's newest issue. Friday May 7th 11:00PM, various repeat times The O.C. finale VH1's Best Week Ever Saturday May 8th various times MTV/VH1 The O.C. ET on MTV/VH1 I would think they would be mentioned Saturday May 29th 11:00AM FOX (premiere. Then, all Saturdays in summer) The O.C. I would think they would be mentioned here and there all summer long Thursday June 10th 8:00 or 9:00PM MTV Various cast members MTV Movie Awards Again, I'm assuming at least one or more would be presenters ____________________ Mischa Barton, Style Icon to teenage girls everywhere, says she has no stylist of her own. I could hire someone, but it seems easier just to pick things out myself, the star of Fox's teen drama The O.C. says in the June/July issue of Teen Vogu, which features her on the cover. I'll see something on a photo shoot, in a look book, or on the show, and I'll make a request, Barton says.

posted by Jen @ 8:31 AM |

Wednesday, May 05, 2004

Micha Barton website has the latest magazine prints, news and info for any MAJOR Micha fan. Here's some pics of magazines coming soon or out of my area: LA Magazine New York Times ...and many more...check out the site Want to contact Mischa? Write to: Mischa Barton Pinnacle Public Relations 8265 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 201 Los Angeles, CA 90046

posted by Jen @ 11:44 AM |

The OC Wireless Trivia How well have you been paying attention this season? Find out when you take the wireless OC Quiz. Just text "OC Trivia" to 36988 (FOXTV). Standard message rates apply.

posted by Jen @ 10:45 AM |

What The O.C. cast members have been doing lately... Adam Brody Brandy and Adam Brody Visit MTV's "TRL" 5/4/2004 Adam Brody Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen Stop By 'The Late Show with David Letterman' 5/4/2004 Chris Carmack The Twilight Zone Tower Of Terror Opening At Disneys California Adventure 5/4/2004 Peter Gallagher 3rd Annual Tribeca Film Festival - Vanity Fair Party - Arrivals 5/4/2004 Samaire Armstrong 2004 Movieline Young Hollywood Awards - Arrivals 5/2/2004 Kelly Hu, Melinda Clarke (right) and her daughter Opening Night of "Cavalia" - Red Carpet and Inside 4/27/2004 All pictures from (wireimage.com) ____________________ DON'T FORGET! TODAY!! Rachel on TRL at 5:00PM MTV Rachel on That '70s Show at 8:00PM Fox The Season Finale 9:00PM Fox

posted by Jen @ 9:07 AM |

The O.C. (zap2it.com TV's Best Bet) 9:00 PM - FOX All good season finales are cliffhangers -- am I right, people? Tonight's freshman finale of "The O.C." is no exception. You're cordially invited (along with the creme de la creme of Newport Beach society) to the wedding of Julie Cooper (Melinda Clarke) and Caleb Nichol (Alan Dale). Recording artist Jem will guest star as herself, singing Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed" during the ceremony. But the wedding is just the tip of the iceberg -- FOX claims that emotions run high, sparks fly (and rhyme) and lives will be proverbially "changed forever." You know you'll be watching.

posted by Jen @ 8:43 AM |

Kristin at E! Online From larry: Anything on The O.C.? Last week's episode was amazing. Yes, indeedy, I do. McG gave me this bite about what to expect, which sounds a bit titillating, "If you think you've seen something so far, you really ain't see anything yet. It goes to a whole new place with tragedy, it goes to a whole new place with drama, and you're going to be throwing bricks at the television, screaming and feeling very sexually aware." From marce_s88: What can you tell me about Adam Brody...is there news? There is! Adam Brody and Rachel Bilson were spotted looking adorably cutesy-wutesy and "very much together" at the Coachella Valley Music Festival out in the desert over the weekend. If you read Party Girl's column, you know it's a done deal. From cylee23: Californiaaa...The O.C., please? In preparation for the wedding, Reverend Donahue asks Julie to come into his office for a confessional. It looks like he might be there all day--that girl has got some secrets. And whatever goes down that changes everything--this better be good after all the hype!--happens at the wedding. From alexander: What is up with the O.C. cliffhanger? I'm still hearing rumblings of a fire at Casa Cohen, and it sounds like Ryan has a decision to make about preggers Theresa--he may be splitting with the Cohen clan to be her baby's daddy. (Gee, do ya think that'll happen? Star of the show and all? Hmmm...) ____________________ TVGuide.com So do you really think this wedding thing is going to go off without a hitch? Please. Given that the show itself has delivered one surprise after another, tonight's season finale holds the promise of some seriously jaw-dropping drama. I mean, we all saw this glossy sudser as FOX's 90210 heir apparent with fabulous hair, but who knew it would hit home with the over-30 crowd? And who thought newbie Benjamin McKenzie could outlast all the Russell Crowe comparisons to flesh out rebel-without-a-home Ryan Atwood into a character worth caring about? Or that fans would embrace the fabulous Adam Brody's Seth Cohen as the endearing geek we all wish lived next door? What has been most unexpected is how the series has avoided becoming solely the So-Cal adventures of unblemished teens unbound. Over the course of its zeitgeist-capturing first year, the adult denizens of ritzy Orange County have also popped. Originally a self-righteous idealist, Peter Gallagher's Sandy has grown into a riotously low-rent rascal. Teaming him with town pariah Jimmy (Tate Donovan) — and thankfully aborting the too-sudsy subplot about Jimmy's lingering crush on Kirsten (the glorious Kelly Rowan) — has to be the writers' best move. Next to, of course, giving the grown-ups as much airtime (with plots just as juicy) as their young counterparts. Not that the kids aren't all right, too. Obviously, we love Brody and McKenzie, perhaps even more than we loved the Priestley-Perry combo of days gone by. They're easy to adore, with their immediate chemistry and constant banter. The tougher ones to take have been the girls. Rachel Bilson has had the arduous task of saving Summer from becoming the prototypical bitch and has won hearts with her conflicted conversion from Seth's meanest basher to main babe. Mischa Barton, on the other hand, has taken a lot of hits for being a bit wooden, although Marissa's recent run of horrifying luck — suicide attempt, crazy Oliver, Luke's affair with her own mom — has allowed the actress to go beyond being just a pretty face playing a party girl. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw exactly what she's capable of tonight. Having been blackmailed into accepting the unholy union of her hellcat mother, Julie (Melinda Clarke), to Kirsten's land-baron bastard of a father, Caleb (Alan Dale), and rocked by the news that Ryan may be Theresa's (Navi Rawat) baby's daddy, poor Marissa stands at the epicenter of all the action. Hopefully, she's got a scorecard, too. Because should — and that's a big should — the vows be exchanged, Coop would then become Kirsten's step-sister and Seth's second-hottest aunt, after Hailey (Amanda Righetti), who just so happens to be hooking up with Jimmy, Kirsten's high-school flame and Julie's ex. And if the kid is Ryan's? Well, God only knows how she'll react, but bear in mind that we're talking about a season finale here, folks. Anything goes. Especially if it all goes wrong for the Newpsie knockout. In which case, you can count on me to be right there when things heat back up come fall. — Damian J. Holbrook ____________________ Every fan knows that The OC has become THE hot place to hear THE hottest music. Producers of the show are now taking a new big step in their attempt to find the next popular group or singer. In the fall, one new band will have its music features on an episode of the show. It's The OC's Enter the Mix Competition! Click here to enter. The OC didn't become the hottest show on television by relying on crappy music by boring artists. No, we made it our personal mission to pick perfect songs from the most exciting young bands we'd ever heard. Well, things have changed. Now we're looking for the most exciting bands we've never heard. That's right. We're looking for you. Introducing Music From the OC's Enter The Mix Competition. This fall, one indie or underground band will get a major break: one of their songs will be featured on an episode of The OC (Season Two) and possibly on an upcoming Music From the OC Mix. Here's how it works: -Bands submit their songs from May 3 to May 31, 2004. -Fans can check out all submissions during the month by clicking on HEAR SONGS. -The producers of The OC pick their five favorite entries. -The viewers choose the winner. Voting lasts from June 8-22, 2004. Grand prize winner get a first step to superstardom: -The winning song will appear on an episode of THE OC, and will possibly be included on an upcoming Music From The OC Mix. -Four runners-up win OC prize packs featuring all sorts of OC gear and goodies Nobody gets an audience of millions without lifting a finger. But you won't have to lift more than one. Click here to submit your song. The Basics: -This competition is open to all amateur and professional musicians / recording artists. Only recording artists who are signed to exclusive recording agreements with major record labels are precluded from entry. (see rules). -All songs submitted must be entirely original and cannot contain any so-called "samples" or other embodied materials. And fans, remember to do your part. Vote The Rock - Music From the OC: Enter the Mix From June 8th through June 22nd you'll get to vote for the song you most want to see Enter The Mix on an episode of The OC next season. Sign up for the Music From The OC email list and they'll drop you a reminder the minute the polls have opened. ____________________ DevotedFansNetwork.com People are beginning to wonder weather 'The O.C.' has already hit it's high point, and that it will now only decline to the lowest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'IT'S been nothing but drama since you got here," a character on the Fox hit "The O.C." complained in a recent show. As its first season draws to a close, the angst-ridden "O.C." residents have weathered so many crises, catastrophes and random couplings, it's hard to imagine what else could possibly befall them. Has "The O.C." jumped the shark in its first season? (That's a reference to "Happy Days" when a water-skiing Fonz jumped over a shark, a plot twist so over-the-top that an inevitable decline follows.) It usually takes a few seasons to reach the shark-jump point. But less than halfway through the first season of "The O.C.," brainy Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) had already completed the transition from friendless nerd to confident popular guy. And his best pal, disadvantaged bad boy Ryan Atwood (Benjamin McKenzie), has been in fistfights, accidentally burned down a house, was almost shot, caught his girlfriend's mother hooking up with her daughter's ex-boyfriend, discovered his friend's dad was gay, been publicly humiliated by his alcoholic mother, run illegal errands for his incarcerated brother and spent a little time in jail. The nonstop melodrama has been duly noted by the show's writers: In a recent episode, Seth wryly proposed an "angst-free Ryan week." Yet the teenage trauma has continued unabated. Ryan's girlfriend, the troubled Marissa (Mischa Barton), nearly killed herself with painkillers and alcohol, was blackmailed, lost her virginity out of spite, was held hostage by an ex-pal, and was nearly sent to a mental hospital. Last week's episode veered dangerously close to "Melrose Place"-level hysterics, with a poolside catfight, an angry Las Vegas pimp and a who's-the-father pregnancy cliffhanger. "It's been one insane plot twist after another," says Jon Hein, the 36-year-old creator of the Web site Jumptheshark.com. He says the show jumped the shark in the gunpoint stand-off episode, in which Marissa's misfit friend Oliver turned out to be a psychotic stalker who held her hostage in his penthouse hotel suite. "[Oliver was] the moment when it started to go downhill," says Hein. "It didn't work, it was obvious it didn't work . . . [and] the show became more farcical after that point. I don't know where they're going to go from here." The show's creator, Josh Schwartz, admits the hostage episode has been a sticking point with critics. "Yeah, they didn't like Oliver," he says. "But what's the alternative - stay the same and get boring?" Source: NY Post ____________________ Funny, false news report

posted by Jen @ 7:04 AM |

Tuesday, May 04, 2004

NEW!! Tuesday May 4th 12:35AM NBC Rachel Bilson on Conan O'Brien (technically that is reeeally early Wednesday morning, but officially Tuesday night according to the TV schedule) NEW! Wednesday May 5th Peter Gallagher on The View Check your listings for channel and time information

posted by Erin @ 9:39 PM |

Monday, May 03, 2004

Monday May 3rd 5:00PM FOX The O.C. cast on On Air with Ryan Seacrest Tuesday May 4 11:35PM CBS Adam Brody on The Late Show with David Letterman NEW!! Wednesday May 5th 5:00PM MTV Rachel Bilson on TRL Wednesday May 5th 8:00PM FOX Rachel Bilson on That ‘70s Show Wednesday May 5th 9:00PM FOX The O.C. SEASON FINALE Let's call this Rachel Bilson Day! (all times are ET) ____________________ Starlet Essentials LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - High impact aerobics are so over. The era of graceful stretching and toning are the order of the day, and not just for Catwoman. Yoga, pilates -- or, if you live in The O.C., yogalates -- are the preferred exercise regimen of many a star, from Madonna to Gwyneth, Kim Cattrall to Rebecca Romijn-for the time being-Stamos. And while you can perform your downward dog in bare feet, why would you when there's an opportunity to accessorize? Enter Reebok and the Zenswa Ltd. Backstage at the recent Kids Choice Awards celebrity lounge coordinated by Distinctive Assets, the female American Idol contestants each snagged a pair, with black being the color of choice, although Idol judge Paula Abdul has a penchant for the pink, as do Hilary Duff and Kate Beckinsale. Speaking of The O.C., Mischa Barton has a pair in pink and gray. Reebok is also gifting the trainers to New York City's School of the American Ballet, but the Zenswa isn't just for the prima ballerinas of the world. Made with glove leather and lined with satin, it's hard to go wrong. Plus, clumsy girls who never made it to en pointe in dance class, have the option of winding ribbons up their calves without the pain of balancing all their weight on the tips of their toes. Retailing for $70, the Zenswa hit stores in May. A Slip-On version, with standard laces rather than ribbons, is available for $60 and comes in suede as well as leather. ~~~ Zap2It.com Featured Photo Gallery: The O.C. ____________________ Prostitute Jen (hey...I'm not liking being called that...high class hooker is more like it)on OC worked on a Canadian show that aired on MTV called "Now What" with none other than Adam also starring. ____________________ YEA! The OC Central is Miracle's domain of the month for May 2004!! Thank you CARA!! ____________________ Speaking about me...and The O.C., everytime you see the name Jen Heiser, go YEA GIRL to me because, well, that's me! (aah, what a lovely b-day present to be quoted in a newspaper, about The O.C. no-less TeenWire: California Crazy By LAURA ADAMS Staff Writer Back in the day, a little show called "Beverly Hills 90210" took over prime time and the 12-17-year-old viewing audience, with love triangles and issues and concerns of teenagers in the '90s. Now a new show has taken over the reins as the next '90210' -- Fox's The OC. Teenagers now, and even 90210-lovers, tune in for a fix on an old concept -- rich teenagers in California. With the help of a whole new crop of teenagers and mid-twenty somethings, who miss the gang who hung out at the Peach Pit, The OC. has skyrocketed to the top of Wednesday nights TV schedule. According to USA Today, The OC. ranked No. 20 for the week of April 12-18 with 10.5 million viewers. The OC. pilot brought Chino resident Ryan Atwood into the home of Orange County lawyer Sandy Cohen. The show continues from there with Ryan adjusting to his new surroundings along with love stories and family issues, prominent in any drama series. 'The OC' started with the idea that everyone is a fish out of water. Everyone relates to feeling a bit out of place, even if they act like they don't, said Jen Heiser, head of News Reel for The OC Central (www.the-oc.org), a fan Web site with news associated with the cast, crew and the show. Some fans love the drama of 'The OC' being a prime-time soap opera with messy love stories, back-stabbing and drama. Some love the fact that this is an up-to-the-minute cultural show that makes references like 'the cell phone is the autograph of the 21st century.' And many, many fans keep their TV tuned in weekly to watch very cute and good-looking guys and girls, said Heiser. Heiser believes that having the show be compared to 90210 has helped boost viewership, but sees The OC different in the way they integrated the adults as main characters perfectly. Alex Greenwald, lead singer of Phantom Planet, the rock band that sings the California theme song for the show has said, The writers of the show were big fans (of the band) and we got a copy of the pilot that reminded me of the 90210 teen soaps that I lived by when I was 13. So the band decided to let the show use the song. Besides, the girls are kind of hot. The fifth or sixth song I learned on the guitar was the '90210' theme song, said Greenwald. THE OC 9 p.m. Wednesday nights on FOX Next week: Season finale: Caleb Nichol and Julie Cooper's wedding STAR SOURCE Get to know the characters of The OC. -Ryan Atwood is a rebel boy from Chino who moves in with the rich, upscale Cohen family. Ryan is a boy of few words -- literally. He rarely speaks, and his facial expressions always seem sad and depressing -- you would think he would be at least happy to be living in a grand pool house with its own amenities. (Hey, can I move in?) And it seems that trouble always finds Ryan, even after he leaves Chino. -Seth Cohen is a quick-witted boy who becomes Ryan's surrogate brother (since Ryan's real brother is in jail). Seth brings comic relief to most episodes, although he seemed like an awkward teenager whose ego needed deflating while dealing with a love triangle between him, Anna and Summer. After he chose Summer, things went back to normal. (He should have stayed with Anna! Just my opinion.) -Summer Roberts is a rich, once-snobby, popular high school flirt, who fell in love with the humorous Seth, hence changing her attitude and becoming a video-game vixen and active girlfriend. -Marissa Cooper, the best friend of Summer, dated popular jock Luke, but dumped him after he cheated on her. After that, she went into a downward spiral -- over-dosing on drugs and befriending a psychotic boy, Oliver. She pines after Ryan, who she dated for a short time. Recently she found out her ex Luke was sleeping with her mother. Can this poor girl get a break? Other characters of whom to take note, although I can't brief you on them because of writing-space restrictions, are Sandy Cohen (Seth's father) Kirsten Cohen (Seth's mother), Jimmy Cooper (Marissa's father), Julie Cooper (Marissa's mother), Anna Stern (Seth's love interest who returned to Pittsburgh), and Luke Ward, (Marissa's ex-boyfriend). Laura Adams, Staff Writer Published in the Times Beacon Newspapers 04/28-29/04 ____________________ The O.C. Season Finale Party (E!Online.com) Where: Falcon, Sunset Boulevard When: Apr. 20, 2004 RSVPs: Mischa sizzles, Benjamin guzzles, Rachel bubbles... You're in! Burnin' Down the House: The O.C. Wraps up a Smokin' Season by Lara Morgenson | Apr. 29, 2004 There's only one show on television that can keep this party-addicted girl at home and on the couch: The O.C. So, you can bet your TiVo there's no way I'm gonna miss a chance to hang with the entire cast at their season-finale party thrown by Fox. But imagine my near fatal distress when I roll up to the door at the Sunset Strip club Falcon only to find out my name is--take a deep breath--not on the list. Rather than throw a Julie Cooper-style hissy fit, I pull out my cell and dial the seven digits to the one über-connected person who can slip me past the evil bouncer. (Sorry, my VIP will have to remain nameless. A party girl never shares all her secrets.) After the security honcho apologizes for keeping me waiting (the nerve!), I head inside to catch up on all the O.C. drama going down. Omigod, I'm having such a blast, gushes Rachel Bilson. I love it when we all get together and just hang. Me, too. This bash is almost as delicious as the show itself, with steamy kisses, watchful mothers and plenty of schmoozing. That's how they do it in L.A., bitch! Celeb to Civilian Ratio: 1:5, but in this case, the civilians are mostly behind-the-scenes types: publicists, managers and producers. Guest List: The sunken patio is a mushy mess of O.C. goodness: Patriarch Peter Gallagher is hug-happy with Mischa Barton; the adorable Bilson is all chatty with producer McG and creator Josh Schwartz; Adam Brody sucks on a cig; and Benjamin McKenzie downs a beer. Flitting about with the Fox suits are other Orange County players--Melinda Clarke, Chris Carmack and Tate Donovan. Oops! The party gets a little too hot early on, and no, I'm not talking about Brody and Bilson making out (more on that lip-smacking scoop in bit). I'm talking fire--the real stuff, as in flames. When the production crew flips on the spotlights, the lamps are too close to the tent covering the patio. It's a scary scene for a few moments, but the flames are quickly put out. Mother, May I? Mischa's mom is on patrol tonight; she's barely letting her daughter out of her sight. Must be making a difference, because usually when I see Mischa on the town, she's sipping drinks and smoking cigs. But tonight, in the presence of her mom and bosses (as in the head of Fox Television!), Ms. Barton is on her best water-drinking-only behavior. Got Grub: Servers are making the rounds with decadent chocolate desserts, like brownies and macaroons. Big surprise, not a single cast member touches the calorie-saturated goodies. Drinks: Lots of water tonight, the bartender tells me while cracking open a bottle of Poland Springs. That said, this crowd is more interested in sucking on nicotine than any beverage. In fact, I haven't seen this much smoke since two hours earlier when the roof was on fire. Wild Boy: I'm partying, girl, winks the supersexy Benjamin McKenzie when he sees me. Right on! What do you do in this town on a Tuesday night? he asks while slugging back a Bud Light. I'm full of fabulous suggestions like getting naked and all the usual O.C. stuff. Isn't that how this crew works? Well, I think at the wrap party, everyone stayed clothed, chuckles McKenzie. I don't know what happened afterward, but it was fun. Sounds like Mischa isn't the only one who knows how to have a good time! Gossip 'n' Gab: And speaking of Mischa, Mischa, Mischa, there's a reason her mom is giving the disapproving eye to anyone she doesn't know. Seems everyone is dying to learn everything about the girl. Do you think they really dated? asks a fan watching Ben and Mischa talking. What's the deal with her and Brandon Davis? pipes up another. The girls move on from her love life and begin scrutinizing Barton's every perfect inch: her legs (too skinny), her eyes (too big). Jealous, ya think? Party Pooper: Tate Donovan may have slunk out hours earlier, but I'm giving the poop award to Adam Brody. He just wasn't the loveable, dorky dude we all adore onscreen. Nope, tonight he's a big-ass TV star. I'm totally talked out, is his curt line when anyone other than his castmates or dude pals approach him. Come on, it's only the first season--you need to put in at least two more before you can start the jaded celebrity act! Scene Stealer: With a sappy grin on her face, Mischa skips through the club like a schoolgirl jumping rope. The reason for her uncontained glee? Her bad-boy boyfriend Brandon Davis just arrived. You can just hear her--all giggles--singing in her head: My boyfriend's here! Could this crush be getting serious? Friends and Lovahs: Concealed behind red velvet curtains, Rescue Hand and Foot Spa doles out free massages to all the guests. But by the end of the night, it's Adam and Rachel who are playing footsy in the semi-private room. I don't care what those two say, kissing for that long isn't something just friends do! All That Grab: Pimples beware! I rake in a mother load of Neutrogena goodies tonight: face wash, lotion, body oil--all the beauty necessities, plus an O.C. T-shirt. As the party winds down, the tight O.C. foursome begins whispering about their after-party plans, and a little birdie tells me the gang is headed to Monroe's on Melrose. But I'm all star-stalked out--think I'll pass on their private shindig. This time, anyway.

posted by Jen @ 9:44 AM |

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