HER BREAKOUT MOMENT With a spunky performance as Seth's comic-geek dream girl, Anna, on The O.C., Armstrong turned what was supposed to be a one-episode lark into a show-stealing love triangle. Her tear-jerking goodbye episode (complete with Nada Surf's remake of OMD's ''If You Leave'') proved what a fan favorite she'd become. ''After that show aired, I was constantly being reminded about the look on my face,'' says Armstrong. ''Those tears were real.'' As a follow up, Armstrong landed on yet another watercooler series — HBO's Hollywood send-up, Entourage — as Emily, the sweet assistant to insufferable agent Ari Jacobs (Jeremy Piven).
LESSONS LEARNED FROM TOILING IN OBSCURITY ''I might not be a big-boobed, long-haired girl, but I stand out because of who I am.''
WELCOME (BACK) TO THE O.C.? Sorry, Anna fans. ''They really drove that triangle into the ground,'' says Armstrong. ''It was just a dead end for me.''
FIRST MAJOR PURCHASE ''I just bought a house — with a recording studio in it! My friends and I write pretty raunchy songs — nothing anyone should hear.'' Plus, ''My mom bought me a shredder. She told me to start shredding my mail.''
USELESS TRIVIA ''I like watermelon.''
WHAT'S NEXT Season 2 of Entourage this summer.
posted by Jen @ 6:03 AM |
Friday, December 17, 2004
Friendly reminder: Next week, 12/23 airs last year's Chrismukkah episode and the season premiere, back to back. Then, 12/30 airs the repeats of The SnO.C. & The Chrismukkah That Almost Wasn't.
posted by Jen @ 4:29 PM |
Rockin' The OC --- Just Cavalli Hosts Flaunt's Sixth-Anniversary Bash Where: Private Residence, Bel-Air When: Dec. 11 RSVPs: Mischa canoodles, Brittany plays coy, Michelle Trachtenberg covers up --- CELEB CENTRAL! RACHEL BILSON get funky at a photo shoot, sneak a peek at ORLANDO BLOOM's new role and get the scoop from JESSICA and ASHLEE's proud papa! --- Oy to the World
On ''The O.C.,'' it's the nightmare before Chrismukkah: The family's mixed-faith holiday is imperiled when Grandpa Caleb confesses that Lindsbree is his love child
Oh, man. Just when I thought I'd be creative and spend the hours before tonight's Chrismukkah episode dreaming up more interdenominational holiday word combinations, The O.C. had to go and outdo itself with the possible holidays Eastover and Kwanzashanah, as well as an ingenious new piece of headwear, the yarmulclaus, and Kirsten's brilliant outburst, ''Oy, humbug!'' The best I could come up with was Frosty the Shomer Shabbos. This is why I write the O.C. TV Watch and not The O.C.. Oy, humbug.
The second annual Chrismukkah episode centered around mixed-faith teenager Seth Cohen's desire to increase his pet holiday's popularity (acknowledging, very self-referentially, that the show actually has spread the Chrismukkah spirit nationwide). He pulls out a Chrismukkah Work Wheel and says to the dubious Ryan that Seth's own job will be ''supervising, smartass.'' But he says it like ''supervising smartass,'' as if that were his title. He then suggests some serious ''Jewcruitment'' to even out the faith ratio for the family's Chrismukkah party. And right after he wonders where there could possibly be Jews in Orange County, he sees Sandy entering the room and cries out, ''Father!'' All this while wearing a reindeer sweater. Priceless.
For all the holiday humor, though, the episode was the most drama packed yet this season. The main characters gather at Camp Cohen for some Chrismukkah cheer. (Despite Seth's efforts to even out the ethnic mix, it's like some goy-rights parade in there.) Caleb decides it's as good a time as any to confess that Ryan's date, Lindsay (a.k.a. Lindsbree), is his illegitimate daughter, which earns him well-deserved slaps from legitimate daughter Kirsten and second wife Julie. Exit various characters in tearful rages. That's the O.C. we know and love.
This, by the way, officially adds two more people — Lindsbree and her mother — to the show's ginormous extended family. (Wait. There has to be a place for Summer. Estranged cousin? Seth's twin, who was stolen by a hospital nurse post-partum? They'll think of something. Again, I'm — thankfully — not in charge.)
Ryan then kibitzes to get Kirsten out of her huge walk-in closet o' wretchedness by feeding her a line about how good the Cohens have always been at letting in new people. (I'll admit it. I cried.) Seth schlepps over to the beach, where he convinces Lindsbree, who is perched upon a spotlit mound of sand, that she should be excited to enter a world of insecurity and paralyzing self-doubt, i.e., the Cohen family. In a symbolic gesture mirroring what he did for Ryan last season, Seth offers her a welcome-to-the-family stocking that says ''Laura.'' Hey, she'll take it. The drugstore was probably all out of ''Lindsbree.''
But the real Chrismukkah MVP is Summer. Though earlier, in the Harbor School White Bread and Coffee Shop, she playfully pretended she didn't recall the holiday, she gathers everyone together for a miraculous, weepy, hug-filled Chrismukkah reunion. (Well, everyone except Julie and ex-husband Jimmy, who forgo the festivities for a tryst in Jimmy's pleasure yacht.) The Christmas lights switch on, the latkes are distributed, and Seth sings his first Chrismukkah hymn, about two bearded men named Jesus and Moses. Happy challah days!
What do you think? Was Chrismukkah too serious this year? Does Seth realize Summer's still in love with him? And once I get my yarmulclaus in the mail, is it okay if I wear it year-round? --- Analyzing Chrismukkah Matthew Gilbert says of tonight's very special "O.C.": "If Seth Cohen has further secularized the holiday season with Chrismukkah, he has also built a safe house for the interfaith families who already exist and for those who will inevitably follow them. Denying their existence with generic snowflake holiday cards doesn't protect Judaism or Christianity in America so much as it probably distances interfaith families from both of them. Chrismukkah, with its dual citizenship, is a fluffy and sweet little slice of kugel."PLUS: More analysis and some "O.C." spoilers.
The ultra-hip L.A. band ROONEY is on the brink of superstardom and winning over famous fans like FRANKIE MUNIZ, JASON RITTER and the "Laguna Beach" gang, who all showed their support at the hot group's recent concert on the beach. This weekend on ET on MTV and ET on VH1, we're hanging with the rockin' musicians!
"We haven't played live in a long time," guitarist TAYLOR LOCKE said. "A lot of fans came out!" "The truest, truest, truest fans," added keyboardist LOUIE STEPHENS.
Taylor, Louie and their bandmates ROBERT CARMINE (trivia alert: he's the brother of actor JASON SCHWARTZMAN), NED BROWER and MATTHEW WINTER all headed to the O.C. for an outdoor concert in Huntington Beach to take part in Hollister's "The 12 Days of Rock" event that featured the nation's hottest indie bands performing across the country in a dozen cool shows.
"Malcolm in the Middle" star Muniz was more than enthusiastic about Rooney. "I'd like to be a rock star," he admitted. "This is an awesome show!"
"Joan of Arcadia" actor Ritter revealed his link to the band. "A couple of the guys from Rooney went to my high school," he said. "But I haven't seen them in all this time. They've been making records and going on tours. So it was a good opportunity for me to come out."
The cast of the hit show "Laguna Beach" also stepped out to rock out to Rooney. "'Laguna Beach' loves Rooney," they exclaimed.
Rooney, who has been busy wrapping up their second album, said events like this concert are a great way to stay connected with the fans. "When bands go away to make albums, they disappear for a while," Robert admitted. "You've got to keep out there."
Robert says they're psyched to get the new album out. "We're really excited," he said. "And we can't wait for fans to hear it. It will come out in April and we'll tour after."
But if you can't wait the long four months for their sophomore CD, the group has also just released their 'Spit & Sweat' DVD, which is a compilation of live footage and tour footage, which drummer Ned describes as a "side-splittingly good time!"
For more on Rooney, watch ET on MTV and ET on VH1! And I'm sure The O.C. will be featured some time on the show.
The O.C. Papa Cohen: You invited Lindsay over here? [witty back and forth deleted. Hey I'm trying to make a quick point here.] Ryan: I'm sorry. Should I not? Papa: Her mom is involved with Caleb's case. It's... the timing. It's probably not great given everything. Ryan: Yeah. OK. Except, I mean. What does Lindsay have to do with Caleb's case. What is she, like, Caleb's hitman? Drug dealer? Seth: Illegitimate love child?
Daddy Cohen turns and gives them A Look. And, with that, the hands-up-in-the-air, you've-got-to-be-kidding-me secret is out! Oh, man. The only moment more deliciously soapy than that come half an hour later when Caleb tells the entire Cohen-Cooper-And-Friends clan about his 16-year-old "error in judgment." He gets slapped twice: Once by his daughter Kirsten; then again by Julie. (Who has some nerve by the way. Hello. It's not like Caleb cheated on her. It's not like, ahem, he's the one sleeping with his ex-husband. But I digress.) Yeah. Merry Chrismukkah, everybody.
*I'm glad that Seth was able to joke about dating his Auntie Lindsay. Finally, someone said it! So far, Summer is the only regular character not related by blood or legality. Come, on, impromptu wedding anyone? It's all the rage. OH! And those scenes for next year...oh boy!
TV's Winners & Losers Reality was harsh for the American Idol network, which loaded up on the genre that's kept it afloat for the past few seasons…and then, for the most part, sunk. There were modest hits, like Nanny 911 (No. 48) and summer holdover Trading Spouses (No. 56) — and then there was The Rebel Billionaire (No. 95), The Next Great Champ (No. 96), Renovate My Family (No. 99), My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss (No. 103), and The Complex: Malibu (No. 124). ''I think we put all our eggs in a basket that was already starting to wear,'' says Fox exec VP Preston Beckman. Fox's scant scripted offerings fared better: Sophomore soap The O.C. (No. 63) held its own in a tough new Thursday slot (though ratings are down 24 percent from its Wednesday berth last season), and doctor drama House (No. 73) garnered good reviews, if not viewers.
''We maybe overdid it with unscripted,'' Beckman says, ''and as a result we didn't have a platform for promotion for shows like House.'' To be fair, the net's real season has barely begun: Because of baseball play-offs, most shows didn't start until November — which also meant critics' darling Arrested Development (No. 73) couldn't capitalize on its Emmy win. Plus, much-feared ratings machine Idol returns at midseason, as does cult fave 24. ''Every year we keep hoping it will be different, but we don't really get going until January,'' Beckman says. ''This is like a bipolar network.''
posted by Jen @ 7:23 AM |
Wishing you can spend the holidays with Nicholas Gonzalez (DJ)? Well, I can't give you that! But, I know what he wants for Christmas...a replacement iPod. He apparently lost his on an airplane. So, will someone be making his Christmas wish come true?
Let’s start with the first disc of the DVD set. From the Main Menu go to the 'Episodes' section and highlight the menu entry for 'Pilot.' Press the 'Right' arrow key on your remote control to highlight the microphone. Press the 'Right' key once again and the 'OC' logo will appear. Now you can press the 'Enter' key to see a deleted scene from the first episode of Seth Cohen drinking.
Insert the second disc of the DVD set and from the Main Menu go to the 'Episodes' selection. There highlight the episode 'The Outsider' and then press the 'Right' key on your remote control once. The 'OC' logo will appear and give you access to an extended scene of Seth talking to the lobsters.
Now insert the fourth disc of the DVD set and go to the 'Episodes' section, accessible from the Main Menu. Highlight the episode 'The Links' and press the 'Right' key on your remote control. You will now have access to the alternate ending of the episode with a brief introduction from Josh.
The blended event has become such a cult holiday for the show, even though this is only its second year, that the "Yarmuclaus," a Santa hat/yarmulke that makes its debut tonight (8 ET/PT), is a hot seller at www.theocinsider.com.
"Last year, we felt like we got some nice traction," show creator Josh Schwartz says. "We felt like we could come back to it this year." And on tonight's episode, he teases, "There might be a Chrismukkah miracle."
Schwartz could be hoping that the miracle comes in the form of ratings. This season's move from Wednesdays to Thursdays has been tough for The O.C.
Though this season's first episode in November drew 8.6 million viewers, the numbers have dropped each week since. The show is down 1 million viewers on average from last year. Fox still sees the move as a plus, because The O.C. has improved the networks' previous three-year season average in the time period by 57% among the young adults prized by advertisers and by 96% among teens.
"It's all sort of how you look at it," Schwartz says. The hope is that when American Idol returns in January, viewers will flock back to Fox.
"I think we'll continue to grow as people start buzzing about it in January," he says. "We're on for 12 straight episodes. I really think we'll build from there."
And there will be plenty to buzz about (warning: spoilers ahead): • Jimmy, played by Tate Donovan, leaves on the Jan. 6 episode, the next new show after tonight's.
• For spring break, the gang will visit Nana (Linda Lavin) at her retirement community in Florida. "Insanity will ensue for the kids," Schwartz says.
• On Jan. 27, Kim Delaney (news) makes her first appearance as the old girlfriend of Sandy Cohen (Peter Gallagher (news)).
• And Marissa (Mischa Barton (news)) will no longer have eyes for Ryan or DJ but instead will fall for Alex (Olivia Wilde), who runs the Bait Shop.
Schwartz denies that the lesbian plot twist is a gimmick to boost the show's ratings. "We cooked it up well before the show ever premiered this year," he says, adding that it's not just a kiss stunt along the lines of Friends' Jennifer Aniston (news) kissing Winona Ryder.
"It's a relationship. It's not just a kiss, and everyone freaks out and runs away. I don't know if you'll see them in bed together, but it's definitely intimated that they're headed that way." But he's honest about hoping it draws viewers. "Any big story line we hope will get people talking."It already has. Says fan Kimberly Sheffield, 25, of Austell, Ga.: "This is completely in character with the show. The O.C. is about shocking material." --- TVGuide.com Hot List
The O.C. [New] 8 pm/ET, FOXIt's a Chrismukkah miracle! Seth's crossbred "super holiday" is back and just in time to spread a little cheer to the Cohens. Even the ones they didn't know existed. That's right, it looks like Caleb's got some 'splaining to do when Orange County's coolest holiday revelers learn that someone among them shares a startling family tie with Seth, Sandy and Kirsten. Which beats fruitcake any day. --- Zap2It.com Best Bets
The O.C. 8:00 PM - FOX Last year, the good folks of "The O.C." created their own hybrid holiday, known as "Chrismukkah." As an honorary Jew and a celebrator of all secular Christmas tidings, this is a holiday I can get behind. Seth (Adam Brody) and the rest of the Cohen clan again invite their extended family for a Chrismukkah dinner -- but Seth's favorite night of the year is nearly ruined when secrets are revealed that might change the Cohen brood forever. Thankfully, Summer (Rachel Bilson) and friends formulate a plan to save the day. --- Entertainment Weekly: Biggest Little Things of 2004 Premieres Thursday, Dec 16 at 9/8c
I don't know if The O.C. will be on, but it's worth a shot that it might. --- Entertainment Weekly has Samaire Armstrong as one of its Break-Out Stars of 2004. It also mentions that Anna's character was brought out as much as they could, sorry Anna fans! --- VH1 Best Year Ever
Best Week Ever takes a look back at the year in Pop Culture in a one-hour special. For the past year, VH1's Best Week Ever has captured the ups and downs of Pop - delivering "everything you loved, everything you missed, and everything you have to see again," week after week.The special "Best Year Ever" runs through 2004 in a rough chronology. First airs this Friday 11pm
Is The O.C. on it? IDK, but, again, it's worth a shot. --- 2004 Year In Review TV Wrap It was a year of sad goodbyes for long-time TV favorites such as "Frasier," "Friends" and "Sex and the City," and a year when several hot new shows were welcomed by TV audiences who tuned in for all the action on "The O.C.," "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost."
...Even as the three series ended, three more came along to keep TV audiences tuning in. Over at FOX, "The O.C.," which technically launched in the fall of 2003, became a phenomenon and made stars out of BENJAMIN McKENZIE, MISCHA BARTON, ADAM BRODY and RACHEL BILSON, the angst-ridden teen stars of the series... --- Bachelors of 2004 Adam Brody --- Stars to Watch in 2005!
...OLIVIA WILDE may not be a household name yet, but with her new role as Alex Kelly on the mega popular FOX hit "The O.C.," it won't be long before America is singing her praises. Wilde's first big gig was just last year when she played Jewel Goldman on the FOX drama "Skin." Now, along with "The O.C.," in 2005 moviegoers can see the 20-year-old New York native alongside BRUCE WILLIS and JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE in 'Alpha Dog,' a drama based on the life of a Hollywood drug dealer who became one of the youngest men to be on the FBI's most wanted list. Wilde will also be testing her comedy chops in 2005 with 'Bickford Shmeckler's Cool Ideas.'...
posted by Jen @ 9:21 AM |
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
HAPPY 25TH BIRTHDAY ADAM BRODY!!
posted by Jen @ 1:06 PM |
Mischa Barton is on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno...tonight 12/15
posted by Jen @ 10:24 AM |
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
For all the news I don't have time to cover...Rockin' The OC
MEET OTHER OC FANATICS ON MYSPACEHead over to the new Music From the OC page on myspace.com and read an exclusive interview with Josh - just for myspace! Plus meet other OC friends.
THE WINNING SONG HAS ENTERED THE MIX!The Music From The OC: Enter The Mix contest is over, and out of the five finalists, you chose the winner: "Call Me" by Arthur Yoria. Check him out at arthuryoria.com. Arthur's song will be featured on an upcoming episode of The OC - stay tuned for more info! Thanks everyone for voting!
NEW LINER NOTES LIVE!Check out the latest update from OC music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas. Go to musicfromtheoc.com/linernotes.
HEAR THE OC END TITLE SONGA lot of you have been writing into the site and asking about the music at the end of every episode of The OC. It's officially titled "The OC End Title" and is written and performed by the show's composer, Christopher Tyng, and you can listen to it here - streamed for your listening pleasure for the very first time anywhere. Listen to it in Quicktime or Windows
HOLLYWOOD (Zap2it.com) - - I want you to know I agonize over this list as if it really matters. I fret whether "The O.C." will stop talking to me if they don't crack the Top 10. And, if they do, who will I celebrate Chrismakkuh with? Will "Alias" and I be in a fight? Will "24" bring back Kim to spite me?
So I've made my list, I've checked it twice Well, actually thrice. Okay, truth be told, I've checked my list about 20 times. Good thing I'm not Santa or kids wouldn't get their presents until sometime around March. Here are my picks for the 10 best prime time shows on network television. Cable shows don't have to play by the same rules so they will get their own separate list and I only picked from shows that are still currently on the air (what's the point of recommending a show you can't watch anymore, why torture you?).
Show I'm Hopeful About: No need to panic I'm still incredibly optimistic about "The O.C.," but so far this season it hasn't been good enough to rate Top 10 list quality.
Quotes of the Week
"First of all, it's not the same thing. Second of all, am I the gardener in this scenario?," Julie to Jimmy on "The O.C." when he tells her that Marissa and D.J. reminds him of when he and Julie were young and in love.
Where Have I Seen Them Before?
TV Gal reader Sean recognized Kathleen York, currently playing Lindsay's mom and Caleb's ex-fling on "The O.C.," was Toby's ex-wife Andrea Wyatt on "The West Wing."
TV Gal readers Kerri and Annie were the first to tell me that Nicholas Gonzalez, D.J. on "The O.C.," was the narcotics cop on "Law & Order: SVU." Annie reports that he talked a heck of a lot more than he does with he's with Marissa.
Highlights of the Week Ahead All times listed are Eastern Time for Dec. 13 to 19
Oy, humbug. It's another Chrismakkuh on "The O.C." (Thursday, FOX, 8 p.m.). Seth tries to whip up the perfect hybrid holiday but is stymied by Caleb's secret. But my question to you is this -- am I the only one who finds Ryan infinitely more attractive this season?
From freddiegirl: So, Marissa on The O.C. is now gay?Exploring, figuring it out. And yes, Josh Schwartz has confirmed the scoop first broken by my dear friend Jeffrey Epstein at Out.com. Marissa will "connect" with another character who happens to be a girl early next year. And mind you, this isn't her first time getting cuddly with the same sex on camera--don't forget she smooched Evan Rachel Wood on Once and Again.
From berly33: The O.C., now!There's definite lovey-dovey cuteness coming up for Ryan and Lindsay, and it will make things a little awkward for Marissa for a while, especially when the boys start hanging out in comic-book-club meetings and the girls are left alone to bond. Still, as you will see, Lindsay and Ryan are actually very well matched...I smell a Joey/Pacey-style switcharoo coming for all you MaRyan shippers.
posted by Jen @ 9:20 AM |
Monday, December 13, 2004
Tra La La La La, It's Christmas on TV November 30, 2004 (et.com) It's the happiest time of the year as a host of your favorite stars help to celebrate the holidays. So kick back, take a break from shopping and get into the holiday spirit with something old and something new on the TV tube.
THURSDAY, DEC. 16 "THE O.C."FOX, 8-9 p.m. The whole gang is invited to Chrismukkah at the Cohens on "The Chrismukkah That Almost Wasn't" episode, but Seth's (ADAM BRODY) favorite holiday is nearly ruined as secrets are revealed that will change the Cohen family forever. Summer (RACHEL BILSON), Ryan (BENJAMIN McKENZIE) and Marissa (MISCHA BARTON) attempt to save the holiday.
SPOILER!! DO NOT PASS THIS IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW!!
'L' WORD ON 'O.C.' ALEX, the freewheeling character on "The O.C." played by Olivia Wilde, will embark on a lesbian relationship with Marissa (Mischa Barton (news)), says show creator Josh Schwartz.
"Marissa is at a place where she's kind of lost in the world and is trying to find herself," Schwartz told The Post late Friday.
"Alex is someone who's emancipated from her parents, and is a little bit of a free spirit who becomes Marissa's mentor — she takes her under her wing and all of a sudden Marissa finds herself connecting."
Reports began to surface last week about the upcoming storyline, although just who Marissa would end up with in this new relationship left everyone scratching their heads — until now.
"Marissa is at a place where she's willing to try [a lesbian relationship] and she's open to that," Schwartz says. "We'll build it up to a kiss [between Marissa and Alex] and then a relationship develops."
Schwartz says the "big kiss" between the characters will be shot this week.
The hot new story arc begins next month on the Thursday-night Fox drama and will last for "multiple episodes" into the spring.
"We've already started shooting a lot of scenes with their relationship," he said. "Everybody is really comfortable with it, and the girls are really game and excited to play off of each other."
Schwartz says he is not thumping for ratings, insisting he formulated the storyline last summer.
"We're trying to figure out bigger arcs for our characters," he says. "This felt like a really interesting way to go. It's something that felt organic to the character.
"I've been surprised by the reaction, but I'm thrilled — we'll take it."
(Can I just say, POOR SETH! First he loses Anna because of his feelings for Summer, then he loses Summer 'cause his best friend leaves so he leaves and now she's dating a semi-Seth. With the above news, he will lose yet another girl to...well, another girl. And it's Marissa to boot! I'll be sure to watch for quips and smart wit from Seth on this one. Hmm...what does this mean for DJ?
OH! And I never got to react from last week's episode: Um...isn't it wrong that Seth had one date with HIS AUNT! Again, POOR SETH! He has already seen Aunt Hailey basically naked at a club and then recently saying that Lindsay would be his perfect mate [didn't work out, but still, wrong]. Can I just say, "I saw that coming!" I have more reaction but, I report the news so I won't bore ya.)
