鈥淐alifornia, here we come.鈥�
The refrain from the Phantom Planet tune 鈥淐alifornia鈥� that served as the theme song for 鈥淭he O.C.鈥� welcomed viewers to Fox鈥檚 short-lived but much-loved prime-time soap that focused on a group of teenagers and parents navigating the emotional ups and downs of life in affluent Newport Beach.
Now, 20 years after the show鈥檚 debut, Rolling Stone TV critic Alan Sepinwall is taking readers 鈥渞ight back where we started from鈥� in a splendid retrospective that relies on the memories of those who brought the show鈥檚 96 episodes to life.
鈥淲elcome to The O.C.鈥� 鈥� the title references a memorable line from the pilot (minus a not-so-friendly word that punctuates the sentiment) 鈥� features recollections from creator Josh Schwartz, executive producer Stephanie Savage, the show鈥檚 stars, Fox executives and many more.
The oral history serves as a definitive look-back at the four-season series that introduced 鈥淐hrismukkah鈥� (a celebration of both Christmas and Hanukkah in the blended Cohen household) and a host of indie-rock bands whose songs played over some of 鈥淭he O.C.鈥濃�檚 biggest moments.
None was more monumental than the controversial decision to kill off Marissa Cooper, one of the show鈥檚 central characters, in season three鈥檚 finale in 2006.
The book devotes a chapter to the behind-the-scenes intrigue that led to Barton鈥檚 exit as well as the fallout. Spoiler alert: Those close to the show didn鈥檛 like it very much, starting with Barton herself, who called it 鈥渁 little bit of a bummer.鈥�
Others used stronger 鈥� and strikingly similar 鈥� language.
Kelly Rowan, who played Cooper鈥檚 neighbor, Kirsten Cohen, said the storyline was 鈥渁 big mistake,鈥� breaking up the characters who came to be known as 鈥淭he Core Four鈥� 鈥� Kirsten Cohen鈥檚 comic-book- and indie-music-loving son Seth, played by Adam Brody; Ben McKenzie鈥檚 Ryan Atwood, a troubled outsider who is taken in by the Cohens; Summer Roberts (Rachel Bilson), Seth Cohen鈥檚 dream girl and classmate; and Cooper, the beautiful girl-next-door who is Ryan鈥檚 soulmate.
Savage acknowledged it was a 鈥渢errible, terrible mistake.鈥�
And Schwartz, who at the time was one of the youngest EPs in the television industry, agreed.
鈥淚 very quickly realized, 鈥極h my God, what have we done? I think we made a terrible mistake,鈥欌�� he said.
鈥淭he O.C.鈥� lasted one more season. Schwartz and Savage went on to helm a multitude of other small-screen gems, including 鈥淐huck鈥� and 鈥淕ossip Girl.鈥� The Core Four had become stars, and the show gave screen time to future headliners such as and Shailene Woodley.
鈥淲elcome to The O.C.鈥� is a must-read for viewers of the show鈥檚 original run, but it works, too, for those meeting the Cohens and their fellow Orange County residents for the first time via streaming services.
___
AP book reviews:
Mike Householder, The Associated Press
