OC, The

▪ American television drama

      American television drama series that aired on the Fox network for four seasons (2003–07) and was particularly popular with teenagers and young adults.

      The OC depicted the lives of a group of teenagers and their families who lived in Newport Beach, a wealthy community in Orange county, Calif., near Los Angeles. In the style of its Fox predecessor, Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990–2000), the show's protagonist was a young male with a modest background who was thrust into the fast-paced life of a rich southern California enclave. Ryan Atwood (played by Benjamin McKenzie) came from a dysfunctional, low-income family in Chino, Calif. When his mother kicked him out of the house, Ryan was taken in by Sandy and Kristen Cohen (Peter Gallagher and Kelly Rowan, respectively), a wealthy couple with impressive careers and a teenage son, Seth (Adam Brody). Over the course of the series, Ryan's background provided him with a unique perspective and the ability to affect the lives of his privileged peers. Much of the series unfolded in soap-opera fashion, with the teens' lives often thrown into dramatic upheaval as they negotiated high school and adolescence. Typical story lines concerned the characters' experiences with relationships, family crises, and sex, drugs, and alcohol. Love interests and allegiances often quickly changed, sometimes with dire consequences for the characters.

      The series was never well reviewed, although it developed a loyal following and proved influential in launching new trends in fashion and music. In the process The OC provided wide exposure for a host of alternative and independent rock groups.

* * *