Well, after months of speculation it appears that the word has come down from Fox regarding the future of The O.C. The news isn’t good but it might not be as bad as it seems.
The hip young drama The O.C. debuted on August 5, 2003 on FOX. Much like Beverly Hills, 90210 before it, the show became very popular among younger viewers during a summer debut. The series, set in Newport Beach in Orange County, California, told the story of a group of teens and parents in the Cohen, Cooper, and Nichol families whose lives were changed by the arrival of an outsider in their idyllic community.
The O.C. is frequently credited with popularizing several previously unknown bands and reviving the teen drama genre while including humorous and heartfelt adult storylines. The series currently stars actors Peter Gallagher, Kelly Rowan, Benjamin McKenzie, Adam Brody, Melinda Clarke, Rachel Bilson, Autumn Reeser, and Willa Holland.
There was concern by many that season four, which debuted on November 2, 2006, would be the show’s last. For one thing, fans were told to expect to see a significant shift in the storylines now that the hot teen characters have left high school. One of the main characters had also died at the end of season three (Marissa played by Mischa Barton). On top of that, the other networks were offering stiff Thursday night competition with powerhouses like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Grey’s Anatomy.
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The O.C.’s fourth season premiere drew a small number of viewers, approximately a meager 2.5 million. This poor showing caused Fox to cancel The O.C.’s weaker lead-in shows immediately (the sitcom Happy Hour and the game show The Rich List) and to rework their troubled schedule — even airing The O.C. twice a week. Ultimately though, the show stayed on Thursday nights to fight it out and understandably the numbers didn’t improve very much. We now know that the battle is over. Or is it?
Fox has now issued a statement that The O.C. has been cancelled and that the series finale will air on Thursday, February 22nd. Original fourth season episodes will air each week prior to the finale. The series creator and executive producer Josh Schwartz said in a statement, “The O.C. Season Four finale will also be the series finale. This feels like the best time to bring the show to its close. Thanks to the hard work of our cast, crew and writers, we have enjoyed our best season yet, and what better time to go out than creatively on top. It has been an amazing experience and a great run. For a certain audience, at a certain time, The O.C. has meant something. For that we are grateful.”
In a note to TV critic Alan Sepinwell, Josh Schwartz explained that only a portion of his quote made it into the press release. The part that was cut said “There has been some speculation about a Season 5 on another network but this feels like the best time to bring the story to an end.” Josh went on to say, “I felt better to go out now with the run we’re having then try and move the show, etc. etc. and maybe not be able to deliver the same level of quality. Teen dramas have a shelf life. We’ve had a lot of parties on the show, and so I’ve learned, best not to stay too late.”
So that’s it. Or is it? There have been rumblings that the freshman CW network might be interested in picking up the series. Idol rumors? Maybe not.
The O.C. is produced by Wonderland Sound and Vision and College Hill Pictures in association with Warner Bros. Television Production. Warner Bros. co-owns the CW network. A minimum of 100 episodes are traditionally desired for a series to be sold in syndication (so that stations can run episodes every day without having to rerun them too quickly). At the end of the fourth season, The O.C. will have only 92 episodes. It may make better financial sense for Warner Bros. to continue producing the show for a fifth season, even if it’s only another short one.
In addition, head of the CW network Dawn Ostroff is said to be extremely interested in picking up the show for another season. The show is expensive to produce but perhaps the syndication money could offset the cost enough so that the CW network could afford it. Stranger things have happened when it comes to networks. After all, Seventh Heaven was pulled from the ashes and renewed for an 11th season last year. Could the same thing happen to The O.C.? What do you think? Worth saving? Take part in our poll (see above left). Time will tell so stay tuned! 
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this is the best show ever it cant end there has 2 be season5 or better yet it has 2 be chosen for atleast 5 more seasons saaave the oc
This is a great show reminds me of 90210 I cannot beleive it was taken off of the air..Please save this SHOW….Please I really looked forward to watch this every Thursday night…My husband is in IRAQ and TV is my life for now….Please save this show…..
The O.C. should’t of gotten canceled, it was A really good show and I still liked it.
I think the creators should have looked at the larger picture, just because the viewers ratings were down in the USA didn’t mean to say they were down everywhere in the world, every show has a temporary blip. I live in the UK and the O.C was massive over here, prime time slot and repeated on different channels right after it was on. The O.C had its effect on the world, and at times it was very emototionally involving and it will be missed by many including myself, unless they bring it back for more (hint hint). Killing off Marissa… Read more »
please save the oc!!!fox please!!!!oc is very beautiful film!!!!oc ilove you 4ever in my life!!!please save the oc!!!!!perfavore salvate oc non può finire vi prego
You Better bring it back beacuse its awsome and i think that when it ends so does my life
KEEP the OC–This is its best season ever!
Anonymous
I love the OC so much! I watch it EVERY thursday, and own seasons 1-3 box sets. I will cry if this show is over! It is the best! This season and its cast of young, fresh faces have been very interesting, and with all the twists, I can’t stop watching. Fox would be making a HUGE mistake to cancel this show, because there’s still so many people it has hooked. Look at all the money you’re throwing away! This is a brilliant opportunity to make more money, and get to 100 episodes. Make at least one more season, while… Read more »
Rarely do television shows come along which are so well written with such sharp and witty dialogue and possessing an ensemble cast that clearly likes each other and has excellent chemistry, so why cancel and disappoint millions of viewers? If ever a medium needed more quality work, it’s television. And television needs the O.C. The cross generational appeal is fabulous. I have been a Peter Gallagher fan for years (anyone remember Summer Lovers with Daryll Hannah and Peter frolicking in Greece?) and it’s great to see him in a regularly scheduled program. Additionally, the younger members of the cast have… Read more »
PICK THE OC BACK UP! DON’T LET IT GO! THIS SHOW IS AWESOME AND I THINK IF CW WAS TO TAKE OVER THEN THE RATINGS WOULD GO UP CONSIDERIN OTHER SHOWS THE CW HAVE THAT HAVE MADE IT BEYOND 3 SEASONS. LET THE OC COME BACK!!!!!!! WE WANT THE OC!
Hello FOX do you notice a pattern here? How many people have to beg and plead for you to keep the show before you realize you’re making a huge mistake. I hope that someone else picks up the show, Like the CW, and you big wigs at FOX realize what a dumb mistake you made letting it get away. This show has potential to be better than most other teen dramas. So get your act together and recend your decision to cancel this show.
My whole family loves the o.c. Please DONT CANCELL
o.c is the best show ever, and I really hope i’ll reach a 100 episodes, at least …
Im not going to make this long..but just to sum it up
YOU CANT TAKE THE OC OFF THE AIR
ITS MORE THEN JUST A TV SHOW
ITS PEOPLES LIVES
IT INSPIRES ME AND EVERYONE
huge mistake, and honestly you guys WILL regret it!