The Telenovela

Infobox Television episode
Colour = #ffaa44
Series = The O.C.
Title = The Telenovela


Season = 1
(2003-2004)
Caption = "Acknowledge me now or lose me forever"
Episode = 20
Airdate = February 25, 2004 (FOX)
Writer = Stephanie Savage
Director = Sanford Bookstaver
Production = 176519
Episode list = "The O.C." (season 1)
List of "The O.C." episodes
Prev = The Heartbreak
Next = The Goodbye Girl|

"The Telenovela" is the 20th episode of the FOX television series, "The O.C.". The episode was written by Stephanie Savage and was directed by Sanford Bookstaver. It originally aired on Wednesday February 25, 2004.

Guest starring

Plot

Articleissues
cleanup = May 2008
fansite = May 2008
inappropriate tone = May 2008

After discussing with Seth that he and Marissa are trying out the "friend thing", Ryan gets a call from Theresa, who is coming to Newport for work and wants to hang out. Summer is volunteering to work the kissing booth for the school's swim team fundraiser, which makes Seth uncomfortable, but she quells his fear by telling him that he can help her practice. After she heads to class, Seth sees Anna, and she tells him that her trip back home to Pittsburgh was great, and that she didn't realize how much she missed it until she went back.

At the office, Caleb asks Kirsten to ask Sandy to help his friend "Uncle Shaun" get out of trouble with the DA. He was arrested for disorderly conduct and Caleb wants it to be swept under the rug. Kirsten says that it is a good idea, but that he will have to ask Sandy himself. Back at school, Julie has come for parent-teacher interviews, and Luke gets excited. But Julie tells him that the school is not the place to get excited and to meet her at her place that evening. Jimmy arrives and Luke stumbles away. Ryan and Marissa make plans to hang out after school at the pool house.

Over at the Balboa Restaurant, Caleb goes to ask Sandy for his legal help regarding Uncle Shaun. Sandy appreciates Caleb showing respect and asking him himself, and says he'll see what he can do, but doesn't promise anything. Back at the school, Julie tells Jimmy that he is doing right by Marissa. She then tells him that she and Caleb are no longer together. Over at the Roberts house, Seth asks Summer why she ignores him at school. She tells him that she wants privacy, and a private relationship. At the Cohen's, Ryan and Marissa decide it's weird to try and be "just friends". But before they can really talk about it, Theresa shows up and Marissa leaves.

The next day at school, Ryan apologizes for not mentioning that Theresa was in town. Marissa says it is fine. They plan to get together again as friends, awkwardly. Anna tells Seth that he has to stand up for himself or Summer will get used to being able to walk over him. Over at the restaurant, Sandy meets with Uncle Shaun. After Sandy tries to get the truth out of Shaun about what happened in his situation, Shaun feels he's snooping/caring too much, and threatens that if he has to face the DA, there is no telling what might slip out (about Caleb). Turns out he has bullied his way through social and business situations to get what he wanted, legal or not.

That night, Seth tells Summer that she won't be seeing him privately if she doesn't see him publicly. At the Cohen's, Ryan finds Eddie, his old friend from Chino (and Theresa's fiancé) looking for Theresa. Ryan tells him that he hasn't seen her. Ryan is furious with Theresa, and confronts her, asking when she'll tell Eddie where she is. Summer shows up at the Cohen's, and says that she finds Seth's ultimatum unacceptable. Seth weakly turns her away. Over at the Cooper house, Caleb shows up for a "booty call", even if he didn't know what that meant. Julie angrily turns him away.

Since Theresa has no money for food, and is starving, she and Ryan go to the Cohen's for dinner. Seth is intrigued by the love triangle, and Sandy and Kirsten sense a weird vibe. So Seth explains that what they have is their very own telenovela (Spanish-language soap opera). Over at Jimmy's, Marissa complains to Jimmy that she doesn't want to just be friends with Ryan, it isn't working. Jimmy tells her that she needs to let him know what she really wants. So she goes over to the Cohen's and crashes dinner. She wasn't expecting to find Theresa there though. The Telenovela gets juicier.

The next day, Eddie calls asking for Ryan. But Seth tells him he is not home. Seth warns Ryan that he needs to be careful, because someone is going to get hurt, and it might be him. At the office, Sandy confronts Caleb and says he won't help Shaun. But Caleb says that if Shaun doesn't get his way, the Newport Group, including Shaun, will go down with him. At school, Summer and Anna speak, and Summer admits that she can't be public with Seth because she doesn't want anyone to know that they were ever together should he ever dump her. She'd be crushed. She doesn't know why he likes her, and she knows he will get bored.

Luke gets a call from Julie, where she is waiting at the Mermaid Inn for a booty call. At the same time, Marissa shows up at the motel to see Theresa and talk about where they both stand on Ryan. Ryan meanwhile, is in Chino visiting Eddie, telling him the truth about Theresa. Eddie tells Ryan that he needs to think about what he wants with her. Theresa decides she needs to call Eddie, after realizing she does want to be with him, rather than aimlessly hold out for something better.

Later on at school, Summer and Seth make their relationship public knowledge by standing up together and kissing at the kissing booth. The school is shocked, but they are relieved. As Theresa packs to go home to Eddie, Ryan drops by and says it is the right thing to do. Theresa asks if there is a reason to stay, and Ryan kisses her.

Music

*"Caught In The Rain" by Preston School of Industry
*"Leaving Trains" by James William Hindle
*"Bluebird Of Happiness" by Mojave 3
*"Des Moines" by Halloween, Alaska
*"Something Pretty" by Patrick Park

Trivia

*When Theresa comes over for dinner, the family discusses Sandy's (played by Peter Gallagher) college musical singing career, where he starred in the production of "Grease". Seth eggs him on to perform, saying, "Come on Dad, Travolta's your bitch," referencing that Sandy's character had played the role of Danny Zuko, who was played by John Travolta in the film version of the musical. This also references to Peter Gallagher's real-life role of the same part in the Broadway version of "Grease".

External links

*imdb title|0663922|Full Cast & Crew
* [http://www.fox.com/oc/recaps/season1/120.htm Recap from Official Website]
* [http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/articles/content/a1620/ Recap] from Television Without Pity