The O.C. (season 2)

Infobox tvseason
show_name = "The O.C."
season_name =The O.C." Season 2


caption = Poster
dvd_release_date = August 23, 2005
country = USA
network = FOX
first_aired = Start date|2004|11|4
last_aired = End date|2005|5|19
num_episodes = 24
prev_season = Season 1
next_season=Season 3|

The second season of the television series "The O.C." commenced airing in the United States on November 5, 2004, concluded on May 19, 2005, and consisted of 24 episodes. It aired Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET in the US on FOX, a terrestrial television network. In addition to the regular 24 episodes, two special episodes aired before the season premiere. "" documented the shows' impact on popular culture, and the following week "" provided a behind-the-scenes look at the show. [cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/News-Views/Columnists/Todays-News-Our-Take/default.aspx?posting={065D89F4-DDE4-40DB-83FE-4CF1F6DE437C}|date=2004-08-26|title=Today's News: Our Take|work=TV Guide|accessdate=2008-08-07]

Continuing the stories about the characters living in Newport Beach, California, the second season would be "no longer about Ryan's past; now it's going to be about Ryan's future", said Josh Schwartz, "The O.C."'s creator. Schwartz went on to add that this season would "slow down the storytelling a little bit (...) and evolve the characters". [cite web|url=http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/560/560436p1.html|title=The O.C. Strikes Back|last=Linder|first=Brian|date=2004-10-26|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2008-08-06] The focus of the series was on the romantic developments between Ryan and Marissa, and Seth and Summer, while Sandy and Kirsten face choices that could ruin their 20-year marriage, Julie's past comes back to haunt her, and Ryan's ex-con brother Trey gives living in Newport a try. [cite web |url=http://whv.warnerbros.com/WHVPORTAL/Portal/product.jsp?OID=26632|title=The O.C.-The Complete Second Season|accessdate=2008-07-21|publisher=Warner Bros.] The season was released on DVD as a seven-disc boxed set under the title "The O.C.: The Complete Second Season" on August 23, 2005 by Warner Bros. Home Video. [cite web|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/OC-Complete-2nd-Season/4813|title=The O.C. - The Complete 2nd Season|accessdate=2008-07-22|publisher=TVShowsOnDVD.com] On September 7, 2008 the season became available to purchase for registered users of the US iTunes Store. In the United Kingdom the season premiered January 11, 2005 on Channel 4.cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a14666/latest-oc-season-two-cast-news.html|title=Latest 'O.C.' season two cast news|first=Neil|last=Wilkes|date=2004-06-08|accessdate=2008-07-21|work=Digital Spy |publisher=Digital Spy Ltd.] In Canada the season aired on CTV Television Network and in Australia it was broadcast by Network Ten.

Crew

The season was produced by Warner Bros. Television and Wonderland Sound and Vision. The executive producers were series creator Josh Schwartz, McG and Bob DeLaurentis. Stephanie Savage and Allan Heinberg served as co-executive producers, with Loucas George credited as producer. [Heffernan, Virginia (November 4, 2004), " [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/arts/television/04heff.html In 'O.C.,' You Must Go Home Again] ", "The New York Times". Retrieved on July 18, 2008.] The staff writers were Schwartz, Savage, Heinberg, John Stephens, J.J. Philbin and Mike Kelley. The regular directors throughout the season were Michael Lange, Ian Toynton, Michael Fresco and Tony Wharmby.

Cast

The second season had star billing for nine major roles. Mischa Barton as Marissa, Rachel Bilson as Summer, Adam Brody as Seth, Melinda Clarke as recently married Julie Cooper-Nichol, Peter Gallagher as Sandy, Benjamin McKenzie as Ryan and Kelly Rowan as Kirsten all returned to the main cast. Tate Donovan also initially reprised his major character role as Jimmy, but as was written out of the series in the seventh episode. [cite web |url=http://www.theocinsider.com/backstage/episodes/season2/07.html|title=Backstage Pass: Episode Guide - "The Family Ties" |accessdate=2008-07-21|work=The O.C. Insider|publisher=Warner Bros.] However Donovan returned with Jimmy as a guest star in the season finale. [cite web |url=http://www.theocinsider.com/backstage/episodes/season2/24.html|title=Backstage Pass: Episode Guide - "The Dearly Beloved" |accessdate=2008-07-21|work=The O.C. Insider|publisher=Warner Bros.] Alan Dale, as newly wed Caleb, joined the main cast, having previously been a recurring role.

Nicholas Gonzalez (as D.J.), Michael Cassidy (as Zach Stevens), Shannon Lucio (as Lindsay Gardner) and Olivia Wilde (as Alex Kelly) all took up recurring roles in the show as love interests of existing characters, [cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-11-03-oc-new-faces_x.htm|title=Meet the new kids in town on 'The O.C.'|first=Ann|last=Oldenburg|date=2004-11-04|accessdate=2008-07-21|work=USA Today |publisher=Gannett Company] Marissa, Ryan, Summer and Seth, who are all now single. [cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/news/oc-schwartz-josh/041015-10|title=Welcome to Season 2 of The O.C.|last=Coleridge|first=Daniel R.|date=2004-10-15|work=TV Guide|accessdate=2008-08-06] Former main cast member Chris Carmack, as Luke Ward, left the show as did actors Samaire Armstrong, Taylor Handley, Ashley Hartman and Bonnie Somerville, who had recurring roles as Anna, Oliver, Holly and Rachel Hoffman respectively.

Actors returning as guest stars included Amanda Righetti (as Hailey), Michael Nouri (as Dr. Neil Roberts), Navi Rawat (as Theresa Diaz) (only in the premiere) and Linda Lavin (as The Nana). [cite web |url=http://www.theocinsider.com/backstage/episodes/season2/02.html|title=Backstage Pass: Episode Guide - "The Way We Were"|accessdate=2008-07-21|work=The O.C. Insider|publisher=Warner Bros.] [cite web |url=http://www.theocinsider.com/backstage/episodes/season2/21.html|title=Backstage Pass: Episode Guide - "The Return of the Nana"|accessdate=2008-07-21|work=The O.C. Insider|publisher=Warner Bros.] Ryan's brother Trey also returned, but Logan Marshall-Green replaced Bradley Stryker in portraying him.cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/tv/reviews/o/oc-2005.shtml|title=The O.C.-Brothering|first=Mary|last=Colgan|date=2005-05-05|accessdate=2008-07-21|work=PopMatters] Other guest stars in new recurring roles included Billy Campbell, as magazine editor Carter Buckley,cite web|url=http://www.theocinsider.com/backstage/episodes/season2/15.html|title=Backstage Pass: Episode Guide - "The Mallpisode" |accessdate=2008-08-06|work=The O.C. Insider|publisher=Warner Bros.] Kim Delaney, as Sandy's ex-fiancée Rebecca Bloom, [cite web|url=http://www.theocinsider.com/backstage/episodes/season2/10.html|title=Backstage Pass: Episode Guide - "The Accomplice" |accessdate=2008-08-06|work=The O.C. Insider|publisher=Warner Bros.] Johnny Messner, as Julie's ex-boyfriend Lance Baldwin, Kathleen York, as mother of Caleb's illegitimate child Renee Wheeler, [cite web|url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-desperatehousewiveskathleenyorkmattroth,0,6719943.story|title='Housewives' Get Some New Neighbors|date=2006-09-21|work=Zap2it|publisher=Tribune Media Services|accessdate=2008-08-06] Nikki Griffin as party girl and drug addict Jess Sathers, [cite web|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117921068.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1|date=2005-04-13|title=Nikki Griffin|last=Chang|first=Justin|work=Daily Variety|publisher=Reed Elsevier|accessdate=2008-09-24] and Marguerite Moreau, as Reed Carlson the Vice President of a graphic novel company. [cite web|url=http://www.theocinsider.com/backstage/episodes/season2/19.html|title=Backstage Pass: Episode Guide - "The Rager" |accessdate=2008-08-06|work=The O.C. Insider|publisher=Warner Bros.] George Lucas also guest-starred as himself in one episode. [cite web|url=http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271%7C95224%7C1%7C,00.html|title=Family Ties Draw George Lucas to 'The O.C.'|work=Zap2it.com|publisher=Tribune Media Services|date=2005-05-10|accessdate=2008-07-21|last=O'Hare|first=Kate]

Reception

The second season was widely received as inferior to the first,cite web |url=http://www.boxofficeprophets.com/column/index.cfm?columnID=9145|title=How to Spend $20|accessdate=2008-07-22|date=2005-08-25|first=David|last=Mumpower|work=BoxOfficeProphets.com] but it has been noted that this maybe slightly unfair.The show moved to "ultra-competitive Thursday" [cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20008247,00.html|title='The O.C.' Wipes Out|last=Armstrong|first=Jennifer|date=2007-01-12|work=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Time Inc.|accessdate=2008-08-06] nights which Schwartz described as a "real vote of confidence [from] the network", [cite web|url=http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/560/560436p2.html|title=The O.C. Strikes Back|last=Linder|first=Brian|date=2004-10-26|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2008-08-06] but many attributed placing "The O.C." against the likes of "Survivor", "Joey" and "Will & Grace" as part of "The O.C."'s decline in popularity. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2007/02/22/ironic_and_fun_oc_died_oh_so_quickly/|title=Ironic and fun 'O.C.' died oh so quickly|last=Gilbert|first=Matthew|date=2007-02-22|work=The Boston Globe|publisher=The New York Times Company|accessdate=2008-08-11] [cite web|url=http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/753/753067p1.html|title=The O.C. Is Cancelled|last=Goldman|first=Eric|date=2007-01-04|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2008-08-06] The move improved FOX's performance at the new time slot, but lost the show viewers. [cite web|url=http://uk.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=4d7aaad8-0078-4a60-83af-ef7da88758d7|title=The O.C., RIP|last=Finn|first=Natalie|date=2007-01-04|work=E! Online News|publisher=E! Entertainment Television|accessdate=2008-08-08] The season premiere attracted 8.6 million viewers, [cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-12-15-oc_x.htm|title='O.C.' fans are invited for 'Chrismukkah'|date=2004-12-16|first=Ann|last=Oldenburg|work=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Company|accessdate=2008-09-02] but average viewing figures decreased thirty percent from the previous season to 7 million. [cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000937471|title=Primetime series|date=2005-05-27|work=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Nielsen Company|accessdate=2008-09-02]

For the second season the show was nominated for five Teen Choice Awards winning four of them, including best drama. It was also nominated for the Favorite Television Drama People's Choice Award. Kelly Rowan won a PRISM Award for Performance in a Drama Series Episode, with Peter Gallagher also getting nominated. Additionally the season finale was nominated for the TV Drama Series Episode award. [cite web|url=http://www.prismawards.com/winners/|title=PRISM Awards, 2006, Television|work=PRISM Awards|publisher=Entertainment Industries Council|accessdate=2008-07-22] The introduction of bisexual character Alex, was praised as "an especially charismatic new presence", with the show was praised for it's handling of her lesbian relationship with Marissa. [cite web|url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2007/02/our_thursdays_a.html|title=Our Thursdays are less Seth-y: Goodbye to 'The O.C.'|date=2007-02-22|first=Maureen|last=Ryan|work=The Watcher|publisher=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=2008-09-02] However Mischa Barton was criticized for her acting skills in portraying Marissa, along side other noted flaws including "flavorless plots," and "flat new characters who failed to grab the audience's interest". [cite web |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E03E4D81631F937A3575AC0A9639C8B63&scp=19&sq=The%20O.C.%20marissa&st=cse|title=The Week Ahead: Sept. 4 -- Sept. 10; Television|accessdate=2008-07-05|date=2005-09-04|first=Kate|last=Aurthur|work=The New York Times|publisher=The New York Times Company] IGN faulted the move to quickly rekindle the Ryan and Marissa relationship and "abruptly write off Alex and Lindsay, after [making] them a pretty big part of the show" but commended a "compelling story centering on Ryan's brother Trey coming to town, leading to a very dramatic season finale"cite web|url=http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/771/771116p2.html|title=The O.C.: Which Season Was Best?|last=Goldman|first=Eric|date=2007-03-07|publisher=IGN|pages=2|accessdate=2008-08-06] Tate Donovan, who played Jimmy, credited a drop in ratings to "the show moving away from the family dynamic to focus more on the kids". [cite web |url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/damages/tate-donovan-discusses-the-dam-12380.aspx|title=Tate Donovan Discusses 'Damages' Finale and Decline of 'The O.C.'|accessdate=2008-07-05|date=2007-10-12|first=John|last=Kubicek|publisher=BuddyTV]

Episodes

"Series #" refers to the episode's number in the overall series, whereas "Episode #" refers to the episode's number in this particular season. The second season's episodes are altogether 1048 minutes in length.

Notes

*fnb|* - These episodes were first shown in Canada at 8:00 p.m. ET on CTV. In America airing of "The Return of the Nana" was postponed due to a press conference by President Bush. [cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1058540,00.html|title=Double Trouble|last=Barrett|first=Annie|date=2005-05-06|work=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Time Inc.|accessdate=2008-08-10] Instead it aired the following week at 8:00 p.m. ET immediately followed by "The Showdown" at 9:00 p.m.

DVD release

The DVD release of season two was released by Warner Bros. in the U.S. on 23 August, 2005 after it had completed broadcast on television. As well as every episode from the season, the DVD release features bonus material including a gag reel, audio commentary and a fasion featurette.

*fnb|A - In the UK the DVD was released as a 6-disk set. [Sooke, Alastair (August 13, 2005), " [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2005/08/13/bfdvds13.xml&page=3 The OC: Complete Second Season] ", "Telegraph.co.uk". Retrieved on July 19, 2008.] Omitted was the U.S. release seventh disk that featured Beachy Couture, Obsess Completely and the two season gag reel. [cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/17480/oc-the-complete-second-season-the/|title=The O.C. - The Complete Second Season|first=Scott|last= Weinberg|date=2005-09-01|work=DVD Talk|publisher=Internet Brands|accessdate=2008-07-22]

References

External links

* [http://www.theocinsider.com/backstage/episodeguide02.html Episode Guide] at Warner Bros.' "The OC Insider"
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362359/episodes#season-2 "The O.C." Episode List] at "IMDb.com"
* [http://www.tv.com/the-o.c./show/16960/episode_guide.html?season=2&tag=season_dropdown;dropdown;1 "The O.C." season 2 episode guide] at "TV.com"