Who cares if it's something we've seen before if we are loving seeing it again? Television cliches work if you care about the characters and are invested in the drama. And I'm so invested I would buy stock in "The O.C." (from my broker Pacey Witter, of course) if I could. I'm utterly smitten with Adam Brody. (Everyone remain calm. Adam Brody is 23 and thanks to Cameron and Demi I feel completely Justi-fied in my love for younger men.) Sure, we all loved Brody as Lane's boyfriend Dave on "Gilmore Girls," but you are going to really love him in this. Brody is charmingly awkward and hysterical. Even his wardrobe is a hoot. McKenzie is an expert at those soulful, piercing glances and is able to pull off cheesy lines like "We're from different worlds."
The series also smartly gives the adults storylines that are almost as interesting as their offspring's angsty plots. (Poor Jim and Cindy Walsh were never so lucky.) Marissa's father Jimmy (Tate Donovan) is in financial trouble, and his snooty wife Julie (Melinda Clark, Lady Heather last season on "CSI") is in denial. Jimmy also used to date and perhaps still has a thing for Sandy's wife Kirsten (Kelly Rowan).
One thing that concerns me is that the third episode isn't as strong as the first two. But that's okay. The Peach Pit wasn't built in a day. I'm prepared to give "The O.C." time to work out its kinks. Let's hope the fickle network, which cancelled both "Firefly" and "Fastlane" last season, is prepared to do the same.
Because I want "The O.C." to become a colossal hit. I want the names Adam Brody, Benjamin McKenzie, and Mischa Barton to become household names. I want mall appearances and fashion crazes. I want very special guest stars. And that, my dear readers, is where you come in. Consider it your first assignment of the Fall 2003 season. You must watch this show. If you miss the premiere, FOX is repeating the episode Thursday at 9 p.m. and Monday at 8 p.m.
After you watch the show, let me know what you think? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com or post your thoughts to the TV Gal Message Board.
To the TV Gal Reader Belongs the SpoilsWe've been out of practice a little bit, so let me remind you. Don't read if you don't want to know.Most unfortunately, Harry Connick Jr. will return as Grace's husband Leo on "Will & Grace." NBC likes the crooner so much that they are thinking about giving him his own series in 2004. I have nothing against Connick, but there's just no way for Leo to Grace-fully fit into the series.
I heard from Scott Cohen himself that he would love to come back to see his "Gilmore Girls" next season. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
Charisma Carpenter, who will see soon in ABC Family's "See Jane Date," will guest star in the new NBC dramedy "Miss Match."
Spike and Harmony seems so 2000. But one of the founding members of the Cordettes will be reunited with her Spikey when Mercedes McNab drops by "Angel" next season. Sarah Thompson, who I found quite annoying as Dana Pool on "Boston Public," will play Eve, Angel's new assistant.
Vanessa Ferlito will play Claudia, a woman with criminal connections of great interest to Jack Bauer, on the new season of "24." Wendy Crewson will also appear for at least eight episodes.
Mike Erwin, the resident coma boyfriend on "Everwood," has signed a deal with The WB. The network hopes to have a series for the actor by the 2004-05 season. All the more support for the "Colin is good as dead" theory. I should add even if Colin doesn't make it through surgery, this is a series where characters have seen dead people in the past. For those of you who have been wondering where the drama has been this summer, "Everwood" returns to the network on Monday, Aug. 18.
Abby is not pleased when she wakes up and sees Carter in her bedroom in the season premiere of "ER." That might help "ER" explain why Noah Wyle will be missing from most of the first nine episodes this season.
Where Have I Seen Them Before?Betty Buckley and Amy Sedaris weren't the only familiar faces on USA's "Monk." Melissa George played the murdering actress. George played Rita in the short-lived ABC series "Thieves" and was seen last season as Emma's nanny on "Friends."
Took me a while to recognize him without his long hair, but Scott William Winters, Cyril O'Reily on "Oz," was the park ranger on "The Dead Zone."
Quotes of the Week"You're suffering from post-it traumatic stress syndrome." Samantha to Carrie, after Berger breaks up with her via a post-it, on "Sex and the City."
"This is our first time. We're virgins," Kelly when she and fiance Jon came in first on "The Amazing Race 4." Can we pause and reflect on how completely dysfunctional their relationship is? When you are telling your supposed loved one to "shut your pie hole. Just shut it," that can't be a good thing, can it?
Highlights of the Week Ahead
All times listed are Eastern Standard Time for Aug. 4 to 10Simon Cowell drops by via satellite from London on "American Juniors" (FOX, Tuesday, 8 p.m.). Even though we won't see season three until January, Simon will brings with him a peak at some of the latest "American Idol" auditions.
We'll see Rory visit both Harvard and Yale when The WB airs back to back repeats of "Gilmore Girls" (Tuesday, WB, 8 p.m.). By the way, Lauren Graham has set up a production company, called Good Game, at Warner Bros. Television. Under the deal, she'll develop and executive produce comedies and dramas.
I guess I should confess to watching and actually kind of liking "Cupid" (Tuesday, CBS, 9 p.m.). I still don't think I'm interested enough to watch every week, but I kind of care about who wins (if you tell anyone that, I will completely deny it). Now Hank is clearly the front-runner. But we all know how well that worked out for Justin Guarini. If Hank acts too sure of himself or takes Lisa on a bad date, well he could be voted right out of the dating pool. I see Evan as the dark horse candidate. The fact that Laura (who by the way is only 25, she so needs to drink more water and wear sunscreen) and Kimberly hate him could actually work in Evan's favor. Robert A. will probably be the first to go, but I can't imagine that Ken, who was painfully boring, will last much longer. Okay, I've officially spent entirely too much time talking about this show. Obviously, I desperately need the new season to start.
David Spade hosts the "Teen Choice Awards" this Wednesday at 8 p.m. on FOX. Look for Ashton Kutcher, who brought along Demi Moore's daughter Scout as his date. Also keep an eye out for Chad Michael Murray, Tara Reid, Brittany Murphy, Jessica Alba (
sans former fiance Michael Weatherly), Paula Abdul, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyssa Milano, Amanda Bynes, Wilmer Valderrama, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos and Britney Spears. Kelly Clarkson, Evanescence and the Donnas perform at the event that was taped Saturday night.
So what do we think of Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford and John Spencer asking for more money for "The West Wing" (NBC, Wednesday, 9 p.m.)? Word is that although they currently make $80,000 an episode, they'd like it much better if they made $150,000 an episode. Well, wouldn't we all?
Showtime's "Street Time," which stars Scott Cohen (love him) and Rob Morrow, returns for a second season this Wednesday at 10 p.m. Terrence Dashon Howard joins the cast as James Liberti's new supervisor Lucius Mosley. As the season progresses look for guest appearances from Serena Williams, Judd Hirsch, Robert Forster and Billy Dee Williams.
"Boomtown" takes up residence in its new timeslot this Friday night at 10 p.m. When the series returns for its second season it will be without Andrea Little (Nina Garbiras), but with Vanessa Williams who will play a detective. I know that many of you are concerned about the show's move to Friday night, but it is a night with less ratings pressure and a night that served shows like "Homicide" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" very well. I have high hopes for my favorite show of last season.
So I kind of enjoyed Carrie going all Julia Sugarbaker on Berger's friends on "Sex and the City" (Sunday, HBO, 9 p.m.). Carrie and Berger's jarring break-up served the show well. It was like ripping off a band-aid -- quick and painful. But how do we feel about Charlotte getting married again? Do we think Samantha is going to fall in love with her Absolut Hunk? And who can explain to me what's going on with the hairstyles on that show? Carrie seems to be channeling the ghost of Joey Potter with her two-toned hairstyle, and Samantha's feathered do made her look like she could replace Farrah Fawcett on "Charlie's Angels" repeats.
That's all for today. I'll be back next week with all the reasons I love the made-for-TV movies on ABC Family, especially "See Jane Date" (starring Charisma Carpenter). Have a question, seen a familiar face, have an inside scoop or want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com by clicking on my byline at the top of my column.
