20 Years Later, The O.C. Creators Feel Peace and Perspective After Revisiting the Life and Death of Marissa Cooper
Two decades after its debut, The O.C. remains beloved as its creators and producers, Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, have grown to overcome their past regrets about the teen drama’s highs and lows. Now at peace with their history, they reflect on what went down behind the scenes of the show that signed off in 2007 and find solace in the love of its loyal audience.
“It’s not keeping us up at night anymore, hopefully,” Schwartz tells Yahoo Entertainment. “We’ve got enough therapy since then to allay that.”
The pair has been able to see how much people cherished the show, especially during the 20th anniversary, with fans reaching out to share their experiences of discovering the series and the impact it had on them. This has given them a new perspective on the overall significance of The O.C.
“We consider it a real gift to make something that’s flawed and imperfect yet still meaningful,” adds Savage. “Everyone should take heart in that.”
Their reflections touch on regrets they’ve felt over the years, including trying to cover too much story in the first season’s 27 episodes and making the decision to kill off Mischa Barton’s character of Marissa Cooper, which left the cast and creators in a state of disappointment.
Their opportunity to investigate what happened led them to co-author an oral history with Rolling Stone TV critic Alan Sepinwall, allowing them to share candid details about the making of the show, from casting dilemmas to significant plot developments.
One significant event discussed in the book is the decision to kill off Marissa Cooper. According to the book, producers had been instructed by the network to create a big and shocking twist to improve ratings and decided to proceed with that storyline, leading to an unlucky turn of events.
Despite the missteps, the creators are now in a better place of understanding what went wrong and how to handle it differently should similar circumstances arise. Reflecting on their experience with The O.C., they have vowed to approach their future projects with the lessons they learned.
The oral history also reveals that the decision to kill off Marissa led to strained relationships with the cast. However, over the years, there has been reconciliation. Adam Brody, who previously had negative views about the show, eventually made peace with it after watching the series again and seeing how he and his co-stars contributed to its success despite their perceived shortcomings.
In a surprising twist, the book reveals that Brad Pitt, of all people, became a suspected enemy of the show, albeit unknowingly. The movie star’s involvement in Troy and Mr. and Mrs. Smith indirectly affected casting and directing decisions related to The O.C.
Holding nothing back, Schwartz and Savage, along with the co-authors, share a behind-the-scenes account of The O.C., its highs and lows, and the meaningful experiences they’ve garnered along the way. A story of creation, regret, and infectious love that continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.
