Originally posted by AERIAL RAVER...

Hum, what is OC?

The show revolves around two upper-class families in the southern California enclave of Newport Beach. The story follows Ryan Atwood, a troubled teenage boy from a dysfunctional family in Chino, California, who is transplanted to a high-class society focused on wealth and reputations. He is taken in under the care of Sandy Cohen, a successful lawyer who himself rose from humble roots;and his wife Kirsten, daughter of an enormously-wealthy Orange County real estate mogul. Ryan becomes good friends with the Cohens' geeky misfit son Seth, and falls in love with beautiful girl next door, Marissa Cooper.

Unlike other family-friendly teen shows, The O.C. takes on the gritty issues of the rich and wealthy in soap-opera style. As Seth remarks to Ryan when he introduces the baffled youth to an extravagant Newport party, "Welcome to the dark side."

The show also often makes fun of its soap opera elements and often includes self-referential jokes. Notable examples include comments about Benjamin McKenzie's likeness to Russell Crowe, and Peter Gallagher's eyebrows - both things often cited by fans - and the show features its own soap opera called The Valley, which is similar to The O.C. An episode of the first season entitled "The L.A." introduced us to some of the actors from that show.