The O.C.'s Finale Bash
Having wrapped filming on Season 1, The O.C. threw a cast party Tuesday at Falcon on L.A.'s Sunset Strip. There was much for McG & Co. to toast that night, especially since Fox just renewed the hit teen soap for next season. (As if there were any doubt!) Still, Party Boy wasn't in the most celebratory mood. I'm still cross that producers fired hottie Chris Carmack, packing Luke off to Portland last week. How could they?
"Yeah, it's unfortunate," said Benjamin Mackenzie, who plays broody Ryan. "The challenge the producers and writers faced with Luke was they weren't interested in continuing the Luke-Marissa-Ryan triangle too long. So once the triangle worked itself through, they were left with the problem of, 'What do we do with him?'"
Luke's love affair with ex-girlfriend Marissa's mom, Julie Cooper, sure was naughty. "He was great with doing comedy," Mackenzie agreed. "I thought that plotline was a lot of fun, but once that ran out, then they were left with a difficult decision." (Stay tuned to TV Guide Online's Insider for my exit interview with Carmack himself!)
Meanwhile, Adam Brody and Rachel Bilson — aka Seth and Summer — were inseparable the entire night. The way he sticks by her side, it's clear those rumors of offscreen romance are more than rumors, kids. In fact, when Party Boy approached them for a chat, Brody said: "Not now... We're about to have a fight."
Their lovers' quarrel couldn't have been too serious, since they were all smiles two minutes later. Not wanting to pry — well I did wanna, but I didn't — Party Boy asked Brody about his role in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The film stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie as a married couple secretly employed as assassins. "They take me hostage, that's all I can say," Brody admitted. "It's weird. It's a spy movie — there's a lot of shifting identities and stuff, so it's really hard to explain. I'm not sure I know what I'm playing!
"It's a small part. I'm getting too much press for it," he grinned. "I'll take it, but I'm like, 'What the f---? I only did two scenes!' They're critical to the plot of the story, but I don't know that they'll be the most memorable."
Elsewhere in the club, Party Boy cornered tight-lipped O.C. writer Josh Schwartz to pump him for dish. Expect "pimps and hos and strippers" in Las Vegas, where the season finale (airing May 5) is set. We can also look forward to the unholy union of Julie and Caleb there. In other news, Summer's stepmonster may appear on the show next year. Plus, Linda Lavin is likely to return as Seth's Jewish nana for Chrismakkuh.
One last bit of dish: Taylor Handley — who played psycho-boy Oliver — turned up at the party with blond hair! "They wanted my hair dark for a more sinister look," the kid smiled. "I went back to my natural color for the Fox comedy pilot I'm shooting now." After learning that thrilling news, Party Boy snagged his gift bag — complete with an O.C. T-shirt and Neutrogena beauty goodies — and vamoosed before Oliver got any scary ideas.
