Welcome to the O.C.

“Twenty years after the hit teen drama The O.C. first aired, its creators are taking us all for a romp down memory lane with an oral history of the series, featuring interviews with its stars, writers, directors, and more. It’s a fascinating peek behind the making of a megahit, and a delightful bit of nostalgia for those of us who remember life before streaming TV.” — Town & Country”Will most likely satisfy any O.C.-heads (Newpsies?) craving a glimpse into the backstage drama, network chaos, on-set romance, and, of course, the show’s iconic music. … The riveting book features enthralling and often hilarious interviews with the entire principal cast, memorable guest stars, directors, producers, and even some big-name musicians whose work was featured on the show. The oral history is both a story about a once-in-a-lifetime hit…and the highly competitive landscape of network television in the early 2000s.” — Daily Beast”A splendid retrospective. … A must-read for viewers of the show’s original run, but it works, too, for those meeting the Cohens and their fellow Orange County residents for the first time via streaming services.” — Associated Press“Fans of the series will devour. … The only thing missing from this definitive dive is Ryan’s trademark brooding.” — Paste Magazine”Sepinwall talked to basically every important actor, creative person, and executive associated with the series. He also knows his O.C., having written about it extensively when it was on the air. … I was blown away by how many new tidbits Alan uncovers.” — Vulture“The ultimate tell-all book.” — Cosmopolitan”[A] juicy look behind the scenes of the television series The O.C. … The insider perspectives are refreshingly candid and offer new insights into what went into making the much loved show. The O.C. fans won’t want to miss this.” — Publishers Weekly”A revealing oral history of the unlikely teen drama. … Skillfully captures the show’s surprising sizzle without letting anyone off the hook for its many shortcomings.” — Kirkus Reviews”The perfect companion for any TV fan feeling a little nostalgic.” — TVLine”An oral history of the seminal teen drama (which, if we’re all being honest, has stood the test of time because it’s so much more than a teen drama). … Happy early Chrismukkah.” — InsideHook”Packed with juicy, behind-the-scenes scoop about making the show, from the casting process to the way the stars behaved.” — Yahoo! Entertainment“A comprehensive oral history of the addictive soap, featuring interviews with its creators, cast, and crew, revealing how a modern TV classic (barely) got made.” — Rolling Stone”Breezy, entertaining.” — Salon

JOSH SCHWARTZ became the youngest person in network television history to create and run a network drama when The O.C. premiered on Fox in 2003. He subsequently launched the original Gossip Girl for the CW with frequent collaborator Stephanie Savage. Over the next twenty years, Schwartz and Savage produced over five hundred hours of television via their Fake Empire Productions including Chuck, Looking for Alaska, Marvel’s Runaways, Nancy Drew, Dynasty, Hart of Dixie, The Carrie Diaries, Gossip Girl and, most recently, City on Fire.