the oc connection

a few months ago, the hour-long teen-based evening soap opera "The O.C." breathed its last tequila-flavored breath. it was four seasons old. (i have to admit i only watched the first two and half seasons!)

but, as fans of the o.c. well know, those three years packed a host of ridiculous plot lines and drama. the show had so many twists and turns it was laughable. (the first season opened with juvenile deliquency, an unwanted child and a poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks who likes to punch people.)

but because she show featured a revolving door of rising young stars (along with peter "eyebrows" gallagher), the end of the o.c. did not also signal the end of their careers. quite the contrary. they are popping up all over the place.

in fact, i just saw seth cohens ex anna aka samaire armstrong on the new abc drama "dirty sexy money."

what else are these future superstars up to these days?

seth cohen has started a successful film career, following funny roles in mr. & mrs. smith and thank you for smoking while the o.c. was still on the air. he recently starred in the flop in the land of women and the indie film the ten.

seth's love match summer showed up in her feature film debut last summer alongside zach braff in the last kiss. will we see more of her soon?

poor dead marissa aka mischa barton is finally off all those bebe bus stop ads, thank god. but what is that girl doing? she's in all the fashion mags being stupid and skinny, but is she going to be in a movie soon or something?

and lastly, poor ryan. i don't think he has anything coming up, but every time i see prisonbreak i think of him. because, you know, he would have gone to jail eventually if the cohens hadn't adopted him. seriously.

however, there are so many more young actors and actresses who had minor or even major roles on the o.c. that have probably moved on to other tv shows, indie films or who knows what. like crazy oliver, who was in that o.c. knockoff over the summer, donning a bleached 'do. i'm sure half the cast of the new cw show "gossip girl" also had parts on the crazy o.c. show. in fact, o.c. creator josh schwartz is also an exec producer of gossip girl!