`O.C.' fits Fox tradition of addictive soap opera

It's a month before Labor Day, but the fall TV season is getting what in the restaurant business is called a "soft opening'' this week.

The occasion is the debut of The O.C. (9 p.m. Tuesday, Chs. 2, 35), one of Fox's big hopes for a ratings hit. The series will air seven episodes, then go off in mid-September for five weeks before returning Oct. 30 in its regular 9 p.m. Thursday slot.

This weird scheduling is a product of Fox's commitments to televise Major League Baseball's playoffs and World Series. Baseball telecasts thoroughly disrupt the network's season launch every fall.

Most of its new lineup won't turn up until late October, but Fox decided to trot out ``The O.C.'' in hopes it could get some buzz and viewership before things get really competitive.

I'm a little dubious about that strategy, but I know ``The O.C.'' has already hooked one viewer -- me.

In many ways, ``The O.C.'' is a throwback to Fox's earlier days when its top series were prime-time soaps such as ``Beverly Hills 90210'' and ``Melrose Place.''

It's set amid the wealth of Newport Beach (``O.C.'' stands for Orange County) and focuses on a group of monied but troubled teens. Entering this world from the wrong side of tracks is Ryan Atwood (star-to-be newcomer Benjamin McKenzie), who after being arrested by the police and tossed out by his parents is taken in by his defense attorney, Sandy Cohen (Peter Gallagher).

Needless to say, there are complications and -- as Atwood discovers -- a dark underside to the wealthy community. Cohen's wife, Kirsten (Kelly Rowan), doesn't want him there. The Cohens' son Seth (a very good Adam Brody from ``Gilmore Girls'') is a geek who is as much an outsider as Atwood. Girl next-door Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) may be rich, but she drinks, has an abusive boyfriend and is about to find out her father is caught up in a business scandal.

This all sounds like classic soap stuff. But in its first three episodes, ``The O.C.'' looks to be a cut above much of the genre.

For one thing, the cast members can actually act. Atwood, Gallagher, Rowan, Brody and Tate Donovan (``Swordfish'') and Melinda Clarke (Lady Heather on ``CSI'') as Marissa Cooper's parents are all believable in their roles. And Barton brings real pathos and fragility to her role.

Barton may look like a model, but she has an impressive stage and film résumé. You may remember her from her sensitive performance as Katie Singer, Jessie Sammler's lesbian girlfriend, during the last season of ``Once and Again.''

In addition, the writing by creator Josh Schwartz -- who, at 26, is the youngest writer ever to place a drama on a network -- is above average. And the direction by Doug Liman (``The Bourne Identity,'' ``Swingers'') is slick and, as a result, the series looks more like a feature film than most episodic TV.

Make no mistake about one thing: ``The O.C.'' is entertainment, not high drama. As McKenzie said recently: ``Listen, we're not doing Chekhov or Ibsen. This is a drama on Fox.''

But this is entertainment with some depth, considerable quality and addictive appeal.

Last Updated Sat, Aug 30, 2003