letterten 2003-04 fall preview

debuted Aug 5. fall debut Thursday, Oct 30, 9:00pm

premise from	Orange County, California, is an idyllic paradise -- a wealthy, harbor-front community where everything and everyone appears to be perfect. But beneath the surface is a world of shifting loyalties and identities, of kids living secret lives, hidden from their parents, and of parents living secret lives, hidden from their children. [Fox link]
stars	Peter Gallagher ("American Beauty"), Benjamin McKenzie, Adam Brody ("Gilmore Girls"), Mischa Barton ("Once & Again"), Tate Donovan ("Friends,"), Kelly Rowan, Melinda Clarke ("CSI," "Days of our Lives"), Rachel Bilson, Chris Carmack
producers	Doug Liman, McG, Davis Bartis, Josh Schwartz
studio	Warner Bros. Television, Wonderland, Hypnotic

opinions
	Due to the summer start, I've watched this and actually like it -- and I was very skeptical beforehand. While I do find myself comparing it to "90210," it is different. The sometimes super-cheesy sets are a disappointment that remind me of "Melrose Place," but the acting is decent and after 3 episodes, I'm caring about the characters.
	Looks like "Beverly Hills, 90210" with a different zip code and more interesting adult characters. This may be the kind of guilty pleasure evening soap opera that "Pasadena" never got to be. The cast is uniformly attractive and solid and the production values seem high. A lot of the show will rely on unknown star Benjamin McKenzie and developing star Mischa Barton. If they lock with a young audience and Gallagher and Donovan get slightly older viewers, this one could work.

my thoughts on "The O.C."
	Full season, although Fox placing it at 9pm on Thursday (incidentally "90210"'s first timeslot) isn't wise. The summer start was a great idea. For the fall, I suggest Monday or Tuesday at 8pm after "Joe Millionaire" finishes its run sometime in December.