Teen Drama Links for June 27, 2023

After a nearly five-year break, I’m getting back into entertainment journalism — to a small extent.

I left the world of entertainment journalism behind in the fall of 2018, transitioning from writing and editing about celebrities and pop culture to editing corporate communications. In 2022, I transitioned again, joining Centerfield as an editor for its business-focused websites, business.com and Business News Daily. The company also owns a number of other websites, including the streaming-focused CordCutting.com.

While I’ve shared a department with the CordCutting.com team, I wasn’t involved in its operations at all until a few months ago. The site’s main purpose is connect people with the streaming services they need, but now there is a concerted effort to increase its coverage of beloved shows past and present.

Given my background, I’ve been asked to contribute to this initiative, largely behind the scenes, and I’m excited to share some of the results so far.

“The O.C.” & “One Tree Hill” Article Series

Among the many things I’ve pitched is articles focusing on “The O.C.” and “One Tree Hill” given that both series will mark their 20th anniversary later this year. That’s led to one of CordCutting.com’s writers penning a number of excellent “One Tree Hill” stories that I’ve shared in “Teen Drama Links” in recent weeks (and two more are below).

I also conceived a more extensive project in which TDW guest author Vallie Lynn Watson rewatches “The O.C.” and writes a series of articles about each season. I’ve had the pleasure of editing these pieces, and I hope you’ll enjoy the season 1 batch below as much as I did. Our season 2 content is currently in the works.

• “‘The O.C.’ 20th Anniversary: Rewatching Season One”

• “Love Triangles in ‘The O.C.’ Season One That Made Our Jaws Drop”

• “Unlikely Pairings From ‘The O.C.’ Season 1 That We’re Obsessed With”

• “‘The O.C.’ Holiday Celebrations in Season 1, Ranked”

• “Seth’s Top Quips to Ryan in ‘The O.C.’ Season 1”

“Yellowjackets Hive” Partnership

Remember my pal Media Melanie? We co-hosted the Ultimate “Beverly Hills, 90210” Trivia Night back in 2021. Melanie produces and co-hosts a podcast all about “Yellowjackets,” and now I’m proud to say “Yellowjackets Hive” is sponsored by CordCutting.com.

We’ve teamed up with Melanie and her podcasting partner Emily to give “Yellowjackets” fans even more content with exclusive videos and articles, along with a special homepage where you can easily find all of these offerings. It’s been a blast introducing Melanie to my work family and combining forces. New content is released at least once a week, so if you’re a “Yellowjackets” fan, you’ll definitely want to bookmark the first link below.

• “Yellowjackets Hive presented by CordCutting.com”

• “‘Yellowjackets’ Season 2 Bonus Episode Confirmed: Possible Cabin Daddy Backstory With Jason Ritter?”

• “Is Coach Ben the New Big Bad in ‘Yellowjackets’?”

• “Natalie Scattorcio: The Rise and Fall of the Antler Queen in ‘Yellowjackets’ Season 2”

• “‘Yellowjackets’ Season 3: Possible Adult Survivors and Dream Castings”

“Stars on Mars” Roundtable

The CordCutting.com team was kind enough to invite me to join them in watching and writing about the FOX reality competition “Stars on Mars.” Each week, we view the new episode and then mock — I mean, talk about — what happens. If you don’t watch the show, you may not be able to follow every part of our conversation, but you’ll probably laugh anyway!

• “CordCutting.com Watches the ‘Stars on Mars’ Premiere”

• “CordCutting.com Watches ‘Stars on Mars’ Episode Two”

• “CordCutting.com Watches ‘Stars on Mars’ Episode Three”

Taylor Swift & My Favorite Couples

In my time working on Centerfield’s business websites, I’ve only written one article: “9 Business Lessons From the Music of Hamilton,” born out of my obsession with the musical last fall. My role there isn’t to write and, quite frankly, I haven’t really wanted to. This newsletter notwithstanding, my passion for writing just isn’t what it used to be. But when an idea strikes? Let me have at it!

That was the case the other week when I pitched the CordCutting.com team on an expanded version of what I first wrote about in TDW last summer: the realization that several of Taylor Swift’s songs perfectly describe my favorite couples. So now I’m thrilled to present…

• “6 Taylor Swift Songs That Are Perfect for Our Favorite TV Couples”

It’s been really nice dipping my toes back into the entertainment journalism waters over the last few months, and my involvement will continue for the foreseeable future. As I keep fulfilling my responsibilities for Centerfield’s business vertical, I’d like to possibly write an article for CordCutting.com quarterly, but definitely keep conceiving and editing all of these TV pieces for as long as my contributions are wanted. I’m onboard the CordCutting.com train and I hope all of you will be too!

Teen Drama Links for June 27, 2023

Listicle Links

Reminder: All lists and articles relate to the teen dramas or teen drama stars in some way.

• “Why Dawson’s Creek Is a Surprise Hit With Gen Z” (TV Overmind)

• “Katie Holmes Brought Joey Potter Back with ‘90s-Style Flatironed Hair” (Allure)

• “Busy Philipps’ Best Margarita Moments Over the Years: Her Go-To Recipe, Cocktail Bar and More Drink Photos” (Us Weekly)

• “The O.C. — Gone But Not Forgotten” (JoBlo)

• “James Lafferty and Alexandra Park’s Relationship Timeline: From ‘Royals’ Crossover to Marriage and Beyond” (Us Weekly)

• “Why Nathan Scott Had the Best Character Development in ‘One Tree Hill’” (CordCutting.com)

• “Why Lucas Scott Had the Worst Character Development on ‘One Tree Hill’” (CordCutting.com)

• “Blake Lively Started Out In An Underrated Comedy That’s Being Rediscovered On Streaming” (Giant Freakin Robot)

• “Top Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Aaron Tveit” (TV Overmind)

• “62 Gossip Girl Quotes About Love, Life, and New York” (Bored Panda)

• “10 Best Will They/Won’t They Romances On TV Ranked” (Screen Rant)

• “10 Guilty Pleasure TV Shows Everyone Secretly Loves” (Screen Rant)

  • I feel no guilt whatsoever. My love is no secret.

• “10 Guilty Pleasure TV Dramas That Are So Bad They’re Good” (CBR)

  • A theme this week? And these shows are most definitely not bad.

• “10 Relationships In TV Shows That Aged Poorly” (CBR)

  • Related: Chuck and Blair: An Abusive Relationship? (TDW)

• “20 TV Boyfriends Who Are Actually the Worst” (Movieweb)

  • This has some notable mistakes.

• “15 TV & Movie Characters Who Should Have Been Queer” (Out)

  • Related: The Evolution of LGBTQ Teen Drama Characters (TDW)

• “12 Reboots With Awesome LGBTQ+ Representation” (Out)

• “27 of the best TV theme songs of the 21st century” (Yardbarker)

  • Related: The Teen Drama Theme Songs (TDW)

• “7 TV Characters Who Were Written Out Of Shows Because Everyone Hated The Actor” (Giant Freakin Robot)

  • Not quite accurate here…

• “Times Television Shows Added Terrible New Characters” (Giant Freakin Robot)

• “The Gayest Episodes of (Typically) Straight TV Shows” (IndieWire)

• “The best TV parents of all time” (Yardbarker)

  • Related: The Teen Drama Dads (TDW)

  • Related: The Teen Drama Moms (TDW)

• “Missing Black Girls Deserve More Attention. With NBC’s Found, They’re Getting It.” (Refinery29)

• “No Hard Feelings Cast and Character Guide” (Movieweb)

• “Hollywood, Please Stop Ruining Shows and Movies With Terrible Needle Drops” (Variety)

• “We Bet You Didn’t Know These Stars Were Related” (E! Online)

• “Alexa Swinton Talks And Just Like That Season 2 & Rock’s ‘Powerful’ Story” (TV Fanatic)

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Best of the Rest

• Seasons 1 and 2 of “Beverly Hills, 90210” will be back on Hulu in July. (Lifehacker)

• Meredith Stiehm (writer, Beverly Hills, 90210) is running for reelection as the president of WGA West amidst the ongoing writers strike. (Deadline)

• Wayne Coyne reflected on when The Flaming Lips performed on “Beverly Hills, 90210.” (Yahoo)

• Read a script for an episode of “The White Lotus” written by creator Mike White (producer, Dawson’s Creek). (Deadline)

• A rep for Katie Holmes (Joey, Dawson’s Creek) denied she is dating talent agent Jeremy Barber. (Page Six)

• Watch Seth Rogen (Bob, Dawson’s Creek), Shailene Woodley (Kaitlin, The O.C.), and Sebastian Stan (Carter, Gossip Girl) in the trailer for Dumb Money. (YouTube)

  • Also: “Black Bear UK Sets Distribution Team And Schedules Seth Rogen Pic ‘Dumb Money’ As First Release” (Deadline)

• As an avid Puck reader and someone who has followed their S.B.F. reporting closely, I found this interview with Ben McKenzie (Ryan, The O.C.) fascinating: “S.B.F. and an ‘O.C.’ Star Walk Into a Hotel…” (Puck)

• Amber Heard, who appeared on “The O.C.,” attended her first film event since 2019. (Deadline)

  • Also: “Taormina: Amber Heard Has Got Some Things To Say As Her Film ‘In The Fire’ Premieres In Sicily” (Deadline)

• In an interview about “City on Fire,” Josh Schwartz (creator, The O.C. / creator, Gossip Girl / executive producer, Gossip Girl spinoff) and Stephanie Savage (executive producer, The O.C. / creator, Gossip Girl / executive producer, Gossip Girl spinoff) confirmed they have no plans to reboot “The O.C.” (Deadline)

  • Thank goodness! (TDW)

• James Lafferty (Nathan, One Tree Hill) and Stephen Colletti (Chase, One Tree Hill) did interviews about “Everyone Is Doing Great” at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival.

  • “‘Everyone Is Doing Great’ Creators James Lafferty, Stephen Colletti Talk About Producing Independently, Look Forward to Season 3” (Variety)

  • “James Lafferty: ‘Everyone is doing great actually means quite the opposite!’” (La Gazette de Monaco)

• Lafferty also did press for his partnership with Smirnoff ICE.

  • “James Lafferty Admits He and Stephen Colletti Have ‘Disagreements’ Making ‘Everyone Is Doing Great’ But Put ‘Friendship First’” (Us Weekly)

  • “James Lafferty Recalls ‘Crazy’ 1st Year of Marriage With Alexandra Park: ‘It’s Been a Wild Ride’” (Us Weekly)

  • “James Lafferty Admits It Would Be ‘Flattering’ If a ‘One Tree Hill’ Reboot Came to Fruition” (OK!)

• Lafferty is again selling Nathan Scott jerseys to support T1International. (Instagram)

• Jana Kramer (Alex, One Tree Hill) revealed she’s expecting a boy. (Whine Down)

• Barry Corbin (Whitey, One Tree Hill) is the latest “One Tree Hill” cast member to sign on to Friends with Benefit’s 20th anniversary celebration. (Facebook)

• Evan Peters (Jack, One Tree Hill) did a new interview about “Dahmer” as Emmys campaigning heats up. (Deadline)

• It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover commented on the fan controversy over casting Blake Lively (Serena, Gossip Girl) in the film adaptation. (Today)

• Sofia Black-D’Elia (Sage, Gossip Girl) spoke about “queerness, Bob The Drag Queen and being comedy’s next It-girl.” (Pink News)

• Jordan Alexander (Julien, Gossip Girl spinoff) and partner Sakina Garcia opened up about their relationship and their musical act. (Nylon)

• Laura Benanti (Katherine, Gossip Girl spinoff) did interviews to promote No Hard Feelings.

  • “‘No Hard Feelings’ Actor Laura Benanti Gushes Over ‘Funny’ and ‘Silly’ Jennifer Lawrence: ‘She’s Not a Princess’” (Variety)

  • “Laura Benanti Admits ‘Within 2 Minutes of Meeting’ Jennifer Lawrence She Forgot She Was a ‘Movie Star’: Details Their Motherhood Chats” (Us Weekly)

  • “‘No Hard Feelings’ Star Laura Benanti Talks Being Shamed for Using a Surrogate After 4 Miscarriages” (Us Weekly)

  • “Interview: Laura Benanti on the ‘Joy’ of Filming a ‘Raunchy Comedy’ Like NO HARD FEELINGS” (Broadway World)

  • “Listen: Laura Benanti Talks Acts of Kindness From Jennifer Lawrence & More on THE ART OF KINDNESS Podcast” (Broadway World)

  • “‘No Hard Feelings’ Star Laura Benanti on New Film: ‘It’s Not for Children’” (PopCulture)

  • …And many more.

• Jessica Lowndes (Adrianna, 90210) and Trevor Donovan (Teddy, 90210) will star opposite each other and executive-produce Great American Family’s Apples, Orchards & Romance. (Deadline)

  • It’s very cute that they’re working together again, but I hate that it’s for this network.