REACTION: Welcome to the OC, Bitches Episode 10

“Welcome to the OC, Bitches” reached the 10th episode of “The O.C.” on Tuesday.

In “The Perfect Couple,” Marissa (Mischa Barton) and Ryan (Ben McKenzie) finally embark on their relationship at the same time it’s revealed her mom Julie (Melinda Clarke) is seeing Caleb (Alan Dale), dad of Kirsten (Kelly Rowan). Kirsten is put off when Sandy (Peter Gallagher) spends more and more time with co-worker Rachel (Bonnie Somerville). And Seth (Adam Brody) finds himself increasingly torn between Summer (Rachel Bilson) and Anna (Samaire Armstrong).

Co-executive producer Allan Heinberg wrote the episode, which was directed by Michael Fresco. It’s one of 10 he helmed across the show’s first three seasons. Bilson and Clarke now reflected on the episode with Somerville’s help.

Welcome to the OC, Bitches Episode 10, “The Perfect Couple with Bonnie Somerville”

• They started off by talking about Bonnie’s career, including her work on “Friends” and the upcoming show “Heels.” They also spoke about her own podcast, “Second Act.”

• It was revealed Bonnie and Rachel have Zach Braff in common: Bonnie was dating him while she recurred on “The O.C.” and Rachel went on to star in The Last Kiss with him. Bonnie told a story about staying overnight at his house and being on “hold” with the show — meaning, it was up in the air with whether she’d be shooting scenes the next day. Well, apparently she missed a bunch of calls telling her to come to set and it escalated to the point where the studio head called her manager flipping out, leading the manager to then call Bonnie flipping out. She said she was apologetic the whole day on set, but Peter was pretty nice about it.

  • There was a throwaway reference about how at least Bonnie wasn’t late all the time. A reference to Mischa…??

• Melinda noted that there are different skill sets required when you come on to a show as a guest star versus being a series regular. Bonnie agreed with that and wanted to know what it was like for them with the show being a “massive hit.” Melinda said how it was different for the adults versus the “core four.” Rachel spoke about how it was her first pilot and how “lucky” she was that it was picked up on her first go-round.

• Bonnie said she was “intimidated” having to come on set in a guest role and be seductive. She hated having to be the person to drive a wedge between Sandy and Kirsten. But she claimed they then made her an offer to stay on as a series regular and her team rejected it, saying the pay wasn’t enough, but fully expecting the show to come back with a new offer for her… and they didn’t. She said she has a lot of “regret” about that. She figured she would’ve become romantically involved with Jimmy had Rachel stayed on the show.

• At about 22 minutes in they gave the synopsis and they all agreed there was “so much going on” in this episode. They drifted a little bit into the next episode, the Thanksgiving episode, specifically in regard to Bonnie’s involvement, with Melinda recalling she had great energy on set and was funny. Bonnie said Rachel and Adam were very inclusive, but Ben and Mischa didn’t talk to her.

• Melinda called Alan perfect casting as Caleb. Rachel pointed out the “panting” that could be heard as Ryan and Marissa hooked up at the beginning of the episode. Melinda made a quip about the couple enjoying happy moments while they could.

• Bonnie described Sandy and Kirsten as a funny, compassionate, and sexy married couple, and argued that it was kind of unprecedented. She also thought Melinda and Tate had great chemistry. Melinda admitted she was “personally disappointed” Julie wasn’t reuniting with Jimmy and that Julie was moving on with Caleb because it meant she wouldn’t get to do more scenes with Tate.

• Bonnie was “totally uncomfortable” being a guest star who had to go after one of the happily married characters. They appreciated how Peter acted in response to the overtures, with Sandy seemingly thinking about it and then making a “better” choice. Melinda said Rachel’s “actions border-lined on harassment.” Bonnie did not like eating Chinese food “take after take after take” and didn’t realize she didn’t actually have to eat-eat it.

• Melinda brought up Chino officials being upset about the show’s portrayal of the city and said the officials were afraid the show was going to jeopardize the city’s effort to get a P.F. Changs. So Josh put in the script the line about Chino not having a P.F. Changs.

• Rachel wanted to know whether the episode made them lean toward Summer / Seth or Anna / Seth. Rachel thought Anna was “mean” when she was making fun of Summer. Rachel went on to reveal that her friend slept with the actor who played Chip (Josh Kloss). And apparently that friend also hooked up with others related to the show and was at the infamous Camp Gallagher.

  • What a thing to reveal about someome else on a podcast!

• Rachel didn’t remember when in the first season she and Adam started dating. Bonnie asked if they were the only real-life couple from the show. Rachel joked, “We were the official couple of ‘The O.C.’” Bonnie: “You guys will always be the couple of ‘The O.C.’” Rachel had written in her notes that this episode was the first time Summer kissed Seth but realized as she was speaking that she had already done it in “The Girlfriend.”

• Rachel brought up Rachel (the character) trying to seduce Sandy. Bonnie said she was “mortified” watching it back and “nervous” and “uncomfortable” at the time. The saving grace was that Peter himself was likeable. Bonnie recalled telling herself it wasn’t a sex scene and she shouldn’t be so nervous, but Rachel argued this kind of scene would be harder for her — a scene where you try to come on to someone and they reject you. 

• Rachel was surprised to hear Bonnie hasn’t really done sex scenes in her career. Rachel said that her most graphic one was with Zach in The Last Kiss. Bonnie: “Oh, I remember.” Her reaction was funny. Melinda revealed she “almost quit acting” because of a topless scene in the early ‘90s. She asked for a closed set but all the men on the crew showed up. How awful! Melinda went on to talk about the acting in sex scenes and Bonnie quipped that she’s still open to it. She said kissing is harder and recounted going off on an actor who went “all tongue” on her.

• Melinda brought up how Julie starts presenting herself differently with Caleb. She also said that watching that triggered a set memory where one of the show’s producers, Loucas George, reassured Melinda that becoming a series regular was going to happen and then that day it officially did. Rachel: “So it wasn’t last minute after the first season? Interesting.” Melinda: “No. It wasn’t. In fact, it was right after the pilot got picked up, but they had to pause. Unlike what some people think, but anyway.”

  • Loucas George is not to be confused with George Lucas, who later has a cameo on the show. Director Michael Lange and I spoke about it in our 2010 interview.

  • Rachel clearly has a thing or two she’d like to say to Mischa…

• Melinda went on to compare Julie to an “evil housewife,” saying that just when you think she’s turning things around with her family, there’s the reveal that she’s moving on with Caleb. 

• Melinda revealed that the exterior of the Cohen house also served as the exterior of the Cooper house. They just used different angles and different set decorations to make it seem like an entirely different house. Bonnie said she remembers the sets “vividly.” And the yacht scenes for the episode were on an actual boat, even the interior scenes. Rachel said she remembers her hair was “crunchy” due to all the hair spray in it.

• They also discussed Kaitlin’s reaction to Ryan and Shailene’s delivery of the line, as well as Julie not realizing that all Marissa wanted was her family back together and a loving home situation. Melinda: “She doesn’t get it until after Marissa dies. Jeez. Sorry.” Melinda felt really bad for Marissa, but Rachel also felt bad for Kaitlin and was bothered that Marissa was having it out with Julie in front of Kaitlin.

• Rachel amusingly observed that the “panting” with Marissa and Ryan returned at the end of the episode. 

• Bonnie: “Maybe they’ll do an ‘O.C.’ movie because that’s what everyone’s doing… What is not being remade right now?”

  • No, thank you, Bonnie.

• The first quiz question for Bonnie: What are Summer’s three favorite activities? She rightly said shopping, but didn’t get tanning and waxing. Second question: What celebrity did Marissa and Julie see when they bought Marissa’s Missoni dress that she wears in this episode? Bonnie said Tori Spelling, which is kind of hilarious. Her second wrong guess, after being told the person had three names, was Sarah Michelle Gellar. The correct answer was Catherine Zeta-Jones. Bonnie: “I have the worst memory, by the way.” Rachel: “Oh, please. You’re preaching to the choir here.” 

• Third question: Where did Rachel Hoffman go to college? She wrongly said NYU. After being told it was on the West Coast, she said Stanford. It took two more hints for her to correctly guess Berkley. Rachel: “Don’t worry, I don’t even remember this show. People ask me [about] scenes I’m in and I have no idea I was in them.” Melinda: “I remember more from ‘The O.C.’ and less from recent things for some reason.”

• Bonnie stayed on for the fan voicemails and the first one was for her — the fan wanted to know how it felt to be the person who had to try to break up everyone’s favorite TV couple and how fans reacted to her when out and about in real life. She reiterated that it was “awkward and uncomfortable.” She said she did get “some hate” and read things calling her an “asshole.” She was even confronted in the grocery store once, with the person asking if she was going to really break up Sandy and Kirsten. She asked the person if they knew the actors weren’t really together in real life.

• The second fan voicemail was asking Bonnie what she’s most recognized for. She said “Friends.” She then shared a sweet story about a fan being so excited to meet her because she starred in Hallmark movies. Melinda brought up “Grosse Pointe” and how Darren Star based it on his time with “Beverly Hills, 90210.” Bonnie noted how it was a spoof and that she “was the Jennie Garth.” Bonnie: “It was the best show… It was brilliant and way too ahead of its time… None of us is ever going to be over that cancellation.” She even rewatched it recently.

• The third fan wanted to know which of the cast Bonnie wishes she got to work with at all or with more. She referenced the Thanksgiving episode and said everyone, but then specifically said “these ladies” and Tate. She also said Kelly was “lovely” to her.

• The fourth fan wanted to know if they thought Marissa was right to “out” Julie about her relationship with Caleb at the party. Melinda said Julie “took it like a champ” while she personally would’ve “crumbled.” She also said that at the time, she “had a point of view that really supported Julie, but as a fan, I’m rooting for Marissa.” Rachel: “She shouldn’t have done it in front of her little sister! I’m sticking to it.”

Congrats to Rachel and Melinda for reaching their first podcast milestone with the 10th episode of “Welcome to the OC, Bitches.” I’m glad they had Bonnie on today because I felt they had been giving this storyline with Sandy and Rachel the short shrift over the last few weeks. I appreciated them diving into it here, though it took them a long time to get into things. The first two voicemail questions were also redundant because they had pretty much discussed those topics already.

Also, I AM SO MAD AT MYSELF! I did not realize until doing a bit of research today that, before Bonnie was on “Grosse Pointe,” she was on an episode of “Beverly Hills, 90210!” In episode 9.24, “Dog’s Best Friend,” she plays the woman Dylan hooks up with in Vegas. I can’t believe I never put that together before! How crazy that she then went on to do “Grosse Pointe,” and then “The O.C.” as well.

If I had one other piece of constructive criticism for today’s installment, it would be that I really miss them going scene by scene like they did the first few weeks. While they’re still offering good insights and going beneath the surface, it seems like they’re now hitting various points instead of hitting all the points. But I like when it’s thorough! We’ll see what happens with the big Thanksgiving episode next week…

Lastly, have you heard the big news?! This Friday, Melinda will be the special guest for TDW’s quarterly Zoom chat with a key player in the teen drama genre. Melinda is ready to take fan questions, so click here to find out how you can participate!

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