‘The OC’ imprinted

Deepa Bharath

Hysterical screams and rhythmic chants of “Ryan” pierced the chilly

air Thursday night as fans converged to the Balboa Pavilion to honor

stars of “The OC.”

Newport Beach Mayor Tod Ridgeway handed out golden keys to the

city to cast members and producers of the show, which many believe

has given the city newfound recognition and notoriety.

Ridgeway also read a proclamation from the City Council declaring

“OC Thursdays” recognizing the show’s move from Tuesday to Thursday

nights on Fox network.

The mayor, who had a hard time making his proclamation and speech

over the fans’ impassioned yelling, managed to squeeze in a few

tongue-in-cheek remarks about the show.

“‘The OC’ is on Fox, a network kids watch when their parents are

away,” he said. “I don’t let my children watch it, but I do have

TiVo.”

Away from the dais, the mayor said he struggled a bit deciding

about the proclamation for the show.

“But it augurs well for tourism,” he said, supporting the view of

the Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau, which presented the

event.

“The show doesn’t seem to depict our family values and morals,”

Ridgeway said. “But it does portray a family with strong parents.

Even within all the dysfunction, there seems to be some normalcy.”

But the fans lined up on the other side of the ropes and

barricades couldn’t care less.

Amaryn Brierley, a freshman at Newport Harbor High School, came

with her mother, Suzie, and both are fans of the show.

“It’s so cool the city is doing this,” Amaryn said. “I love Seth

though. He’s my favorite.”

She was referring to Adam Brody, who plays the role of Seth Cohen

in the show.

A little distance away from Ashley, another girl stood on top of a

barricade yelling out her phone number, begging “Ryan” to call her.

Suzie made her daughter’s day when she managed to grab one of the

T-shirts with the show’s logo that were being thrown out to the

crowd.

Ashley “Smashley” Rhinesmith, a senior at Newport Harbor High,

said she likes all the stars of “The OC.”

“It’s a real entertaining show because it’s not like the real

O.C.,” she said. “It’s the rich, preppy side of O.C., but it’s

awesome.”

McG, one of the show’s executive producers, said the show is an

authentic representation of the Newport Beach he knows.

“My family lived here for 30 years,” he said. “I went to Eastbluff

Elementary and Corona del Mar High. I’ve gone to the Crab Cooker for

my birthday every year for the last 30 years.”

A lot of what is portrayed in the show is a legitimate part of

Newport, McG said.

“There’s the whole keeping up with Joneses and the

competitiveness,” he said. “There’s a lot of mischief. But there’s

also the message that if you’re a great family and you stick

together, you get through it. It’s redemptive.”

Peter Gallagher, who plays Sandy Cohen on the show, said he had

never been to Newport Beach until a year ago, when he golfed at

Pelican Hill.

“But this is great,” he said of the city’s decision to honor the

show. “I think it would be crazy for us not to have a cooperative

relationship.”