We’ve been hearing this for many months now (perhaps longer) but word on the street is that Fox has “officially” pulled the plug on The O.C. in its fourth (and final) season.  Big surprise because just yesterday, the pilot pickup season kicked off and a spy dramedy from The O.C. creator Josh Schwartz was

We’ve been hearing this for many months now (perhaps longer) but word on the street is that Fox has “officially” pulled the plug on The O.C. in its fourth (and final) season.  Big surprise because just yesterday, the pilot pickup season kicked off and a spy dramedy from The O.C. creator Josh Schwartz was given the green light by NBC. Josh, 30, will be delivering a high-concept action dramedy about spies (in the vein of Grosse Pointe Blank) called Chuck.

Josh will also be executive producing The Gossip Girl, which is supposedly going to be picked up by the CW.  He’s going to be a busy guy, that Josh.  But without The O.C. on his plate.  At this point, we can only wish for great acting gigs for the cast.  All of them. 

Other pictures include The O.C. star Benjamin McKenzie arriving at LAX airport with friends on New Years Day.

UPDATE 1 :: It’s official!  FOX just sent out a press release.  The O.C. will air its season finale on Feb. 22, so that’s 8 new episodes to go with new episodes starting tomorrow.  Read the full text after the jump!

UPDATE 2 :: Josh drops some spoilers about the series finale to TV Guide: “There will be a pregnancy. There will be a most unexpected new love triangle. There will be some new animals that need saving. There will be some hallucinatory dreams. And there’s going to be a fight for the love of a certain woman. And there’s going to be some surprises for the Cohen family, and some really big decisions for everybody to make. The finale is going to deliver real closure to these characters. It’s going to be the finale we had always planned to do.”











THE SUN SETS ON “THE O.C.”

WHEN THE SERIES FINALE AIRS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, ON FOX

The sun will set for the last time on THE O.C. when the series ends its four-season run Thursday, Feb. 22 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. The countdown has begun, with all-original episodes airing from Thursday, Jan. 4 through the last episode on Feb. 22.

THE O.C. stars Peter Gallagher (Sandy Cohen), Kelly Rowan (Kirsten Cohen), Benjamin McKenzie (Ryan Atwood), Adam Brody (Seth Cohen), Melinda Clarke (Julie Cooper), Rachel Bilson (Summer Roberts), Autumn Reeser (Taylor Townsend) and Willa Holland (Autumn Reeser).

Set in Orange County, California, THE O.C. premiered in August 2003. It follows a group of friends and families whose lives were changed by the arrival of an outsider ? Ryan Atwood ? to their ocean-side community of Newport Beach.   

THE O.C. revived the teen drama genre while including humorous and heartfelt adult storylines. Shortly after its summer premiere, THE O.C. was a pop culture phenomenon ? its actors are household names and its indie music (and subsequent six soundtracks) and hip California wardrobe are sought-after in stores. The show's Newport Beach locale also has become a popular tourist attraction as fans visit the real locations featured in their favorite episodes. 

“THE O.C. Season Four finale will also be the series finale. This feels like the best time to bring the show to its close," said Josh Schwartz, creator and executive producer of THE O.C. "Thanks to the hard work of our cast, crew and writers, we have enjoyed our best season yet, and what better time to go out than creatively on top.  It has been an amazing experience and a great run.  For a certain audience, at a certain time, THE O.C. has meant something. For that we are grateful.” 

From Wonderland Sound and Vision and College Hill Pictures and in association with Warner Bros. Television Production, THE O.C. is executive-produced by Josh Schwartz, Bob DeLaurentis, Stephanie Savage and McG. Ian Toynton and John Stevens are co-executive producers. 

-FOX-

Josh Schwartz had this to add:  “Part of my quote from the press release that didn’t make the cut was “There has been some speculation about a Season 5 on another network but this feels like the best time to bring the story to an end”. They cut the other network stuff - but yeah, I felt better to go out now with the run we’re having then try and move the show, etc etc. and maybe not be able to deliver the same level of quality. Teen dramas have a shelf life. We’ve had a lot of parties on the show, and so I’ve learned, best not to stay too late.  The ending will be fun and bring real closure to the series.”  [via sepinwall]
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