The Cohen infinity pool seemed like it was used a lot in the show but in reality its acting days were numbered. But despite its lack of screen time the Cohen pool is hiding a very big (or shallow) secret. According to Josh Schwartz the Executive Creator of the show and do to studio limitations, the pool was actually only four feet deep. This explains why there wasn't any Cohen cannon ball competitions etc (that could have pushed the show at least through a 5th season). In order to make the pool seem realistic, the actors were told to stand on their knees (talk about knee burn). This fatal flaw could be why the pool wasn't featured much more than a few episodes and also as a mood setting prop (which I find very effective). Interestingly enough this must have meant that the whole studio was built above ground on a platform high enough to accommodate the four feet deep infinity pool. Furthermore in the special "Welcome To The O.C.: A Day In the Life" Josh Schwartz admits "The surface of the hot tub is a little bit... icky. I wouldn't go in there. Notice none of the actors have been in the hot tub for like a year and a half. We should probably have someone look into that.".
Episodes the pool was actually used (also counting the hot tub):
Season 1 Episode 2 "The Model Home"
Here we have the first time the infinity pool was used in its short life. Seth and Ryan briefly float around in the pool while Seth asks Ryan what he wants to do. Seth asks Ryan if he would like to go to an "IMAX shark movie" (referenced multiple times in the series), Ryan responds "I think I just want to take it easy.".
Season 1 Episode 5 "The Outsider"
Ryan and Marissa finally have their date, they eat grilled cheese (don't knock it til you try it), and push each other into the pool only to get interrupted by a certain curly haired someone via Ryan's cell phone.
Season 1 Episode 7 "The Girlfriend"
Season 1 Episode 7 "The Girlfriend"
Ryan sees a blonde bombshell swimming in the Cohen pool, he does a double take (priceless reactions above). It's Caleb's new girlfriend/plaything 20 something Gabrielle (played by Nichole Hiltz). Seth and Ryan spend a good while oggling at her in all her curvy gold-digger greatness and then a whole lot of other drama happens (spoiler alert). No but seriously watch this episode, its great and also a very daring move on the writers part due to the age difference of Gabrielle and Ryan. Risk well taken!
There is also a second pool scene at 23 minutes Ryan and Seth floating on water beds, man they are abusing the pool in this episode!
Season 1 Episode 9 "The Heights"
Kirsten and Sandy still find time to be lovable despite Sandy going ahead with the case against Caleb Nichol and Kirsten's company involving building on sacred land where the "Swamp Rose" grows.
Season 1 Episode 14 "The Countdown"
Kirsten's Sister Hailey Nichol crashes the Cohen's house to "invite a few friends over" for new years eve. Turns into an all out pool party rager with Ryan and Seth locked in the pool house.
Season 1 Episode 16 "The Links"
Ryan finds out that hes going to have to get good at golf, since that's where Oliver is taking them. Seth and Sandy hang out and give him some pointers. He's gonna need all the help he can get!
Season 1 Episode 21 "The Goodbye Girl"
Eddie comes to see Theresa at the Caleb Nichol Riviera magazine "Man of the Year" ceremony hosted at the Cohen's house. You guessed it, another pool scene and this time Ryan goes headfirst!
Season 1 Episode 26 "The Strip"
Kirsten hosts a bachelorette party at her house and then a cat fight happens between Hailey, Julie and oh yeah the hired chip and dales (not small) stripper. If you watch closely you can see how truly shallow the pool is not to mention small.
Season 2 Episode 24 "The Dearly Beloved"
Wow I didn't think we were going to see a Cohen pool scene in the second season, guess I was wrong..The very last episode of season 2 features Ryan and yes Seth floating across the pool like a pair of synchronized swimmers, this time Ryan offers Seth an "IMAX Shark Movie", very ironic. Consequently a main character meets his demise in a pool in this very episode.
I think it makes sense why the pool was featured less in season two, as you can see above there were several scenes in season 1 (more than I originally thought) that featured the Cohen pool. I think the lack of scenes was caused by overexposure and also due to the new characters and locations like the Bait Shop etc that was brought into the show in the second season. After all there is only so much you can show in a 42 minute time slot!
So there you have it, an exhaustive report on all the times the The Cohen pool was swam in/sat in/floated in or pushed/punched in (Ryan I must say you took that gracefully!). If I left any scenes out which could very likely be possible please let me know, thanks!
