Tuesday, June 9, 2015

The O.C. Product Placement: Ryan Atwood and His Apparent McDonald's Addiction


I hear in Chino Ryan had a really mean McDonald's addiction, in fact TJ and Ryan would often hold burger eating competitions but of course Ryan's mother Dawn had to pay for it, TJ what a freeloader! I don't know if that is actually true but there is a very tasteful product placement moment in the season 1 episode 2 "The Model Home". Seth and Marissa came up with a place for Ryan to hide out so he wouldn't have to go to a foster home. They gathered the  necessities which includes a tent, candles (way too many if you ask me), a lounge chair, putting practice (even though Ryan doesn't play golf), the Model home mix-tape CD and Oh yes a nice big bag of McDonald's Food and large drink to wash it down. Notice how both logos of the famous McDonald's arches are perfectly displayed front and center!

The O.C. is actually filled with tasteful and sometimes not so tasteful product placement moments all of which are awesome never the less. The purpose is obviously for brand recognition and basically a commercial within a show. Product placement in TV shows are so slick that often times they are subliminal, you suddenly want what the characters in your favorite show have and you don't even know why. Weather it be a new cell phone, new clothes or what have you. I find it super fascinating. So go out there and grab yourself a double cheese burger, fries and a drink or if you are really daring just ask the drive through window for the Atwood special they'll know what you mean ;).

Friday, May 29, 2015

The O.C. Woops: Whats that stage light doing in the Cohen's driveway?!

Lets face it, a film editor has to go through hours and hours of footage and tidy it all up in a 42 minute package that has to flow and make sense. Within all that editing and multiple episodes there is bound to be some continuity errors and mistakes. On The O.C., there are a few bloopers/woopsies moments but this one is by far the most obvious - yet no other sites have ever covered it. This is an Everything The O.C. exclusive!


So Marissa and Jimmy decide to come visit the Cohen's. If you look closely (or not) you will notice a stage light behind a little ways behind Marissa's red Mustang. It will become very apparent as the camera pans to the right (as Kirsten walks to the door). It is a stage light on a black stand. This stage light helps with the illusion that the characters are actually outside in sunny Newport Beach, when in reality they are on a soundstage! The only thing is, these lights are suppose to be completely unseen!


Its pretty laughable sight once you spot the error, makes you shake your head and think how the heck did they let that one slip by?! If only the tree on their front door was a bit thicker, sigh...

Where to find:

Season 2 Episode 1 "The Distance"

Monday, May 11, 2015

The O.C. Behind The Scenes: Adam Brody Real Life Comic Creator!


During the O.C. Season 2 we meet up with some new faces. One of which are Zach Stevens which initially plays Summer's new over the summer love interest. Seth becomes very jealous but miraculously they become friends due to their love of comic books.



During Seth's comic book club, a spark is created between Zach, Seth and Ryan (sorta) to create their very own graphic novel called "Atomic County". Atomic county is a satire comic book based off the characters in the newport/OC world. We later find out that Zach chooses the comic book and meeting George Lucas over Summer and the rest is history (spoiler alert).



Fast forward to Jan 2007 when the O.C. was in its final year, a brand new comic book cames out on the scene called "Red Menace". This comic book was apparently written by Adam Brody along with Danny Bilson (Summer Roberts, Rachel Bilson's father) and Paul Demeo. 

Here is the plot summary with spoilers from wikipedia: 

"At one of the House of Un-American Activities Committee trials, a hero named "The Eagle" unmasks himself as World War II veteran Steve Tremaine. The Committee uses his war time friendship with Ivan "The Bear" Petrovich, a hero to the Soviet Union to brand him as a communist and bans him from being the Eagle. By the next day, every newspaper calls him "Red Menace."

Despite the government's banning of his vigilantism, The Eagle continues to sneak out at night and fight crime. He keeps in touch with his old friend Petrovich as well. Unknowingly, Tremaine leads a group of anti-communist extremists to Petrovich's location after they listen in on a conversation between the two. Petrovich is then brutally murdered by the men. Upon hearing the news, Tremaine is driven to a deep depression that leads him to heavy drinking for a period of more than three weeks. At a scuffle with some men at a bar over Tremaine's alleged communist sympathies, Tremaine is introduced to a young superhero called the Gray Falcon who fights crime, inspired by The Eagle's efforts."


So there we have it, far off from Atomic County but never the less very cool. This is art imitating life as Adam Brody crosses his Seth Cohen character into real life. I'm assuming this was a huge bonding move for Adam and Danny Bilson although Adam Brody and Rachel Bilson broke up in 2006. The comic book had a 6 issue mini run and can be readily found on eBay.


Where to find: Season 2 Episode 2 "The Way We Were"

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