Loading summary
Rosabelle
Hello, David.
David Farrier
Hi, Rizabel. I understand you're babysitting your mother's dog. Not babysitting, dog sitting.
Rosabelle
I am dog sitting for the first time in my life.
David Farrier
I think for listeners that may not know this about you, I've never seen you near any animal.
Rosabelle
Okay, that's obviously an exaggeration.
David Farrier
You're not a big dog gal.
Rosabelle
I don't have anything against dogs. I just never grew up with them, so they're not.
David Farrier
I've never seen you with a dog.
Rosabelle
You're lying. You've got photos of me with dogs.
David Farrier
Maybe I am exaggerating. Is this more about me than you? I think it. Maybe it is.
Rosabelle
You just want everything to be so black and white.
David Farrier
That's what my therapist says. Like, literally. I'm not making that up. How is the dog going? Because you don't live with a dog normally, and currently there's a dog right near you always.
Rosabelle
I know. I'm at work at the moment. I've taken him in to work with me.
David Farrier
What's the most surprising thing about the experience so far?
Rosabelle
I mean, I've never had to look after a dog. Like, I've hung out with dogs, but I just don't know. Like, can I leave him alone? Don't know. I took him into the bathroom while I had a shower because I was like, what if he gets scared? He's in a new house.
David Farrier
What did he do, just, like, sit and wait for you to come out?
Rosabelle
Well, I put him in the bathtub. So he's just hanging out in the bathtub watching me shower? Is that weird?
David Farrier
It's so weird. Why did you put him in the tub as opposed to just on the bathroom floor?
Rosabelle
Because I thought he might, like, run around too much or try and get in the shower. I don't know.
David Farrier
Now, today's episode is not about dogs. It's about the O.C. we've got Rachel Bilson on. Oh, my God. One of the stars of the OC And I just realized I've never watched an episode, but I thought maybe I could check in with Rosabella about what she thinks about the O.C. it's a cultural touchstone.
Rosabelle
Yeah, I loved the O.C. and, in fact, I actually rewatched. I don't think I watched all of it, but I watched quite a lot of it recently, maybe a year ago.
David Farrier
What is the OC about and what captured Rosabelle about it?
Rosabelle
Well, it's just like any other teen campus drama. It was sort of like the precursor to Gossip Girl. Another big, big show for me in my childhood teenagehood. But I think it's just watching other young people, or in this case it's really watching rich, rich young people have the same kind of emotional turmoil as you and do stupid things. But they have more money. So it's more fancy, stupid things. And I think it is really about capturing the emotional turbulence that you're going through during puberty and feeling less alone in that. Cause everyone's so moody in it, you know. And then there's that cool dad, the lawyer, Sandy.
David Farrier
Do you know what character Rachel Bilson played?
Rosabelle
She was sort of like the no nonsense loving best friend of the troubled main character, Marissa. And she gets together with everybody's favorite teen nerd, Seth Cohen.
David Farrier
All right, well, is there anything you want me to pass on to Rachel Wilson?
Rosabelle
You can just tell her that she seems really cool.
David Farrier
I'm David Farrier, a New Zealander accidentally marooned in America. And I want to figure out what makes this country tick. Now, as I just mentioned to Rosabelle earlier, I don't really know anything about the OC So this intro is going to be very short and I'm just going to say gather around your TV and get ready to watch and remember one of the most iconic shows of all time because this is the O.C. episode. Hi Rob.
Rob
That was. I just did the theme song to the OC do you know the theme song to the oc?
David Farrier
I reckon if I heard it I'd know it.
Rob
Just from pop culture Phantom Planet. I think it really catapulted that band leading up to California Here we Come.
David Farrier
I don't know.
Rob
Right back where we started from.
David Farrier
No. Leading up to this episode feels like when we led up to the emo episode where my knowledge is bare. It's a minimum. It's almost non existent. And your knowledge. I know, is just. It's almost like flowing out of your ears and your mouth and your nostrils and your butthole.
Rob
We. Well, I texted you before this.
David Farrier
Yeah.
Rob
For the doc. That I don't mind taking the lead
David Farrier
you gently suggested on it. And it might be better if you. Yeah. Because you have, you know Rachel Bilson, our guest. Yes.
Rob
It's spoiler alert.
David Farrier
She's just wandering in.
Rob
Spoiler alert. Our guest today is Rachel Bilson.
David Farrier
How did you guys meet?
Rob
We. She came on armchair in 2020 was Zoom times of the show.
David Farrier
Yep.
Rob
I will say this not speaking out of school. She will say this about herself.
David Farrier
Yeah.
Rob
Not the best technologically. So I. We spent about 30 minutes on Zoom after the interview just getting Trying to get her. Trying to get her audio and. And all of that, which you and I. But you. You handled it.
David Farrier
Thank you.
Rob
Process, though.
David Farrier
I've been through this process. She was just taking a little bit longer to figure out all the steps.
Rob
Yeah. And Rachel's very different from what you would expect from her. And like.
David Farrier
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Rob
I mean, she's. She was a. She is a TV movie star, like from the 2000s when it. When that was different than it is now completely. So I think a lot of people have different preconceived notions of her. And it's very disarming when you realize how normal she is and how fun she is.
David Farrier
And so from that kind of you needing to guide her through the technicalities of sending audio and figuring that out, you kind of bonded and started.
Rob
Yeah, we became good friends. Her and I started a podcast together called Broad Ideas.
David Farrier
Yeah, I know this.
Rob
That we did for a couple years. So, yeah, we became very close. I know a lot about her, which I think that's a warning going into the documentary. Conversation with her is we're very familiar with one another, so we can expect
David Farrier
you to do some of your classic rob jabs and gentle baiting of our guests because you know each other.
Rob
Yeah. There's more cheekiness than I would have approached a stranger coming into our studio.
David Farrier
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Rob
You're going to see that something. Yeah, yeah. So there. Yeah.
David Farrier
And she also has done a. She was obviously in the OC but she's also done an OC Rewatch podcast as well with a bunch of the other casts members.
Rob
I will say, too. She also dishes it back. That's our relationship is very brother sister.
David Farrier
That's also. That is a very Kiwi thing, is to have a relationship where you are. And it's a British thing as well. You're kind of jabbing each other.
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
And it's a friendship built on some slight low key verbal violence.
Rob
Yeah. Which though I will say, like, I grew up. I was in high school when the OC came out, same as Rosabell. I loved the oc like, my crush in high school at that time was my crush because she reminded me of the main character on the show.
David Farrier
Yeah.
Rob
Which.
David Farrier
Yeah. It's funny. It's funny how when you're watching stuff, when you're a high school, that does fuse so much into your life and the way you perceive the world. And that was you. I see. I think my. I was big into Dawson's Creek. I think that was my show that I connected with Katie Holmes was my. Like. I was like, who is this person? That's the thing. And you're like.
Rob
You're like a poor Pacey, you know?
David Farrier
Oh, I love Pacey. I love Pacey so much. I mean, Dawson, for me, Rest in Peace was such a. I love that character. Cause he was. He had a Jurassic park poster on his wall. He wanted to be a director. He seemed, like, so dreamy and cool, and I was just sort of in awe of him, I guess.
Rob
So were your crushes influenced by this idolization of these characters at all?
David Farrier
I'm trying to think if there was any crossover between Katie. Because who my crushes were. Katie Holmes and Jessica Alba. But Jessica Alba was from more movies.
Rob
Dark Angel.
David Farrier
Dark angel, yes.
Rosabelle
Yeah.
David Farrier
And she was in Fantastic Four.
Rob
Yes.
David Farrier
There's like, bits of. Not a lot of crossover. I don't feel I looked like sort of like, seeked out those people. But I'll have a think about this if it did bleed in more, because it is your personality at that age. You're formed around what you listen to, what you watch, who you see, how you react.
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
And it's amazing how pop culture does. I mean, that's why we're still talking about the OC now, right? Because it. See it itself in so many people's imaginations.
Rob
Well, it's such a megalith of a show too. It almost felt like this reincarnation of the soap opera at the time, which I don't know if that was just because our generation was too young to have seen soap operas or been targeted for the ones that are still on, but it was almost this, like, reintroduction to teenagers to just these, like, wild storylines.
David Farrier
Can you take me back to when you were watching it? Kind of what you were doing in life and where you'd watch it and kind of the ritual around that.
Rob
I don't think there was much of a. It was. I was in high school.
David Farrier
You were living at home.
Rob
Yeah, living at home in high school. I think I was a sophomore.
David Farrier
Okay. Did you ever have to, like, we fighting over the TV with your. Your mommy or your daddy?
Rob
No, I was not fighting in the.
David Farrier
The family lounge in your room.
Rob
I had a little TV in my room at some point. I think by then that's good for watching Crashes on.
David Farrier
Little TV in your room.
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
And of course you're watching with ads because it's not streaming.
Rob
I was watching live on tv. So there were commercial breaks.
David Farrier
Yeah. Yeah.
Rob
But I do. I do vividly remember getting the DVD box sets for it. When they came out, like, I. I think I still have them.
David Farrier
DVD box sets for TV shows were. I. I don't think I've ever felt a bigger level of satisfaction than getting a box set of a TV show where this thing that you've either recorded and watched back later or don't even have a copy of, you've suddenly got it.
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
Special features. It's all there. Usually a really pretty box that it,
Rob
like, slides into sparkly orange. And then I think second season was sparkly blue. I. I'm pretty sure I still have in my garage because Natalie never watched the show in a few years ago. I think during COVID you let.
David Farrier
Babe, it's time, bro.
Rob
I didn't watch it with her, but it got broken out.
David Farrier
I collected the X Files box sets and they were in these extravagant cardboard cases that would fold out.
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
So expensive, the amount of money we spent on that stuff.
Rob
Yeah. It was like. I remember Sopranos and Six Feet Under. Six Feet under had the cool, like, grass on top of a box.
David Farrier
I've still got those in storage.
Rob
I still have those too. Yeah, no, they were S. And yeah. Soprano. There was a blockbuster. Like.
David Farrier
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Rob
It was the coveted thing. And you weren't spending. When I was a kid, I wasn't allowed to go spend $120 on this box set.
David Farrier
Just before we get into the conversation, did you watch the whole show religiously? Did you trail off towards the end? Do you remember how it resolved?
Rob
I think I trailed off by the end of season three, which we'll learn about. So which. This is important. If you haven't seen the oc. We spoil a lot in this conversation.
David Farrier
Some very key moments.
Rob
Yeah. It'll be. It's fully spoiled as far as spoilers go.
David Farrier
I think if a show came out in. In the early 2000s.
Rob
Yeah, 2003.
David Farrier
I think you're allowed to do as many spoilers as you want. But also good to note in case anyone has just been like, waiting this long to watch the show.
Rob
Or maybe someone's like, halfway through season one right now.
David Farrier
Yeah. They turn this on in their car. They're like, oh, God damn it.
Rob
Haven't gotten to that.
David Farrier
Ruined. I've been holding this off for decades and now it's ruined. Just very quickly, on the Rosabelle dog sitting news, in the intro, she was sort of talking to me about how she's puzzled on what to do with the dog. That wasn't a bit. She is genuinely. It's like she's babysitting an Alien. Basically she texted me the other day, it's barking. What does that mean? She's like dogs bark. It's what they do.
Rob
So we weirdly we had a babysitter semi recently that came to watch the boys. Y. Sometimes I'll ask the babysitter to like feed and just take the dog out back.
David Farrier
Yeah.
Rob
If it's around that time. And she just was like I'm not really sure what to do with dogs.
David Farrier
Yeah.
Rob
This is very similar to Roosevelt. Like if you don't grow up with a dog. Yeah.
David Farrier
What the hell do you do?
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
And yeah, no, very fair. And like good that she said that. So she doesn't just make it up as she goes.
Rob
Yeah. But it was, I think it was the first time I had heard that. Which is now. Funny that Rosebel is dealing with the same thing.
David Farrier
Well, I mean I'm giving Roosevelt a bit of shit here but I'm. I've also never had a dog. Like our family has had so many animals, but we've never had a dog. And so I was, I met this woman at a cafe and she, she. What's the word? Fosters dogs. And so she's like if you ever want to. Because I love dogs.
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
If you want to walk a dog, come by my house and you can take it out. So I've gone to her house a few times and just picked up these big like husky looking things and taking them on a walk and I realized I didn't really know the taking a dog for a walk whether you're allow to let it go towards other dogs. What. And so I had to.
Rob
Etiquette.
David Farrier
Yeah, the etiquette. Yeah. And I. Cuz I, I'm. I realize this isn't my dog. I got to be careful. There's so many dogs out in la. So I had to go through this really. I just had to like break it down for me. How do you walk a dog? Cuz you haven't had one. How would you know?
Rob
Walking dogs are so annoying too. Cuz there, there's this, I think Ed Yong wrote a book about it and how dogs with their nose, their senses are so much grander than ours that
David Farrier
there's a whole world there that we don't know about.
Rob
And them on a walk, being able to explore all that is heaven to them and you're walking a dog and you just want to get on like let's go down the block, go to the bathroom.
David Farrier
So when you yank a dog from sniffing nothing.
Rob
There you
David Farrier
go.
Rob
They're really interesting. Smelling all the different layers that our nose can't.
David Farrier
Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're just like yanking them on.
Rob
Yeah. There's just so much more happening. But it's also. Yeah, you need to have patience.
David Farrier
Well, Rose, Rosabelle had another question.
Rachel Bilson
She.
David Farrier
She said, I put the dog to bed. The dog is on the floor on a special little dog mattress. And she just said, it's not shutting its eyes, it's just looking at me. How do I make the dog go to sleep? I said, I don't really know, but I'm sure the dog, you know, this dog is in a new place. It's usually at your mum's house. It's probably just wants to know where you are and what's. I'm sure it will close its eyes when it's ready to sleep. There's not like a magic you must sleep mode.
Rob
No, I mean dogs are like an obsession.
David Farrier
She was afraid.
Rob
It's like the movie obsession. She's in the corner while you're sleeping, just staring at you.
David Farrier
She also didn't want the dog in the bed cuz she was afraid it might poo during the night in the bed. And I said to Rosabelle, the dog doesn't want to be pooing in the bed. It doesn't want that. Probably more than you.
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
Going to anyway.
Rob
Well, how old is the dog?
David Farrier
It's newish. I feel it's maybe like a year and a half or something at this point.
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
Oh, completely.
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
It's just, it's just funny. And just the idea of Roswell placing this dog in the bath, it's just very funny to me.
Rob
I feel like she's maybe asking the wrong person for advice on how to take care of a dog.
David Farrier
Someone that has never owned a dog. Yeah, you're completely right. Yeah. But she's doing a great job. She's feeding, walking it, giving it water, all the things that a dog needs, patting it.
Rob
I'm just saying if she needs more advice, probably talk to you, she can jump in our WhatsApp group chat.
David Farrier
It's probably good because you actually have a dog.
Rob
We have a dog and a small
David Farrier
little creature as well. Any other OC notes for an audience before they listen to this interview with us and Rachel Bilson?
Rob
We'll get to this in the conversation I just want to preface so people aren't annoyed and it doesn't feel like I'm steamrolling the conversation. Rachel has a very bad memory and doesn't remember most of the experience of the oc.
David Farrier
Yeah. Which is a unique thing and I
Rob
knew that going into this. So I prepared enough to hopefully have her just give commentary.
David Farrier
Yeah, you have. You prepared an emo esque sort of summary of certain things.
Rob
No presentation.
David Farrier
But I think this conversation is a certain magic about it because I feel like we are both learning about the OC from you, Rob and I really enjoy that. Thank you for coming in on your.
Rachel Bilson
It worked out.
David Farrier
And I should say just to be upfront, I haven't watched the O.C. i'm fully aware of what a cultural touchstone it is. Rosabelle, friend of the show, said to pass on to you that you're, you're cool. So I said I'd do that.
Rachel Bilson
That's so nice.
David Farrier
She's a huge fan.
Rachel Bilson
Aww.
David Farrier
But look, I just, I'm here to learn and so I'm very happy for Rob to guide this journey into the show. That's somehow frightened. I mean it was in.
Rob
Aren't you excited? I'm gonna.
David Farrier
It was prime time in New Zealand but for whatever reason it passed me by and I feel like a real idiot.
Rachel Bilson
I forgive you, first of all. And second of all, it was probably maybe not really in your wheelhouse at the time, how old you were or something. I don't know.
David Farrier
Yeah, it might have had something to do with age.
Rob
It was 2003. August. Let's go back to August 2003. The beginning.
Rachel Bilson
Let's do it. Let's go back to the beginning.
David Farrier
Rob, take us there.
Rob
Four seasons, 92 episodes. Do you know this?
Rachel Bilson
Yes, I actually did know that. Cause we almost made it to 100.
David Farrier
So close.
Rachel Bilson
So close.
Rob
Back in the days of very long seasons of television.
Rachel Bilson
They don't do that anymore.
David Farrier
They don't.
Rob
Limited network TV was on Fox.
Rachel Bilson
What else you got?
Rob
You were 20. You were 21 when you got.
Rachel Bilson
I was 21.
David Farrier
Huge role to get as a youngster. That's amazing.
Rachel Bilson
It was, but it was. Wasn't a big role. It was only a guest star role for the pilot.
Rob
Well, you had, you had tried out for Everwood before that.
Rachel Bilson
What the. Did you read Rob?
David Farrier
Are you doing like a nadwar sort of situation on the oc? He's gonna like freak out, guest out.
Rachel Bilson
This is really weird information that you're putting out there. Yes. Let me tell you the story actually because I auditioned for this show Everwood and I got very close and then I didn't get it and I was like devastated. But I'm like, oh, they probably wanted someone. You know, I just wasn't right for the role cut to they show who they cast in the role. Literally my doppelganger.
David Farrier
That's so annoying.
Rob
Who was it? Nora?
Rachel Bilson
Yeah, Nora. And everyone had said we looked alike, you know, back then and stuff. She's so sweet. But I saw that she cast and we look very similar. I was crushed. But because I didn't get that, the casting director, Patrick Rush, brought me in for the OC pilot and I wound up getting that.
David Farrier
So kind of blessing in disguise in a way.
Rob
Is Josh involved at that point? Yeah, I read for Josh and he was 26.
Rachel Bilson
767 7.
David Farrier
Obviously, in hindsight, we know what the OC represents, but at the time when you're auditioning for this thing, you have no idea what it's going to be. Exactly. Did you have any kind of feeling for what the show was?
Rachel Bilson
Not at all. I mean, so one of my best friends, Olivia, was auditioning for Marissa, Misha's role. And I remember reading the sides and I was like, I want to audition for Marissa. And then I wound up getting the audition for Summer. And she wanted the Anyway, but. So I had seen the sides for the pilot, but no, I had no clue. I didn't know anything about it. When we shot the pilot, though, Doug Liman directed it and it definitely felt really fun. And there was a feeling around set that felt good.
David Farrier
Yeah.
Rob
It was your first time on set. Really? What was it?
Rachel Bilson
Not my first time on set in my life.
Rob
Well, it was your first time acting.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
No.
Rob
Was it not? Wow.
Rachel Bilson
Rob, check your notes.
David Farrier
No, that we need.
Rachel Bilson
No, it was my first series.
Rob
Okay.
Rachel Bilson
I had been booking like, commercials and stuff before, but it wasn't my first time on set. I mean, my family is in the business, so I grew up on sets.
David Farrier
Rob.
Rob
Yeah. I know that your dad was a writer and a producer.
Rachel Bilson
That is true. I just like giving Rob a hard time. It's my favorite thing.
David Farrier
Just quickly, just to sidetrack, what ads were you on? Because I feel those are deeply American things.
Rosabelle
Oh.
Rachel Bilson
Let me tell you about my Pepto Bismol career. Deeply American, beautiful. It was at a restaurant called Shanghai Burrito.
David Farrier
Uh huh. Great Fusion.
Rachel Bilson
Yep. Had to act like I had to run for the bathroom after eating my meal with my family. Actually, I think the little brother actually made them run.
David Farrier
Okay.
Rachel Bilson
But I had to insinuate that I would be next. That was one of them. A Subway commercial. Subway sandwiches.
David Farrier
Be fresh.
Rachel Bilson
Yeah, that's right.
David Farrier
Okay. So from some advertising.
Rachel Bilson
Yes.
David Farrier
Enter OC land.
Rachel Bilson
Yes.
Rob
Family was in the business. You grew up in la.
Rachel Bilson
Yes, Those is all true, but it was my first main role in the first TV series I got, but I was auditioning as a guest star, and then I did maybe six to eight episodes before they bumped me up to series regular.
David Farrier
How did that work? Are they just, like, people are responding, like, this woman has something, you know,
Rachel Bilson
I think that they liked my chemistry with Adam Brody.
David Farrier
Rosabelle told me about that. Yeah, you were. She said you had this amazing romance with, like, the nerdy character.
Rob
I did.
David Farrier
And you just became this, like, charming, wonderful creature. That's so not her words exactly.
Rob
We're going to get into plot pretty heavy.
Rachel Bilson
Oh, okay.
Rob
Yeah. Hold back.
David Farrier
I get excited. Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. All right.
Rachel Bilson
Yes.
David Farrier
Take it away, Rob.
Rob
Well, no, no. How was it with the cast? Like, you guys were all kids at the time.
Rachel Bilson
Yes, we were all. I mean, Misha was the youngest. She was 16 when we started the show.
Rob
Everyone got along.
Rachel Bilson
Everyone got along. We were including Josh because he was young, too. We all hung out, went out. It was a very, like, tight knit social group outside of set and we had a lot of fun. And I had introduced Josh, at the time to one of my best friends from growing up, and they wound up getting married.
Rob
Still together?
Rachel Bilson
No divorce, multiple kids. But they have two kids and it was a success. They were together 15 years, two kids. They're my daughter's best friends. Like, you know.
David Farrier
That's so nice.
Rachel Bilson
Isn't it nice?
David Farrier
It's so kind of like almost too tightly knit. Like, you're introducing to, like, a childhood friend. That's amazing because you have done. You did, like, a rewatch podcast about this.
Rachel Bilson
I did do that.
David Farrier
So you've done a bit of revision.
Rachel Bilson
Yes. But as I'm watching it, I literally am like, oh, my God, that happened. Like, no. Even if I'm in the scene, I had no memory.
David Farrier
Which kind of makes sense because it's not like you would have watched every episode at the time. And it's probably very different doing a random scene to sort of like, watching the show.
Rob
Well, also, you had that car accident that probably.
Rachel Bilson
I do have actual memory problems from a head injury.
David Farrier
I've got memory problems as well.
Rosabelle
You do?
David Farrier
Yeah. But I didn't have a car accident.
Rachel Bilson
So what's yours from?
David Farrier
I just not good. Brain. Brain. When did you have a car accident?
Rachel Bilson
I was 14.
David Farrier
Oh, God. And it really.
Rachel Bilson
Yeah, it was a really bad car accident, but it affected my memory and among other things, I did while I was young.
Rob
All right, so premise, you've got Ryan. He's the main Character.
David Farrier
Okay.
Rob
He's from Chino, but he was arrested. Cause his brother stole a car and he was with him.
Rachel Bilson
Crashed it.
Rob
Crashed it. He was taken in by a public defender, Sandy.
David Farrier
Okay.
Rob
Who's married to a wealthy Newport beach woman.
David Farrier
Okay.
Rob
They have this nerdy son, Seth. Really into comic books. They take him in, they become best friends. Girl next door is Marissa, who has a really bitchy, sassy best friend, Summer.
David Farrier
Okay.
Rachel Bilson
Is that how rude. She did start out that way.
David Farrier
That's huge.
Rob
Rachel's the best friend. So there's a lot going on here.
David Farrier
Is this sort of established quite early in the.
Rob
Yeah, this is like the pilot. All of this is.
David Farrier
Oh, my God.
Rob
Very soap opera. Y Almost, but for the 2000s.
David Farrier
Okay. And do you think it accurately represents what Orange county is? Or is it a completely alien version or a very specific niche? Because I still don't understand Orange county as a place.
Rachel Bilson
I don't think I do either.
David Farrier
Okay.
Rachel Bilson
But I think there's some truth to it. But of course, for television, it's always going to be exaggerated or glamorized or whatever it is that makes it bigger.
Rob
Well, let's go into some of those.
Rachel Bilson
Okay.
Rob
Those things. So pilot is the.
David Farrier
We're gonna go episode by episode.
Rob
No, no.
Rachel Bilson
Only 92.
Rob
There's an iconic beach fight scene.
David Farrier
Okay.
Rob
So Ryan goes to a party with Seth.
Rachel Bilson
Yes.
Rob
Seth's being bullied by a group of jocks on the beach.
David Farrier
Okay.
Rob
Ryan comes down to defend him.
David Farrier
We love that.
Rob
Big fight. Comes. Comes out of it. Turns out the, like, ringleader of the jocks is neighbor. Marissa's boyfriend.
Rachel Bilson
Of course.
David Farrier
No, of course.
Rob
Iconic line. Welcome. Well, there's an iconic line.
Rachel Bilson
Yeah. No, I want you to say it.
Rob
Welcome to the OC Bitch.
David Farrier
I feel like I know that line.
Rachel Bilson
You do?
David Farrier
I feel I know that line.
Rachel Bilson
Yeah.
Rob
So there's this immediate tension between Luke and this. This new cool guy that rides his bike and smokes cigarettes next to his girlfriend's house. Am I missing anything from.
Rachel Bilson
No. That's pretty good.
Rob
You're at the party, too.
Rachel Bilson
I'm at the party. And I like Ryan in the pilot. Or he's the new guy and he's like the bad boy. And Summer. My character's name was Summer, and she is really into that.
Rob
To bad boys.
Rachel Bilson
Bad boys.
David Farrier
Okay.
Rachel Bilson
But Seth lets it be known in the pilot that he's always loved Summer.
Rob
Yes. He's obsessed with Summer.
Rachel Bilson
He named his boat after me.
Rob
Summer's Breeze.
David Farrier
Oh, my God. Really? Is that romantic or too far?
Rob
It's a Little bit like the movie Obsession.
David Farrier
Yeah. It's intense.
Rob
This is funny because I've known Rachel for a while and we've never talked the OC in this depth.
Rachel Bilson
No.
David Farrier
Yeah. Would be weird, wouldn't it? Every time you're hanging out, episode three, I want to get into the weeds of the. It would get weird.
Rachel Bilson
It would get weird.
Rob
Another fun plot point. Marissa's dad has a big scandal.
Rachel Bilson
Okay.
Rob
He's a financial advisor who is embezzling money from his clients. All of his clients, not a good thing, naturally, are friends of Marissa's at school. He ends up getting arrested. Is it at cotillion?
Rachel Bilson
You're asking me wrong.
Rob
You recently watched this.
Rachel Bilson
I know, but it was a couple years ago. Now. He does get arrested at some event, but there's always an event.
Rob
I think it was the end of the cotillion. There's a fight between.
Rachel Bilson
It was in the first season.
Rob
Yeah. Another dad and him. He gets arrested, she loses her house. She's kind of ostracized from all of her friends.
Rachel Bilson
Rob watches the OC every night. That's why he knows this by picking
David Farrier
up that there's two layers where you've kind of got the parents and the kids.
Rachel Bilson
Yes.
David Farrier
And they're sort of interacting and the drama's affecting one level's affecting the other.
Rachel Bilson
Correct.
David Farrier
I like that because I feel like, you know, I feel like some shows are just the kids or they're just the adults. Right here you've got the two worlds.
Rachel Bilson
You do.
David Farrier
Just an observation from someone that hasn't watched it.
Rachel Bilson
It's a very astute observation.
David Farrier
Stay tuned for more Flightless Bird. We'll be right back after a word from our sponsors. Support for Flightless Bird comes from Helix Sleep. Now, Helix Sleep has been a sponsor of our podcast right from the beginning. And I'm so pleased because Helix Sleep is giving me the best sleeps that I've ever had. Helix Sleep makes premium mattresses and bedding that are customized to fit your personal needs. For instance, I'm a back and side sleeper. I also have quite a dicey back and when I took the Helix Sleep quiz, I got matched with a mattress that suits my exact sleeping needs and it's conveniently shipped to your door. Helix combines innovative tech with high quality materials to deliver comfort and support. They offer soft, medium and firm mattresses and there for side, stomach and back sleepers. Like I said just before, the helix lineup offers 20 plus unique mattresses to choose from and a variety of mattress toppers as well. It also has a sleep solution for just about everybody. I have a midnight luxe mattress I've never looked back. That might be the one for you. Or you might have a mattress that's completely different that fits your sleep needs. And remember, a good night's rest sets you up for a really great day. We spend so much time in bed, why not make that time as good as it possibly can be? My sleep has improved since I started sleeping on a Helix mattress here in the United States and I'm incredibly grateful for that. You also get free shipping and seamless delivery straight to your door with free shipping in the US and 120 night sleep trial and limited lifetime warranty. It's also an award winning mattress. It's the most awarded mattress brand tested and reviewed by experts like Forbes and Wired. So go to helixsleep.combird for 20% off site wide, 25% off luxe mattresses and 30% off elite mattresses. Helixsleep.combird support for flightless Bird comes from Quince Now Summer always changes how I get dressed. It's probably the same for you as well. I want pieces that feel lighter and more breathable. Things that are easy but also well put together. And that's why I keep coming back to Quince and why I'm very happy. They're a sponsor of the show. They focus on high quality essentials that feel and look amazing. Think breathable linen and soft organic cotton. Well made basics but without the luxury markup. It's that rear balance where everything feels elevated but still effortless. If you want to go to the clothing side of Quince, their tees are soft and easy to wear and they're lightweight. Cotton sweaters are perfect for cooler summer nights. And just look if you happen to be in Australia like I am now where it's really cold. They also do really wonderful warm clothing as well. It also goes way beyond clothing. Custom upholstered sofas, ceramic cookware, premium bedding. Quince has all of this. It's the kind of brand you end up recommending to everybody for everything. I love my breathable quince shirts when I'm doing a lot of hiking in the hot LA sun. When it comes to winter, I will always go for their puffer jackets. God they're good. So elevate your summer wardrobe. Go to quince.combird for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Q U I n c e.com bird for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com bird this episode is brought to
Sponsor/Ad Voice
you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50 page restoration block. Or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it, ready to make anything online make sense. There's no place like Chrome. Check responses Setup required compatibility and availability various 18. When you finally find your thing, you want the whole world to know about that thing. So you use a thing called Canva to make it an even bigger and better thing. Whether you want to create flyers for that thing, make presentations for that thing, or design merch for that thing, you can do anything so people can see your thing, feel your thing, love your thing. The next thing you know, it's a thing. Canva, the thing that makes anything a thing.
Rachel Bilson
A fun fact with Shailene Woodley played Marissa's younger sister in the pilot.
Rob
And then she was replaced later. Right.
Rachel Bilson
When they brought her back years later. Like, then she was. She was a little girl in the
Rob
Disappeared from the show.
Rachel Bilson
She went to boarding school.
David Farrier
Classic.
Rachel Bilson
But her pony had alopecia in the pilot.
David Farrier
Really?
Rachel Bilson
Yes. That is one thing I remember such a specific fact. That's the fact I remember.
Rob
Moving on to the Oliver storyline.
Rachel Bilson
A lot of people, you say Oliver and they get very distracted, disappointed.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Why?
Rob
It was a very intense storyline.
Rachel Bilson
It was an intense storyline.
Rob
So I read today that a lot of people, like, had a hard time watching the show because of how intense their hatred was for him. So Marissa meets Oliver. Are they at like an Al Anon meeting or, like at a new school or they meet somewhere. This guy becomes obsessed with her.
David Farrier
Okay.
Rob
She's dating Ryan at this point, right. Ryan gets like, weird feelings towards him that, like, something's not right with this guy. Okay? He's a compulsive liar. He's got like a fake girlfriend that he makes up.
Rachel Bilson
Oh, that's right.
David Farrier
These are red flags.
Rob
Very, like, manipulative. And the whole storyline, like, ends with him holding Marissa hostage in a hotel room with a gun.
David Farrier
Oh, God. This is high drama.
Rachel Bilson
High drama.
David Farrier
This is elevated. No, no, it's great. I mean, I like that how much Rob knows. I mean, Rob does a thing on the show. He did this with our emo music episode where he just has this encyclopedic knowledge that he gets to peacock around. And it's really fun to see. Oh, he loves. We just sit back.
Rob
I normally have a presentation that I'm. Normally.
David Farrier
There is a presentation.
Rachel Bilson
I have a presentation up there. Didn't do one for me. Huh.
Rob
Well, I was hoping you were gonna lead some of these plot lines, but you know better. Yeah, I know, I know. But, yeah, it takes this, like, weird, dark twist.
David Farrier
And the audience reacted badly to that.
Rachel Bilson
Yeah. They did not like Oliver. He was messing with the vibe.
Rob
But it was good. It was unique for a teen drama to get this dark and, like, twisted. I think he's committed by the end of that storyline.
Rachel Bilson
Sure.
David Farrier
Say we're up to this point, end of season one. Getting into season two. Is your outside life transforming? Because this show is popping completely. That must be kind of crazy at that age as well, because it's your dream. You act. You want people to see it. But this is a big one.
Rachel Bilson
It was a big one. It was crazy. And I'll never not acknowledge how grateful that my first real series was. Was the OC because, you know, it really did kind of take off and people loved it. And it was a pretty crazy time because it was heavily, like, the paparazzi world, and there was no social media. And it was just like, you went out and I remember there was, like, an event where in Manhattan beach where we all showed up and the amount of people that were there, it was like the first eye opening event where we were like, oh, like, this is. People are watching this show. But it was such a cool feeling.
David Farrier
And it's also a time when TV was appointment viewing. It was on at a certain time.
Rachel Bilson
Right. You had to wait every week.
Rob
Thursday nights.
Rachel Bilson
Thursday. Thursday nights.
David Farrier
Rob was there every. Every Thursday.
Rachel Bilson
He had an alarm set.
Rob
Now, my next storyline.
Rachel Bilson
Yes.
Rob
So Ryan's brother Trey. This gets intense. This is the end of season two, I think.
Rachel Bilson
This is Logan Marshall Green.
Rob
He tries to rape Marissa.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Oh, God.
Rosabelle
What?
Rob
Ryan's.
Rachel Bilson
He does?
Rob
Yes.
Rachel Bilson
Do you see what I mean?
Rosabelle
This is.
Rob
Why?
Rachel Bilson
Are you serious?
Rob
Yeah. There's like, an assault that happens. So they end up in a fight. Ryan and Trey.
Rachel Bilson
Ryan and Trey, not Marissa. I was like, wait, Ryan and Trey
Rob
happened in the fight?
Rachel Bilson
And Marisa comes and it's the famous, famous. The scene where she shoots Trey.
David Farrier
Oh, my God.
Rob
Shoots his brother.
Rachel Bilson
And then Imogen, he starts playing.
Rob
Yes. Hide and Seek starts playing. Which I. That song. Like, it's one of the. Like, first.
David Farrier
It's a big needle drop moment.
Rachel Bilson
Yes.
Rosabelle
Wow.
Rachel Bilson
That was a big moment. Even SNL did a skit on it. Like, it was like, very. And that song was. Anyway, anytime you or I hear that song, that's what I think of. Because it was very.
Rob
Yeah, I remember getting goosebumps from that song in that scene.
Rachel Bilson
Yes.
Rob
Yeah. It just.
Rachel Bilson
It is hide and seek, right?
Rob
Yeah, it's hide and seek. Because they eventually play Hollywood.
Rachel Bilson
Hallelujah. Hallelujah is what I was getting.
Rob
We'll get to that later.
Rachel Bilson
We'll get to that later. Yes. Wait, are you gonna watch it? Because it'll be a real spoiler.
David Farrier
I mean, I'm slightly concerned about this now because it is. It's like I'm very. I feel like the OC And I had this with the Sopranos as well, which is all show.
Rachel Bilson
A show I've never watched.
David Farrier
Oh, my God. Yeah. One of the best of all time. I've been avoiding spoilers for the end of that series forever, and now I'm worried I'm gonna have the same problem here. Maybe I'll just walk out.
Rob
I think this one's okay.
Rachel Bilson
Okay.
Rob
I feel like some shows like the Wire, I tried to watch after it came out.
David Farrier
Yeah.
Rob
And it's been ripped off so much that I felt like kind of a lame show.
Rachel Bilson
Got it.
Rob
I don't think the OC has that problem.
David Farrier
The OC Is timeless. It's Eva Green.
Rachel Bilson
It is what it is. Like, it's just. It is like. It is a teen and adult nighttime drama.
David Farrier
People are shooting each other.
Rachel Bilson
Funny.
Rob
Which getting to Marissa's bisexual storyline.
David Farrier
That sounds very funny so far. Sounds fucking intense.
Rob
Marissa's bisexual storyline.
Rachel Bilson
Yes. With Olivia Wilde.
Rob
Olivia Wilde plays Alex.
Rachel Bilson
Doesn't she date Seth, too?
Rob
I think she does, yes.
Rachel Bilson
Do you like how I'm asking Rob?
Rob
Yes.
David Farrier
That's like a wild dynamic. If I didn't know you were, like, a key part of the show. Be like, why did we invite this guest on? Are we educating her as well as me? It's really good. It's really good.
Rachel Bilson
It's literally like both of us learning
Rob
about the OC But Olivia Wilde owns a bar. Olivia Wilde owns a bar. It's like a music venue as well.
David Farrier
And she's bisexual.
Rob
Bisexual. Hers to date. Which is, like, for network TV in the 2000s.
Rachel Bilson
That was a big deal.
David Farrier
Yeah. Was great representation.
Rob
And then. So Josh really loves music.
Rachel Bilson
Yes.
Rob
Like, I see him at concerts all the time still.
Rachel Bilson
You do?
Rob
Yeah, we've talked.
Rachel Bilson
Oh, he does. He loves the concert.
Rob
Every time that you see him. Yeah. So go talk to him.
David Farrier
And he loves his music.
Rob
Loves music. So music was a huge part of the show, too.
David Farrier
Oh, and so that would be getting you sucked into this world as well. You love music.
Rob
Spoon the Thrills, Death Cab For Cutie, Modest Mouse, Rooney, Alkaline Trio, Rooney, Phantom, Planet Killers. You say that the Killers are in there and. And they start introducing, like, live performances.
Rachel Bilson
Was Brody. Brody was like. Sorry. That was his contribution.
David Farrier
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, this is making a lot. So it's, like, very musically heavy as well.
Rachel Bilson
Yes, yes.
Rob
So I think, yeah, culturally, it was. It was this before Garden State.
Rachel Bilson
I'd have to look around Garden State early aughts.
David Farrier
Why are we bringing Garden State into this?
Rachel Bilson
Because of the soundtrack of the soundtrack.
David Farrier
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Soundtrack's as the movie.
Rachel Bilson
I'm with it. I'm with you. Yeah.
David Farrier
I don't like Garden State.
Rob
Yeah.
Rachel Bilson
You didn't like Garden State, the movie?
Rob
Like it?
Rachel Bilson
I remember when I first saw it, I really liked it. I haven't seen it since then, though.
Rob
So then this all end of season three, they kill Marissa.
David Farrier
Oh, my God. So how does she die?
Rachel Bilson
There's another character that, like, runs them off the road.
David Farrier
Oh, my God.
Rachel Bilson
Is Ryan in the car with her?
Rob
Okay, so she's about to start a new life with her dad.
Rachel Bilson
Oh, yeah. She's gonna stay alone.
Rob
She's go to Greece.
Rachel Bilson
Or she's gonna go to Greece.
Rob
They're on their way to the airport.
Rachel Bilson
I'm just kidding.
Rob
On their way to the airport, return Trey, who she had shot.
David Farrier
Yeah, Trey has some.
Rob
And Trey runs them off the road.
Rachel Bilson
No, he doesn't.
Rob
Is that not it?
Rachel Bilson
That's not true. Volchok runs them off the road. There's another bad guy later on now. And I can't remember if Marissa was hooking up with Voltroc or not, you know?
Rob
Oh, it is Kevin Voltroch.
Rachel Bilson
It really is a problem.
David Farrier
Incredible. Okay, Voltrock runs them up. Who's Voltrock?
Rachel Bilson
It's actually funny because he's named after Kevin Vultchuk, who's a dear friend. But his character Volchuk turns into, like, a villain.
Rob
Vch runs him off the road.
Rachel Bilson
He runs him off the road. Marissa dies. But there's a scene.
Rob
But she dies in his arms on the side of the road in the
Rachel Bilson
middle of the road. Ryan picks her up and she's dying, and they start to play Hallelujah. Image Imogen Heap covers Hallelujah, and it starts playing as she dies in his arms.
Rob
Car's on fire. Behind.
Rachel Bilson
Car's on fire. It's, like, tragically beautiful, though, the shot.
David Farrier
And then she's just like.
Rob
Yeah, she's the main character I love.
Rachel Bilson
No, I'm just kidding. I don't remember. She probably says that, though.
Rob
But do you remember, Rob? Was that always the plan?
Rachel Bilson
No, I wouldn't say that was always the plan. That she dies at the end of season three. I think it all kind of. I think they did so much with her character.
Rob
Yeah.
Rachel Bilson
They got to a point she was either gonna go off to Greece and work with her dad or she was gonna die. But I think Josh and Stephanie have spoken openly that that was a mistake to kill her off.
David Farrier
People loved her.
Rob
That's when I stopped watching.
Rachel Bilson
Shut up, Ron.
Rob
I said, oh, I'm serious. That's the last.
Rachel Bilson
He loves to tease me because he loved Marissa. Really?
David Farrier
He did.
Rob
Marissa.
Rachel Bilson
He's like Marissa for life. And he loves to rub that in my face.
David Farrier
Oh, that's amazing.
Rob
Do you remember when they told you they were doing it? Was it. Were they keeping it quiet?
David Farrier
Yeah, from everyone.
Rachel Bilson
We all knew.
David Farrier
Okay.
Rob
I'm sure we all know you got scripts early on. It wasn't like Game of Thrones, where, like, they're only sending scripts to the people in the scenes and. No, no. Wasn't that.
Rachel Bilson
We were not a Game of Thrones.
Rob
I will say you were kind of Game of Thrones before Game of Thrones.
Rachel Bilson
In what sense?
Rob
We didn't have water High drama. You kill off any character. Marissa's dead.
Rachel Bilson
Yeah, that was. I mean, she was the main, you know, character. And, well, Ryan's the main character, but she was.
David Farrier
It does add a certain tension to a show when you know that anyone could go. You know, when anyone could die. That adds a certain level of drama to it. I respect that.
Rob
I do think I remember the creators of Game of Thrones saying the OC Inspired.
David Farrier
Yeah. Yeah.
Rob
Them wanting to do that.
Rachel Bilson
Heard here first.
Rob
Other storylines that were fun. Luke, who's Marissa's boyfriend.
Rachel Bilson
Oh, the one that beats Ryan up in the pilot. Yep.
Rob
Ends up having a secret affair with Marissa's mom.
Rachel Bilson
Correct. That is correct.
Rob
Seth's mom is an alcoholic and they send her to rehab.
Rachel Bilson
Yeah.
Rob
Ryan becomes a cage fighter.
Rachel Bilson
That's what it was after Marissa dies. Cage fighter. Correct.
David Farrier
Casual cage fighting. Subplot.
Rachel Bilson
Casual cage fighting.
Rob
The moms accidentally start a prostitution ring.
Rachel Bilson
Ring. I'm sorry, what?
Rob
Julie and Kirsten start the, like, matchmaking.
Rachel Bilson
That's not a problem.
Rob
And they start like.
Rachel Bilson
That's why I'm setting up. Confused. Getting it wrong.
Rob
They start setting up escorts with the daughter's friends. It is a prostitution ring.
Rachel Bilson
No, don't listen to Rob.
David Farrier
I often do believe a lot of what Rob says.
Rachel Bilson
Well, Now I know today you have to question everything.
Rob
Will you walk us through the Wonder Woman?
Rachel Bilson
So Seth loved comic books.
David Farrier
Okay.
Rachel Bilson
And in the first.
David Farrier
That's your nerdy boyfriend in the show?
Rachel Bilson
Yes. In the first season, there was like a love triangle of sorts with myself and another character named Anna. Oh, no. You love Anna.
Rob
I loved Anna, too. Everyone but Merissa. It was Marissa.
Rachel Bilson
Everyone but me.
Rob
It was Marissa.
Rachel Bilson
And so Anna and I were fighting over Seth, and he loved comic books. So there's a Chrismica episode where we both try to impress Seth, and she, like, draws him a homemade comic book. And I dress up as Wonder Woman.
Rob
She's the girl that he's always been in love with. The, like, popular girl at school. Anna's character is like, another nerd, and they, like, have everything in common. I think your character starts to get jealous because.
Rachel Bilson
Yeah, I'm like, wait a minute.
Rob
He always loved me.
Rachel Bilson
Let me put this Wonder Woman costume on.
David Farrier
What won over the Wonder Woman costume or the hand drawn comic book?
Rob
You guys end up together.
Rachel Bilson
We end up together. Yeah. I'm trying to think that. But in the moment of like her. But it's really sweet because the girls kind of come together and I'm so complimentary of her handmade gifts.
Rob
You both don't. You both turn him down then as a result. Cause you see that he's been concocting this plan and playing them against one another.
Rachel Bilson
Yeah, we both were complimentary of each other. And it was like, oh, it was actually a sweet moment. But the girls come together and they're like, fuck this.
David Farrier
That's a really nice moment.
Rachel Bilson
Yes.
David Farrier
What would you say the main theme or the message of the OC Is? What have we taken? What does an audience sort of take away from this one?
Rob
Do you want me to take this one?
Rosabelle
I do.
David Farrier
Yeah. What did you take away from it? Besides being horny and unsure?
Rachel Bilson
What did you take away from it?
Rob
No, I mean, I think there was so much depth to each of the characters and redeeming things, and everything was a little more gray. And you could. Everyone had someone you could relate to. Like, you would have related to Seth.
David Farrier
Yeah.
Rachel Bilson
Yeah. Who did you relate to? I. Marissa.
Rosabelle
Yeah.
Rachel Bilson
Marissa.
Rob
No. Well, weirdly, I almost moved to California around the time this was coming out. And I had, like, fantasies that I was gonna be Ryan, that I was gonna. Like.
Rachel Bilson
You were gonna wear a chesnake?
Rob
Change my identity.
David Farrier
That's really endearing. Or scary. I'm.
Rob
No, he wasn't bad. He was like the good guy under all of it.
David Farrier
Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. But that's it also. That is what Roosevelt kind of said. You've got. You can identify with it. Even if you're not in some wealthy sort of portion of society, you can still identify with these stereotypes.
Rob
Yeah. There's some character that you're going to relate to. The one with the messy household, the divorced family, the perfect family.
Rachel Bilson
Oh, you didn't mention. Chris Pratt was also.
Rob
I've got that.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Don't worry.
Rachel Bilson
Oh, I thought.
David Farrier
Sorry, we haven't moved to the trivia section yet. Chris Pratt was a character.
Rob
Yeah, the guest star. There were a ton of guest stars on the show.
Rachel Bilson
Yes, he had an arc with my character, so.
Rob
Guest stars. Olivia Wilde, Chris Pratt, Shailene Woodley. We've covered most of these.
Rachel Bilson
Nikki Reed.
Rob
Nikki Reed. Amber Heard.
Rachel Bilson
Amber Heard.
David Farrier
We love Amber Heard.
Rob
George Lucas plays himself on it.
David Farrier
That's incredible.
Rachel Bilson
That's true.
Rob
Paris Hilton. Parasol. Stevo.
Rachel Bilson
Steve himself.
David Farrier
Yeah, Steve O.
Rob
Can we talk about Summer? Summer's fashion impact? Like, you become a fashion icon because of the show. People have said that the aesthetic of Summer.
Rachel Bilson
Summer. Okay.
Rob
Is like that of a generation that defined this. It defined the aesthetic of a generation.
Rachel Bilson
I would probably say Marissa more so, for sure, but. But I think if you look to fashion, like from the early aughts, they were. It was very, you know, in line with.
David Farrier
That's cool.
Rachel Bilson
What fashion was doing.
David Farrier
Do you feel that was. Were you bringing looks into that or was it this amazing costuming department? How did they work?
Rachel Bilson
They're really good costume designers. I think they really built the characters. There were a lot of bikinis the first season, though. You know, there was a lot of beach wear, a lot of juicy suits. But it was. It was very of the time. And platform flip flops. It's weird, because the early aughts.
David Farrier
Flip flops. We love flip flops.
Rachel Bilson
You do. I bet you do love flip flops.
Rob
Wearing flip flops.
Rachel Bilson
You're wearing Crocs. I'm a big croc girl myself.
David Farrier
Oh, my God. They're the best. They're the best because they start as, like, a bit of an ironic joke, and then you realize how comfy and good they are.
Rachel Bilson
100. I stand by them. I give them my presence. I convert everybody.
David Farrier
Oh, my God. Yeah, you can stay.
Rob
But was her fashion similar to yours, or did you end up. No. Summer and Rachel Bilson. Did you end up taking from her?
David Farrier
Where do you end and your character begins?
Rachel Bilson
You know, Blurred line. I mean, yes and no. I think there was a lot of like dress over jeans at the time. I don't know that Summer did that as much. And I think she was a little. Summer was a little more put together than I am personally, fashion wise.
Rob
Do you have Nicole yet at this point?
Rachel Bilson
So Nicole, who is one of my good friends and stylist, also was on set costumes on the OC that's how we met.
Rob
Her husband inspired Vulczyk, the guy that ran.
Rachel Bilson
Yes. He killed Marissa.
David Farrier
Oh, God.
Rachel Bilson
Yeah. See, it's all connected.
David Farrier
Yeah. Wow.
Rachel Bilson
All connected.
Rosabelle
Yeah.
Rachel Bilson
We started, like, the first season of
David Farrier
the OC But I feel like someone told me that you were such a sort of fashion icon and people did focus on you that. That Bling Ring. Those people targeted your place or something.
Rachel Bilson
I did. They. They robbed me five times, which.
David Farrier
That's insane.
Rob
It is a little insane.
Rosabelle
Yeah.
Rachel Bilson
It does feel us.
David Farrier
I mean, that's a mad. That's an awful and mad thing to be part of.
Rachel Bilson
Yes.
David Farrier
Like, holy shit.
Rachel Bilson
Yeah.
David Farrier
Did you know what the fuck was happening when it was happening?
Rachel Bilson
No, I wasn't home. I was out of town. And I mean, I guess, obviously, if it happens five times. I remember my mom, like, going to my house to check on something and being like, I feel like your house was robbed, but everything is kind of
Rob
messy anyways, so I can't.
Rachel Bilson
That's true. But like, tv, like, things were. Everything was there. But then when she went into my closets, all of that stuff was gone. Clothes, shoes, handbags, jewelry, you know, but everything else was in the house. So it was kind of like a weird thing. And then just finding out these kids did that, I mean, it's pretty shitty.
Rob
Fun side story. We had one of them at my house for Rachel to interview. What, one of the women that robbed her?
Rachel Bilson
Yes.
Rob
From the ring. Was it the one that shit in your toilet?
Rachel Bilson
No, but that was like, the most offensive thing to me was that they got so comfortable that they took a number two in my bathroom. Did not appreciate that.
David Farrier
What a mad thing to intersect with, though, because that was such a. I
Rachel Bilson
do not live in that house anymore.
David Farrier
Yeah.
Rosabelle
No.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Right.
David Farrier
You know. Yeah. It is violating once people have been.
Rachel Bilson
Yeah. I just felt weird, you know, it was just like.
David Farrier
Well, no, because one of the girl
Rachel Bilson
had my shoe size.
David Farrier
A festival, like, together person, I guess. Yeah.
Rob
Yeah. That's. Rachel doesn't understand, I think, how much of a cultural.
David Farrier
No.
Rob
Phenomenon. I kind of love about you.
David Farrier
I love that you doubt you're downplaying literally everything. It's really good. It's very. It's A very New Zealand approach to life, really, where if you get sort of a compliment or any idea that you're something, you make sure you just take yourself down a little bit. It's a really.
Rachel Bilson
Maybe I belong in New Zealand, I think.
David Farrier
You're welcome. Have you ever been?
Rachel Bilson
I've never been.
David Farrier
You're welcome anytime.
Rachel Bilson
I would love to go to New Zealand.
David Farrier
You can meet Rosabelle, who also loves the O.C.
Rob
yeah.
David Farrier
She's the best. She's great.
Rob
That's my favorite part about Rachel, is that you wouldn't know there's something nice about me that wouldn't know that, like, she was this thing in the 2000s and how, like, funny and normal and down to earth she is.
David Farrier
Completely.
Rachel Bilson
Rob, that's so sweet. He's never sweet to me. You have to know.
David Farrier
No, I believe it.
Rachel Bilson
He did. He brought me. Don't know.
David Farrier
Rob's love language, I think, is bullying and meanness, and I'm still getting used to that. Yeah, a lot. Yeah.
Rachel Bilson
Yeah, yeah.
David Farrier
I tell myself it's love. Maybe it's just hatred. We don't know. What flavors did you get of these donuts, by the way?
Rob
Yeah, this is like a nest session. I feel like.
David Farrier
Can I have a.
Rob
Can we get donuts from. From Orange County? These originated in Costa Mesa. Orange County.
Rachel Bilson
They did.
David Farrier
Say what you want to say about the O.C. you don't call it the O.C. do you? That's the show you call Orange county kind of now.
Rachel Bilson
I think it's referenced.
David Farrier
It's okay.
Rachel Bilson
I hear it a lot. Yeah. People say the OC After One thing
David Farrier
we can say about the OC that's great. The TV show and these freaking donuts.
Rob
These are my favorite donuts.
Rachel Bilson
They're my favorite donuts of all time, I think.
Rob
What do you like?
David Farrier
What do you like about them?
Rob
They're. They make them fresh. They make them every, like, hour. Rachel and I bonded over snobby food.
Rachel Bilson
Well, but I also love really shitty.
Rob
Yeah. Yeah. Rachel does. Her favorite restaurant is Cracker Barrel.
Rachel Bilson
Have you done an episode on that?
David Farrier
No, but we.
Rachel Bilson
But you know it, too.
David Farrier
1. I. I know the name. I don't know. I don't know if it's burgers, pizza,
Rob
sugar, breakfast food, bad breakfast food.
Rosabelle
Excuse me.
David Farrier
Tell me about Cracker Barrel.
Rachel Bilson
There's a general store. Okay.
Rob
Did they get rid of it? What is. Well, the rebrand wasn't.
Rachel Bilson
The rebrand was called off.
Rosabelle
Okay.
Rachel Bilson
You're not up on a whole.
Rob
We did talk about the rebrand.
David Farrier
Okay.
Rachel Bilson
Okay.
David Farrier
Yeah.
Rob
You and I Did on the show.
David Farrier
We did briefly.
Rachel Bilson
They have a few items that you cannot pass up at breakfast. Like their potato, the hash brown with the cheese. Not saying. I don't know the name.
David Farrier
Okay.
Rachel Bilson
It's delicious.
Rob
Cheesy hash browns. Cheesy hash browns.
Rachel Bilson
Is that what they're called? I don't know. Isn't it the hash brown casserole? I don't know.
David Farrier
Okay.
Rachel Bilson
Anyway, really selling it. But the general store is really fun because it's all like old timey candy and toys and little knickknacks. I'm a big knickknack person.
Rob
And they've got the little tea game that you.
Rachel Bilson
There's a game on every table. It's like a peg game.
David Farrier
I like this. I like having entertainment while you're eating because if you're bored with the people you're with, you can just start playing the games and time.
Rachel Bilson
I don't enjoy talking to people. Yeah.
David Farrier
That's the beast. You're doing very well today.
Rachel Bilson
Thank you.
David Farrier
Wait, that reminds me. Did you also. Did you design a T shirt for Invisible Children?
Rachel Bilson
Yes.
David Farrier
Because we did an episode about Invisible Children about the Kony 2012 insane campaign, which sort of went off the rails in many ways. And it was a huge deal in New Zealand. We all followed that whole thing. But you, I feel like you did a T shirt design just after that Kony campaign or at like around that time.
Rachel Bilson
I was involved with Invisible Children because of Kristen. She introduced me. We went on a trip to Africa.
David Farrier
Did you?
Rachel Bilson
Yes.
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
Right. To catch Coney.
Rachel Bilson
Yeah.
Rob
Single handedly because armed with your assault rifles.
Rachel Bilson
No. Nicole and I and Kristen all went.
Rob
I think I've seen pictures from that trip.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Yeah.
David Farrier
What was your T shirt? What did you design again?
Rachel Bilson
You were asking a question I do not have the answer to.
David Farrier
I identify with this. I have such a bad memory. I don't remember. Would you like a donut? I don't remember so many things.
Rachel Bilson
I want you to take first because I'm curious which one you're going to go for.
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
Do you want me to.
Rachel Bilson
You wanna talk about them? You have the vegan one in there.
Rob
It's a chocolate. It's like a double chocolate with cocoa nibs on it. Rob's favorite is the cinnamon, the Saigon cinnamon. There's a huckleberry. There's a butter and salt. I think that might be. There's just a classic old fashioned, a vegan Samoa and a strawberry buttermilk.
David Farrier
I think I might do strawberry buttermilk.
Rob
Oh, that was for Vincent. But it's fine.
David Farrier
Wow.
Rob
I'll let him know you ate it.
David Farrier
Was it oh, dad. Oh, yeah.
Rachel Bilson
Yeah. That's a yes.
David Farrier
That's a yes.
Rachel Bilson
Rob loves the cinnamon. That's why he got two, to make
Rob
sure in case someone else wanted one.
David Farrier
Does the OC like haunt you today still, like we've dragged you into this podcast. Does it pop up in weird ways in your life or is it mostly.
Rachel Bilson
I would say it does, but I wouldn't say it haunts me.
Rob
Yeah. How's your relationship evolved with it?
Rachel Bilson
I think of it very fondly. Like it was a really amazing time in my life and. And it brought me some of the closest people to me, you know, Josh's family and. Yeah. I just think of it as like, what a cool thing to have been a part of. And the fact, the craziest thing is that people are watching it now and discovering it and young kids and David.
David Farrier
Yeah, I'm discovering it.
Rachel Bilson
Like yourself.
David Farrier
Roosevelt just did a rewatch of it. Like people are watching it again.
Rachel Bilson
Yes.
David Farrier
That's pretty neat.
Rachel Bilson
That is neat. I do enjoy that. I think that's really cool. And the fact that it's. It stands up, I mean, holds up.
David Farrier
I feel like I want to start maybe while watching some of those iconic musical moments.
Rachel Bilson
Yes.
David Farrier
Those needle drops. Because I feel I will have seen that reference in other places and we'll
Rob
have just never need the build up to it though. You could just watch. I can't watch. I'm just gonna watch.
David Farrier
I'm gonna watch the scenes. You told me.
Rachel Bilson
Yeah.
David Farrier
Watch the highlights and that's it. Highlights.
Rachel Bilson
Were there any big music moments that we didn't talk about from it?
Rosabelle
No.
Rob
To me, the music moments I like most for the soundtrack. But I mean, the thrills I think played on it too, which was cool.
Rachel Bilson
Don't remember that, but I remember like
Rob
Alcalon Trio being at like the house party music and they were a cool Chicago band.
David Farrier
Oh, you'd love that.
Rachel Bilson
I did. It had good music.
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
How long have you known him for?
Rob
It would have been 2020.
David Farrier
The way you've reacted to his bullshit today, I think has been commendable and really amazing. I'm going to try and learn from you. I'm here to remain calm and. And great through all of it.
Rachel Bilson
That's our relationship.
David Farrier
Whereas I get a bit sort of uppity, you know, I'm like full of sugar and stuff.
Rachel Bilson
I'll give you some tips.
Rob
Thank you.
David Farrier
Thank you for coming in.
Rachel Bilson
Thank you for having me. I'm Sorry. I couldn't actually talk about it. Thank you, Rob, for being such a super fan.
Rob
You got it.
David Farrier
She's charming, wonderful. So low key. Everything you said that she would be. She was. And I also found that dynamic, like, delightful, that at times, both her and I were looking at you learning at the same time.
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
Except she had been through a lot of that and. And I hadn't. And she. She was great.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Yeah.
Rob
I guess I should say, too. A slight disclaimer. I hadn't. I haven't watched the show in a long time. I didn't re. Watch it with Natalie. Right. So I got a few details wrong.
David Farrier
That's okay, Rob. You're human. But, you know, it would be freaky if you did get everything right. That would be too fast.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Well.
Rob
But I do think it goes to show how much of a. As dorky as this sound, how much of an impact that show had on me that I could recount as much as I could about it 23 years later.
David Farrier
23 years. Well, I feel like between the scenes that we're playing out and the music and all those things, it's just etched itself into your reality. Plus, it's that thing where you're following those characters along and it's. You're not. Not binging it all at once. You're watching it week by week over years.
Rachel Bilson
Yes.
David Farrier
And so that seeps into you. It's like, you know, these people. And from what you guys are talking about, it sounds like the characters change and morphed. So it's real. It's realistic in a way. It's not the Simpsons where they're just like the same thing for years on end. They're changing.
Rob
That's an interesting thing. I don't think I've thought about. With the way we consume television shows now, it's in such a concentrated way that you don't really get to connect to characters in the same way you will over it, air. I mean, these seasons were 20 plus episodes.
David Farrier
That's why.
Rob
Six months of connecting with these characters. Yeah.
David Farrier
And that's why I am obsessed with the X Files, because that was nine years of my life. And the week that you're waiting for, those characters, in your mind, they're alive
Rob
and. And like other things that we're consuming quickly that we love.
David Farrier
Yeah.
Rob
We're spending a week, maybe two weeks with it. If it's just dumped.
David Farrier
Yeah.
Rob
I'm not. I'm not savoring TV shows if every episode is out already.
David Farrier
No. And I think that's why Certain shows like Game of Thrones that have that weekly release is the same. There's a. Obviously, that show did amazing things, but I think a big part of it is we lived with it for so long.
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
The delivery and it sinks in. Yeah. There's so many shows that are Bing weekend that have left my brain. They've got zero cultural impact because we're just hoovering through.
Rob
But potentially just as good of content.
David Farrier
Potentially.
Rob
Because I, I. It has happened a few times where I've watched something, then it's gotten thrown into my algorithm and feed and pitched back to me years later. I've started it and it's been like two or three episodes and I'm like, I've seen this.
David Farrier
Yeah.
Rob
Which would never happen with no the OC or Game of Thrones.
David Farrier
And there's another part of it is that I think shows when they were on at a regular time, it took a certain level of commitment for you to actually watch them. So you couldn't say, I'm missing Thursday night at 8 because you'd miss the show. So it also, physically, you had to be in a certain place at a certain time. And that also, I think, creates a relationship between you and the show because it's like effort. Whereas at the moment you sit there like a potato and just sort of have this sort of wash over you whilst you're also doing a million other things. We weren't double screening watching the oc.
Rob
Yeah. Yeah.
David Farrier
You were locked in on that.
Rob
Yeah, it was. I feel like it was a magical time that this show came out. It. Rachel mentioned it was before social media, before cell phones, when you're actually sitting and consuming something on the spoilers were
David Farrier
happening in real time before you getting
Rob
everything dumped at once and streaming everything.
David Farrier
And you know what, you know when you mention those obviously very iconic scenes where you've got a needle drop of a song and something deeply emotive happening and visual where you've got a car burning in the background.
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
There'll be shit like that that is happening on some of the shows that
Rob
every other episode there's a car on fire on Boss.
David Farrier
But also, like, we're watching it, but we're also missing all these nuance moments because we're on a phone or we've wandered off.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Off.
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
We're not committed to watching it. So there's. These writers will be building stuff into shows that are meant to be a moment. Half the audience will be looking on threads or Blue sky or something. Or Facebook. Do you know what I mean? So they're missing it.
Rob
Or Truth Social.
David Farrier
Truth or Truth Social. We used to be locked in because we'd agreed to be home on a Thursday night at 8:30pm sitting through ads. The ads is when we'd run and get a snack or something or go to the bathroom. It was a whole different way of doing things.
Rob
I will say after 20 plus years ago, I am still very impressed with Josh, the creator of the show and, and like how, how much depth and social constructs they.
David Farrier
Yeah.
Rob
Explored and yeah. All of these different elements as like fantastical and wild as all of it was. He wrote, wrote a good show for a 26, 27 year old that long ago.
David Farrier
It's, it's also. It's crazy when you realize sometimes how young the creators of some of the stuff that you love is. Yeah. It's really humbling when you're in your 40s.
Rob
Well.
David Farrier
Oh God.
Rob
Sitting here with obsession in back rooms crushing it right now and super young directors. 20 year old. 21.
David Farrier
How old's the director of backrooms back rooms is? 21. At least 21. 22.
Rosabelle
Yeah.
David Farrier
And that's, you know, younger director in a 24 history. He also has come up with this amazing world. Obviously I haven't seen it yet.
Rob
I haven't either.
David Farrier
I'm excited too. But no, it's, it's. I mean it's fucking cool. There's an element of me that flares up with slight jealousy that these kids are doing this amazing stuff. But it's amazing and it's a reminder that like you can do that. You don't have to be 40 before you make something amazing.
Rob
Yeah, I guess that's, that's. I'd like the parallels of that of you know, as we were talking about this and like can something like the OC exists nowadays and have that spark of magic. But we're watching that kind of happen with some of these horror movies coming out.
David Farrier
Totally. Actually. Yeah.
Rob
Where yeah. Obsession I think had a $750,000 budget.
David Farrier
Just insane what they have made.
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
Yeah. You were texting me last night after you'd seen it and it is, it's one of those films that. That you think about a lot afterwards and there's so much to discuss. It just. There's certain characters and moments that just sink into you.
Rob
I would. It's akin to the oc.
Rachel Bilson
Yeah.
Rob
You got these different layers going on. People that you can relate to within this.
David Farrier
Also something Rosabelle said, she said like her rewatch that show has held up.
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
Like it's still. I feel like I could watch it confidently and still will get so much out of it.
Rob
I think so.
David Farrier
Which is kind of neat. I mean, obviously all the dead in certain ways, but there's a lot going on and it sounds fun.
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
And I'm gonna get in amongst and also she liked Rosabelle. Rachel Wilson liked Rosabelle. She did Roosevelt, if you're listening.
Rob
She's not.
David Farrier
She listens to the intro and then tunes out.
Rob
Should we be transparent? David's about to go overseas for a little while.
David Farrier
Oh yeah, I'm going to Australia.
Rob
Australia and New Zealand. And Minnesota. Yes.
David Farrier
Yes.
Rob
So we're recording a handful of episodes to get us through your month abroad.
David Farrier
So if any major world events have happened and we're not referencing them, that is why we're not ignoring them.
Rob
Which we we still are going to be recording weekly on Patreon. So anything major like that you can get our hot takes on.
David Farrier
Yeah, no, totally more timely. But our regular weekly episodes we're recording a little bit ahead.
Rob
With that said, that's why some of this feedback maybe won't be about the most recent episodes and also the fact
David Farrier
that people are just obsessed about timeshares still. So many timeshare episodes.
Rob
I do really love when we are little nuggets like that.
David Farrier
Certain things people grab on to really grab on.
Rob
It is cool though for our show to be able to be that reactive and like, oh, there's a whole episode that can come out of this weird little thing that got mentioned as an aside on an episode.
David Farrier
Totally. No, it's the best and you never know what people are going to react to in that way.
Rob
So with that said, keep sending feedback and always we like it because it helps us create this show.
David Farrier
Flightthespreadchatmail.com yeah, a lot of my favorite episodes come from people just emailing saying, I don't know if you'd be interested in this, but yeah. Delane Rhoden, Long time Birdie and a Kiwi. Often catching up just because I transitioned to the podcast on YouTube. When you start on that platform because it's really fun. Shout out to YouTube. Today's catch up viewing with supper clubs. Anna Conkle. How cool is she? Rob's story of his dad's career movement appears to really impact her. A story in itself. I'll check out pen 15 for sure. The chuckle came after your quoting of Adam Johnson's very valid comment. At around 1 hour, 20 minutes and 12 seconds, I spied the bare foot on the coffee table.
Rob
Wait, am I spying Anna or you?
David Farrier
Yep. For the record, not Conkle me very much so. That is a very New Zealand thing to do. And it was good to see D.
Rob
Yeah. Feet barefoot on the table.
David Farrier
There's an element of rudeness with the barefoot on the table. I wouldn't usually do a barefoot on
Rob
the table at someone's house. I was gonna defend you a little bit. We have the illusion of us being in, like, a living room right now.
David Farrier
Yeah.
Rob
But we are in a studio.
David Farrier
This is a set.
Rob
A set.
David Farrier
Essentially, we're in a set.
Rob
Like, I wouldn't put my shoes on the. I wouldn't be wearing my shoes on a rug at home.
David Farrier
To be clear, I would never pop a little tootsie out and put it on anything on a table.
Rob
I don't know that I believe that I.
David Farrier
But that particular day with Conkle, maybe I was just excited. Like, she's a hero of mine. My feet get very hot. I run hot, but my feet. No, it was. I wasn't doing it consciously, but I popped the croc off because crocs are very easy to get off. And then suddenly shoeless, just wiggling your
Rob
toes in front of cargo.
David Farrier
Why did I do that? I hope that was the after chat.
Rob
Do you want to straight to camera, offer an apology?
David Farrier
Anna, if you saw my tootsies during that episode about PM15 in your new book, I'm so fucking sorry. That was unintentional. My foot was too hot.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Hot.
David Farrier
Like physically hot. It wasn't attractive hot.
Rob
All right, Anthony, I think for that, maybe make it dramatic. Go to, like, black and white and bring down the contrast and straight to camera. Maybe a little. Little smoky size.
David Farrier
I support that.
Rosabelle
Yeah.
David Farrier
I also want to note, just in regards to pin 15, I believe I was making a joke, but I might have been serious. I very clearly said that we didn't have the game Pen15 in New Zealand where you get penis written on someone's arm.
Rob
You say both in the episode.
David Farrier
My point is, I was homeschooled for a long time. I wasn't around other kids. Scrolling penis on her son's arm, which I'm grateful for. That would have been weird fam gag, like doing a little joke on her son. Been weird territory. But we did have the gag of riding penis on someone's arm under another for some crazy story that was weaved at the time to justice.
Rob
Well, it was slight bullying, I would say. You're not, like, writing it. I mean, you're doing it in jest, but it's slightly. You want to join the Pen15 club. And you're writing it in pen because it's hard to get off.
David Farrier
Yeah. I feel you're not doing that to the cool jocking class. You're doing it to the nerd.
Rob
Or the jock's doing it to the other jock.
David Farrier
I guess the jock's doing it to the other jock.
Rob
I do love that they named the show that.
David Farrier
It's such a. It's really perfect.
Rob
I don't know that I fully appreciated that.
David Farrier
Okay, let's do one more. This is Nick. I live in Bentonville, Arkansas, which is the home of Walmart. There are Walmarts everywhere. I believe in the US but here it was started. It's a whole other world of Walmart. The fanda Sam Walton is interesting as well as his children who, like his daughter Alice, who has her own checkered past, have done great things for our community that would interest you. Seems like very specific, but also vague email.
Rosabelle
Well, no.
Rob
So the cool thing about Bentonville.
David Farrier
Yeah.
Rob
Is in order for the Walton family to get money, get their money from. From the family funds, they have to do community service. And so there's a lot. It's like a beautiful community there because all of these resources have gone into making that community better. So the like library there is incredible and it's a lot of wealth, obviously.
David Farrier
This sounds incredible.
Rob
Waltons are from there.
David Farrier
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Nick said in this area we're built the largest mountain biking community in the US and that is amazing in itself. There are a ton of great things northwest Arkansas has to offer. Sounds like a great topic. I'd happily go there. I mean, Walmart is one of the most overwhelming, crazy places. I remember the first time I came to America. I went there and was just. It's so much. And I think maybe if you've grown up in America, you take it for granted a little bit. But it is another level of everything.
Rob
Well, and I think there is some capitalistic issues with. Oh, Walmart.
David Farrier
Yeah, Walmart.
Rob
Yeah.
David Farrier
We are sponsored by Walmart. What a store.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Sure.
David Farrier
If you have any insights into Walmart or anything in this episode.
Rob
Connection to connections.
David Farrier
If you want to tell us your OC memories and stories, we are flightless bird chat gmail.com.
Rob
you can watch us on Spotify. You can video less ads.
David Farrier
You can see my foot on the table. You can see our guest's face. Visuals can be really Good. We're on YouTube as well. And we are on Patreon where every week we do a bonus episode where we just yap a little bit more casually about whatever we want. So we'll see you over there and we'll see you next week.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
To kids, summer isn't just time off. It's time spent building combat, confidence and curiosity. But when school meals pause, millions of kids lose access to the food they count on during the school year. As a neighbor led network, Feeding America is deeply rooted in every community, ensuring summer meals continue nourishing growth and potential. Your support puts healthy food within reach, fueling the future for kids and their families. Give now@feedingamerica.org summerhunger the right window treatments change everything. Your sleep, your privacy, the way every room looks and feels. @blinds.com, we've spent 30 years making it surprisingly simple to get exactly what your home needs. We've covered over 25 million windows and have 50,000 five star reviews to prove we deliver. Whether you DIY it or want a pro to handle everything from measure to install, we have you covered. Real design professionals, free samples, zero pressure right now. Get up to 50% off with minimum purchase plus get a free professional measure@blinds.com rules and restrictions apply.
Host: David Farrier
Guest: Rachel Bilson
Cohost: Rob
Date: June 23, 2026
This episode of Flightless Bird explores the enduring cultural legacy of The O.C., the iconic early-2000s American teen drama. David Farrier (a self-professed newbie to The O.C.) and cohost Rob (an unabashed superfan) welcome Rachel Bilson, who played Summer Roberts, for a wide-ranging, playful, and sometimes chaotic conversation. They revisit the show’s plotlines, discuss the impact The O.C. had on fans and cast alike, and dig into the show's signature themes, fashion, and musical moments. While the hosts take detours into personal anecdotes (and dog-sitting woes), the heart of the episode is a nostalgic and insightful reflection, both from an insider and the fans it shaped.
On the Show’s Influences:
On Fashion:
On Cultural Staying Power:
On Music:
On Watching TV Then vs. Now:
A perfect episode for fans and newcomers alike, this conversation captures what made—and makes—The O.C. a pop-culture cornerstone, while giving listeners plenty of laughs, behind-the-scenes tidbits, and thought-provoking reflections on TV, memory, and growing up.