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“The Pilot”
The O.C. episode
Ryan and the Cohens at the fashion show.
Episode no.	Season 1 (2003-2004) Episode 1
Written by	Josh Schwartz
Directed by	Doug Liman
Production no.	475197
Original airdate	August 5, 2003 (FOX)
Episode chronology ← Previous Next → – "The Model Home"

"Premiere" is the first episode of the FOX television series, The O.C.. The episode was written by Josh Schwartz and was directed by Doug Liman. It originally aired on Tuesday August 5, 2003.

Ryan Atwood, a 16-year-old boy from Chino, steals a car with his elder brother Trey Atwood. They crash the car and are arrested. Sandy Cohen, a public defender, goes to visit Ryan and leaves a card just in case. Ryan's mother, Dawn Atwood, throws Ryan out after picking him up at the juvie hall. After calling several friends and not finding a place to stay, Ryan calls Sandy. Sandy picks him up and takes Ryan to his house. But before that, Sandy has to convince his wife Kirsten Cohen to allow Ryan to stay; Kirsten worries that Ryan will be a bad influence to their son Seth Cohen. Kirsten finally gives up arguing with "charming" Sandy, and lets the homeless boy stay in the pool house.

During the time that Sandy is convincing his wife to let Ryan stay, Ryan meets Marissa Cooper, who is the girl next door. She was curious about the new neighbor, and wrongly assumes Ryan is the nephew of Sandy. Ryan and Sandy do not correct her. After she invites Ryan to the fund-raising fashion show, Marissa is driven by her boyfriend, Luke Ward.

Morning. Ryan meets Seth and they play video games together. The pair go sailing, and Seth reveals to Ryan his obsession with sailing and Summer Roberts, to whom he has never spoken. Seth even named a boat after her.

Meanwhile, two federal agents come to Marissa's home to find her dad, Jimmy Cooper. Marissa is worried because it is not the first time they showed, but Jimmy comforts her. Marissa then leaves for the fashion show with Jimmy, her mother Julie Cooper and sister Kaitlin Cooper.

Seth shows how he is the 'geek of the Newport' at the fashion show. Ryan, however, proves far more popular. During the show, Jimmy breaks down in the toilet after hearing usual Newport 'rich' talk (it was hinted earlier in the episode that, as a financial planner, he had been embezzling from his clients' funds).

After the show, Summer, who is attracted to Ryan, invites Ryan to come to a party. Ryan takes Seth along with him. During the party, a drunk Summer makes a play for Ryan, who rebuffs her. Jealous Seth misunderstands and tells the truth about Ryan's background. Suddenly Ryan is not welcome.

Angry Seth stumbles off towards the beach, where he stumbles upon a group of water polo players who ask “Who invited you, suckass?” and start pushing him around. Ryan runs over to help Seth, attacking the leader, Luke. A fight ensues, which Ryan and Seth lose. The fight culminates with the delivery of Luke's famous line "Welcome to the O.C., bitch. This is how it's done in Orange County" as he finishes beating up Ryan.

Ryan and Seth go back to the Cohen's, where Ryan sees drunk, passed-out Marissa being dumped outside her home by Summer and Holly. Ryan, who cannot find Marissa's front door key to get her into her own house, takes her back to the pool house.

The next morning, when Ryan awakes, he finds out Marissa has left. Kirsten, who sees bruises on both Seth and Ryans' faces, is not happy that her prediction was right. She demands that Sandy return Ryan to his mother, although she feels a little bad about this when she finds that Ryan has made breakfast for the family. Sandy drives Ryan to Chino, only to find his mother has gone, and the house where they were living is empty. "Come on. Let's go." Sandy says, taking him back to Orange County.

• "California" by Phantom Planet
• "Sweet Honey" by Slightly Stoopid
• "All Around The World" by Cooler Kids
• "Swing, Swing" by The All-American Rejects
• "Hands Up" by Black Eyed Peas
• "I'm A Player" by The K.G.B
• "Into Dust" by Mazzy Star
• "Honey And The Moon" by Joseph Arthur
• "Let It Roll" by Maximum Roach
• "Show Me" by Cham Pain

• This is the only episode of The O.C. where the episode title doesn't begin with "The"
• This episode was the only episode to be filmed in an actual house, after that they moved to a set because of filming costs
• The episode premiered at 7.5 million viewers in the US Nielsen ratings.
• When Mr. Cohen is driving Ryan up to their house, there is no wind and it is not raining. However, when Mr. and Mrs. Cohen are arguing about Ryan in the kitchen, it is raining outside and the trees are blowing wildly. During the next scene, when Ryan and Marissa meet for the first time, it is no longer raining, and the wind is gentle again.

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