Mischa Barton: Art Imitates Life?

(image courtesy of www.people.com)

File this one under unfortunate irony. Mischa Barton, The O.C.’s golden girl, is reportedly in a psychiatric unit under observation. This only a week after some rather embarrassing photos surfaced onto the interwebs. Did I bring her bad luck by finally mentioning her in yesterday’s Missoni post? Either way, send good thoughts and vibes to her.

And although it might be inappropriate, does anyone else find this the slightest bit odd? Is Barton playing out her Marissa Cooper alter-ego? Not to add to the negativity of the situation, but I’m just saying, I don’t think this would happen to the ever-perfect (and stylish) Rachel Bilson-slash-Summer Roberts. Hrm?

-M

M is for...

(image courtesy of ruelala.com)

Me. Naturally. But when I’m in a giving, selfless mood, M also stands for Missoni. I always feel as though I channel Mischa Barton during her Marissa Cooper on The O.C days when I see Missoni. Fun, summery and kaleidoscope colorful, it exemplifies the luxury West Coast lifestyle that she encompassed. Plus, we all remember the scene when pre-boat party, Julie Cooper tells Marissa to wear a Missoni to look presentable.

I picked up the above green patent leather M Missoni tote at a sample sale within my office last week and I am obsessed. Big enough to fit all of my summer books, fashion magazines, designer frocks and Havaiana flip-flops, it’s my ultimate summer weekender bag. I was lucky enough to find it discounted, and believe you me, worth every penny. While there’s no more of this bag left, there are some M Missoni products over at the Final Sale at Rue La La. Grab them before I do!

While I gushed about my new bag purchase to P, she informed me that her city trumps mine with a Hotel Missoni just about completed in Kuwait City. Consider it Missoni Central, as Wikipedia calls it a lifestyle hotel that will “include 106 luxuriously stylish guest rooms and 63 suites (all with spectacular views of the Persian Gulf), a signature Missoni Cucina restaurant, a Mocha Missoni coffee bar, a chocolate café with an outdoor terrace, a 1530 square meter Six Senses Spa, a spacious, high-tech fitness facility and a large outdoor swimming pool overlooking the Gulf. Additional facilities will include a business center and several state-of-the-art conference rooms, as well as a spacious ballroom for large-scale events. All facilities will be decorated with Missoni's signature design elements, including lines, stripes, zig-zags and colors. Even the swimming pool will be tiled in Missoni's stripes and colors.”

Hotel Missoni and Pinkberry? Maybe it’s time to book a trip to visit P sooner rather than later…

-M

<3 The OC!

(image courtesy of: www.sidereel.com)

While cruising the interwebs this morning, I found this 'Where Are They Now?' listing for The O.C's cast members. In honor of mine and A's weekend marathons, my love for Seth Cohen and Benjamin McKenzie's new show on NBC, here is the list. I still heart Ryan and Marissa!!

-M

California, here we come!

(image courtesy of: http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com)

A little SAT style question for you.

The City is to The Hills as Gossip Girl is to _____.

Anyone who came of age in the early 2000s knows this answer. It is, undoubtedly, The O.C. This past weekend, A and I holed ourselves up in her parent's living room on the North Shore of Massachusetts and continued our O.C. marathon session. We've re-watched Season1 and are about 2/3rds through Season 2. After seeing this much of the show (again), I can say with complete confidence, that yes, The O.C. > Gossip Girl. Josh Schwartz claims he's learned his lessons from The O.C. to make Gossip Girl the better show, but I disagree. Cue the shocked reaction, but before you scoff, let me give my reasons why.

1.) Seth Cohen > Dan Humphrey. Yes, executive producer Josh Schwartz made each character be the self-centered character of the series. Somehow, though, Seth Cohen got the better witty banter, and still remains loveable. He's clueless and self-centered. Dan is just annoying. Plus, wouldn't you rather have the California guy that's into innocent comic books than the New Yorker that reads Aristotle in his spare time? That's what I thought.

2.) The adult storyline blends and works so much better. Sure, we have some Lily & Rufus fans, but for the most part, sadly, their storyline has been overdone and it's only season 2. In fact, it's been downright gagworthy for the past few weeks. No one wants to see them write a forced list of who they've slept with in the past. That's the best the Gossip Girl writers can come up with? The O.C's parents had juicy drama that went beyond, 'Oh no, our kids are dating and we're in love too.' In fact, that storyline was originally coined by The O.C. Paging Jimmy Cooper and Kirsten Cohen much? Anyway, for real drama how about Sandy Cohen's fugutive law school love showing up? Julie Cooper marrying Caleb Nichol? Kirsten Cohen's alcoholism? I don't care about Bart Bass's former membership at some sketchy Emperor's Club style gentlemens group. And I don't care about the Archibald's drama, since I never see the parents on the show anyway.

3.) And speaking of parents. Sandy Cohen as the laidback, surfer-lawyer father is so much more believeable than the 'I was a rock star in the 1990s' Rufus Humphrey. I can even forgive Sandy Cohen's huge eyebrows because of this.

4.) Marissa and Summer are true friends, and don't have a psudo-best friend breakup every 6th episode or so. Aren't you sick of seeing Serena and Blair fighting?

5.) The Harbor School campus = Phillips Andover Academy. Constance Billiard's campus might as well be a public school's setup (no offense to you public school kids, I'm just saying)...

6.) I miss the fashion of the early 2000s and this show reminds me why. The introduction of Seven for all Mankind jeans. Short, cropped t-shirts. Lacoste polos. Those were the days.

7.) The music in The O.C far surpasses that of Gossip Girl. Having Modest Mouse and The Killers perform live on the show? Thumbs up. That being said, props to Gossip Girl for getting No Doubt to perform on the upcoming prom episode.

8.) Even the minor characters in The O.C. have major plotlines and roles. Gossip Girl is really the Serena, Dan, Blair, Chuck show and everyone else is just their puppets. In The O.C. the attention was spread around to Luke, the various other significent others that flow in and out of the cast, and the parents.

9.) I am not constantly comparing The O.C. to a book series like Gossip Girl. The tv show stands on its' own, with no predecesor.

10.) Two words. Benjamin McKenzie. Yum.

Don't agree with me? Whip out your four-season dvd collection of The O.C. for yourself and then tell me so. You know you missed Ryan Atwood just as much as I have.

-M