'The O.C.' nostalgia recap: Stay gold, Ponyboy 

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\'The O.C.\' nostalgia recap: Stay gold, Ponyboy

Season 1 | Episode 5 | “The Outsider” | Aired Sep 2, 2003

'The O.C.' nostalgia recap: I'm comin' out. I want the world to know.

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, Ryan Atwood isn’t accustomed to having things handed to him. So while Seth is content to spend the rest of his lazy summer playing PlayStation and skating the boardwalk as Sandy and Kirsten provide for him (“They’re parents. They work for us”), Ryan isn’t so comfortable. The boys witness a table-bussing disaster at the Crab Shack, and just like that, Ryan is gainfully employed.

He’s not the titular outsider anymore either. That position has been filled by Donnie (

‘ Paul Wesley, back when he went by Paul Wasilewski), fellow busboy and working class kid. Their rapport is easy, and as Donnie shows him the ropes, we can see that Ryan was craving this kind of connection. Seth sees it too. He was already nervous that morning, babbling on about how he’ll finally get the chance to sink his teeth into his novel and convincing no one that he won’t miss his friend terribly. Donnie takes Ryan out after his first day on the job, resulting in the de facto brothers sharing a very tense breakfast the next morning.

Truth #1: Anything that puts a wedge between Ryan and Seth can’t be good.

Boyfriend troubles aside, Ryan’s love life is looking up. Luke and Marissa have stayed broken up since cotillion, party girl Holly is already moving in on Luke, and Ryan is free to act on his feelings for the girl next door. If he can get up the courage, that is. When Marissa and Summer wander into the restaurant on a sun break, Ryan asks how her dad is—how Marissa is—and then suggests a hang. But he loses his nerve when she pushes him to call it what it is: a date. She can’t. She blames her family troubles, but maybe she’s also a little disappointed in Ryan’s lack of follow-through.

The next time he sees her, Ryan’s emboldened by his night out in Corona and by the fact that he’s not wearing an apron covered in fish juice. He

asking Marissa out on a date, he confirms. “I just wanted to clear that up,” he says. “‘Cause I’m gonna ask you out again.” Charmed, Marissa invites him to join her for babysitting night. Part of Ryan’s motivation in securing a steady paycheck was to be flush enough to take Marissa out. But Marissa has had enough of platinum cards that mask emotional unavailability. She just wants to spend time with him, and maybe share some mac and cheese.

This night of romance is foiled when Ryan has to deal with his own babysitting charge. Seth shows up to the Crab Shack (adorably) with tickets to an IMAX shark experience. When Ryan bows out for dream date reasons, Donnie invites Seth to join him at another house party. Ryan gets that look of squinty concern. Donnie and his crew will eat Seth alive. They’re hard. They’re unpredictable. They listen to the Black Eyed Peas.

They also trash Range Rovers. Ryan and Seth manage to convince Sandy that the damage occurred in the IMAX theater parking lot (“Shark movies bring out a rough crowd”), but that’ll do it for Seth and partying on Donnie’s turf. For his next spectacular lapse in judgment, he has Donnie tag along to a Holly party, overlooking the deep resentment Donnie has developed for a crowd that treats him like a servant daily. Seth doesn’t see the error of his ways until Donnie shows him his questionable party accessory. No, not his Hot Topic wallet chain—the gun he has shoved in his waistband.

Meanwhile, Ryan is blissfully ignorant of the potential bloodbath threatening the Fischers’ nautical striped coach and pristine hardwood floors. Seth proved his ultimate wingman status by showing up to Marissa’s door to take full responsibility for Ryan’s no-show the previous night. (“It turns out I’m quite skilled at getting a date, provided it’s not for me.”) Marissa and Ryan finally have their first date, and it’s wholesome and sexy and perfect enough to make you nostalgic for a childhood you never had. He makes grilled cheese. They flirt with their feet dangling in the pool and, because it’s the law, pull each other in, fully clothed. Clearly, this is first-kiss territory … until Seth calls.

Donnie is drunk. He trashes the house, skeeves out the girls, and gets into it with Luke, the poster child for everything he hates about Newport. (“That Abercrombie & Fitch, water-polo-playin’ bitch.”) Ryan comes in just as the confrontation hits the breaking point. Donnie pulls his gun—the one thing he’s got over these rich kids—and Ryan throws himself on top of him. In the fray, the gun discharges. Luke slumps to the ground, clutching his arm.

Ryan calls Marissa from the hospital. Ryan wants Marissa and Luke is her ex, but she cares about him and she deserves to know—even if his near-death experience will bring them back together.

Truth #2: Ryan Atwood will always do the honorable thing and it will usually backfire.

Where have the parents been this whole time? Dealing with their own messes. Sandy is doing what he can to help Jimmy, who seems to have no interest in helping himself. His plan, as Sandy sees it, is to roll over and wait for someone to clean up this mess for him. Sandy can keep him out of jail if he liquidates his assets—his life—and makes restitution to his clients in the amount of $4 million. Maybe starting over would work for Sandy and Kirsten, but Jimmy has no illusions about why Julie married him.

On a Newpsie retreat, Julie confirms as much. “My domain is the kitchen and the bedroom,” she tells the ladies. “His is the office. I kept up my end of the bargain.” It’s an awkward mini-break, considering the Coopers’ new infamy. But Kirsten comes through with some glorious takedowns that keep their particular sins in perspective. (“No, what’s uncalled for is your $500-a-day coke habit in college.”) Her defense irks Julie, who’s always seen Kirsten (accurately) as the specter hanging over her marriage. Frankly, it’s Julie’s right to be angry with Jimmy, and it irritates her that the calmer, more forgiving, and independently wealthy version of her lives right next door for constant comparison. When she gets back, Jimmy gives Julie the opportunity to decide what kind of person she is. They’ll start over with nothing, or he’ll go to jail. The decision is in her hands. And maybe it’s not that easy to be Julie Cooper after all.

Both Seth and Marissa make mention this week of how cool/good Ryan looks in tank tops. Take that as you will.

“Why? Talking about stuff is just gonna get us all bummed out.” —Luke, on feelings

Sandy schools Jimmy on how providing for a family goes way beyond keeping them in ponies and Juicy sweatsuits. Weekly reminder that Sandy Cohen is a prince among men.

At the hospital, Seth asks Ryan if he’s scared. And without any trace of vanity or qualification, Ryan says that he is. These two will always be straight with each other.

Sage Young and Kim Rogers bonded hard over Friends trivia and then founded Head Over Feels as an outlet for their intense obsession with pop and fandom culture.  When not taking on fan conventions like a contact sport, they post regular TV recaps (Doctor Who, Parks and Rec, Sleepy Hollow, etc), movie reviews, character appreciations and lists for their rapidly growing audience. Sage and Kim consider themselves semi-professional podcast guests and are dead serious about live-blogging award shows. Basically, they just have a lot of feelings. Find them at Head Over Feels.

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’s 40th anniversary episode was really just an excuse for anyone who’s ever been on the show to get back on the stage at Studio 8H. Jimmy Fallon, Justin Timberlake, Rachel Dratch, Molly Shannon, Steve Martin, Jon Lovitz, Tom Hanks, Alec Baldwin, Melissa McCarthy, and Chris Rock showed up—and that was just in the first few minutes of the three-and-a-half-hour special.

Weren’t able to keep up with the who’s who of guests? Check out our full list below, and hang tight; a full recap of the special is coming.

Jack White is tired of all the \'hoo-haa\' about his guacamole recipe

If you’ve been on the internet recently, you’ve probably seen a headline (or five) about Jack White’s guacamole recipe. It all started when someone from the University of Oklahoma, where White performed in January, leaked a copy of the musician’s tour rider, which contained a recipe for the guacamole he had reportedly requested to be present backstage.

Little League star Mo\'Ne Davis owned Kevin Hart at the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

A big part of the NBA’s All-Star weekend is the annual Celebrity game, in which actors, musicians, and (occasionally) government leaders get together to break ankles and score buckets on the court with a few actual professional athletes. This year, one of those athletes was 13-year-old Little League phenom Mo’ne Davis. Davis is famous for being a really good pitcher. She is also, much to Kevin Hart’s chagrin, very good at basketball. 

Mandy Moore stars in sexy Valentine\'s Day video for m.r.s.

by Jennifer Maas • @jmaas421 on Feb 13, 2015 - 08:11pm

Mandy Moore celebrates Valentine’s Day by getting wet—soaked, really—in a new video for the clothing line m.r.s. by mrs.

Vin Diesel covers Maroon 5\'s \'My Heart Is Open,\' reminds us that love is real

by Jennifer Maas • @jmaas421 on Feb 13, 2015 - 04:26pm

It’s hard to top that cover of Rihanna’s “Stay,” but Vin Diesel sure did try. 

On Thursday night, the actor posted a new cover right in time for Valentine’s Day, this time taking on Maroon 5’s “My Heart Is Open.”

by Jonathon Dornbush • @jmdornbush on Feb 13, 2015 - 12:46pm

Nintendo is no stranger to releasing updated pieces of its handheld systems. While the company doesn’t unveil new products yearly, a la Apple, the New Nintendo 3DS XL—the latest version of the 3DS handheld family—feels very much in line with Apple’s mode of releases. It’s an incremental step, not a revolutionary one—the New 3DS XL is to the iPhone 5S as the 3DS XL is to the iPhone 5.

Still, there are a number of helpful improvements—saddled with a couple of unfortunate drawbacks—that will determine whether the new system is a must-have for players, or something that can be skipped until Nintendo releases a true successor.

Primetime Politics: Dante Wallace completes EW\'s presidential race — vote now!

In honor of Presidents Day, EW is holding its own Presidential Election—featuring five equally deserving candidates from your favorite (currently airing) television shows. Every day this week, a new presidential character joined the race, complete with a slogan and a poster. We ask that you, the electorate, consider each character thoroughly before voting for your ultimate presidential pick. Scroll down to check out all five candidates—and cast your vote below.

The winner will be announced on Monday, Feb. 16—Presidents Day—with a parade to follow. Not really… but they don’t care. They’re fictional.

by Jonathon Dornbush • @jmdornbush on Feb 13, 2015 - 11:51am

 game. First, everything looks beautiful. And second, everything is exploding.

Darth Vader, Chewbacca, and co. are headed to the Caribbean, whether they like it or not. 

by Ariana Bacle , Esther Zuckerman on Feb 12, 2015 - 06:36pm

, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this weekend, is known as one of comedy’s preeminent talent breeding grounds—at least for now. But having a season-long stint on the show doesn’t necessarily signify the end, or even the beginning, of one’s career.

Plenty of notable names have passed briefly through Studio 8H—50 in total. Some were there during the show’s transitional years, when whoever was running things at the time (it wasn’t always Lorne Michaels) thought it would be a good idea to shake up the series by bringing in established talent; some simply weren’t good fits for the show.

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Aired Sunday, Feb 15 The Walking Dead \'Them\' By Kat Rosenfield

Aired Sunday, Feb 15 Girls \'Sit-In\' By Esther Zuckerman

Aired Sunday, Feb 15 Downton Abbey Episode 7 By Kevin P. Sullivan

Aired Sunday, Feb 15 Looking \'Looking for Truth\' By Marc Snetiker

Aired Sunday, Feb 15 The Real Housewives of Atlanta \'Hello Mr. Chocolate\' By Jodi Walker

Aired Sunday, Feb 15 Togetherness \'Kick the Can\' By Brandon Nowalk

Aired Friday, Feb 13 12 Monkeys \'The Night Room\' By Jonathon Dornbush

Aired Thursday, Feb 12 How to Get Away with Murder \'She\'s a Murderer\' By Marc Snetiker

Aired Thursday, Feb 12 The Blacklist \'Ruslan Denisov\' By Jodi Walker

Aired Thursday, Feb 12 Reign \'The End of Mourning\' By Samantha Highfill

Aired Thursday, Feb 12 Scandal \'Gladiators Don\'t Run\' By Kat Ward

Aired Thursday, Feb 12 American Idol The End of Hollywood Week By Stephanie Schomer

Aired Thursday, Feb 12 The Vampire Diaries \'Stay\' By Samantha Highfill

Aired Thursday, Feb 12 Grey\'s Anatomy \'All I Could Do Was Cry\' By Ariana Bacle

Aired Thursday, Feb 12 Project Runway All Stars \'4 Seasons in 1 Finale\' By Dalene Rovenstine

Aired Wednesday, Feb 11 Top Chef \'Mano a Mano\' By John Vilanova

Aired Wednesday, Feb 11 Arrow \'Canaries\' By Chancellor Agard

Aired Wednesday, Feb 11 Nashville \'I\'ve Got Reasons to Hate You\' By Keertana Sastry

Aired Wednesday, Feb 11 Empire \'Out, Damned Spot\' By Jackson McHenry

Aired Wednesday, Feb 11 Fresh Off the Boat \'Success Perms\' By Ray Rahman

Aired Wednesday, Feb 11 Broad City \'Hashtag Fomo\' By Ariana Bacle

Aired Wednesday, Feb 11 American Idol Hollywood, Day 3 By Stephanie Schomer

Aired Wednesday, Feb 11 The Americans \'Open House\' By Joshua Rivera

Aired Tuesday, Feb 10 Parks and Recreation \'Pie-Mary\' By Kat Ward

Aired Tuesday, Feb 10 Supernatural \'Halt & Catch Fire\' By Samantha Highfill

Aired Tuesday, Feb 10 Pretty Little Liars \'Out, Damned Spot\' By Abby Johnston

Aired Tuesday, Feb 10 Girlfriends\' Guide to Divorce \'Rule No. 46: Keep the Holidays Simple\' By Jodi Walker

readies its biggest, bloodiest season yet, and King Joffrey is in for a world of hurt.

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has viral buzz and solid ratings. But his network-TV rivals are holding steady.