FOX Announces The End of The O.C.

The teen family drama was slugging it out in a brutal timeslot, but it couldn’t compete with a new success like ABC’s "Grey’s Anatomy" or teen sci-fi/horror drama "Supernatural." The three shows all cross audiences, and it’s no surprise that the series has only drawn 4 million viewers for this, it’s fourth season. FOX even ordered fewer episodes, apparently anticipating a severe decline, but rather than move the series to a better night and time, it was set to be laid to rest.

The Sydney-Morning Herald reports and CBS2.com confirms that FOX has officially announced the cancellation of the series. The show premiered in 2003 to the happy tune of 10 million viewers. The initials stand for California’s rich and glamorous Orange County. But ratings have been falling steadily each season, and though even the death of Mischa Barton’s character in last season’s finale didn’t take as steep a toll as one might expect, the ratings aren’t enough to keep the show afloat on the network any longer.

Series creator Josh Schwartz had this to say; "[The finale] will deliver real closure to the series, to the story we began telling four years ago. It will be fun and emotional and I think really satisfying. It is the finale we always planned to do." At least FOX is giving the show a chance to go out right. The last episode will air on Thursday, February 22nd at 9PM.