Shorter Season for The O.C.

Josh Schwartz's primetime family/teen drama "The O.C." has been picked up for its fourth season on FOX, but it has only been renewed for 16 episodes this season. Most shows, including previous seasons of the series, run for 22 episodes from September/October until May.

The cutback in FOX's order means a shortened season for "The O.C." The show will have its season premiere late in the fall schedule on November 2nd and could have its season finale as early as February, depending on the length of its holiday hiatus and the number of reruns through the course of the season.

Adam Brody and Benjamin Mackenzie star in the one-hour show that is something of a fresh and trendier blend of FOX's former primetime soap dramas, "Melrose Place" and "90210." In a shocking turn of events that will alter the dynamics of the show, during the finale of Season Three this May, Mischa Barton's character was killed. The shocking turn axed the darling of the series in a very bold moment that stands out as one of its strongest.

Not one to follow the crowd, the makers of the series promised that there would be no convenient formula this season as the kids grow up and go off to college, separating and moving into worlds all their own. In doing this, the writers aim to avoid some of the pitfalls that burden and ruin many teen coming-of-age dramas. Now, however, there is less time being given to the series, reportedly because FOX has certain scheduling needs to meet.

This could be a sign that the show is losing its momentum, but its Thursday timeslot will not help it keep viewers this year, being more likely to work against it. ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" is moving to that night at 9PM, and "Supernatural" will be on The CW at that same time as well. These two are relatively new shows that are off to remarkable starts, and some of the viewership for the three shows coincides. This season "The O.C." may find itself between a rock and a hard place with no room to breathe or grow.