The Ryan/Dylan Showdown

As The OC continues to grow in popularity like the length of Peter Gallagher's eyebrows, comparisons to a former FOX teen-drama have inevitably cropped up. Yes, many critics of The OC consider it to be a rip-off of Beverly Hills, 90210, the prime time soap opera that set off a wave of shows centered around teen angst -- not to mention drinking, drugs and sex. Here at The OC Files, however, we believe that witty dialogue and unique characters cause this latest FOX sensation to stand on its own, Brenda and Brandon-less feet. With that in mind, herewith is a comparison of the loner, brooding male stars of each show, Ryan Atwood and Dylan McKay.

Mother:	Drunken mess	Aloof hippie
Father:	Never in the picture	Abandoned, then returned, then supposedly blown up in a car bomb, then found alive with a new family
Distinguishable look:	Wife beater	Eyebrow scar
Surrogate parents:	The Cohens	The Walshes
Surrogate mother	Hot	Not
Best friend:	Witty Seth	Boy scout Brandon
Famous one-liner:	"Know what I like about rich kids ... nothing!"	"Mad, bad and dangerous to know, that's me."
Vices:	Punching anything that moves	Drinking and drugs
Favorite hobby:	Deep, intense staring	Surfing
Hair styles:	Bangs	Sideburns
Holiday traditions:	Basking in the warmth of Chrismukkah	Visiting father in jail