Once a week, the members of The OC Round Table will deliver their uncensored, unabashed, unwavering views on various issues affecting the show and its characters. Not so much knights as raucous fans of this FOX phenom, these pundits will comment on every aspect that hits the airways, from Ryan‘s bird-like facial expressions to Luke‘s transition from hotheaded jock to complete and utter loser. Agree with their views? Disagree? Send in your thoughts, comments, questions or harassing diatribes to any or all of the supposed sages. They‘ll publish viewer feedback in each subsequent edition of the Round Table. Now, it‘s time to pull up a chair, meet our panelists and dissect their takes on the shocking twists and turns that comprise The OC.

The panel:

Name: Matty R. Favorite character: Sandy The OC words to live by: Kirsten: So what do you want to be, now? Ryan: Seventeen. Contact: Private Message

Name: Mr. Blue Favorite character: Kirsten The OC words to live by: Sandy: Face it, your mom‘s a hottie. And I got her. Contact: Private Message

Name: Leighton S. Favorite character: Seth The OC words to live by: Seth: What happens in Mexico stays in Mexico. Ryan: What happens in Mexico? Seth: I don‘t know because it stays there! That‘s why we must go! Contact: Private Message

THE ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION

Seth compared his first time to Finding Nemo. To which movie would you compare your first sexual experience?

Matty: Clueless. But unlike Alicia Silverstone's career afterwards, my stock has gone nothing but up, baby (if you know what I mean ... and I think you do!).

Leighton: ÊIndecent Proposal? Not really. Born on the Fourth of July? Actually, it was the 10th. Boogie Nights? Sorta. My entrance into adulthood most closely resembles an adaptation of a scene from Varsity Blues. Imagine if Mox had given in to the delectable combination of cream, sugar and skin (i.e. whipped cream bikini) and slept with Darcy. [Editor's note: Dawson was an idiot for not doing so]. That, my OC friends, blows the doors off what my first time was like. However, the situation was not far from what I experienced. One fateful summer, a beautiful, buxomed, blonde cheerleader realized I was worth her oft-sought attention and, as many of my friends will tell you, tossed me around like a rag doll. It was great. A lot of what Seth went through last night reminded me of my first time. Even going to tell Ryan, "I had sex," reminded me of a sunny morning by the pool when I told my friends. Anticipating, discovering, celebrating, learning, even flaunting the facets of a first time, can be one of the best rites of passage in a person's life, when it's right. For that, K.F., I thank you. Ê

Mr. Blue: So it's kind of like Rocky, and I know what youÕre thinking É but no, IÕm talking all IV Rockys (and donÕt kid yourself, V never really existed). Ok, more like Rocky I and IV. You know, you give it a shot with minimal coaching, chase the rooster around the pen and then get in the sack and get your ass handed to you. But then you make a big come back, maybe not in II or II, but by time four you learn. You spend a little time in isolation, do a little training on your own in the wilderness and then you're ready to go the distance. By the end of round 15, even the goddamned commies (or your girl) are screaming your name.

Discuss First time movies? on the message board.


What is your favorite Valentine's Day memory?

Matty: Well, there was the time I turned a room in my house into a private, romantic dance party for my girlfriend at the time and myself. I also surprised a special someone with dinner and a hotel room for the night, replete with fire place, hot tub and, well, chocolate sauce. But the Valentine's Day that will always stay with me occurred during my senior year of high school because I learned a valuable lesson that on that date. On the night of February 13, I lost a basketball game. I was distraught, at a loss for words, an emotional wreck of a boyfriend. As a result, when the next day rolled around, my girlfriend never saw me, she never received a phone call from me, nary a word was exchanged on this supposedly love-filled holiday. I called her to apologize on February 15. She eventually accepted. I dumped her the next day. It wasn't the act I am most proud of in life -- that would probably be a toss up between a really exciting try in rugby and the time I successfully made Shake 'N Bake chicken -- but I took a lifelong lesson out of the experience. Basketball is just a sport, it's never bigger than the person you are with. We really should have won that game, though.

Leighton: My favorite V-Day memory involved good friends, an oversized valentine sent to a varsity girls' team, a scavenger hunt and the subsequent party where I was, quite literally, so "loved" that I had to spend the rest of the night in a wheelchair.

Mr. Blue:I took a girl to Friendly's for a one-year anniversary/dinner. Needless to say, that didn't go over so well. "It doesnÕt matter that much" means it better be special, and if you don't know that, learn it! So one year later (see question one) I took her to a far more expensive restaurant and she asked if a girl at a bar was pretty. I answered honestly, and, of course we got in a fight. So I learned my lesson: Valentine's day will lead to a fight, so you may as well save $150 and get a sundae with my meal!

Discuss Valentine's memories on the message board.


Random thoughts/questions (Part I)

- Note to guys: apparently the words, "you're undeniable," are all it takes for a beautiful girl to ravage you.
- Anyone else catch the TV show Summer was watching before Seth entered her room the first time? If not, you missed: "Next time on The Valley: I just don't feel like I fit in here in Tarzana."
- Does Summer have parents?
- Seth has a record player. It doesn't play CDs, or even even tapes. It plays records. Just making sure you caught that.
- Caitlin Cooper is alive!


Why are there no pets on The OC?

Leighton: Excellent question. I can't say that I mind the lack of a pet presence. Don't get me wrong, I love dogs. Cats? Not so much, but that's not the point. TV producers rarely put cool pets into shows. When was the last time you saw a television family with a Golden Retriever or a Labrador? You have to go all the way back to Full House. It just doesn't happen anymore. If the Coopers were to get a dog, I see Julie owning a yippee little mop dog rather than a real dog. For some reason, when it comes to television, wealth and prissiness seem to go hand in hand. So, prissy people get prissy dogs. Now, if Sandy were to get a dog, that's a different story. Although I don't see Sandy picking out a grand-master-field champion Labrador, I see him giving a mutt from the pound a chance to soil his carpets. Pattern? Oh yeah. He could even call it Rhino. Point is, I guess, that each character on The OC could have a different type of dog. Ryan could get a Bulldog because they make stupid faces and don't do much at all. Summer would get whatever breed all other male dogs find hot. Seth could get a Jack Russell Terrier because they're just funny. And Marissa, well, she'd get a Collie because all they do is whine. And that, kids, is why there are no pets on The OC; there are simply too many conflicting personalities as it is.

Matty: If the writers can't keep track of little Caitlin Cooper, how are they ever gonna keep a pet in the picture? I'd love to watch Sandy interact with the Astro or Dino of his generation, but not if it takes away from valuable Seth humor or Kirsten Kirsten-ness. Moreover, I'd feel sorry for the violated pet when Luke moved on from Julie Cooper to his next sexual conquest.Ê

Mr. Blue: They have enough trouble taking care of themselves, how could they feed a goldfish? Wouldn't Oliver have eaten it in a rage of emotion? Or a dog? Can you imagine that? The poor little guy, wandering all around the house, left all alone, while they are at their big parties, spending money and hooking up? Man, that's like dog abuse. Although, they are running out of episode/public service announcement ideas, so pet abuse could be one. They could get Bob Barker on to talk about spaying and neutering, and then he can also challenge Caleb for a youthful blonde to take to the big fundraiser for the animal shelters.

Discuss OC pets on the message board.


Should Ryan forgive Marissa?

Leighton: Nah, not right now anyway. Ryan did the right thing. If anything, he needs some space and she needs some sedatives ... well, maybe not. Regardless, she got a little too caught up in everything to just take her back. Ryan had some excellent points last night. She jumped to conclusions when the twisted Oliver got between them. As a fellow panel member will tell you, loyalty means a lot. By finding his spine and ditching his girlfriend Ryan took a step forward in my book. Unfortunately, I was reading the book at the time. My hand still hurts.

Matty: If you learn one thing from me in this Round Table -- and I can't imagine why anyone would learn more than one thing from me in life, let alone in this Round Table -- it's that all relationships are about understanding, people. From husband/wife to player/coach, you can disagree, you can fight, you can dislike, but you must first understand one another. When it came to Ryan's issue with Oliver, Marissa failed in this vital task. Ryan has a history of abandonment, of those around not believing in him. He does not have a history of misguided jealousy. Heck, he punched out Luke in earlier episodes and Luke ended up cheating on Marissa. So how come Marissa did not take Ryan's right hook to Oliver's jaw as a sign that maybe something was amiss with this obsessed psychiatric patient? Marissa should have taken Ryan's history into account, along with the faith that any girlfriend must have in a serious boyfriend. She's lucky that no one was shot on account of her ignorance, stubbornness and overall skinniness (not particularly relevant in this case, but my gosh, she makes Jennifer Anison look like Fat Albert). Forgive Marissa? Why? Especially when Theresa, aka Latino Heat, is back in the picture.

Mr. Blue: No. Are you kidding; no trust, fawning over another guy? In high school? So not worth it.

Discuss Forgive Marissa on the message board.


Ê Random thoughts/questions (Part II)

- Summer is ruining my last name theory: once a girl calls you by your last name, you have no chance with her.
- During "the talk" between Seth and Sandy, I felt awkward.
- Aren't limbs flying everywhere normally a good thing?
- For the record, remember the part where Sandy strolled into the kitchen and slyly, hysterically said "helllooo" to a fuming Kirsten? Yeah, we replayed that on TiVo four times.
- Ok, Luke, it's one thing to make up a game called Ultimatum. It's another thing to just completely lie about the results of it. Julie Cooper over Kirsten? For shame!
- A friend commented during the episode, "I"m the only person NOT getting laid tonight." Frankly, it was pretty much true.