Welcome to The Greatest Year in Pop Culture.
E!'s new anthology documentary series is revisiting the years that shaped entertainment history, starting with 2003.
Yes, it was the year that delivered Madonna and Britney Spears' iconic kiss at the MTV Video Music Awards and the year a then-engaged Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck starred in Gigli.
But 2003 was also the year that introduced us to The O.C., the Josh Schwartz-created show that skyrocketed the careers of Mischa Barton, Ben McKenzie, Adam Brody, and Rachel Bilson.
That's right, The O.C.—executive produced by McG and Stephanie Savage—premiered on Aug. 5, 2003, centered on a young outsider named Ryan Atwood (McKenzie) who inadvertently joins a wealthy Southern California community.
"We're always looking for new worlds to set shows in," Schwartz explained in The Greatest Year in Pop Culture. "Traditionally, you might see Malibu or L.A. or New York City. Orange County, Newport, was the perfect embodiment of everything that was happening culturally in 2003."
Not only did The O.C. influence fashion—Juicy Couture tracksuits!—and music trends—Phantom Planet!—but it also inspired several other series, including The Real Housewives of Orange County, Desperate Housewives and MTV's Laguna Beach.
As Schwartz shared on Greatest Year, "I did have conversations with producers of Laguna Beach," who confirmed they "would not be doing this show if it wasn't for The O.C."
"The show captured people's imagination," the screenwriter noted, "and created a curiosity that wanted to get interrogated further."
So, was 2003—thanks largely to The O.C.—the greatest year in pop culture history? Watch the documentary series to decide for yourself.
E!’s Greatest Year in Pop Culture is streaming now on Fandango, E! Entertainment YouTube and E! Online.
