SUMMER'S OVER, WILL SETH RETURN TO "THE O.C."? THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, ON FOX

With the end of summer quickly approaching, tension fills the air in THE O.C. The Cohen family is desperate to convince Seth, who ran away at the beginning of the summer, to return home. Meanwhile in Chino, Ryan is working construction while a pregnant Theresa waits at home. Back in Newport Beach, while Summer is finding ways to deal with Seth's disappearance, Marissa is distancing herself from the world and masking her problems by reverting to old habits on THE O.C. episode, "The Distance," airing Thursday, Dec. 23 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (OC-201) (TV-PG L)

Cast: Peter Gallagher as Sandy Cohen, Benjamin McKenzie as Ryan Atwood, Adam Brody as Seth Cohen, Mischa Barton as Marissa Cooper, Kelly Rowan as Kirsten Cohen, Tate Donovan as Jimmy Cooper, Melinda Clarke as Julie Cooper, Rachel Bilson as Summer and Alan Dale as Caleb Nichol.

Special Guest Cast: Chris Carmack as Luke

Guest Cast: Navi Rawat as Theresa; Nicholas Gonzalez as D.J., Brian McNamara as Carson Ward; Bruno Amato as Archie;