‘The O.C.’ Rates With Newport Officials

So in Newport Beach, it’s come down to this.

In a city known for such Hollywood heavyweights as John Wayne and Humphrey Bogart, and sports stars like Dennis Rodman and Kobe Bryant, it took the cast of Fox’s soapy drama “The O.C.” -- a largely unknown group of actors depicting wealth and glamour in Newport Beach -- to persuade officials to hand over the keys to the city and install a Hollywood-esque Walk of Fame.

And to think that after the show premiered, officials in Newport Beach really didn’t like the portrayal of drunk teens, naughty mothers and spoiled socialites.

Truth be told, they’re still not sold.

“It says they’re getting the keys to the city of Newport Beach, but it’s actually a beer bottle opener,” Mayor Tod Ridgeway said Thursday. “Seems appropriate, doesn’t it? ... But I won’t go into the morals and lifestyles of the characters.”

Ridgeway and officials from the Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau, who engineered the event, said the show is being honored not for its plot line, but for the international exposure it brings the city and the tourism boom.

“It definitely is the buzz,” said bureau chairman Bruce Brainerd. “That translates into business and tourism.”

In fact, there are so many fans in search of real-life scenes from “The O.C.” that the bureau posted an online list of the show’s hot spots, including the Crab Cooker restaurant, the Balboa Island Ferry and Pelican Hill in Newport Coast.

“The O.C.,” which begins its sophomore season next Thursday, became an instant hit when it premiered in summer 2003. Critics called the writing witty and hailed its demographic appeal to teens and their parents.

Outsiders began proclaiming Orange County “hip” and “cool” and -- despite sniping that nobody actually uses the phrase -- “The O.C.” has somehow slipped into the Southern California vernacular.

Orange County Supervisor Chris Norby even floated the idea of renaming the airport after “The O.C.,” though he quickly yanked that idea -- perhaps after realizing that fans of the Duke (after whom the county’s main airport is named) are still a force to be reckoned with.

Thursday, though, belonged to “The O.C.” The cast members got keys to the city, a proclamation in their honor, tennis rackets, gifts, free stays in the villas at the Hyatt Regency Newport, and their handprints cemented into Newport Beach’s new Walk of Fame (no word on who might be the next inductee).

Hundreds of screaming girls and a throng of paparazzi lined up Thursday evening at Balboa Pavilion, hoping for a glimpse of teen heartthrob Benjamin McKenzie, who plays bad boy Ryan, and Melinda Clarke, who portrays Julie Cooper, the ultimate in hottie moms.

Actors Peter Gallagher, Alan Dale and newcomer Michael Cassidy were also there, along with creator Josh Schwartz and executive producer McG.

Dozens of young fans yelled, “We love you, Ben!” and “The new guy is hot!” and waved pens as they clamored for autographs.

Before the presentation, McG, who went to Corona del Mar High School, stood inside the Harborside Restaurant, where years ago he attended a cotillion.

“People always ask, ‘Is it really like that?’ ” McG said. “This show is a very specific reflection of what’s going on.”

Fan Malorie McMains, 16, of Newport Beach, said: “Some of it isn’t quite right. But they hit some stuff that’s dead on.”

And Thursday, with the yachts as a backdrop, the sun fading into Newport Bay, adoring fans clutching designer handbags and the Newport Harbor High School cheerleaders dancing in sync, it was made for TV.