Sun Sets On 'The O.C.'

(CBS)  After four seasons on the air, the Fox drama "The O.C." will air its finale next month.

Beginning Jan. 4, the network will air all original episodes leading up to the finale on Feb. 22.

"The O.C." premiered in August 2003. The teen drama follows a group of friends and families whose lives are changed by the arrival of an outsider, Ryan Atwood (Benjamin McKenzie), to their seaside home of Newport Beach, Calif.

The show made stars out of young actors Mischa Barton, Rachel Bilson, Adam Brody and others. It also spawned several soundtrack albums, with songs from a variety of indie bands.

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Photos: Celebrity Circuit

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"This feels like the best time to bring the show to its close," Josh Schwartz, the show's creator and executive producer, said in a statement. "Thanks to the hard work of our cast, crew and writers, we have enjoyed our best season yet, and what better time to go out than creatively on top."

By "best season," Schwartz is most likely referring to the show's quality, but not its ratings. "The O.C." faced stiff competition after Fox moved it to Thursday at 9 p.m.; ratings slipped as it battled with CBS' "CSI" and ABC's "Grey's Anatomy."