Beep beep beep. That’s the sound of a Brinks truck backing up to the house of actress Mischa Barton, whose absense may have just demonstrated her true star value.

The former smash Fox TV show “The O.C.” opened its fourth season on a sour note with a series-low audience of 3.4 million viewers. Analysts questioned whether the series would survive the loss of fan-favorite Marissa, played by pouty but sexy Mischa Barton. In last season’s finale, Marissa died after a car crash in the arms of equally pouty Ryan, her on-again off-again love played by young Russell Crowe doppleganger Benjamin McKenzie.

The death of Marissa wasn’t the only blow to the show everyone thought would become this generation’s “90210″. Last year the characters graduated high school and parted ways, losing the central glue that held them together. And this year “The O.C.” has the misfortune to air opposite TV’s #1 and #2 shows, “Grey’s Anatomy” and “CSI”.

Whether “The O.C.” can survive the season remains to be seen. Too bad, because the show has some of the finest actors in TV today. But that initial spell “The O.C.” had on us has followed Marissa out the door.

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