Adam Brody ‘Not Proud’ of Letting ‘Distaste’ for ‘The O.C.’ Later Seasons Show on Set: ‘I Blame Myself for Lack of Professionalism’ and ‘Disrespect to the Work’

In the new book “Welcome to the O.C.: The Oral History” from Rolling Stone’s chief TV critic Alan Sepinwall (via TooFab), Adam Brody admits that his behavior grew unprofessional in later seasons when he became unhappy with the material. Series creator Josh Schwartz said Brody’s waning interest to the show was not unique.

“By the time we got to Season 3, we were all burned out,” Schwartz said. “We’d made so many episodes so quickly, and I think it wasn’t a happy set for long stretches of it. Quite frankly, everybody was over it at that point. And I was one of those people who was over it at that point. It had been a great ride, but it had been a volatile ride.”

More from Variety

• Adam Brody on 'F--ing Boring' Method Acting and His Failed 'Guardians of the Galaxy' Audition: 'I Wanted That One'

• Adam Brody Joins Kristen Bell in Netflix Comedy Series From Erin Foster, Steven Levitan

• Adam Brody, Piper Perabo and More Call for Less Gun Violence on Screen at White House Roundtable: 'Hollywood Has Been Due for a Reckoning'

Julie Cooper actor Melinda Clarke recalled, “We were very aware in Season 3 of how disliked the scripts were, especially by the kids. Adam and Ben [McKenzie] were like, ‘We’re grown men and we’re playing in high school still.’ They didn’t really ever talk to me personally about it, but that was the general understanding on set.”

Brody maintained that he was “polite to everyone,” but he still let his disdain for “The O.C.” show on set.

“I liked the directors and the crew. And I got on really well and I didn’t keep people waiting,” the actor said. “I would never scream or yell at anyone, or say anything fucking mean. But I think I very much let my distaste for the later episodes be known. I didn’t mask that at all and I’m sure I openly mocked it a bit. So I’m not proud of that.”

“I started to be creatively less interested,” Brody continued. “I blame myself for a lack of professionalism, and a disrespect to the work. In terms of engagement as a whole, I’ll just say that they’re different shows, Season 1 and [the later seasons]. Had the quality been the quality of Season 1, I’m sure I would have been a lot more engaged… The quality of it and my engagement went hand in hand.”

Schwartz remembered Brody’s acting morphed as his interest in the show waned, implying that the actor started getting lazy on set — so much so that they made his character, Seth, a stoner as to mask the actor’s clear disinterest.

“Brody just changed his delivery, his investment in it,” Schwartz said. “His style shifted to such a degree that we felt like we needed to account for it creatively. That’s where ‘Kaitlin gets Seth hooked on pot’ took root. We were like, ‘Well, how do we explain his lethargy on-screen? And at least if we can write that he’s stoned, then we’re not trying to write around it.'”

“Welcome to the O.C.: The Oral History” is now available for purchase.

Best of Variety

• New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 

• What's Coming to Disney+ in December 2023

• Oscars Predictions: International Feature – AMPAS' Voting Groups are Set; Which Movies Have the Best Shot at Making the Shortlist?

Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.