Having made a career out of creating characters fans love to hate, actress Melinda Clarke knows a thing or to about playing the villain. Just don’t tell her that. In fact, Clarke, whose memorable roles includes stints on THE OC, CSI, and more recently NIKITA, prefers to see her small screen alter egos as “misunderstood” in reaction to different challenges in life that may-or-may-not motivate them to be mean or a drama queen! Still not buying it? Take a look at what Clarke has to say about some of her most infamous roles for yourself, after the jump.

Lady Heather (CSI)
Melinda Clarke: On CSI it was very interesting because people always ask if I did any research to play Lady Heather and I say no because it was written by Jerry Stahl. Jerry Stahl was a TV writer who then wrote a book about himself. He was a writer on the show ALF, was a heroine addict, got sober, did Oprah and was eventually the subject of a movie, Permanent Midnight with Ben Stiller. Anyways, he was the one that wrote that very first CSI episode and anything I needed was right on the page and that’s very rare in television. It was so layered and it absolutely fit like a glove. When I got that role you get the material at 7PM at night and then you’re auditioning by 10AM the next morning and it was all there, the writing was just amazing.

Julie Cooper (THE OC)
Melinda Clarke: I think THE OC was an incredible lesson because it was a small role with a couple of lines in the pilot. With a role like Julie Cooper, I always like to do the opposite of what’s written on the page. So if she has a bitchy line, it’s done with a smile. What I realized on that show is that for the first time what I was bringing to work everyday was inspiring for the writers. In television the writers are everything and if they don’t write for you, you’re off the show. I don’t even know if my character was supposed to be around but all of a sudden they started writing for Julie Cooper and it got more and more humorous. [Creator] Josh Schwartz was just good at getting to know the actors and what would work for them.

Kelly Donovan (THE VAMPIRE DIARIES)
Melinda Clarke: I was brought on as a dysfunctional mother but she had her reasons for being dysfunctional. What they didn’t end up exploring [with the character] was that she was as succubus. They decided a few episodes in — as I was killing men left and right, the ultimate black widow — [Executive Producers] Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec called me in halfway through and said they weren’t going to continue the story. Not so much that it wasn’t working out, but they just felt like to explore the storyline they would want more episodes and since it was just the first season and my character was only going to be around for a few episodes, they didn’t see how they could resolve it. Television really is about the writers and how they’re inspired to write and if they see a storyline but don’t see how they can resolve it they end it or yank it very quickly.

“Melinda Clarke” (ENTOURAGE)
Melinda Clarke: I play a fictitious version of Melinda Clarke. In that show she drives a Ferrari and I drive a Prius and I think it’s confusing to people who think I’m married to Malcolm McDowell and going through hundreds of millions of dollars after a divorce, it’s not real! But I have such a good time doing it because it felt like the complete antithesis of say NIKITA which is like a comic book with heroes and villains. On ENTOURAGE you get to be funny, raunchy, relaxed and I’m sad to see it go. I told [creator] Doug Ellin that if he ever does another show like this he has to let me do it because it’s dramedy, which is one of my favorite things to do and I credit THE OC with teaching me that.

Amanda (NIKITA)
Melinda Clarke: At the beginning of the show [Executive Producer] Craig Silverstein said I want Amanda to be mysterious an enigmatic because once I go there I have to go there so they’ve purposely kept me in the dark. It’s clear that Percy is after money and power, where as it’s not so clear with Amanda. She might be a little bit more idealistic than any of us think. Ultimately she’s one of the smartest people in the room and a master manipulator but at the same time she’s still a human being. Last season everyone kept talking about how mean she was to Alex and villainous, but I saw her more as the ultimate tiger mom. It’s so funny, they tell us nothing and Maggie loves to tease me by telling me I’ve got some cool stuff coming up, and I’m like as long as it’s not outside in the middle of a cold winters night in Toronto! It’s very much an ongoing learning experience with the character.

Melinda Clarke can currently be found on NIKITA every Friday at 8PM on the CW (CTV Two in Canada) Catch up on past episodes you may have missed for free online at clicktowatch.tv

Wondering which member of THE OC will be guest starring on Josh Schwartz’s newest show CHUCK this season? Click below to find out.

Not that we need another reason to tune into CHUCK this fall, but theTVaddict.com has just learned that OC fan favorite Rachel Bilson [Summer Roberts] will be dropping by CHUCK for a multi-episode arc. Elaborates Josh Schwartz in a phone interview theTVaddict.com is taking part in right now!

“Rachel’s got an incredible sense of humour and was eager to help our little show get launched. Her character is introduced to Chuck as this really sweet girl. A magical sandwich maker in fact and what starts off as a genuine relationship for Chuck quickly devolves, as he begins to have concerns that Rachel’s character is not excatly who she says she is.”

Josh Schwartz (THE OC)! Sarah Lancaster (EVERWOOD)! TV’s newest unassuming hero Zachary Levi! Plus Rachel Bilson! Is anyone else counting down the days until September 24?

In a press conference Monday promoting the FX legal thriller DAMAGES, actor Tate Donovan [Jimmy Cooper] blamed the quick decline of THE OC on the ego’s of his young co-stars. “The kids became incredibly difficult to work with,” said Donovan, adding that, “the actors were unhappy, and they all wanted movie careers and did not want to be on television, all four of them. They were, like, ‘This show is killing my career.”

There’s nothing this TV Addict detests more than ungrateful actors. Killing their career? How about MAKING them? Who on earth were Benjamin Mackenzie, Misha Barton, Adam Brody and Rachel Bilson prior to THE OC? Since you asked, they were anonymous actors who happened to catch one really big break. A break they apparently took completely for granted. Thank-God THE OC ended so these kids can kick start their movie careers! By the way, can somone please be sure to let this TV Addict know when these kids get a movie ‘career.’

Thanks to TVTATTLE for the Tip!

Live in Canada, miss THE OC? As I type this, MUCH MUSIC is in the midst of airing an OC marathon and Marissa’s alive! Re-live your favorite Newport memories from the beginning and ‘Welcome to THE OC B*tch…’

What time is it? Time for Disney to start celebrating. According to preliminary fast national ratings, last night’s premiere of HIGH SCHOOL MUSCIAL 2 ranks as the most-watched basic cable telecast EVER! Drawing an estimated 17.2 million viewers! Which, we should mention, also means it’s time for Disney to pony-up and give Zac Efron and Co. a big fat raise for HSM3.

I’m not ashamed to admit that I found the last few minutes of THE OC series finale surprisingly moving. Ryan and Seth’s big hug, the TITANICesque flashback, a classic OC music montage and the show coming full circle with ‘Architect Ryan’ helping out a new ‘young Ryan’… Well there’s no need for me to do a play-by-play, check out the clip above.

My one complaint — while I’m thrilled the show ended on a high note — with everybody living happily ever after. I’m not quite sure ‘Welcome to Berkley B*tch’ has the same ring to it.

With Princess Sparkle and Captain Oats galloping off into the sunset following last night’s series finale of THE OC it’s time for the cast to get realistic. This is Hollywood, and you’re only as good as your last hit. So as a public service, we at theTVaddict.com thought we’d offer up some sound career advice for our favorite dislocated Newport residents. Not everyone can be as fortunate as Melinda Clarke, who, in true Julie Cooper style, has already moved on now that CBS has cast her in the LL Cool J pilot THE MAN. So to help ensure that last night’s finale wasn’t the last time we’d see the cast, we selected four deserving individuals upon whom to shower our worldly advice… free of charge! ‘Cause we’re just that generous.

ADAM BRODY [SETH COHEN]
Forget Seth’s Emo wardrobe, pop culture references and comic books. It’s time to show us you can actually act. We’ve watched your career since GILMORE GIRLS, and lets face it, you’re ‘playing’ yourself. It’s time to stretch your wings, challenge yourself and take on a character that doesn’t know the difference between the Millennium Falcon and the Starship Enterprise.

REAL-LIFE ROLE MODEL: Take a page from Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s playbook (or better yet, hire his agent!) After daring turns in Brick and Mysterious Skin, this perennial Sundance favorite has already made us forget his early role as troubled David Collins on NBC’s failed attempt to re-launch DARK SHADOWS.

BENJAMIN MCKENZIE [RYAN ATWOOD]
After four years in THE OC, there’s two emotions we’re sure you’ve mastered: teenage angst and brooding anger. Why not channel that emotion into a daring low-budget film and transforms yourself into an indie darling. Drug dealer, Iraqi veteran, psychotic — anything to make fans forget that you were the boy from Chino. Rest assured, once you’ve built up your indie cred, offers will come pouring in, and you’ll have your pick of Jerry Bruckheimer billion-dollar blockbusters.

REAL-LIFE ROLE MODEL: Johnny Depp started his career on 21 JUMP STREET and then made such interesting career moves as playing schlock director Ed Wood. Where is he now? Rolling in dubloons thanks to the wildly successful Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise.

PETER GALLAGHER [SANDY COHEN]
Having seen you in Noises Off, we know you’re a classically trained actor who could no doubt head back to Broadway and star in any play you’d like. But let’s face it: You’ve been on the west coast for four seasons, and your family loves the weather. Might we humbly suggest a Sandy-centric O.C. spinoff? Think John Grisham’s The Street Lawyer with the heart of THE WEST WING.

REAL-LIFE ROLE MODEL: Hmmm… Broadway actor turned television star. Look no further than Victor Garber. Seems a fair comparison… even if he doesn’t have your eyebrows!

AUTUMN REESER [TAYLOR TOWNSEND]
Seeing as you almost single-handedly helped pump new energy into the final post-Marissa (sob!) season of THE O.C., we saved you – the best – for last. We fell in love with Taylor and for the most part feel robbed that we only got to spend a partial season with you. Fortunately, FOX’s loss could be ABC’s gain. With the alphabet network preparing to launch a GREY’S ANATOMY spinoff, we’d love nothing more than to see you scrub in as a fiesty young intern.

REAL-LIFE ROLE MODEL: Why follow in anyone’s footsteps? You’re a break-out star who’s ready to… well, break out!

RACHEL BILSON [SUMMER ROBERTS]
Two words: WONDER WOMAN. Your best chance to be remembered as THE OC’S ‘Break-Out’ star.

REAL LIFE ROLE MODELS: Keri Russell or Jennifer Garner. What do these talented women all have in common? They all started their career on television and you never hear about them hanging out with the likes of Lindsey, Paris, Britney and your old co-star Mischa.

Will Adam Brody’s career follow the path of Joseph Gordon-Levitt or Dustin “Screech” Diamond? Will Rachel Bilson finally be cast in the ‘WONDERful’ role she was born to play? Post away with your thoughts.

The moment I knew THE OC was going to be something special was this opening scene (see video above). Marissa and Ryan meeting for the first time and (gasp!) smoking. On television you’ll notice (or at least you will from now on) that kids can drink excessively, sleep with whomever they want, do drugs until they OD — but the one thing you’ll never see them do is smoke. This scene set the tone for a different kind of show and an incredible first season of THE OC.

Our Thursdays are less Seth-y: Goodbye to ‘The O.C.’ By Maureen Ryan

Good-bye, ‘O.C.’ Entertainment Weekly

The O.C.’s Greatest Moments TV Guide

Farewell to THE OC Alan Sepinwall

To get us started, here’s a classic kiss that will never be forgotten. Least of all by Sony’s lawyers who should be suing THE OC for blatant plagiarism!

With THE OC coming to a close tomorrow night at 9PM on FOX, we at theTVaddict.com thought we’d offer up some of our favourite OC quotes. So here it goes, and if we’ve forgotten anything, feel free to add it in the comments below.

“Welcome to the O.C., bitch. This is how it’s done in Orange County.”
– Luke, after pummeling Ryan.

“God! Dad, those eyebrows are out of control!”
– Seth, eyeballing his dad’s work ID card.

“Open your mind here, Dad. This isn’t me we’re talking about. With Ryan here, we have a chance to have a real athlete in the family. Somebody to achieve all that your Jewishness has prevented me from accomplishing. Hey, I always wanted to play soccer.”
– Seth, helping Sandy find an after-school activity for Ryan.

“Allow me to elaborate. See, for my father here, a poor, struggling Jew growing up in the Bronx, well, Christmas meant Chinese food and a movie. And for my mom over here, Waspy McWasp, well, it meant a tree, it meant stockings and all the trimmings.”
– Seth, explaining the genesis of Chrismukkah.

“Mrs. Cooper, you are a total MILF!”
– Luke, laying the sweet talk on Julie pretty heavy. (119 “The Heartbreak” 2/18/04)

“It was the eighties. I was young. Had no money. And… it was the eighties.”
– Julie, explaining to Sandy why she starred in an adult video.

“But before I tell you, you gotta promise that you’re not gonna go old-school Ryan Atwood on me?”
– Seth, making Ryan promise before telling him what really happened between Marissa and Trey.

“Prom night? I stayed home and sketched Ewoks.”
– George Lucas, in response to Seth asking whether he went to his prom.

“The Siegfrieds donated a pool and a field house last year and their son only smoked pot. Our daughter shot someone. We have to at least give them a hundred grand.”
– Julie, responding to Jimmy’s offer to give Harbor two, maybe three thousand dollars.

“She’s the Karl Rove of our school.”
– Summer, referring to the manipulative Taylor Townsend.

“Listen up, Tommy Lee. You’re just the latest in a series of experiments my daughter likes to make when acting out. So enjoy it because right here, right now is as good as it gets for you. Soon, Marissa is going to wake up and realize she is so much better than you and your life.”
- Julie, patiently breaking life down for Volchok.

“We’re having a very Britney Christmas, Mother.”
– Kaitlin, describing her family by using 2006’s favorite shorthand for white trash.

“We call ourselves The Newpsieweds. Can you even handle how cute that is?”
– Holly, succinctly summing up why most people hate Newport Beach.