Remember the first EVER scripted reality show Laguna Beach? Here’s how you can watch it for free
BEFORE Selling Sunset became boxset binge-worthy, executive producer Adam DiVello changed TV forever, by devising the first show of its class – Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County.
Inspired by teen noughties drama The O.C., Laguna Beach broke new ground as it made superstars of privileged teens at Laguna Beach High School including Lauren Conrad, Kristin Cavallari and Stephen Colletti.
Now it’s returning to screens via Pluto TV, the free new streaming service from ViacomCBS, and perfect for viewers who crave sunshine, glamour and fraught love triangles.
The show – which revolved around the love lives, personal problems and shopping habits of its young, beautiful and rich cast– ran for three seasons from 2004 and 2006, spawned countless spin-off shows and inspired even more.
Why should you watch it?
It’s addictive TV featuring rich American teenagers indulging in shopping, sunbathing and obsessing about who is into who. This is the series which changed the TV landscape forever, bringing scripted reality to our screens and countless larger-than-real-life stars into our homes. If you love watching self-obsessed people, falling out over trivial things and vying to be the most popular person in school, this is the show for you.
Who was in it?
Lauren Conrad
Lauren Conrad, 35, was just 18 when she joined the show and quickly became its biggest star thanks to her fashion forward image and the love triangle between herself, Stephen Colletti and her then friend Kristin Cavallari. As her feud with love-rival Kristin took off, viewers couldn’t stop looking.
As the show’s biggest star, Lauren got her own spin-off called The Hills after Laguna Beach ended before starting a fashion career in LA.
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Kristin Cavallari
Blonde bombshell Kristin Cavallari, 34, was just finishing her junior year when Laguna Beach started and was a huge hit with fans addicted to the love triangle between herself, Lauren and her boyfriend Stephen. Watching her rows with Stephen became must-see TV for the teens of the noughties. In series two Kristin took over narrating the show from Lauren and she remained central to the plot, winning fans with her too cool for school attitude.
Stephen Colletti
With his Hollywood-league looks Stephen Colletti, 35, didn’t just make the cast of Laguna Beach fall in love with him – he also had viewers at home swooning on their sofas. The show’s undisputed heartthrob for two series, Stephen even went on to make the jump between reality TV and scripted, playing Chase Adams in One Tree Hill for five series. He later produced and starred in his own series called Everyone Is Doing Great.
Lo Bosworth
Lauren ‘Lo’ Bosworth, now 35, was the perky, out-spoken BFF of Lauren who loved giving her thoughts on the feuds and love triangles in their friendship group. However, she soon tired of the drama and left the show after making a big impact in the first series. Now she’s the founder of Love Wellness, a line of vitamins and bodycare products for women.
Tessa Keller
Tessa became the lead character and narrator in the show’s final series as the focus switched to her and her best friend Raquel Donatelli. Tessa’s on-off romance with Derek LeBon and her short relationship with Cameron Brinkman were a big deal.
Cameron Brinkman
Famous for his muscles, Cameron provided some iconic screen moment for Laguna Beach. The student was a huge hit on and off campus and viewers lapped up his romance with Tessa.
Raquel Donatelli
Raquel dated Alex Atkinson on the show but unusually her storylines focused around her friendships as she spent much of series three trying to win back ex-best friend Breanna Conrad.
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How you can watch it?
All series of Laguna Beach are available on the free streaming service from ViacomCBS which holds 13 curated channels. You can watch it through NOW TV and Roku devices. Additionally, it is available on Amazon Fire TV and tablets, iOS, Android, and Samsung TV Plus.
What spin-offs did it spawn?
When Laguna Beach ended, a new star was born with Lauren Conrad vehicle The Hills. Other spin-offs included, Audrina, The City, The Hills: That Was Then, This Is Now, The Hills: New Beginnings and Kell On Earth.
