All “Selling” shows are not the same.
Even though “Selling Sunset” and “Selling the O.C.” are based in the Oppenheim real estate firm, the folks in Orange County aren’t as work-centric as their Beverly Hills counterparts.
In the newest season of “Selling the O.C.,” they’re so busy speculating who agent Tyler Stanaland is going to date they barely have time to look at houses.
Even worse, four agents have the same name. When they start referring to “Alex,” you’re never quite sure who’s in the doghouse.
On “Selling Sunset,” Mary Fitzgerald runs a tight ship – even when the Oppenheim twins aren’t around.
In “The O.C.,” they make scant appearances and it seems like it’s open hunting on everyone.
Alex Hall, left, and Brandi Marshall try to reach an impasse in "Selling the O.C."
Stanaland, we learn, is getting a divorce from wife Brittany Snow and may be too distracted to unload some family property. Still, he has time to attend all the events to celebrate various birthdays (a pajama party), office openings (a trip to Cabo) and selling milestones (Gio Helou throws a fete for himself). When someone actually has an impending addition to announce, it barely grazes the radar – particularly when Tyler wears revealing underwear to that pajama affair.
Unlike “Sunset,” there is no clearcut villain, even though the women named Alex make a strong case.
To add to the turmoil, a former Miss Tennessee (also in the Alex camp) wanders in and says she’s interested in a career in real estate. Never mind that she has no experience or license. She shows enthusiasm and a good wardrobe.
Yeah, she turns up to the pajama party, too, only to let the others know she can strut nightwear with the best of them. Only Gio has any hesitation about her worthiness, but he makes a bet and, likely, that will be the focus of season three.
Gio – an agent who reminds us of one from “Million Dollar Listing” – is married, which puts him at a disadvantage when the office games are in play. Austin Victoria, a former model, is married, too, but he doesn’t let that hold him back from a good weekend on a yacht.
Plenty of eyebrows are raised in "Selling the O.C." From left, Polly Brindle, Sean Palmieri and Lauren Brito.
The Alexes? They blend. The one who bears watching is Alex Hall, largely because she’s the party girl who has the inside track with Stanaland. She exhibits behavior the others consider “unprofessional” and is always willing to have a one-on-one talk with her detractors.
“Selling Sunset” has a large cast, too, but it’s easier to identify who plays what role. Here, they blend.
Like their “Sunset” cousins, the “O.C.” women dress inappropriately for the office. They wear party dresses throughout the day (selling clothes, perhaps?) and don’t think twice about slipping into oh-so-high heels for an open house.
Ready for work, from left, Brandi Marshall, Alexandra Jarvis and Alexandra Rose in "Selling the O.C."
When the gang goes to Cabo San Lucas for a look-see, there’s barely a minute spent discussing square footage and real estate laws in Mexico.
“Sunset,” the O.G. “Selling” show, at least gave Chrishell Stouse a few fixer-uppers before she became one of the star agents.
Created by Adam DiVello, both shows have an unrealistic view of the real estate world. Sitting around their Restoration Hardware desks in designer duds is hardly the way the game works. That’s why Fitzgerald is such an interesting character. She puts in the hard work and tries to avoid the drama others mine.
While “Sunset” is the better series, “O.C.” has glitzier agents. If the two came together for a crossover episode, it’d be fun to see who’d wind up on top. My money is on the crew in the strip mall on Sunset Boulevard. They got rid of their pot stirrer. They’d find Tyler a mate in no time and get him out of the way.
“Selling the O.C.” has just started its new season on Netflix. “Selling Sunset” ended its sixth season in May and has been renewed for a seventh.
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