Orange
County Considers Calling Airport 'The O.C.'
June 9, 2004
A politician in Southern California's Orange
County has suggested that the community's John Wayne Airport might
be a more appealing destination for travelers and a better emblem
of the region if it had a name that traded on a popular TV show:
"The O.C. Airport."
"The O.C.," a drama
about the lives and loves of some oversexed teenagers in the
affluent, conservative region south of Los Angeles, became a
breakout hit for broadcaster Fox this season.
Orange County Supervisor Chris
Norby raised the idea before his colleagues of changing the
name of the airport on Tuesday night. Though Norby has no problem
with the rugged actor Wayne, after whom the airport was renamed
in 1979, a spokeswoman for him said he would like to capitalize
on growing recognition for the county, thanks to the TV show.
A Fox spokesman called his proposal
"flattering."
Not everyone in the community is so enthusiastic
about the idea, though, especially those in the City of Santa Ana,
where the airport is located. The editor of CityLine, the bimonthly
publication of the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce, called Norby's
idea "ridiculous.
"TV shows come and go. We could call it
the 'American Idol' Airport," editor Karen Anderson said. "I
think they should just leave well enough alone."
Ironically, "The O.C."
is actually filmed in various cities in neighboring Los Angeles
County.
In 1950,
the town of Hot Springs, New Mexico. which was looking for a way to
stand out from other small towns, changed its name to "Truth
or Consequences," a then popular TV show. (With additional reporting
by Steve Gorman)
