Sex and the City

Sex and the City

1998 - United States

Not for the faint-hearted or easily shocked, Sex and the City was an adult, in your face and often hilarious look at the relationships of single men and women in turn-of-the-millennium America, as seen through the eyes of fictitious magazine columnist Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker). 

Bradshaw writes about sex for her trendy New York magazine using her relationship with three of her closest (single) friends as her main inspiration. Cynthia Nixon plays smart, yet cynical lawyer Miranda (a role that has seen her nominated for a Golden Globe Award), whilst Kristin Davis, already a veteran of such shows as Seinfeld, ER, and Melrose Place is art gallery owner Charlotte Yorke, an elegant woman with impeccable taste. Completing the series female foursome is British born actress Kim Catrall as sultry, self-confident, done-it- and-seen-it-all, (and continuing to do so) PR executive Samantha Jones. 

The main male interest in the show was Mr Big, played by Chris North (formerly Paul Sovino's partner in the smash hit legal drama, Law and Order), the object of our heroine's infatuation who, after telling Carrie that he was not ready for marriage yet, promptly turned around and married someone else. 

Sex and the City

Sex and the City continued to pull out all the punches with its openness in both subject matter and language that made it a bold and witty series but one strictly for the adults. The final season concluded with the four girls reuniting in New York, and with Carrie receiving a phone call from Big, telling her that his house is up for sale and he is headed back to New York. Two successful feature films followed the series. A third movie was planned but cancelled but as a result a sequel (or reboot) went into production in January 2021.

And Just Like That... premiered on HBO Max in December 2021. It received mixed reviews, with critics deeming it unnecessary and inferior to the original Sex and the City series. Set 11 years after the events of the 2010 movie, the women make their transition from a life of liberation and friendship in their 30s to a more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s. Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis reprised their roles. Kim Cattrall did not return. Since the original series ended, Cattrall has been vocal about issues she had with her co-stars, especially Sarah Jessica Parker, and publicly stated she never wants to play Samantha again.

Sex and the City

Originally billed as a miniseries, And Just Like That... was renewed for a second season in March 2022 and a third series is promised in 2024.

Published on January 28th, 2019. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

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