Are You A Charlotte? - Catching Up With Friends with John Benjamin Hickey... (Compulsive Shower Guy)

Episode Date: June 19, 2025

John Benjamin Hickey aka THE GUY WHO HAD TO SHOWER EVERY TIME HE HAD SEX WITH MIRANDA!Who could ever forget Thomas John Andersen, Miranda’s hot date who turned out to be one odd bird!?  We wanted to revisit the Season One finale and get down and dirty about this character!  You will recognize John Benjamin Hickey from dozens and dozens of your favorite shows but this Sex and the City episode is truly unforgettable. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an iHeart Podcast. Just like great shoes, great books take you places. Through unforgettable love stories and into conversations with characters you'll never forget. I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of like butterflies. I'm Danielle Robay and this is Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club. The new podcast from Hello Sunshine and iHeart Podcasts, where we dive into the stories that shape us on the page and off. Each week, I'm joined by authors, celebs,

book talk stars, and more for conversations that will make you laugh, cry, and add way too many books to your TBR pile. Listen to Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the You vs. You podcast, we welcome Polo Molina, music manager to the stars.

From Will.i.am and the Black Eyed Peas, Ty Dolla $ign, YG, and Fergie. Here's a sneak peek. Are you so hard on yourself? That's the way I was raised. And the people that were hard on me are not here no more, so I'm hard on myself. You're gonna make me cry.

Listen to you versus you on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This week on Dear Chelsea with me, Chelsea Handler, Sophia Bush is here. Tell me how that feels to be a hot, considered a hot lesbian. Quite an honor. You know what's funny? When you're actually more fluid with your sexuality, the swing goes from nobody gives a shit who you're sleeping with to you better identify exactly who you are so we can figure out what name to call you.

And it's like, has nobody been paying attention to like all the hot girls I've been kissing on camera? Hi, I've always been here. Listen to Dear Chelsea on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Over the years of making my true crime podcast, Hell and Gone, I've learned no town is too small for murder. I'm Katherine Townsend.

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and Evie Oddly. We got a lot of things to get into. We're gonna gush about the random stuff we can't stop thinking about. I am High Key going to lose my mind over all things Cowboy Carter. I know. Girl, the way she about to yank my bank account.

Correct. And one thing I really love about this is that she's celebrating her daughter. Oh, I know. Listen to High Key on the iHeart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Kristin Davis, and I want to know, are you a Charlotte? This is very exciting, you guys. We are in the sidebar part of Are You a Charlotte which is catching up with friends and here we have the incredible

John Benjamin Picky. Now we are a little bit past his episode I've been trying to get him on okay he's a hot ticket. I know I didn't realize I was so busy. Yeah you were much desired. I'm trying to figure out what I was doing that I could be so unavailable, but here I am. That's okay, it was important stuff. You told me at the premiere what you're doing, and I totally understand. Yes, it's okay, it's okay, but you're here now,

and that's all that matters. So John is in the first season, which really surprised both of us. Yeah, exactly. We thought it was like later on in the run. Absolutely, I would have probably said end of the second, maybe even the third season. The third, which I think of as our best season,

if we have to pick an overall season. Barring my episode, of course, from the first season. That's why I'm saying I would put it in the best, because it's such a good episode. It was written by Michael Patrick King, which you can completely tell. Oh God, yes. John plays the Catholic guy.

He has a real name, It's called Thomas John Anderson, which is kind of funny because it's John Benjamin Hickey. Three names for three names. And he's playing Michael Patrick King, basically, in his own episode. And he is called the Catholic guy. That's what we call him in the shorthand to the friends.

And he's opposite Cynthia. And they are incredible. This episode was directed by Matthew Harrison. We don't have a ton of memories about him. We're really sorry. I always apologize if I don't remember the director. I have vivid memories of MPK. Not directing me, but just he's such a brilliant, extraordinary presence on set,

and his writing was so great that I remember him, and of course have known him all these years after. Right. But yeah, I don't remember the director as much. I know. But that's not because he didn't direct a great episode. Absolutely, because that episode... As a matter of, a good director disappears a little bit. This is a's not because he didn't direct a great episode. Absolutely, because that episode.

A good director disappears a little bit. This is a good point. And you also direct, so you know very well. You know very well. So tell us your memories and your thoughts about the new, it was relatively new show. Yeah, is this a G-rated program? No, you can say anything you want.

Okay, great. Well, what I vividly remember is being on top of Cynthia, having, being in the throes of passion and having orgasm after, fake orgasm after orgasm, and getting up and showing. And, you know, a lot of people have seen it in syndication and all that stuff's out, but in the, I guess, the DVD or box set or whatever you call it these days,

you see all of those sex scenes. So what I remember most vividly is being in bed, in flagrante with Cynthia Nixon. Thank goodness I had known her. We had done a play together, which is the way you get very intimate very quickly is by being on stage together. And we had such a great time doing this play

and such a great rapport and such great trust that we immediately threw ourselves into it. And you know this was before Sex in the City was Sex in the City so going to that set and having to do such a huge sex scene was really nerve-racking. So that's my biggest memory is just being on top of Cynthia. And you know, and then the casual, after an hour or two, it becomes so casual, like, what are you going to have for lunch? I think I'm going to have that, you know, you're both naked. I mean, we all had, we've talked about socks and all that stuff.

Yeah. Right, right, right. I guess I remember the sock as well. There you go. Very memorable. and all that stuff, yeah. Right, right, right. I guess I remember the cock sock as well. There you go, very memorable. I mean, the thing about Cynthia too, which is a theme in every guy that I've ever spoken to who was opposite hers,

that she has no real fear or self-consciousness about it. Yeah, no, she doesn't. But listen, this is the, all of your reputations precede you when actors go on your show. And this was true 20, how many years ago? 25 years ago. 27 or six, something.

Unbelievable. And now you get a job on that show and you're excited to go there because of the way you guys treat people. It's guesting on a show, even if you're in the first season or now, is like being forced to go to somebody else's office Christmas party.

You know, there might be a little bit of a feeling of nobody really understands why you're there, but you're there. And so it's very important for the top of the call sheet to treat people, you know this very, very well, to make people feel comfortable. It's one of the biggest parts of the job. And this was a show that did that even then.

And, you know, Cynthia was amazing that way because she's so free, such a great actress and so unintimidated and unintimidating. Absolutely. I mean, it's funny because she, sometimes I would be so worried if she had one of these scenes because I was like, she's not going to take care of herself. And you know, not with you because you're a season pro, but like, sometimes people just grab her in all crazy ways and no one would say like,

stop. And I think like, I should go, I should go. And just be like, delicate, delicate. You know, but she didn't care. And that's so freeing when you're watching her. Yeah, yeah, really. She's really't care and that's so freeing when you're watching her. You know? Yeah, yeah, she's really fearless. We went on to do another series together called The Big C and had so many sex scenes. Like I think maybe as many sex scenes as Cynthia has played over the years,

I might be at the top of the list of just the quantity. I love it. And I hope the quality too. I'm sure, I'm sure. But we did a lot together. And oh my God, by the end of our run on the big C together, we were like, you know. Amazing.

We were like an old married couple. I know, but I love that, cause you're so perfectly matched. You know, you are so complex as an actor, which I think you often like are more into your directing now and whatever. But to me, whenever I watch you on film, you're so complicated.

And she also has so many layers. And she kind of does it so effortlessly, which you as well, because you've been doing it so long. It's very interesting to watch. I could see why they would cast you again, opposite each other. It makes perfect sense. So way back, take yourself way back.

Do you remember like, what were you doing? You'd done this play with Cynthia. You were on Broadway. You were doing- Yep. I want to say, I did a play, A Playwright's doing? You'd done this play with Cynthia, you were on Broadway, you were doing? Yep. I want to say, I did a play, Playwrights Horizons, called On the Bum with Cynthia, which is one of the great experiences of both of our lives.

I think she would say the same. It's just an amazing group of actors, a very large cast, and all of off-Broadway's finest, Campbell Scott, and yeah, just incredible people. And Cynthia and I really had a great bond. I do remember that her mother sent me a note. Cynthia was very, and if her mom liked an actor she was playing opposite, you really rose in ranks.

You rose in her eyes. I'm still very proud of that. And so I feel like I knew going in that I was gonna be well taken care of. I don't remember, I don't think I auditioned for the part. I think I was offered the part. Which was very rare back then. I auditioned for everything and happily would audition again

if it was a role like, what's his name? Paul Thomas Anderson? No, that's his name, Paul Thomas Anderson? No, that's the director. Thomas John Anderson. Thomas John Anderson. But I don't remember auditioning for it. But would that have been Sarah Jessica's relationship with you?

Maybe, yes, we were close back then, but we got really close maybe in seasons three, four and five. We got closer as friends then. In the beginning, I don't think we were quite that close. We knew each other, but not that well. Right. To be completely honest, I don't know.

I don't know. I think it was because you were so perfect for that part. I guess. And you know, but there's a fear in that because if you haven't auditioned, you're going in and you're thinking, I hope they think they've made the right decision and I hope I don't show up and they're like,

oh, that's not what we wanted. Because if you have auditioned, then they've seen what you can- What you're bringing. Yeah, what you're bringing. Totally, totally. So I went in cold and when you're having to do nude scenes, you want to be very warm.

You want to be warm. Totally. Totally. I warmed up pretty quickly. And I think it was one day, maybe it was... You're kidding! Yeah. Well, maybe it was two.

Oh my God! You're so tremendous. It's crazy to think you would have done that in one day. Yeah. Because you're so mad. You get so angry when she tries to tell you not to shower. Yes. And I have that complete Catholic meltdown. because you're so mad, you get so angry when she tries to tell you not to shower. I'm in the rage. I have that complete Catholic meltdown.

Oh, excuse me, I'm so sorry that you think I'm not gonna go to hell for having sex. Yeah, that fixes it. You're like, that fixes it right away. It's so good. And I vividly remember MPK and the wonderful director saying go further, because I was a theater actor and I was like, oh boy, that was probably really over the wonderful director saying go further, because I was a theater actor and I was like,

oh boy, that was probably really over the top. And Michael's like, no, get madder, go further, really lose your on her. And loving it and having a ball. And at that point we had simulated sex and orgasm so many times together that we could do anything. You were like, yeah.

Absolutely, absolutely. So for me, when I think back on the first season, this is what's been so interesting to re-watch it. First of all, I thought the first season that we weren't together, when I watch it back, I'm like, all the pieces are there. We might not have been completely structurally together, the writing, but like the acting and everything is so great.

So much better than I remember. But we definitely did the whole first season without anything airing, right? Which is kind of wonderful in a way because you're just being creative without any outside input, but also scary, kind of like not auditioning for a part. Because you have no idea how people are going to respond.

Yeah, absolutely. And I remember having a lot of anxiety about that and talking to each other like, people gonna freak out, which some people did, right? And then it went well and it got bigger and bigger. Like third season is when I consider us to have gotten really popular. That's what I felt at least.

But do you remember like, what was your feeling being on the show and then having people see it? As you describe, the only way I can really articulate it is very niche, like my family in Texas didn't have HBO. And I was probably relieved because there was so much sex going on that I probably had some relief in that.

But I remember it being very blue, blue as in a little more than R rated for the time, especially now it's like, you know, but it felt way out in Queens. Yes. And I mean that in the metaphoric sense as well. It seemed like to be way over there. HBO was so the wild, wild west.

And it was. Yeah, and I, it's interesting because I'm good pals with Darren Starr because my partner, Jeffrey Richmond, and he created this beautiful show called Uncoupled Together, and I've spent time with Darren through the years. But he talks about that first season

and he's very articulate about like, none of us knew really what we had or what, you guys had worked together before of course. And he and Sarah had never worked together and then Michael coming in and doing such an amazing job kind of helping the show explode and Darren gives him such a major props for that. I'm so glad.

Yeah, so, but everybody to a person, I've never really talked to MPK about it, or like, wow, I wonder if this is ever going to catch more than just a specific population's imagination because it was really out there. Yeah. So that's basically my memory. That's exactly what I felt. It wasn't TV, baby, it was HBO. Yeah. So that's basically my memory. That's exactly what I felt.

It wasn't TV, baby. It was HBO. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And TV was a completely different thing. And now, of course, everything is kind of melded together. So true.

And Sex and the City was the pioneer of that. Thank you. That's so nice. It really is, was. So tell me, when I saw you at the premiere, which was so nice to see you there at our crazy, crazy party that they threw for us. It's insane, I've never seen more people in my life. And let me just say too,

that I live right down the street from where the party was. So we threw on a pair of jeans, we're like, let's just go say hi. I mean, cause Sex and the City and just like that have been such a part of my life, our lives of course. So long, I don't think of it as a big deal. This party was so fucking packed and so packed with young people.

Young, young people who were just so happy to be there. It did my heart so good. This show means so much to so many people, not just us old folks. Absolutely, absolutely. And also, this was the first time that they had thrown this type of an event for us. We used to, in the olden days, which I'm sure you came,

have those huge parties with the PR and that bed in front of Lincoln Center or whatever. Do you remember this? Oh, right, of course, yep, yep. Like, insane level parties. But this was not a premiere exactly, so we didn't exactly know how to dress. We didn't really know what we were doing,

and we didn't really know who they invited and they kept talking about activations, which were still just like, what? What is an activation? Will you tell me? Thank you for not knowing. It has to do with social media and I don't totally understand it,

but in that party was a Hotfellas activation and that's why those guys were there dressed as Hotfellas and I believe that, yes, Mario's bakery and just like that. And maybe there was bread there. I don't know, I never saw any bread, but maybe there was bread. I'm not sure, I'm not sure. But that was an activation.

And then there was maybe another activation. I don't know. But like there were just a lot of people there. And I mean, very cool people were there who later texted me on Instagram that they'd been there because I couldn't find anybody. We were in that corner and we were like trapped in that corner.

Yeah, I mean if you wanted to bread a hot cross bun from one of those guys, you were about 45 minutes for about 25 yards. But it was so nice to see you there. Oh my God, it was amazing. And also you bring up the bakery and you have such chemistry with such people who have been in my life, Mario and Evan, I mean, I've known Evan since, you know,

he made this massive, took New York by storm with his show Time on the Fire, which was about his sickness and yeah. And he was just always been one of my favorite actors and favorite people and Cantone, of course I've known. Mario Cantone replaced Nathan Lane in Love, Valor, Compassion, which is the first Broadway play I did.

And he and I were instant best buddies and remains one of my favorite people on the planet. And how hard it must be to go to work with Mario every day because he's not funny. He doesn't know how to, you know. It's so painful. It's so painful. I mean, the one challenge is that Michael loves to give him

like a lot of props. And that's not really Mario's thing. No, no, no. I was like, please let me sing. Yeah. I just want to sing. Exactly. And I don't really want to do props.

Give me a microphone. Exactly. Yeah, I'll give you a microphone, not a loaf of bread. But he's growing and expanding, you know, every season. Because he's not, I mean, he's a great actor. But he hasn't done a lot of television. Right. It wasn't his thing when we hired him.

And he was only supposed to do a few episodes, as he told us when he came on the podcast, which is also what I love, and it's amazing because as much as I know you, I don't even know all your connections. I just know that you're part of the family. Well, yeah, when you're on a show in New York and when it's as iconic a show as this New York show

as this is, and there are very few that are, you really do attract. That's one of the great things about shooting in New York City, man, is you get Franny Sternhagen, Marion Selditz. You know, you get the greatest character actors in New York. ["The Greatest Showman"] Just like great shoes, great books take you places. Through unforgettable love stories

and into conversations with characters you'll never forget. I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of like butterflies. I'm Danielle Robay, and this is Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club, the new podcast from Hello Sunshine and iHeart Podcasts. Every week I sit down with your favorite book lovers, authors, celebrities, book talkers, and more to explore the stories that shape us on the page and off. I've been reading every Reese's Book Club pick, deep diving book talk theories, and obsessing over book to screen casts for years. And now I get to talk to the people making the magic.

So if you've ever fallen in love with a fictional character or cried at the last chapter or passed a book to a friend saying, you have to read this, this podcast is for you. Listen to Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Don't miss the You vs. You podcast. Join Lex Borrero every week as he sits down with some of the biggest names in entertainment to talk about the real stuff, the struggles, the doubts, and the breakthroughs that made them who they are. They go deep, covering childhood trauma, family, overcoming loss, and the moments that shape their journey. These honest

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Available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This week on Dear Chelsea with me, Chelsea Handler, Sophia Bush is here. Tell me how that feels to be a hot, considered a hot lesbian. Quite an honor. You know what's funny is you do this weird math. Like if you're a woman dating men, nobody wants to talk to you about your sexuality. They just want to either say like you're a prude or a slut, you know? If you date too much, they criticize you. If you don't date, you must be frigid, whatever.

And then the thing that gets added when you're actually more fluid with your sexuality is the swing goes to you better identify exactly who you are so we can figure out what name to call you and it's like, okay. And you know, I sort of looked around and was like, has nobody been paying attention to like all the hot girls I've been kissing on camera? You know, maybe not in front of you off camera, but hi, I've always been here. Listen to Dear Chelsea on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the MeatEater Podcast Network hosted by me, writer and historian Dan Flores and brought to you by Velvet Buck. This podcast looks at a West available nowhere else. Each episode I'll be diving into some of the lesser known histories of the West. I'll then be joined in conversation by guests such as Western historian Dr. Randall Williams and best-selling author and meat eater founder Stephen Rinella. I'll correct my kids now and then where they'll say when cave people were here and I'll say it seems like the ice age people that were here didn't have a real affinity for caves. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th where we'll delve into

stories of the West and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Joe Korsak Listen to The American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Jeff Perlman The summer of 1993 was one of the best of my life. I'm journalist Jeff Perlman, and this is Rick Jervis. We were interns at the Nashville Tennessean, but the most unforgettable part?

Our roommate, Reggie Payne, from Oakley, sports editor and aspiring rapper. And his stage name? Sexy Sweat. In 2020, I had a simple idea. Let's find Reggie. We searched everywhere, but Reggie was gone. In February 2020, Reggie was having a diabetic episode.

His mom called 911. Police cuffed him face down. He slipped into a coma and died. I'm like thanking you, but then I see my son's not moving. No headlines, no outrage, just silence. So we started digging and uncovered city officials bent on protecting their own. Listen to Finding Sexy Sweat on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So when John Benjamin Zicke, who plays Thomas John Anderson, many so many names in Oh Come

All Ye Faithful, that's the episode, just to refresh everybody, it was maybe like three, four episodes, we recapped it ago. And it's the one where Carrie and Miranda go to a church because Carrie wants to see Big and his mother because she wants to hang out with him on Sunday. And he says, no, I go to church every Sunday with my mother, but she's just like, what? And so she wants to go. So they wear these huge hats because they're gonna hide up in the balcony

of a beautiful big church. I should know which one it is. And then he comes out and she's across the street in her joggers looking so cool with her cigarette. And his mom is played by this incredible woman, incredible actress and teacher named Marian Seldes, who was Hickey's teacher at Juilliard. Yes, as she was so many, many, Kevin Klein, Patty Lapone,

from group one to, I was group 18, to probably group 35, Marian was there. Ushering us into our careers and our lives as actors. And there was no greater teacher, no greater actor, no greater person of the theater in the history of the 20th century than Mary. Amazing, and her presence. I mean, she doesn't have a lot to do in our episode,

but just her presence standing there is so powerful. Absolutely, absolutely. It was real cool. And you were saying earlier, she was so perfect as Big's mom, because she's kind of a big person herself, big presence. Yeah, intimidating and kind of aloof to where you can't read her

and it makes such perfect sense for his character that he has a mom like that, that he kind of caters to. You know, it's super interesting. I did a production of The Crucible on Broadway and with this great actor. I believe I saw that. It was, yeah, Laura Linney, Liam Neeson. Amazing, amazing production.

And Brian, the great actor Brian Murray was in it, who was Marion's best friend. And Marion came to see the show and I said, oh God, I hope Marion likes it. And he said, well, if she doesn't, you're never gonna know. I was like, what a great thing. Cause she's such a gracious, warm human being.

She gives great backstage, you know, she's not there to tear anybody down. She's a, yeah, yeah. She's the greatest gracious, warm human being. She gives great backstage. She's not there to tear anybody down. She's a, yeah. She's the greatest. So you also said when I saw you at the party and I was, I just looked at you. I didn't even say anything. I don't think, and you're like, I'm coming on the podcast.

I was like, thank God, because I've just been waiting. I've just been waiting. I'm so happy. Praying you'd come. And you said, I have so many memories of Cynthia, Michael, and I think you said Sarah too. So even though you weren't super close, do you remember those early days?

Cause she remembers nothing. Yeah, I just remember how lucky I felt. She had done a play at Lincoln Center and even though she doesn't remember anything, she remembers meeting me, which is terribly flattering, more than I do. She met me on the stairs of Lincoln Center. And I think it was, what year was the first season?

We filmed in 97. It didn't come on till 98. Yeah, yeah, wow. So we were really good pals by then. I think I remember being very glad that my stuff was with Cynthia, because I had become the kind of friend with Sarah at that point that I would have been,

I think I would have been more intimidated by taking my clothes off in front of her. And she would too. I mean, she has both though, and I'm sure you've said many times, she's an incredibly shy, discreet person. She is not Carrie Bradshaw, which is a testament to her just brilliant acting chops.

Absolutely. And in my mind, just sidebar, because you know her so well, I believe that that's one of the things that makes Carrie so interesting, is Sarah's own differences from the character and that kind of internal conflict that comes from that kind of friction playing the character so long. But also she just makes her so deep.

Yeah, so deep, so, so deep. She's very, all of you, it's like time has been so kind to those characters and you guys have too. Like you're, it's like every, it's like you see it in your shoulders. Everybody is just so relaxed. Even when they're playing the most fraught moments on the show, there's such a relaxation watching.

And the newcomers as well. Oh, I know. Are just absolutely, it's such a lovely family now. It's really, really great to see. But going back, I remember being glad it was Cynthia, not because I didn't want to work with you or with Sarah, but I didn't know you. And I knew Sarah in a way that would have been like, oh, man,

I don't want to have to pretend to bang her. I know. That would be very weird. You know, I had to kiss Matthew in a movie. Wow. After the show ended. So I had known him for many years. And I kept saying, this is so weird.

And he was like, no, it isn't. I was like, him for many years. And I kept saying, this is so weird. And he was like, no, it isn't. I was like, all right, Matthew, not weird at all, okay. We didn't have to have sex, thank God. Cause I don't know how I would have gotten through it. Yeah, that would be weird to kiss Matthew or Sarah. It's totally strange. But Matthew's got that thing,

like the couple of times I've seen Matthew nervous, cause I have directed him. It's weird to see Matthew, cause Matthew has lovely blood pressure maintenance. Like he knows how to, in his work, be very still and very calm. That's true. It's scary.

Yeah, it's scary. It can intimidate the other person. Yes, that's how I felt. Yeah, I'm like trying to juggle kittens. Right, me too. And Matthew's like, why don't you just sit here and we'll do the scene. Oh yes, it's like that. Totally.

Okay, we got off on a Matthew tangent, which is rare because almost no one has Matthew stories. Oh my goodness, I have good Matthew stories. Oh, I know. You should get Matthew on this podcast. I don't think he'll do it. I mean, every time I see him, I'm just like, Matthew! And he's like, oh God, here she comes.

You'll get it, you'll get it. Maybe, that would be awesome. Because I love to hear the memories of the beginning. And that's part of the reason I wanted to do the podcast is because everyone was in such different places, coming from such different worlds. I mean, even Cynthia and Sarah, who had worked together, known each other their whole lives almost,

still very different experiences. And then we all came together in this kind of crazy thing that just formed a new. Yeah, and everybody has, what do they call it? Esprit de Scalia, which is the French expression for Spirit of the Staircase. The thing you, like if you and I are in a big fight and on my way home, what I should have said to her

was you remember the thing. So you have this odd 2020 hindsight with the show like you always thought or somehow knew that it could be what it has become. And no, not at all. Never in a million years. It's true, no, who could have dreamt this? Okay, I know this is you interview,

but when you signed on, were you, like, gung-ho? Yeah. Oh, I'm the most gung-ho. Yeah. I'm the most gung-ho still to this day. Well, that's fantastic. That's really great. But in the beginning, because I was in LA, right? But I had been an out-of-work actor here, right after I went to Rutgers.

Right. With Bill Esper and everybody. Oh, yeah, brilliant, brilliant, Bill Esper. I know, incredible. And I moved here, like everybody did, and we were poor, and you know, you waitress, Right with Bill Esper and everybody so yeah brilliant brilliant bill. I know incredible And I moved here like everybody did and we were poor and you know you waitress and you auditioned and whatnot, right? Which is hard to be poor here. Absolutely, right? Very hard and then I went out to Berkeley I did a play and it was pilot season my agent said come down to LA on Mondays because there's so many parts

You could play cuz I was still playing pretty young at that point. And I was young and I was playing even younger. Do you know what play you were doing, if you don't mind me asking? I was doing, oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, I'm not going to remember. Were you at Berkeley Rep? Yes. That's where I was when I couldn't do your podcast.

I was doing a production of Uncle Vanya with Hugh Bonneville at Berkeley Rep. With Hugh Bonneville, incredible. The great Hugh Bonneville, yeah, brilliant. The speed of light. Oh yeah, I feel like I know that play, and if you gave me more time, I would know who wrote it. Right, no, it's a great playwright

who I think went to Rutgers. Yeah, yeah, damn. Oh my God, we have to look this up. Yeah. Anyway, I was there, which was incredible. It's a special, special place. I love Berkeley Rep so much. Brilliant theater, brilliant.

It was great, it was great. But I went down to LA, it was sunny, I auditioned for sitcoms, I was like, hmm, this seems an easier life than the New York City as a poor person, right? There's more work, yeah. More work then, and now it's totally flipped, which is so sad, but what can you do?

So I ended up moving to LA, and then eventually a few years later, I mean, I don't remember how many, but a lot of auditions later got Melrose, then Darren sent me the script, and I was like, New York City, like walking the streets, four lead characters that are women, unheard of.

HBO, confused, had the boxing, but hey. Yeah, no other show. Pre-Sopranos, pre-You Were It. Right, so I was- Yeah, been a couple of those, what would Dream On? And also Larry Sanders. Yes, of course. Which was obviously, but that's what I, what would Dream On? And also Larry Sanders, which was obviously, but that's what I thought we would be,

a small cult-like, very industry-loved show, which is Lived On, of course, because it's so great, right? It's weirdly, it's still that, what you just described. It's also just a global phenomenon as well, yeah. Exactly, which is a weird, it's a very weird and wonderful thing that happened, but in my gut,

I felt the potential. I never could have dreamt two movies and another show. There is no precedent to that. So that wouldn't have come, but to me, I felt, yes, it's very special, and I will do whatever I have to do to be on that show with those women. And then once they told me Sarah, because when they, Darren first sent it to me to read for Carrie,

and the way she was on the page was much more like Candice's persona, and I couldn't pull that off. Smoking and swearing and the it girl, I was like, people are gonna laugh at me. So I was like, Darren, please don't make me audition for that, I need to be this other one who's kind of in the side over here. That's me.

And you know, thank God he listened. And you really recognize like, oh, I've got a thing. I relate to this part. That's incredible. Cause it's like all of you were born to play those parts. I know, we're so lucky that we found it. I do remember in the early days of casting,

I remember so Sarah and I certainly were hanging out enough to where she would talk to me about people that she was interested in for, I think it was probably Samantha, because I think Cynthia was in early on. I mean, Cynthia was in, but she didn't feel she was in. Like, they kept her dangling, do you know what I mean? And then I remember at one point they were talking about hiring a stand-up comic or whatever for Miranda.

Like they didn't know what to do, you know? Yeah, and now that I'm really thinking about it, your brilliant casting director, Jennifer McNamara. Yes, but I don't think we had her for the pilot. I think we had Kerry Barton. Kerry Barton, Kerry, Kerry, of course. And then we got Jennifer when the show started, who's so great.

And Jennifer's assistant, I think, on that first season was my old college friend, Camille Hickman, is her name. And Camille now works at Lincoln Center, and she's one of the great casting directors in New York. And she and I had been best buddies at Fordham University, where I had gone some 10 years before Sex and the City. And she would talk to me about this show, it's so exciting, and it's so weird and odd.

I don't know if anybody's gonna see it. And I also remember very vividly, Camille had a small part as one of the talking heads. Yes! Because did you do talking heads through the whole first season? Yes, and I mean, we just, Sarah Jessica just looks at the camera in the last episode I watched,

which is in the second season. I don't remember. And you know she hated it. Oh yeah, oh yeah. She hated it so much. But she looks at the camera and then she makes a face, which I think was about having to talk to hated it. Oh yeah, oh yeah. She hated it so much, but she looks at the camera and then she makes a face, which I think was about having to talk to the camera.

Of course, of course. Do you, I'm sure you probably talked about it on the show. When was that decision made, like we don't need to do this anymore? I feel like it was an ongoing thing. Michael Patrick hated. Oh, he did. The talking to the camera.

Melfi hated the people on the street. Sidebar, John Melfi, who went to Fordham with me and Camille. So I knew Melfi some 10, 12 years. You're a kid. Melfi and I have known each other 40 something years. I didn't even know this. Incredible. Melfi is the unsung hero of our whole entire world.

I told him in Paris that he's got to come on the podcast. He looked a little scared because I think he likes his secrets to remain off camera. Nobody knows more stories and knows where more bodies are buried than John Melfi. I know, that's why I've got to get him in that chair. You better believe it. Right? I know, I got to loosen him up and get him in the chair.

He would tell everything about everything, which would be great. But when he came, he said his secret mission was to get rid of the talking heads. And Sarah Jessica's very open mission was to get rid of the talking heads. And Sarah Jessica's very open mission was to get rid of talking to the camera. Because I remember in the pilot, her saying, you know, do I have to talk to the camera? It's so strange to break the fourth wall. I'm in this scene.

And she's not wrong. I mean, it's a very weird thing as an actor to do. And then what she told me when she came on was that also she had been worried about Ferris Bueller, which I had never thought of. So here, of course, is this like, you know, her husband's, you know, huge iconic film that he'd done where he so brilliantly talks to the camera

pretty much the whole time. Exactly. She felt like she was never gonna live up to that, which is so adorable, which I didn't know. Yeah, but when I was sitting there, what I remember is thinking that I had never seen an actress be able to speak so clearly about what they wanted to do and what they didn't want to do without being angry

or histrionic or whatever, just like very clearly articulating why it was hard for her, why she felt like she wasn't doing it well, how she felt like it was better to stay with us in the scene, and I was like, yes, yes, I agree with her. Not that anyone cares what I think over here, but I was like, yeah, yeah, that's well put, that's well put. But it took her, I mean, she's still doing it in season seven.

Second, second season, which I didn't even realize. That's amazing. I did not know it went on that long. And frankly, I don't remember her doing it. I remember more the side people doing it than the four of you guys. Which was kind of interesting. And I think trying to be almost like an anthology

or like relating to the fact that all kinds of people are having all kinds of relationship things that you don't know about, right? Like the people on the street, this one's gonna tell you something surprising, that one's gonna tell you something surprising. I get the idea of it. But it was taking story time away

from the bigger stories. Yeah, you have 25 minutes to pack four stories in. Right, which is hard. Yeah, speaking of my partner, Jeff, he's a comedy writer, wrote Modern Family for all 11 years. Incredible, yeah. And he was like the hardest thing, there's 11 characters on that show, and they have 22 minutes.

And that makes me think about writers like Michael Patrick and all the great writers. Jenny Bix ran the big C. So many great writers who've come into your world and how difficult it is to pull that off for four, and now however many you have, extraordinary characters. And everybody's gotta have a story.

And everybody needs their time. It's true. And I mean, I don't wanna spend much time on this, but sometimes when you see people's criticism, you're like, oh, do they know how hard it is? Yeah, yeah, no, they don't. You don't even mean, no. They don't.

And you know, I think back to that first season, because I think we were recently overseas, and sometimes, you know, a show will be on, like an older versions of shows. And I watched a few episodes and this was long before you and I talked about doing this. But what I remember when I was watching is like, wow, not only was it good, it got more sophisticated.

It got more maybe clever. It was always super smart. But before it had flash, it had such warmth. It had such warmth. I mean, it's the reason why it goes on. It's because it's a love story. It's a love story. And it had a confidence about that love from the very get-go. You're so right. Even though the show evolved, I mean, you know, in that, in the same way any great writing would evolve. But it, even though it took a while to figure out

we don't need the talking heads, we don't, it knew, you guys knew who you were. It's true. That's what I'm so surprised about when I watched the first season. Were you, was it, were some, was it, was it, was it, was it first season nerve wracking? Yeah. Or were you more nervous Was it... Were some... Was it...

Was the first season nerve wracking? Or were you more nervous when it became so successful? Because sometimes, you know, it's scarier when there's a lot of, like, responsibility. Like, uh-oh, we're... Let's not blow this, you know? Right. I think for me, because there's a whole long story I'm not going to bore you with, because all of our listeners have heard it

in my first episode of the podcast. So I signed, in my mind, Sarah Jessica did not sign a big deal, a big pilot deal, which I didn't know about. And it's good that I didn't know about, because I would have been super nervous that she wasn't sewed up for like seven years, right? But I did sign one. But then during the pilot, which we were over budget,

it was $2.5 million, which back then was a lot of money for the pilot, exactly. They were trying to cut costs, and they tried to get me to sign a new contract that would revoke my previous contract and make me a series recurring for $5,000 an episode. Oh my God. I know, thank you, Hager.

They tried to do this during while you were shooting? They did. Well, that's awful I know thank you know what it suggests is that you don't have the con like that I'm not you're not seeing them trying to cut corners. You're like, wait a minute. Yeah, I know So I knew this but I didn't tell them executives. Yeah, I know and no one will take Somebody knew somebody knew I think those people aren't with us anymore. Yeah, maybe not.

But whatever. So I haven't gotten to the absolute bottom of it, but I have, it's been very therapeutic for me to talk about it because I didn't ever realize that I never told Sarah, I never told Cynthia, I never talked about it except to my team because what I did was this line producer knocked on my door, just handed me this paper and said,

you need to sign this. And I was like, oh, what's this? And I read it and I was like, oh my God. And I called my lawyer, who's still my lawyer, all these many years later. And he said, don't sign the paper, take it home and tell them that you forgot. Brilliant, love this lawyer.

Every day, I know, Jason Sloan, incredible. Give me his name and number at the end of the episode. His name's his daughter Charlotte. I love it. Love him as well for that. Smart man, smart man. Though he says, it's not because of me, but whatever. Still love it.

So every day they would knock. And every day I'd be like, I'm sorry. I forgot. I'm a good girl, Hickey. So it took a lot for me. That's how badly I wanted to stay on that show as a series regular. I have to say, it's not an UnCharlotte storyline.

I know. Yeah, that's the story Michael would write for her. It's so perfect. Totally, it's so like her. And she'd be crafty, but it would seem like it was under the guise of like, oh, I'm just a, yeah. Right, I can do that. I can actually do that in life.

It's kind of amazing. That's amazing. But what happened to me and what I saw when I looked back at the first season was that inside I had the anxiety of not being good enough. Oh, of course, I mean, yeah, yeah. And it did work with Charlotte in a lot of ways and also Michael told me when he came on,

he thought, oh, I don't know how to write for that character because I was the one who wanted to get married, right? And so it took him a while to understand me enough and the character enough. And then Jenny came and she knew how to write me, which is great because she grew up on the other side, it was perfect, right? Yeah, brilliant.

So the pieces come, and you can see that in my performance, you can see it in the writing for sure, but also when I look at myself, there's some episodes where I'm like, I am really literally just trying to walk properly with them, you know? Wow, yeah. The things you see that nobody else does, yeah.

Like I'm just trying to walk in those heels, in those outfits, and look like I fit in. Exactly. Is not fall down and look like I belong here. Back in LA. But you know, I've talked to, and I'm sure Sarah Jessica would, has probably talked about this with you on this podcast,

but like every season you guys start, every movie, I will talk to her in the first four days, and she'll be like, I don't know what I'm doing. I can't, I will talk to her in the first four days and she'll be like, I don't know what I'm doing, I can't, I feel so, I don't know how to do this and I'm not good at this and like, that never goes away. It's true.

No matter how iconic you guys are. It's true. You never lose that and we shouldn't. Of course. That's the thing that keeps us alive. Wanting to act too. Like why else would you wanna do such a crazy thing if it didn't bring all the feelings?

And challenge us. And that's what we love. And there's real no sense of security that's born out of this kind of success. In fact, sometimes the very opposite, as we talked about, can happen. It can make you a little more kind of. That's true.

For me, because I started out at the crazy place of like, are they gonna keep me or not? It did just get better. And you did that first season, and then were you sort of like, you did a new team. Well then I had to wait and see if they were gonna fire me or not. Oh, so you, I'm sorry, I lost that.

I probably interrupted you. No, no. You really, even when that first season was over, how many episodes? 13. Yeah, you were like, Didn't know. Maybe I'll come back, maybe I won't.

Exactly. Holy crap. I know, and I didn't tell any of them. Which is crazy to me that I didn't tell them. Do you know what I mean? But I think that if I, I thought that if they knew, they'd be like, oh yeah, maybe you're not gonna have, which of course they wouldn't have,

but like I just didn't have the security in it all yet. Yeah, yeah, totally. So I was just on this like, oh, inside. You didn't know if it was coming back, much less, you know, it wasn yet, you know? So I was just on this like, uh, inside. You didn't know if it was coming back, much less, you know, it wasn't. No, we didn't know anything. We didn't know anything. Right, so it was all good.

And then they were like, yes, yes, we do need her. And I was like, thank you, God. Thank you, God. Thank you, God. Just like great shoes, great books take you places. Through unforgettable love stories and into conversations with characters you'll never forget. I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of like butterflies. I'm Danielle Robay, and this is Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club, the new podcast from

Hello Sunshine and iHeart Podcasts. Every week I sit down with your favorite book lovers, authors, celebrities, book talkers, and more to explore the stories that shape us, on the page and off. I've been reading every Reese's Book Club pick, deep diving book talk theories, and obsessing over book to screen casts for years. And now I get to talk to the people making the magic. So if you've ever fallen in love with a fictional character, or cried at the last chapter, or passed a book to a friend saying, you have to read this, this podcast is for you. Listen to Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Don't miss the You vs. You podcast. Join Lex Borrero every week as he sits down with some of the biggest names in entertainment to talk about the real stuff, the struggles, the doubts, and the breakthroughs that made them who they are. They go deep, covering childhood trauma, family, overcoming loss, and the moments that shaped their journey. These honest conversations are meant to take the cape off our heroes, with the hope that their humanity inspires you to become a better you,

and therefore set you free to live the life of your dreams. Here's a sneak peek. I'm trained to go compete. I'm trained to be like harder, but sometimes that mentality stops you from stopping and smelling the flowers in your own garden. Is it wrong to want more? We migrated, our family migrated here. I'm like second generation. Listen to You Versus You

as part of My Kultura podcast network. Available on the iHeart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This week on Dear Chelsea with me, Chelsea Handler, Sophia Bush is here. Tell me how that feels to be a hot, considered a hot lesbian. Quite an honor. You know what's funny is you do this weird math. Like if you're a woman dating men, nobody wants to talk to you about your sexuality.

They just want to either say like you're a prude or a slut, you know, if you date too much, they criticize you. If you don't date, you must be frigid, whatever. And then the thing that gets added when you're actually more fluid with your sexuality is the swing goes to you better identify exactly who you are so we can figure out what name to call you. And it's like, okay. And you know, I sort of looked around and was like, has nobody been paying attention to like all the hot girls I've been kissing on camera? You know, maybe not in front of you off camera, but hi, I've always been here.

Listen to Dear Chelsea on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The American West with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network hosted by me, writer and historian Dan Flores and brought to you by Velvet Buck. This podcast looks at a West available nowhere else. Each episode I'll be diving into some of the lesser known histories of the West. I'll then be joined in conversation by guests such as Western historian Dr. Randall Williams and best-selling author and meat-eater founder Stephen Rannella. I'll correct my kids now and then where they'll say when cave people were here and I'll say it

seems like the Ice Age people that were here didn't have a real affinity for caves. So join me starting Tuesday May 6th where we'll delve into stories of the West and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to The American West with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Over the past six years of making my true crime podcast Hell and Gone, I've learned one thing.

No town is too small for murder. I'm Catherine Townsend. I've received hundreds of messages from people across the country begging for help with unsolved murders. I was calling about the murder of my husband at the cold case. They've never found her and it haunts me to this day. The murderer is still out there.

Every week on Hell and Gone Murder Line, I dig into a new case, bringing the skills I've learned as a journalist and private investigator to ask the questions no one else is asking. Police really didn't care to even try. She was still somebody's mother, she was still somebody's daughter,

she was still somebody's sister. There's so many questions that we've never gotten any kind of answers for. If you have a case you'd like me to look into, call the Hell and Gone Murder Line at 678-744-6145. Listen to Hell and Gone Murder Line on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

["The First Season"] Was it a ratings success, its first season? You know what? No one ever spoke about the ratings. Those metrics are still, to this day, Netflix. They won't tell you what the numbers are. No, I know. But I mean, for me, I'd come from network where Monday morning you went in and everyone

was like, oh, 5.8, 10, 10 point, whatever. No one cared. I'd be like, does anyone know if anyone's watching it? They didn't care. You know what they cared about? They cared about press. They wanted press hits. Like we worked hard in the beginning.

We talked to anyone and everyone who would talk to us. It was the traditional press back then, right? We didn't have all the things we have now. And they cared about awards, which took us a while to get there, but we did. But that was what made people want to pay because you had to pay so much for HBO, right? It wasn't just how many eyeballs,

it was more about the kind of like, patché. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, so lucky for us, because it did take a while to build. And you don't, I mean, that's never gone away, because it's a show about, you know, about the people in New York City

and the way they dress, all of you. And so that's a big part of the show. The press is a very big part of the show. It is, it is. And thank God they still write about us. Yeah, oh God, yeah. Well, as well they should. You mentioned those big hats in that first season.

I wonder if they were as big as that hat that Sarah has on. Nothing, nothing is as big as that hat. That thing is, I'm sure people are probably talking about that thing. Oh everywhere. Do you not see it? Is it a hat or was it just a blanket? No one's signed by a hat designer. It's a great hat. It was a great hat by the way.

It's beyond. She has the most incredible knack for dressing of any individual I've ever seen. And obviously she does not dress like Carrie, which I think is a big misconception, but her sense of how and what and when, and like, it's like magic watching it. It's incredible. It's really amazing. I directed Sarah Jessica and Matthew in this Broadway revival of Plaza Suite.

Oh my God, yes, of course! And I'm just bringing up all of my credits. I love it, do it! But it was just amazing watching them work together. They were so good. Yeah, how extraordinarily different they are as performers and people, and what kind of chemistry that produces.

But I just wanted to bring it up because the legendary costume designer, Jane Greenwood, did the clothes, and she had done Sylvia with Sarah, many things with her and Matthew. And the way I went to her costume fittings, and they're so great because she's got such an unbelievable, uncanny sense of lines

and the cut of things. And Jane, who knows so much more than Sarah, like it was a real collaboration. And the way it was with Pat and this brilliant new person. Yeah, it's really- Molly's not actually new, she's been here since the beginning. Molly was with Pat. And it's one of the reasons why she's doing

such a great, great job is because she has a history with the show. Definitely, and we trust her so much. But she's so, Molly's also really into the details. Like the two of them can just go down the rabbit hole of like how something was woven or whatever. It's very, it's very cool. Do you spend a lot of time in wardrobe fittings

before each season? Oh yeah, we all do. I mean, there's a lead up. Yeah, there's a lead up like prep, but then also during the, you know, it doesn't, it's a very big part of it. And I used to kind of kick and scream and now I'm like, yeah, I love it.

Yeah, yeah, exactly., yeah, I love it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. I surrender, I love it. We're so spoiled. We're so spoiled. As you said earlier, I might have thought it could or could not be a hit, but never in a million years would I have imagined

what did happen because it's unprecedented. Exactly. Because it's never happened. There's no model for us, and that's partly what I love as well. And people can feel all different ways about the first movie, the second movie, the new show, whatever, I don't care. Because to me, we are just creating and creating and creating.

And I know that we're creating from such a sense of love and respect for each other and the fact that we love to be together and to make a show that people can relate to. And you know, our eye has never been on like the big success models or whatever. It's been on just making a story that we love. Absolutely.

And that you did it on this little wild, wild west furthest place in the frontier, HBO, that then became HBO that we know today. And then whoever the smart people were who said, yeah, let's sell this into syndication. Because one of the things being my age, being young-ish when it all started, Sarah's age, that it would be generational.

It's like W wicked is doing that now Yeah It is a show that young women went to see when they were 12 years old 20 years ago and now they're taking their daughters to see It's incredible and this show which was so blue as where we start which you know was so R-rated has become this thing that People have passed down to their children and said, watch this, this is New York City. This is friendship.

This is, yeah. Yeah. Right, I know, it's incredible. It's really something. Well, I just wanna say, I'm so happy that you're a small but brilliant part of it. Well, wait a minute, I was naked in the show, so let's not use the word small.

Let's say that you are a very- And you looked mighty fine. You looked mighty fine. It was all from behind. Mighty fine. But also, wouldn't That is all from behind. Mighty fine. But also, wouldn't it be incredible if we could bring Catholic guy back? Oh my God.

Like, where's Catholic guy? I really do. Every now and then I've said to Michael Patrick, like, not even about me, like, it would be nice to see a couple more of the old climbers Yes! back. And like, what happened to them?

Because they're such vivid, vivid characters. Who's the brilliant? I'm sorry, I wish I knew his name, because I'm such a big fan of his. The guy who played Scooter in the first season. Skipper. Skipper, I mean, Skipper. Yeah, what is that guy's name?

We never, I don't know where he is. He's very good. Oh, he was so unique and odd. He's like a puppy. He's like a little puppy and Miranda's just mean to him. Genius casting all through it. Ben Webber. Ben Webber, Ben Webber.

But you know, when you mentioned Kyle, brilliant Kyle, I had, because you and Evan are so brilliant together, I almost feel like you've been together forever, but no. Well, look, we've been together a long time. A long time, yeah. A long time. But there was Kyle before him. Yeah, absolutely.

Incredibly vivid and wonderful as well, just very, very different. Yeah, I've been so incredibly lucky. But before that, there were so many guys. Charlotte had so many guys. They were crazy things. Yeah, and you're not going to, we're not gonna see Kyle show up at the end of the season.

You'll never tell. I don't know, I don't know. But we've discussed some things, but we, you know, this is the thing. Harry and Charlotte are the last couple standing. Yeah, so good. So I don't know that we want to mess with that. Yeah, they so know each other.

That's what I love about watching them. People who've been together at the, you know, you may hate each other at times, you may bore the out of each other, but you know the other person for all, warts and all. And that's what's great about the writing for those two characters. They really look at each other and they see each other.

It's just great. I agree, I agree. Hickey, I knew it would be incredible. Was it okay? Oh my God, incredible! This is the catching up with friends. You delivered and then some, come on. It's an honor, a real thrill and an honor to be here,

to have known you and admired you for so many years now and that it's still going on. I know, it's incredible. We're just so happy that you're with us. Thank you so much. Love to see you always. Thank you, thank you. Let's get Catholic guy back.

Yeah, let's do it. But just hang out with us, Hickey. That's what we want. I've been doing my squats. I was at the gym doing my squats today. Fantastic. So the butt is still kind now. I'm sure the butt is perfection, okay?

Nobody's seeing that. All right. Thank you so much. Thank you, babe. [♪ MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC PLAYING FADES OUT, MUSIC you'll never forget. I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of like butterflies. I'm Danielle Robay and this is Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club. The new podcast from Hello Sunshine and iHeart Podcasts, where we dive into the stories that shape us on the page and off.

Each week I'm joined by authors, celebs, book talk stars and more for conversations that will make you laugh, cry and add way too many books to your TBR pile. Listen to Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the You vs. You podcast, we welcome Polo Molina,

music manager to the stars. From Will.i.am and the Black Eyed Peas, Ty Dolla $y, YG, and Fergie. Here's a sneak peek. Are you so hard on yourself? That's the way I was raised. And the people that were hard on me are not here no more. So I'm hard on myself. You know, make me cry. Listen to you versus you on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This week on Dear Chelsea with me, Chelsea Handler, Sophia Bush is here.

Tell me how that feels to be a hot, considered a hot lesbian. Quite an honor. You know what's funny? When you're actually more fluid with your sexuality, the swing goes from nobody gives a shit who you're sleeping with to you better identify exactly who you are so we can figure out what name to call you. And it's like, has nobody been paying attention to like all the hot girls I've been kissing on camera?

Hi, I've always been here. Listen to Dear Chelsea on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Over the years of making my true crime podcast, Hell and Gone, I've learned no town is too small for murder. I'm Catherine Townsend. I've heard from hundreds of people across the country with an unsolved murder in their community.

I was calling about the murder of my husband. The murderer is still out there. Each week I investigate a new case. If there is a case we should hear about, call 678-744-6145. Listen to Hell and Gone Murder Line on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Adventure should never come with a pause button. Remember MoviePass? All the movies you wanted for just nine bucks? I'm Bridget Todd, host

of There Are No Girls on the Internet. And this season, I'm digging into the tech stories we weren't told. Starting with Stacey Spikes, the Black founder of MoviePass who got pushed out of the company he built. Everybody's trying to knock you down and it's not going to work and no one's going to like it. And then boom, it's everywhere. And that was that moment. Listen to There Are No Girls on the Internet on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or

wherever you get your podcasts. This is an iHeart Podcast.