Are You A Charlotte? - We Meet Anthony with Mario Cantone... (S3 E11 "Running with Scissors")

Episode Date: January 19, 2026

Mario Cantone returns to Are You a Charlotte as Antonio makes his first appearance on Sex and the City! We get the specifics on a scene that was cut from his first episode.Kristin reveals the scene that really stressed her out and an outfit she barely ever got to wear appears in this episode.Plus, Mario wants more Sex, more Anthony, and more of the girls!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hi, I'm Kristen Davis, and I want to know, are you a Charlotte? We are back for the second time with Mario Cantone, which is so fantastic because this is your first episode on the air. It is. I always thought it was episode 12, but it's not. It's episode 11. I know, and it's called Running with Scissors, but I think the reason you might have thought it was 12 was because we shot two at once,

as we always did, right? Because in my mind, I remember the other Vera Wang where the girls are there. Like there's two Vera Wing visits, but we shot them in one day. Oh, that's right. And I remember I came in at three in the afternoon. Wow. And I was in an off-Broadway show at the time. Got it.

Yeah, it was called the Crumple Zone. And it was ran for like six months. It did really well. Got great reviews. And I remember that particular night was one of our. tech nights. Oh, no. And they weren't going to let me out. And I was like, you can get someone else to stand here while you light for an evening because I'm going. Definitely. And I went. For sure. So wait, if you came in at three in the afternoon, maybe we did. Don't you remember? We filmed till four

at night. I do remember that it was stressful and long. And I remember that our executive from HBO came and sat across from us and glared at us. I mean, not that it was our fault, but like, just let it be known that we were over budget. Uh-huh. Yeah, it was one of those days. There's only a few Michael Hill.

Michael Hill came, and I remember that because I was like, oh, he never comes. Oh, no. But I think it was expensive to shoot in Vera Wang. Probably wasn't. It was so small.

Remember how small it was? Tiny. It was hard to film there. Yeah. And also that evening was my husband's opening night of an off-broadway show. he was in.

Wow. It's called Bubbly Black Girl, sheds her chameleon skin. And I didn't go. Oh, no. There was a whole thing that we, but I remember, yeah, we, we, we,

we talked about this last time and you didn't remember it. I'm sure you remember it now because I told you last time, but there was a second scene. Oh, I still, I still only have the vagus memory. What was it? It was, it was us, you know, where we were sitting and,

looking at the dresses, there was a little room in the back of that with the door. Like a dressing room. Yep. And we were in that dressing room. And I was fitting you and trying to cut something with the scissors and I ended up ripping the dress. Which is really interesting because it's running with scissors is the title of this episode. And you, we just glared at me. And I was just like, oh, and that was the end of that scene.

And that was the end of that. Oh, wow. I don't know if that had stayed in. and if we had, we would have come back and become friends. I mean, I assume that they loved you so much that they didn't want there to be a negative thing. Maybe. Also feel this episode has so much plot in it for everyone else.

It really does. It's a lot. It's a lot. It's so much that I feel, you know, there were times, I mean, this is always been true for us. We over, overshoot, right? We always have too much. And then we have to pick and choose.

Always. Well, look, don't get me started on just like that. There were two scenes of ours, two, this last season that were cut. No way. Oh, yes. Remember the one in the bakery, and it was after the puppet thing. Oh. And I said to you, I need to talk about the puppet more.

And I was like, this old guy glaring at him, and you were like, well. And I was like, don't look at you like that. It's a great scene. And it got cut. That's sad. Oh, and then there was a. that the red roosted between me and you before I apologize to Carrie. Oh, yeah.

That was cut, which I was furious about because it was the bridge to me apologizing. Right, right, right. I remember that. I remember that. But we always overfilm. We always over film. And one time I said to Michael Patrick, I said, couldn't we cut from the read through so that we don't, because we're always just really basically killing ourselves to get everything

filmed. Yeah. And also we spend a lot of money getting everything filmed. And he said, no, because I. I don't know in the edit. What's going to work? He doesn't. Yeah, he doesn't.

That's how it works. But let me just say this about you when I watched this first episode, because obviously I hadn't watched this episode in, you know, 30 years or whatever it is, 25 years. You are just a breath of fresh air. Like your energy, you're just like a blast of energy. It's so refreshing and exciting. Like you're a note that we didn't have in the ensemble.

Yeah. Do you feel that when you watch it? Yeah. Yeah. When I watch it, I was like, well, I mean, it was just, it's funny. It's good. I just, it works.

And I don't know. I feel that I was, I'm happy with it when I watch. Definitely, right? I mean, you're so young also. Like, it's so funny to look at you and me, obviously, too. But I mean, we were little children. I don't think I felt like a little child back then, turning me. No, you didn't.

Right. Neither did I. We felt like we were, you know, adult. I mean, adult, we were, you know, but. Well, I will, that was 2000. That was, we filmed that in 99. No, I think we filmed it in 2000 because it aired August 20th, so we would have filmed it earlier in the summer.

Yeah, I was 40 years old. No. You look like you're 20 or 25. My God. It just turned 66 last week. Congratulations. Oh, my God, it was your birthday. 66.

One more six and I'm the sign of the devil. That's right. Well, this is the thing I was thinking to when I'm watching because I remember that you used to always feel, you know, you have like a nervousness about your work, which is always kind of adorable, that still remains really. But I remember this particular time because it was the beginning. I mean, but you're so great. Well, you know, this is that, you know, you're sitting there and you're doing it for the crew and the crew is like hysterically laughing. And then the cameras go on and they can't laugh. So in your psychological, crazy comedic mind, my paranoid,

comedic mind. I'm like, well, I'm sucking now. I'm not doing this well. I'm not funny. I left. I would leave. I remember, I think it was season four episode, I think it was one or two where we're walking in the sailors. It's Fleet Week, you know, the sailors. I remember walking away from that scene and calling Michael and going. I didn't, I didn't, you didn't get it, right? So would I leave you? He was like, would I let you off the set of? I didn't get it. he would not. And then you watch it and I'm like, okay, he got it. Definitely, definitely.

I do think, too, there's a couple things I thought about. One was just like your energy is so pure and great and different. And then the other thing I realized is that you didn't do that many episodes of the first series. And I was wondering for you, like, did they, so you did 12 total? I'm reading my details, which is crazy. I would have thought it was so much more than that. A lot of people think that, yeah. Yeah, and what, how did they handle it?

Like, what was your thinking? Did you think you were coming back? Did you know you were coming back? How did it go? Well, you know, I've known Michael Patrick King since I was in my 20s doing stand-up. That's how we came together. So he wrote me this. I did go in as a formality to read.

And it was also that question of whether I was going to be able to get out of that tech, which I was like, I'm going, I'm doing this. But I remember after it aired, and I ran into him and John Melfy in a restaurant. And he said, do you know how many, you know, the reaction we got from you and how many, you know, calls or letters or whatever it was back then? And I said, I don't know, but am I coming back? I need that you absolutely are. I said, okay. But it was, this is what it was.

It was one episode season three. Right. Two episodes, season four. Wow. Three episodes, season five. Crazy. And six episodes, season six. Yay.

And then, and then both movies, which kind of, you know, cemented. But I was, you know, I was always on call and I was always so afraid that, you know, of scheduling. Because they called you last minute and if you, you know, weren't available, you know, this was not a good thing. So I was horrified, you know. Oh, no. So you never really knew. No, I didn't know when. I knew I was coming back. Right. You know when. But it just, the episodes grew as the years went on. And I also, yeah, you just, and there were, you know, some Broadway shows at the time. time that I did turn down, not because of this, but because, no, believe me, it worked our well. Okay.

Not because of this, but because of negotiations and whatever. You know, sometimes they want you for a year and you're like, can I do six months, which I think is reasonable? And I'm like, no, I'm like, okay, goodbye. So, and at that time, they did, even now, if you're a middling name and you're not a name, they don't let you out. Broadway producers don't let you out in my experience to go do an episode of a show. So, you know, that could have messed me up, you know, totally with us.

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Well, I appreciate that you were thinking of us. Oh, I was. Because we need you. I love it. Yes, we need you so much. I miss it.

I miss it very much. I miss it too. I'm very sad about it. I know. Honest. Like, I mean, people are you? I'm sad. I'm sorry.

I just wanted one more season. I agree. I absolutely wanted one more season too. I love them all, but I don't care what anybody says this. That was not a series finale. It was a season finale, but that wasn't a series finale. Well, I agree with you, baby. Not from my point of view.

I agree with you. I haven't watched it because I'm in denial and I would like to remain that way. But I know what was on the page. And I know that when we, the girls and I got together for dinner, and we were like, wait, what did we do? And we couldn't really remember, which is not a good sign. You know what I'm saying? So in my, just so you know, this is not based on anything real.

In my mind, we're going to do something else. I don't think it'll be a whole season, but I think we will do something else. But obviously no one knows who owns us right now. I know. So there's that. That's got to be worked out. And I don't think Michael, Michael, I saw Michael, and he, I've seen it a couple times. He didn't, he doesn't say that.

But I'm just in my, in my hopeful way, you know, going with that. You're right. I like that too. I like that too. I like that too. I mean, I feel like we've been going for so long, you know, why? Why finish? I don't know.

I know, right? I know we're an expensive show, but we're worth it. I think we're worth it too, darn it. Yeah, it's, we're worth it. And it's a, it's beautifully shot. It's a movie. I mean, it's like there's no CGI or Like that.

It's just all New York is there. That's right, babe. That is right. Studio sets or the beautiful locations of New York City. And that's, and that's, you know, so that's, that's thrilling. And then you've got these wonderful actresses and actors. And yeah. I agree.

I agree. All right. Let's talk about this episode. So I am so totally, every time I'm watching these episodes from this section of season three, I knew in my mind that like I love season three so much is my favorite A season, whatever. But like, and I love the whole big, Kerry, you know, thing,

but there's so much I don't remember. It's like I'm watching it for the first time. It's a very strong season. It's, you know, not because it's when I came in, but it's actually when I started watching it, too, that I had to go back and then, and then that season is when it really kind of, the, oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah. It started to rise. And I don't remember anything. Like, I don't remember that Carrie and Big are going to some seedy hotel. Oh, my gosh. I know. I remember that I run into them. I don't remember any of this.

I don't know where the heck my mind was. It got seedier and seedier. Oh, it's so sad. And you were like, what are you doing in this neighborhood? I know. I know. And I mean, it's also funny because is there any part of town that they wouldn't be in? Not really.

You know what I mean? But your reaction to it's your disappointment. Really? Oh, your disappointment in her. Okay. If you feel, the way you say it is you're trying to be as polite as possible, but you're letting her know that you're not happy about this, you're disappointed. And you're, because your moral character at Charlotte is like, like you said, what if,

you know, what if that happened to me? Okay. I'm glad you feel that way because I don't love my work in this episode. I really don't. Oh, you're nuts. You always. I like me when I'm with you, right? We're both a lot of like that.

I know, it's true. It's true. But, I mean, a lot of the times when I do look back, I'm like thrilled, right? But there's some hard things they have me do. Like that scene, because, okay, so just to make sure we're including our listeners. So this is the episode where Carrie has slowly been telling the friends, right? Like she first told Samantha because she knows Samantha's not going to judge her. That she's having a fair with Big.

That she's having a fair with Big. Exactly. Then she, in this episode, she tells Miranda, and that's a great scene. We'll get to that in a second. But then the way that Charlotte finds out because she doesn't want to tell me because she goes, oh, I don't want to tell Ms. Bride because I'm getting married in like three weeks, I think I say, right? So, and she's right about that, right?

Because I'm in a whole, you know, basically just tizzy about, you know, getting married and being bride, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And so she does tell me, and we have a very interesting scene where I am just thinking to myself, what is happening here and what did they say to me? Because it's, I'm, it's interesting. I'm not mad, mad. Like when we go to and just like that and Miranda has the affair with Che, that Charlotte mad, right? Like Michael Patrick told me to shout at her, which I did, but I was scared to do it,

but I did it. But this scene, I'm like disappointed with Carrie. And I say things like you're not even thinking about her, which is, I think 100% true, you know, meaning the wife, Natasha, but I also feel like, I don't feel, I don't know if I'm being nice to my friend Carrie in that scene. Do you think I am? No, I, no, I just, I don't think it's even about being nice. You know it's not going to end your friendship. It's too deep. It's just you're letting her know that I'm disappointed in you. This is, and even, and even, I know you're getting married in it, but even, even your, even Charlotte, I think would be disappointed anyway because she's seeing a married man. And it's also about protecting Carrie to protecting, protecting her heart, you know, that could

happen any minute with this man that's married. So it makes, it's a big mess. It's a big mess for sure. And I mean, definitely, like, when, you know, the whole time when we find out that he's engaged and, you know, I read it in the paper and I don't want her to know. And yes, I definitely seem like I want to protect her. But, I mean, when I watch that scene, it's like, ooh, it makes me, I feel uncomfortable watching the scene between me and Carrie, you know? But it's good. You know, look, here's the thing. Whether people, fans as the character, Charlotte, whether they think you're too judgmental, they hate you for it, or they're on your side, it's going to be all different kinds of. of opinions about it. That's the way it is and that's what makes it great. No, that's true. Totally.

And I also feel when I'm watching it that I, that's when I'm reminded that Charlotte is an important point of view because it is different. Everyone has a different point of view, which is staying in the lane. Yeah, which is really good. But I, but I, I'm never sure if I really, I feel like also this was the time when they used to tell me that Charlotte wouldn't get mad, right? Like, which is also kind of weird. No, she's mad. Everyone does. And right. People, you have to, as Betty Davis said, you have to dare to be hated. Definitely. And that's what it's all about.

I mean, look, I had so many, especially women, not so much, but gay men would come up to me and say, you know, you play an asshole. No. And he was definitely much more blunt. You know, when I was with you, there was that scene I was watching that someone just posted when we were eating a cafeteria and we run into it. It's another season. So it's not this episode, but we run into Stanley and his friend, um, um, he was a, um, he's not, Marcus and I tell you that he's a hooker and that and then I'm telling him like, you know, he's like, I didn't go to the problem. I was like, because you were gay and I'm brutal to him.

But it's hilarious at the same time. But it's interesting how different people view it. Like women thought it was funny and Charlie and Blunt and gay men were like, you're an asshole. Wow. It was, yeah. Interesting. It's okay. You got to just, but me and then look, and then in the, in just like that, we all for the, for the.

for the good or the bad, we all evolved. We all became grownups and either our anxieties grew or we kind of were more relaxed or we were more, you know, I feel like Anthony wasn't as, he's still blunt, but he wasn't as rude. He definitely evolved more as a person. I think you're right. I had not thought about that. No, no. I remember saying, Michael, when I, with the bakery, I'm like, so I'm not going to be

messing around with these guys at the bakery because he was such a promiscuous character. And he was like, no, no, you don't. You don't shit where you eat. Right. And you've evolved. And I just thought, wow. Yeah. Yeah, definitely.

Definitely. You grew up. Definitely. And you became a married woman with a solid marriage and kids and chaos. Definitely. And you dealt with that brilliantly. I told you that how you made me laugh out loud a lot. Really?

Oh, God. That's so funny. The premiere of the second season with you, the downsized premiere. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, the writer's strike premiere. Yeah, the writer's strike premiere. Yeah, yeah. I remember saying to you, you're so. Thank you, baby.

And you had beautiful things to say about me. You said it to me first, but I didn't say to you because you said it to me. I was like, you're so funny. But you're so hard on yourself and you're, it cracks me up, but you did obviously have a lot of challenges. The thing that I thought about when I was watching this episode, there's a scene where I'm the coffee shop scene, I've got this stack of magazines, the bridal magazines.

And you see that. Exactly. That scene almost killed me with the props. We've all been there. We've all been there in the prop scenes. Okay. You know, it's hard. And this was Dennis Erdman directing.

Do you remember Dennis? Yes. And I've forgotten that this is when Dennis shows up to direct. Yeah, he was, he was Darren's partner. Yes, he was. And I thought it was good. Yeah, he was great. He was lovely to work with.

I had a great time. Yeah, he's a sweet guy. It was just a late night, you know. Oh, every night was a late night. And I don't think the other thing about that second scene that got cut, I was told that, you know, it was so late and they didn't get enough coverage. Oh. Which was another reason why they cut it.

So it just, look, when you get at 4 a.m., it can get wonky as you know. Oh, my God, yes. I mean, how we functioned at all is amazing. You know what I'm saying? Like, I remember the exhaustion. I think that's why I don't remember everything. now because I'm just like so past tired, you know. But, but, you know, all good.

All good. Okay, wait. Let's go. Let's go in order. So Carrie's storyline, super fascinating. Didn't remember this at all. And I think it really, really seems to, like, the vibe of having an affair, which I think is great that they brought it.

Because previously, like, when they were in the Stanhope, like, it's kind of gorgeous, right? like Charles McDougal filmed that and it's so cinematic and beautiful. And now we see like the gritty reality of having to hide and like they're cranky with each other. He's like, I've got to be at work in 40 minutes. 40 minutes. And it's just like, okay, they're just hitting it and then. I know. It's like it.

It's like, it's very ick. No wonder she feels so terrible. No. And there she goes. You know, it's like I said, you know, dare to be hated. that's, that's judged too. Absolutely. And I mean, she's so brave.

Like she just does it. She does, but also she brings such truth like it's so real, you know? He's fantastic. Sarah Jessica's magnificent. Beyond, beyond, beyond. And so gorgeous. Oh, she looks gorgeous and such good performance. And Chris is wonderful.

He's so good. He's fantastic. He's so good. But also I did hate him, you know? Oh, of course. Of course, because, you know, you know, know, he was messing with your best friend. Yeah.

Yeah. And also when he's like, oh, I'm going to tell her. And she said, but are you really? I mean, it's a very interesting dynamic of like on the one hand, she kind of seems like she wants him to. And on the other hand, she doesn't. And then the thing that I didn't remember at all, and people do bring this up to me. And I'm always like, I don't know what you're talking about when.

And I'm jumping to the end, but we're going to talk about Natasha. But before we do, when at the very end, she says, we're so over that we need another name for over. Yeah. Another word for over. It's such a great line. And people talk to me about that. And I'm like, I don't know when that happens, but okay. It happens here and rightly so because ick a million times ick on this situation.

And I mean, was he really going to call her? I don't think he was. I think he's like daring her. Like they have such a weird like I dare you type, you know, thing. But then she doesn't really want him to. And she says, I need more time. It's so interestingly written. I mean, what a fantastic.

Michael Patrick wrote this one and it's just incredible. It's so, so, so incredibly good. Okay. So let's talk about Carrie from the beginning. So she's having the affair. It's elegant to really, really bad hotels. They're complaining. And then, oh, he seems jealous and he says to her something like, you know,

are you, you know, saving it for the boyfriend or whatever? And she's like, don't talk to me like that. I'm like, oh, God, I'm so scared. I'm so scared. It's ick. It's so ick, but it's also so real. You know, I feel like they're like peeling layers of each other off. Do you know what I mean?

To the reality of who they are. As each room gets dirtier and slimyer and less glamorous, so does the affair. Definitely. And I think that's so beautifully done and so accurate because affairs are horrible. And then the Natasha stuff. Ooh, let's not get there yet. Let's talk about when she tells Miranda, because I love it. love the scene. Oh, yeah. So much. I look forward now that I'm rewatching as a fan more so, right?

I'm, I always look forward to a Carrie Miranda scene because they're super amazing. And you never quite know who's going to be what way. You know, you know that Miranda's going to tell it like it is, right? But like when she says, I have to tell you something, Miranda's like, well, now I'm scared. Like, they're so great together. They're so great together. And just the different vibe. And I like how Miranda handles finding out because she is equally telling it like it is like, you know, this is a horrible mistake, but also she's worried for Carrie, you know? Yeah. And she's not judgmental.

I mean, she's definitely telling her, don't do it, but she's not like you're a bad person. You know what I'm saying? And because Carrie says to her, you're going to hate me for this and she kind of does a disclaimer before because she knows what she's like and how she's going to feel. Right. She doesn't come at her, I think, because they're. was a buffer there. Definitely. And she knows that she doesn't want the whole truth from her. So she says it, but I think

she leaves stuff out that she's feeling and thinking. I think for sure. I think for sure, but I think it's nice how she handles it. You know what I'm saying? Like, because Carrie's obviously troubled. It's not like Carrie's like, I'm having an affair and it's great. She's saying, I know it's terrible. What do I do? I don't know. And she says, you stop, right? Which obviously Carrie doesn't do. But then they cut to Carrie and Aden. This killed me. I don't remember any of this. And he's kissing her and like going like, mm-hmm. And she's just wants to jump out of her skin. Oh, I just felt that like to my core. It's awful. Like I can't even believe that she just doesn't just fully bail. But, you know, she kind of does in a certain way. But like to say to

your person who's, you know, supposedly a person who doesn't know that you're doing this other thing, that you don't like the sound he's making while he's kissing you, I don't think I would do that. No, no, I wouldn't. No, it's, it's tough. Like the fact that he, you know, tries his best to be like, oh, okay, I won't make that sound. I'm like, Aiden, what a sweetheart. Oh, my God. And, you know, she's not nice to the one that's very caring to her.

And she's nice to the one that's a son of a bitch. I know. He's out at him, too, because he's an asshole to her sometimes. I know. It's kind of, but it's also just, she's so relatable. But also, I feel for her because she's so stuck. Like, on the one hand, she feels horrible, and they're, like, cranky with each other over at the affair. And then she doesn't like the sound Aden's making, and she tells him.

And then he's like, oh, it's just so, everything's so uncomfortable for her. And she does it so brilliantly. So brilliantly. But it really made me uncomfortable watching it even, right? Like, I was just like, oh, I just want to jump out of my own skin. It's really uncomfortable. Yeah, I was like, see, this is why I'm not in a relationship. Yeah.

It was one of those moments. I want to get one of these jams. I want to get one of these jams. Because you're trying to take care of yourself, but then you're also trying to take care of the other people, but then you're also just like, everything's bad. You know, everything's bad. Oh, God, it stressed me out a lot watching it.

It was stressful. But it was just so good, though. And I also feel like what other television show can you think of? I mean, I'm sure there's got to be some somewhere, but like it's so rare to be able to see this done in a not soap opera eway. Do you know what I mean? Like the reality of the feelings.

No. The last thing it was was soap opera. No, it's so good. It had a turn to it that no other show had. It's amazing to me. I mean, I kind of knew, but like rewatching, I'm like, wow. I don't know. That's why it holds up.

It's, you know, and each scene with Adrian, Aden throughout that episode got more and more uncomfortable. I know. It's like, he's going to go. And he's got to go. He's got to go. He's going to leave because it's too. It's awful.

You know, stifled and can't be. Shut down. Isn't it the worst? Oh, it's the worst. I know I really fell for Aiden. I really, really felt for Aden this whole time. It didn't feel for big, though, but that's okay. Well.

Oh, wait, what about the time when she's in the really seedy hotel room? Lobby and the guy thinks she's a hooker? Oh, my God, this is the second time in the show that someone has thought Carrie is a hooker, you guys. What on earth? In the first season. He was furious about it. I know. And rightly so.

Rightly so. Oh, my God. And that's when they come out and I run into them. And they're, of course, very, very chagrined. And I'm kind of polite-ish, but it's awkward. Then you see me packing, which I didn't remember this at all either. I'm packing to move to trays. When Carrie and I have the scene, I'm packing up.

And she's just standing there. And she's kind of theoretically helping me, but she's mostly just standing there. But that's why. why I get to wear jeans and t-shirt because Pat Field really never wanted me to wear jeans in a t-shirt. I'm wearing jeans and a t-shirt and like my own Adidas or Dr. Scholl's flip-flops. I don't know which one it is I couldn't see. Look, you look great. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. I remember not feeling great whenever I did get to wear jeans because she believed that I should really never wear jeans.

But I did look back and think like I am so dumb that I didn't feel great. Like stupid woman. Because you don't know what you look like. That's why. I don't, I don't. And I certainly didn't then at all. No, you did. No, I didn't. And so when you, yeah, and I think, you needed to be. Also, because the show is so much about fashion. It's like, well, why aren't I in something? No, no. I wanted to be in jeans. I mean, I was exhausted by those clothes. You know what I'm saying? Like, it was so much. And you know how I dress in life, right? Like, I try to look nice for the podcast. But, you know, I would love to be in like my same sweater and my same jeans every single day. It would be. be great. I don't think I want to be on that in a TV show, right? But like, the height of all of it was like a lot, you know, obviously. I mean, now I love it more. But back then, I just remember like, oh, thank God I can wear jeans. Very exciting. You know, ask Danny and Molly. I hate fittings. I'm just, I'm like. I do something out. Hate them. I'm just, I do it as fast as I can. I mean, I'm, I tell them what I like and what I don't like, but I'm not crazy picky about my clothes. Which is great. And I'm like. I'm like. That's refreshing for them. No, oh, yeah.

Just, you know, give me something that works. And, like, you know, also I was like, I would like, like, by the second season, I was like, just give me stuff that I'm going to like to wear, but I'm not going to want to take home. Oh. So, but then I took home stuff. I know. I was like, why wouldn't you want to have stuff you'd want to take home? Well, the first season I did it, and I took what I wanted.

But, you know, Michael liked me in black a lot. And there was one time in just like that. I think it was the party you had. that I had like a light pink jacket on with flowers. Oh, I remember. And I loved it. And I was like, I took that. Oh, that's good?

Beautiful, yeah. So, yeah, but it was a lot of blues and blacks, which I wear in life. Yeah. I also think, like, they have their color palette for each, you know, character. And they have to have us be, you know, somewhat in sync when we're together, right? So, like, everyone can't be wearing black all the time unless it's a black occasion. And Michael was very picky about what Anthony wore. He was way more than I was.

Wow. Molly told me that. Okay. Wow. Wow. Wow. I love to hear that. That's interesting.

Okay. Now we get to the part. Yeah. When Tasha, so basically they're in the CD hotels. And apparently there's some scene that we don't see where Carrie's like, I don't want to be in the city hotels. Let's,

we have to be at someone's house, right? Let's do it. Right. Who knows? It might have been written. Right. Right. They might have had a scene that got cut.

Who knows? Yeah. But they're at his beige house. because everything's beige now, and they're in the beige bed. She's in the beige bed. He's got to go to work. He goes to work,

and she's in this kind of like pink brimaging through the fridge, and she hears Natasha come home from the Hamptons early. Oh, yeah, she came home early from the Hamptons. Yeah, he thinks she's in the Hamptons and she's going to stay there because he says he's going to call her on Monday, which I thought was also such an odd comment from him. This is when he says, I'm going to call her on Monday. And she goes, you know, this is when she says,

says, no, she needs more time or whatever, right? And then Natasha comes in and she tries to get out the back service entrance, which is how apartments are. And if we had, we're on the air now, everyone would be complaining about the back door. But that is actually how apartments are in big, big old buildings in New York City. There's, there's, there's kitchen entrances. Exactly. It's the service entrance. That's what they would call it. And it would go to an elevator that's in the back where you could bring furniture up or whatever different, you know, things like workmen would come up in the back elevator. There's rules in these kinds of of buildings. Deliveries. Exactly. Exactly. So Carrie's trying to get out the back, but the chain

lock is on and she can't get out. So then she gets out and she's running down the stairs. And Natasha and her beautiful white outfit, which is, I think all she wears is running down after her and falls on her face. She sees it before she goes to the door. Yeah. Oh, and she says, Carrie. Carrie, I knew you were having an affair, but not in my house. Oh, my God. So upsetting. So upset. And he falls. On her face, on that beautiful face. And Carrie writes up to her. Like, what?

Yes, thank God. And she lifts her head and the blood. Oh, there's so much blood. And she puts her in a cab. She puts her in a cab. And then someone told me, I believe, because we talked to Bridget earlier. And Bridget couldn't remember if she had ad-libbed. Carrie puts her in a cab and is trying to tell the cab to go to the nearest hospital.

And Bridget is trying to lock. Natasha is trying to lock. the door so Carrie Gankton and someone told me that they listened to Michael Patrick's DVD you know narrative of it and that Bridget had ad libid that which is super brilliant but the windows rolled down so she's like frantically trying to it's a funny kind of thing and so Carrie just gets in the front which is very cool I love this whole sequence and then it's so good when they cut to the hospital and you see big coming in but he obviously doesn't know Carrie's there and the look on his face when he sees Carrie there,

because probably Natasha killed him or the doctors called him or someone called him, right? He doesn't realize Carrie's there and he sees her. It's such a good moment. He stops. He sees Carrie. The look on her face, oh, it's just like. Well, she's done then. Done and, like, so sad and upset of how it's actually gone down.

And I love how in the beginning of the episode before this happens, there's a lot of talk about, like with Miranda and I think with me also, I mean, Because Carrie's like, couldn't we just get out of it with no one getting hurt? No one for the wiser. She says this to Miranda. And I'm like, no, no, you can't get out of it with no one getting hurt. And Miranda's basically no. And then who gets actually physically hurt, Natasha?

It's so perfect. Yeah. It's so good. So, so good. Oh, my God. But she gets her there. She gets her there. She made sure.

Yes. She had to go with her. Oh, definitely. Oh, we would have been very, very angry with Carrie if she had gone with her. Go in a cab and be like, bye. No. she would never do that. She would never do that because she's not a bad person. That's what's so great about it. Well, she runs right up to her on the stairs. I mean, she's very caring. She didn't

keep running. No, of course. She's very caring and she really, oh boy, that's brutal. And then, and then it's over. I know. And then it's so over that we need a new word for over. And that's so good. It's such a good line. It's such a good line. And she delivers it so beautiful. And her face is just like like she's just empty of feeling, you know, like it's been too much. It's so, so incredibly good. I know it. It's a great episode. It's a rare, I didn't realize how it was.

And then she goes home and Aden's there. Oh, God. And he looks so adorable. And he says, where were you all day? And she says she was at a museum. The museum. I know. And he says, how was it?

And she said, good. Good. which is kind of funny. And then she goes in her bathroom, but she shut all the doors. She says she has to wash her face. And she shuts all the doors so she can like have a moment to recover. But I did feel,

I did feel because Aiden is like, you know, he's fine. Like the fact that Aiden could have been kind of, you know, somehow able to emotionally regulate himself after she's been so weird to him and messed up. It's kind of impressive, I think.

Yes. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Well, he, he, he was kind of very forgiving. Very forgiving. And, and, and I'm sure she was very relieved. He was there, even though it was, you know, a tough day. For sure. There it is. So how reassuring is that for Carrie, too? I agree. I agree. But then I believe it's the next episode that I get married and they break up. So it's a little window. But I also totally understand why she feels so. horrible that he doesn't know. I get it. I get it. I mean, it's a really tough, it's a really tough thing. Like, I don't know. Like, if you just cheated like, like, like a weird moment of cheating, that would be one thing. But this is a whole emotional, like, this is her ex with unfinished business. It's so

much more. I totally get why she feels like she has to tell him in the next episode. Do you? Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah, because this, this just layers of guilt. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And you can't move forward feeling like they don't know who you are that you're, you know, that you did this and that you're sorry. That's the next episode. But yeah, then they break. I know it. I know it. These two men just continued in her life through all of it, though. I know, I know, I know.

In both iterations, that's fascinating to me. It is. I love it. And the fans love it too. You know, they, they're either team big or team team, Maiden. but they it's which is why I think it was so split and they just they kept them both in because they were both so those relationships were both so popular with the audience well also I just think they are so interestingly different and it's a different part of her that gets involved like that comes out with each one but it's side note and I this also is not based on anything that anyone said to me as my own feeling I do feel like that's part of the reason

that we ended and just like that is because we really, really ended Aiden. Yeah. Sorry for anyone that I'm giving anything away. But like once Aden was really done, I feel like creatively, there was like a emptiness that Michael and Sarah, Jessica, didn't have an immediate answer for. Do you know what I'm saying? Yeah. Yeah.

And I don't know. They need to have that like creative motor driving them of like we're going here. You know what I'm saying? and they didn't have that, and I think that they need that. That's how they operate, but the two of them together, like, as a good partnership, you know, a good creative partnership. Anyway, side note, of course. So here we are.

Let's go back. Well, I want to know what you think of Samantha's storyline getting the HIV test. What did you think of this? Well, the fact that she thought she was being taken into that little room, and the way she fainted was so brilliant. I didn't remember any of this. She's magnificent this episode also because. It's such a thing that I have sex and I'm fine.

I'm clean. I'm not diseased. You know, that whole thing. And then she's confronted by a guy who has as much sex as she does. And he's like, I'm not going to do this if you don't get tested. And then so she wants him so badly that it makes her go get tested. And it's horrifying. I mean, look, as a gay man coming up in the 80s and 90s, you know, those tests were horrifying.

horrifying, horrifying. Scary. Think about it, you know, yeah, and being taken into that little room or whatever. But the way she fell, it's the fainting that I was like, wow. Oh, I know. And I believed every second of it. Me too. Yeah.

She just thought she was going to get the death sentence. Oof. So scary. So, so scary. And she paints very beautifully. I like the shot a lot. Like it's the angle and the way she falls. And all those.

And all those. Yeah. Yeah. she hits the medical cart so all the tools fall. It's really good. It's really, really good. I don't think I ever went to one of those centers to get tested. So I never didn't, never, I think I got tested it like a doctor. I had a doctor. I always, doctor, did you go to one of those places? Yeah. Did you go to one of those places? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's kind of intense to go to one of those places, I think, you know? No, exactly. This is, you know,

you're lucky, you know, it's a privilege to be able to have a doctor. Yeah. You know, that I've been going to two years and I was very comforting and, you know, you're going to be fine. And, you know, and that's, he was right. You know, that's the way it went. Yeah. Thank God. Thank God. Yeah.

But those clinics are dear number at those clinics. Although the nurse that she was dealing with was very kind and very comforting. I know she was kind of comforting, but apparently she was trying to take her in the backroom so he could, she could lecture her about her sex life, which is not good, not good. Because she also scared the bejesus out of her and made poor Samantha faint. But this is what I love so much. So the guy that she's with is played by Sam Robards, who I feel like, did anyone look up if he's related to Jason Robards? Yes, he's Jason Robart's son. Jason Robarts.

Yes. Remember Jason Robar's? Incredible, incredible actor. And I remember, I think they wanted something like someone really amazing to play kind of the male version of Samantha, that she would, of course, really. want and vibe with, but also I love how he is with her. Yeah. Oh, yeah. He's, you know, he's very sexual, but he won't do it. Like he has such a great, like he's so open, but also, in the way that Samantha is, right? Because Samantha's so open about her sexuality and unapologetic, but also he's got such

clear boundaries, right? But he also has this swing, like he's interesting and fun, but also, like, no, no, you have to have an AIDS test. What do you mean you haven't had an AIDS test? I like the whole thing so much. Me too. And they were meeting, you know, they were meeting the male and female, male and female equivalent of each other sexually. I know. I wish he could have stayed. Wouldn't that have been interesting? Like, what would have happened? Yeah, I don't know. I don't know either. Well, they both would have cheated on each other eventually. That's probably true, but at least it would have been mutual, right? So maybe whatever. I don't know, but I really loved him. And I do, I just vaguely remember that, you know, because she has so,

so many incredibly beautiful guys, right? And always really good as well. But I do remember that they really wanted him to be special. And I did think that Sam Robards did a fantastic job. And I wish we had had more of him in the show. But I do love that we did this whole episode. I'd kind of forgotten about it. But I do think it's so important to show, like, kind of the reality of, you know,

the way that her lifestyle. You know what I'm saying? That, like, you do need to actually take responsibility. responsibility for yourself within that lifestyle. You don't need to apologize for the lifestyle, but you need to take responsibility. And this thing where you're all saying that you, whether you've been tested or not in your lifetime for HIV. And you don't see you, you're like, you don't even say anything because you're like too busy

with the magazines and you're on. Well, I'm in Bride World and I don't want anything to come into Bride World. No, and you don't even have to ask Charlotte that. Right. I know. But in reality, Charlotte got around quite a bit and did need to have. an AIDS test. And I'm sure she did it or OBGYN or whatever. But it's way too busy with her magazines. Exactly. Because at that point, she's got, she's got the stack of magazines. And also,

Charlotte apparently has never heard of stylists, which is really funny. You know what I was interested in what she's, when Samantha said, I'll send you a list to style. So I wonder if I was on that list. Of course you were. That's how we got you. With you, which I never realized that until I know. I didn't, I don't remember that at all either. And I also just think it's so funny. But I do think also at this point in time, it wasn't like it is now where you're always hearing about actor's stylists

and the stylists are big names themselves. And, you know, everything's like everyone's very aware. It was not like that back then. I didn't have a stylist at this point in life. No, no, no. It wasn't like that. But I didn't either. No, no, no, because we're about to get nominated

for our first Emmy. In fact, we might, this might be around the time. I feel like the nominations for the Emmys come out in August. is the awards were in September. I feel like this is around the time that we got nominated for the show the first time, which was like the most thrilling thing that ever happened. Yeah, right? Right.

Yes. And then we didn't win that first year. Maybe Sarah Jessica won, but we didn't win until the next year, which was the semi-emes because of 9-11, right? So Kim and I were there alone. Sarah and Cynthia, I think we're both doing plays. but they had pushed the Emmys, you know, because we didn't feel like it was appropriate.

It's the next year, but we got nominated this year, and we go and we present. And the reason that I remember all this is because I didn't have a stylist. I had a publicist, but I didn't have a stylist. And I was like, oh, so stressed about what to wear. I mean, so stressed. And I went to all of these designers that my publicist would call them, I think,

and I would go, just me. I would just show up. And everyone would be like, oh, you should definitely wear this one. This is amazing. You need to be sexy. So like at one point I had this Michael Corr's dress that was very cut out and very sexy because I played the not sexy one, right? So there were certain people in the fashion world who felt like I needed to dress like

aggressively sexy, right? But my publicist at the time felt like, no, no, that is not true. You're on a show called Sex and the City. You need to look like a princess, she said to me. I was like, oh, okay, a princess. I don't know. So then I went to a different designer. I had like a ball gown on, right? So I had a stack of Polaroids that I just went around town. I went to my manager. I was like, look at all these Polaroids. Tell me which one I should wear. Then I would go to my public

and say, look at all my Polaroids and tell me what I should wear. I'd go to my agents. Please tell me what I. But of course, everyone had a different opinion, right? So I had gone to Valentino in one of these fittings and had put on the gorgeous dress that I loved that I would have been done with. Then everyone had different opinion. It got me very, very, very. very confused. So at the very last minute, my publicist said, you know, you should go to the stylist. I'm not going to say who she was. And so I go to the stylist who was very much the hot stylist at the time. And she had this apartment like condo. I went to her for the fitting. And in the center of the room was a mountain of gowns on the floor. And I was like, oh, no. So I was

standing in the corner, like really just trying to contain myself because I wanted to pick them all up and hang them all up. I was so stressed. And there were all these gowns that I had seen pictures of in look books, but this stylist was hoarding them basically, right, for her clients.

And I was like, should I try some of them on and then around the floor? Like, what should I do? So eventually what happened was I ended up wearing the Valentino that I had already tried on by myself, which was so ridiculous.

It was a really interesting first stylist's experience because it did really teach me a lot. Like there's, there's a lot of drama in the stylist world. Yeah. Oh, I bet. This is why I, like, slap on a nice tuxedo. The man can do that and just go. It's true. I don't know if that's true now, though, because now, oh, there's a lot of commentary online. Oh, my gosh. You don't want those guys to be mad at you. No, it's true. But you know what? It's exhausting, as you know. It is exhausting. It's true. The only award you ever went to was

during this was the SAG Awards. Oh, they're the best. And we won one year. We did. We won two years because I've got two SAG Awards at my house. I think, do we win? Ensemble? Yeah, I know that, but do we win?

I wonder if I was there the first time we won. I don't know. They all blend in my mind. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But really fun. So much fun to go to all those things. Anyway, I think it's so funny that Charlotte had never heard of

Getting a stylist and thank God Samantha tells her and then I get you. Yep. It all worked out. It all worked out. No, I was the faux stylist for you. I know. You were great. You were perfect.

And you had a big personality like, like stylist do. I was also thinking like when I was like the lace applique, I didn't know what that was. Oh, you pulled it off. I had to learn that and just memorize it. Like I said, I never, I couldn't be a, I couldn't pick out your shoes or your dress and you're pretty. And you know, I'd love to come up and be like, I wish you picked out my dresses. You wouldn't want that.

You wouldn't want me to see your wedding. I, you know, and then when I became a baker, it's like that's what I really do in real life. Yay. Yay. Yes, you evolve. That was like that's what I love. All right.

So here, let's talk about Miranda and this sandwich. Oh my God. So funny. And so meme-ish. Like how perfectly meme-related. storyline like before memes were a thing. You know what I mean? But there's the sandwich guy and he's saying,

eat me. And then he becomes obsessed with him. She's pissed off at first. Then she becomes like, she tries to complain about her. And they're like, well, he's a sandwich. So that's what they're saying. I know.

She goes in, she's very me too. She goes in and she's like, your sandwich is harassing women. And he's like, you're crazy woman, which is, of course, exactly what everyone would say to you back then. But then she fantasizes about him. and wants to meet him, which is fully insane.

Okay, fully bonkers. Take off your mask. I know. And then he's like this kind of this kid. He's adorable. But why she has such a negative reaction when he's this kid is interesting to me? Like, what did she think he was going to be? I don't know.

Maybe someone of interest to her. It was cute, but she was like, oh, he's a baby. Bye. Thank you. Right. But also, Miranda looks so incredible. in these outfits on the street. Like she's like at the height of her like power, you know?

Yeah. Oh, this is good. Listen to it. I would just want to say carries. I love to say carries, you know, when she's wondering about her things in the apartment. It's really good. Later that night, I got to thinking about safe sex.

Odd, how only when our physical life is at risk do we follow certain guidelines to protect ourselves. But what about our emotional lives? Wouldn't it be nice if there was a pamphlet to warn us what unsafe behavior might be high risk to ourselves or our relationships. And even if you fake, even if you take precautions and emotionally try to protect yourself, when you crawl in bed with someone, is sex ever safe? But also, I think it's so true because I don't feel like sex is ever safe personally, emotionally, emotionally. You don't know what I mean? I'm not good. I'm not good at covering it all up and

playing the game and whatever. It's just too much. Men can separate it. Women, it's emotional. I know it. I know it. I know it. I think I've asked you before.

It's always interesting to ask people again, though, because sometimes you change your mind. Do you feel like you're a Charlotte? I feel like, no, you know, it's like your mother or your father. I have elements of both of them. Yeah. So I feel like, in a way, I speak my mind.

and so Charlotte for the most part, but she... No, I think that's Miranda. I would say speaking one's mind would be like a Miranda thing. Don't you think? I guess I probably am a Miranda. I kind of think you're a Miranda. Yeah, thank you, right? Because like, the thing that I love, though, about Miranda is like on the one hand,

everyone goes out like, oh, she's, you know, she's kind of hard and whatever, but like she also is so squishy inside, which is so true about you. And yes, and to the people that I love, I am pointed about what I need to let them. know if, yeah. But you're inside, like a squishy, squishy, loyal friend, you know. Then I feel bad. Yeah, I have a lot of guilt.

I am. I'm pretty, I'm a softy for the most. You totally are. I try to present as a very hard. I know you do. You do. And I mean, it takes some time to get to the soft, but then it's worth it. Yeah.

It's true. Yeah. It's a good quality. It's a good quality. And I do think, like, if you look at, Anthony's evolution. That's what's really, really fun about looking at your early episodes.

I mean, just your evolution as a character, but also I know that you felt like, oh, I'm so nervous and can I get all these words right? And then the prop scenes are always hard. But like, you're so fantastic and you're so specifically you,

like the character is like fully formed, you know? And yes, he evolves over time, definitely. But like the breath of fresh air when you come, especially because I think where Charlotte was at that time because I'm in this bride mode. I'm with Trey and Trey and I don't really talk that honestly, right? Like to have you

coming in there like, this is what it is. Exactly. I tell you like it is. And it's great. It's so, so great. And so needed. Like, thank God we kept you. Thank the Lord, Michael Patrick King. I thank him every day. Yes. Give us another season and stop it. We have to let him reset. He's doing the comeback. He's going to reset. He's going to get new inspiration. I have faith.

I do. I have faith. Yeah, I wait to see the comeback, by the way. I know. I'm very excited to see the comeback. I know. They were really into it. He and Lisa wrote the whole show themselves.

The two of them together are magic, and it's a brilliant combination. And they do both those seasons were so good. And this is their final one, you know, but there was so much time in between each one. I know. But you know the idea? I think they've announced. so I can say it. She's doing the first sitcom written by AI.

Valerie Cherish on the comeback is doing the first sitcom written by AI. It's so timely and great. That sounds amazing. I can't wait. I can't wait either. I can't wait either. Thank you so much for joining us. I'll see you soon.

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