Making It Last

As we cling to Sex and the City reruns and await their upcoming movie, we salute a revolutionary show that paved the way for DAME

By Sanjiv Bhattacharya
Published: Dec 01, 2007

Sex was always more than a TV show–when it launched in 1998, creator Darren Star presented for the first time, complex, hilarious women who were every bit as witty and sexually ravenous as we were. We knew at once that this show was neither about sex nor the city of Manhattan as Star saw it–a delightfully shag-happy metrowhirl of Cosmos, Manolos, and impromptu dildos. No, this show was about us- smart, funny, city-slick women.

Remember the stir the first season caused? HBO's marketing tag "groundbreaking" was right. Here was one of those rare times when TV not only chimed with social change but actively shunted it along. Academics, TV critics, feminists, post-feminists, and almost every couple in the West have ruminated on the Sex phenomenon. One critic called it "a fable about the lies women live by" and another, "literary sociology with a graduate degree in smut". On one thing , however, they all agreed: no show in recent memory has had such a huge influence. Sex changed our conversations; girls everywhere saw their own lives in those of Carrie and her gang. It spawned floods of chick lit and hours of debate. Educators even had teenagers watch episodes to broach the more risqué subjects such as–ahem–toys.

As with anything that is perfect for its time, however, Sex got old. We were able to see through punny dialogue to the fleet of gay men writing behind the curtain. Those quick-fire gags descended into sniggering camp and even the sex talk was mundane, now. The characters, once alive and curious, descended into caricature–none more so than Samantha- and how many more times could we have seen Carrie teetering down Broadway in a preposterous dress? Well, one more time, obviously.

And we will proudly admit that we are thrilled to hear HBO and New Line Cinemas have teamed together to give us Sex and the City movie! We have changed since the series came to an end, and it will be interesting to see how they have changed on the big screen. Musings of an SATC movie started even before the series came to a close, and ended abruptly when supposed financial issues and conflicts between the actresses impeded any progress. Since then, the actresses have gone their own ways, while capitalizing on the fame and recognition SATC gave them. Cattrall has starred in numerous commercial campaigns, most notably Pepsi. She wrote her second book, a guide for girls in dealing with the ups and downs of teenage life. And her third book, entitled "Sexual Intelligence”, which is a follow up on her first book, as well as a companion to an HBO series on the same subject, reminds us that her and her character share the same interest in…well, sex! Catrall is also rumored to be married this fall (and in a very DAME way to a younger man). Davis is the fresh-faced spokeswoman for Maybelline, and has made appearances in family comedies like Disney's "The Shaggy Dog." In addition to stirring the stews of gossip columns everywhere with her same-sex relationship with Christine Marinoni, Nixon has continued her TV series career with shows such as ER and House, and others on HBO. Parker has been producing films, and starred in successful comedies like the movie, The Family Stone. She has also joined her husband on stage in off-Broadway musicals, released her own fragrance, Lovely, and made her mark on the fashion industry with her new clothing line, “Bitten”, sold exclusively at Steve and Barry's (everything under $20). Where did they find time to squeeze in the movie? Who cares? We can't wait!

There is no doubt that the SATC series paved the way for Dame. We have changed since then, and it will be interesting to see how they have changed on the big screen. With Parker co-producing, and the full script written by the series producer King, who knows what may come. Where will the story begin…and how will it end? Hopefully the independent paths these women have taken in the past few years will result in another witty collaboration in celebration of women being women…let’s see if they have anything new to add to the conversation.

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