And Just Like That Season 2 OFFICIAL THREAD, Part 5

Showrunner Explains Why Stanford Became a Monk

I loved the running joke in the original SATC that Stanford resembled Ed Harris.

R2 - “Ed I Have No Harris”

Does Nya have a plot at all?

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

In an early episode Stanny arranges to meet a guy who answered his ad in the VV and when the guy (who is not that attractive himself) shows up he tells Stanny it's just not gonna happen. I felt that.

R6

Me too, I always used current pictures on the apps when many people did not so it was a little hard for when someone say I’m gonna have to pass

Stanford was a minger though, what did he expect?

Was there ever a gorgeous gay man as one of the leads in SATC?

R9 Well...

Just a few more days until my return!

We can't wait Kim! You are the star

R4 yeah her plot is “busy filming The Morning Show”

R4, Nya had minimal plotlines this season, though only because Karen Pittman was busy filming "The Morning Show" at roughly the same time (and unlike AJLT, TMS films in both NYC and L.A.). That said, the show hasn't done a great job of integrating the separate storylines from the "new girls." SATC always focused solely on one or more of its female leads, but AJLT has SEVEN of them (or nine if you count Charlotte's kids!). Lisa seems like the most interesting of the bunch, but I also feel like we've barely scratched the surface of who the Wexlers actually are. (Also, Anthony was always a supporting character, but this season his thing with Giuseppe has given him even more airtime than some of the women!)

We know Lisa does a remarkable job juggling three kids and a documentarian job – basically a continuation of the original show's trope of whether modern women really can "have it all," and also what "it," specifically is – but not much about her inner drive. On the original show, the women all had to give something up. Charlotte gave up her career, and also married a schlubby but rich hubby, to have an affluent UES life and be a stay-at-home mom. Carrie & Samantha never even considered having kids, and while Carrie got her original "dream ending" with Big, that also meant she didn't have to work anymore. (The fact that she kept her "spare" UES apartment for the 15 years after she married Big – one likely worth high six figures – for no real reason is pretty solid proof that she's loaded, though obviously that was always one of Big's allures.)

Miranda "settled" for Steve after getting knocked up, but that was a shitshow even the *first* time around. And while she had a late-in-life discovery that she likes pussy, that in no way means she & Che are a match. (Like Steve, Che simply isn't at Miranda's intellectual level, never mind the fact that she's famously anal & difficult in general.) So: Lisa's the one who's most successfully "done it all" (or more like "done as much as possible"), at least on paper, but it's not even clear what the overall dynamic is between the Wexlers.

To be fair, this show's an hour versus SATC's 30 minutes, but both seasons have come up severely wanting. S1 strayed waaaaay too far from the original series – I have no idea why MPK thought showing viewers Big's death and Carrie's subsequent trauma would be anything other than a *major* ordeal to watch, not truly enlightening – and S2 is simply juggling too many storylines. How many different ones did Charlotte's and Miranda's KIDS get alone??

Miranda was ambivalent about Steve for years, but by the time their kid was 1, she had fallen in love with him.

Who Plays Aidan’s Ex on 'And Just Like That'?

R16 she was the "Rachel" in that steaming pile of shit called "Rachel Getting Married." I fucking LOATHE that film with the heat of ten billion galaxies.

R17 Hi Debra! You should have won the Oscar over Shirley for Terms of Endearment!

R17 I refuse to watch any movie about a wedding. Leave that shit for fraus.

You didn't like the sizzling dishwasher loading competition, r16?

Please let this be the end of this steaming pile of shit. I’m too invested hate-watching to stop myself from tuning in. I need the show to finish and not get another season.

R21 I’m the same. I know it’s terrible but I just cannot stop myself from watching it. It’s like driving past a car crash.

I manage three young women at work, all under 25. None of them are watching this, nor have they seen the original SATC.

And just like that, I realized I was an eldergay.

I don't think any of the straight women in the office I work in there watching it either.

I feel like this show gets less than1 million viewers per week, but I have not looked up the ratings.

R23 do you ever try to look down their cleavage or tell them they take too long in the shitter?

Why is Che still on this show? She broke up with Miranda, bye bye.

Because she’s a they

"They" was introduced to the show as Carrie's podcast boss/whatever it was.

I think the Kim cameo will be underwhelming.

r30

now could it now at this point?

[R30]

now could it NOT at this point?

I think it will be cancelled and SJP/MPK will blame the strike. The second (and planned final) season of the shitty, revisionist League Of Their Own series was recently cancelled, and all invoked are blaming the strike for that. It will be an easy excuse for them to say that a third season would have been so delayed that Max decided to pull the plug.

Clearly if we are cancelled it’s because Kim’s tiny, insignificant cameo was leaked early…which ruined EVERYTHING

It does make me a little sad though. The last few episodes have been much better than the rest of the series. Had they not felt whatever pressure to add all of the superfluous characters, there might have been a good show there. They botched it.

It's such an awkward, cringe shit show. I find it more so with each episode. I have to see it through but it's been a slog watching. Many times I fast forwarded through subplots I have no interest in.

I'm a fan of the original series. It was witty, funny and at times poignantly written.

Not so much here. Pack it in girls. Permanently this time.

Someone needs to ram a stake through its heart (Carrie’s) to ensure it can never be revived.

R16 - she is played by Rosemarie DeWitt who played Midge, Don’s bohemian artist girlfriend in season one of Mad Men. She was the first of Don’s Brunettes on the side. She is also married to Ron Livingston aka Berger.

^ And previously married to Chris Messina. That's some quality dick she's pulled, if you ask me.

Having Aidan ride back to the sunsetting on his 'farm' in Virginia... most of my childhood pets went to 'live on a farm' including my pony, Goldie. Perfect end for an old mare like Carrie.

That's essentially her characters final resting place as there's NO way the original character would trade NY for steps with psych issue level baggage.

Carrie and Aidan getting back together after literally one date is the worst idea any character in the show has ever had and that is saying a lot. How many times can characters make the same mistake? Nothing has changed. He still wants to live on a farm and raise kids. She does not.

I actually don’t hate Che (mostly because I love Sara Ramirez) but the writers clearly want us to. I was just starting to think they could be redeemed before that bullshit “comedy” routine.

My guess is in the sixty seconds or so Carrie and Samantha will make amends and agree to meet sometime soon. Longtime fans will want that kind of closure just in case the show gets cancelled or SJP calls it quits.

SJP and MPK are already plotting the third iteration, set in the later later later middle age years. Working title: Long Term Carrie.

Not sure if HBOMax shows it on the app, but if you have Max via Amazon Prime, it shows AJLT in Max's top 3 most watched shows. The show probably generates more media impressions than most Max content combined.

Internally, the HBO / Max execs know how the show is trending. No conversation or thoughts of anyone on here or critics can beat that. If more people are picking up the show and sticking with it, they'll renew. If viewers are dropping out as the season goes on, they'll dump it. But with SATC, nothing ever really gets cancelled or ends, they just wait until its the right time to pick it up again.

Is ugly Brady Pickle Boy from Curb Your Enthusiasm????

Yes.

Cynthia Nixon shows her support.

Just over a month into the SAG-AFTRA strike and nearly four months into the WGA strike, Cynthia Nixon sported a t-shirt in support of both unions.

The 57-year-old actress was spotted out wearing an army green t-shirt that read, 'WGA Supports SAG-AFTRA. Like it's 1960 all over again.'

The year 1960 the shirt was referencing was the last time both the Writers Guild of American and the Screen Actors Guild (before they merged with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists in 2012) went on strike together.

Cynthia Nixon Needs Support

Costumer for Sex and the City revival And Just Like That on HBO Max, laments the need for Cynthia to have better breast support during filming.

“In some angles Cynthia is completely flat chested, in other angles Cynthia’s breasts are around her knees and she plays hackey- sack with them in between takes. It’s quite alarming.” The costumer was said to have said,

In S1, Nixon had grey hair.

She now has red hair again. When did she dye it again and was it a plot point or did they just pretend nothing changed?

Yes, I've watched this season, but mostly as background noise, not sitting down at watching.

They’re contradicting each other about how the Kim cameo came to fruition. MPK said he had no idea how it happened but Cynthia said “we” thought it would be a fun thing for the 25th anniversary. Who knows but I definitely think the news was deliberately leaked to boost publicity. We tried so hard to keep it under wraps - my ass.

R49. She dyed it red in the last episode of season 1 right before she chased Che to LA.

It is OBVIOUS that MPK, SJP and CN all blame KC for it leaking.

They all say so in a roundabout way.

R52. They should thank Kim because it's the most excitement the show has generated since it premiered. On Thursday Kim and the show will be all over the media. Can't wait for the memes.

Yes but Kim is still vulnerable to MPK's editing. He could totally change her original intention.

new Kim pic on Instagram for her birthday.

I can’t imagine Kim is vulnerable to anyone’s editing, as MAX head Casey Bloys is the one who wanted the cameo to happen.

It will certainly air as intended.

True to form, Sarah Jessica Parker has been nothing but glowing about Kim Cattrall’s impending return to the franchise – although she has made it clear the whole team was gutted when it leaked to the press.

“Samantha is present in season one and more so in season two via text. It was just a nice nod to the 25 years [of Sex And The City] to add the face to the text,” SJP explained to Entertainment Weekly.

“And it’s a really opportune moment in the story, [a] consequential event happening in Carrie’s life, that Samantha rings and they have this quick, lovely, sentimental, funny call.

“And it just feels normal and really nice, and I’m glad that we could manage it and work it out and get it sorted time-wise and schedule-wise.”

R53: The ratings will be huge. In regards to the CEO of HBO, I'm sure they had to get the greenlight from MPK. He's the showrunner and he has to approve every single creative decision.

I’m sure in reality SJP was seething about the whole thing.

R59: Anytime Kim appears on the screen, the horse basically shrinks into a little pony in the background.

R58, he didn’t have to get the green light from anyone; he bought the show and retains oversight.

Kim: Why did you edit me? SJP: We wanted to show you in the best way. We love you and miss you. Kim: Don't you act for me. I wanna know. WHY DID YOU EDIT ME?! SJP: Maybe we did it for a little extra publicity... [realizes what she has just said] Kim! That's not true! You know that's not true. Kim: But maybe just a little true?

I've watched every episode of season 2 that has aired and there wasn't a single text from Samantha. She has never been mentioned and only appeared once in an old photo.

Renewed, bitches!

I'm not surprised r64. I assumed if the numbers were anywhere good enough, they'd renew this show which clearly has at least some built-in audience and a tradition behind it.

I do assume there will be some serious culling of extraneous characters, but not Che. I think they are actually starting to get it right with Che and will want to continue with that.

I assume some Moldavian Wedding Massacre would be a little dark for this show, but maybe some people will be fleeing to London or even Japan in despair over some stupid bullshit. Rock and Lily, how does Study Abroad sound to you, and Brady? And Lily, wherever you go, maybe learn to buy your own FUCKING CONDOMS!

I don't mind Lily, and Brady is just window dressing at this point, but god damn, Rock is horrible. I vote for a school shooting.

and just like that we were all in our 60s

So Kim C spilled the beans years ago as to why AJLT keeps getting renewed. She spoke about this during one of the British chat shows before the first movie.

SJP and MPK had NO intention of ending SATC in 2004. Kim was trying to renegotiate to 1 million an episode for season 7 and HBO said no, so she walked. They didn’t think the show could continue without Kim, so they ended the show. That was still pennies compared to what they were paying SJP.

Believe me, if SJP had her way, AJLT would never end.

She does have her way and she will do this until the day she dies. She tried to expand her film career but her filmography was never that financially or critically successful. Face it SJP it’s either this or open up another shoe store. Cynthia and Kristin will follow along because they’re lapdogs. Ready or not haters MPK will have these gals dancing on dicks until they’re 90.

Yeah more Che!

SJP and Matthew are scheduled to do Plaza Suite in the West End Jan through March so not sure when they'll start shooting unless they film around Carrie.

r71

well they can't do anything at the moment

SJP could convince the missus to just cancel the West End run. Heck Greta Gerwig pulled the plug on an off-Broadway play she was scheduled to do with Oscar Isaac just so she could promote Barbie 24/7 all over the world.

R72. I guess I'm just being optimistic and hoping the strike ends soon and shows go back into production in January.

Fuck you baby Jesus! How could you allow this?!

I'm glad it got renewed. Sorry haters.

This'll really get good when the girls enter the nursing home. I can't WAIT to see Miranda in her walker trolling for the orderly's pussy!

Like all those writers aren't secretly typing away as we speak.

r78

I would if I were them... stockpile those scripts

R74, most HBO / Max shows (including this one) begin filming seasons anywhere from 12 to 18 months in advance. Even if the strikes ended tomorrow, we wouldn't see S3 likely until late 2024.

That would mean Sarah Jessica would be 44!

[quote]My guess is in the sixty seconds or so Carrie and Samantha will make amends and agree to meet sometime soon.

Kim was EXTREMELY specific that her cameo be filmed without SJP or MPK present. There's also been no mention of anyone *but* her appearing in it. I think we'll get a fleeting glimpse of Samantha, and *maybe* a line or two of dialogue.

One exception: since I know at least some of the "beefs" between actors are bullshit – vastly different subject, but The Rock got over his "beef" with Vin Diesel just in time for a surprise cameo at the end of the latest Fast & Furious movie – it's entirely possible the show was renewed, and even before the finale aired, because they actually *convinced* Kim to return. (Or she was merely holding out for the same $$$ as SJP, and HBO / Max finally coughed it up.) Still, I'd be amazed if this actually happens.

[quote]Carrie and Aidan getting back together after literally one date is the worst idea any character in the show has ever had and that is saying a lot.

I wasn't at all happy about Aidan's bizarre meltdown at the end of the penultimate episode, but I'm unclear why you're so opposed to him in principle. Not sure if it was just me, but I thought Carrie & Aidan made a much more sensible match than Carrie & Big on the original show, and that the producers only got rid of Aidan because its frauen-heavy audience insisted that Carrie end up with Big. Aidan obviously has his problems, but Big was a MASSIVE asshole – both to Carrie & in general – for most of the show, including the two movies.

Carrie just never seemed that into him.

When is the Carrie funeral episode airing?

Season 3 Storylines:

Carrie gets a weekend job pulling a carriage around Central Park.

Miranda discovers she’s a Furry and stalks Gritty.

Charlotte develops an allergy to Harry’s jizz.

The Wexley’s continue to be boring as shit.

Nya is never seen again.

Che comes out as straight and converts to Islam.

^ Those writers can just copy some storylines from Grace and Frankie or the Golden Girls.

My prediction for tomorrow - Wyatt’s meltdown convinces Aidan that he needs to spend more time with him so he backs out of the relationship with Carrie and moves back to the farm permanently.

And just like that, Carrie was single again.

Not having followed the SATC and post-SATC saga of the main actors during the show's heyday, I can't seem to figure out what the problem is supposed to be between Kim and SJ and MPK. I heard "mean girls," I heard the "you're not my family or a friend; stop exploiting my brother's death to make yourself [SJP] seem like a 'nice girl'" story, but have we learned anything about what anyone really did to Kim Cattrall?

Unpopular opinion but Kim clearly isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. None of her projects have probably brought big paychecks and a lot more eyeballs than SATC. You'd think she put her ego aside and do what's best for her career. One would think she and SJP would put on their big girl pants and work something out.

My guess: They shot two endings, depending on whether the show was renewed. If no, Carrie and Aiden are together; if yes, it will be a Carrie-Aiden cliffhanger.

R87 yes it seems that a Season 3 needs to have Carrie in NYC. I can't see her adventures in Virginia having much legs.

I hope Kim gets an Executive Producer credit for this episode.

R90: No wonder they moved Heaven and Earth and threw everything at Kim to do the cameo.

This Kim appearance is obviously a one-off to grab ratings. New episodes won't air until 2025, so maybe the girls will all forget about her.

Where was/is Kristin Davis in the seventh-grade-girl drama?

Sara Ramírez Condemns ‘Increasingly Hostile’ Treatment After Critical Magazine Profile

[quote] Wyatt’s meltdown convinces Aidan that he needs to spend more time with him so he backs out of the relationship with Carrie

Hope so. This magical ending bullshit is sad and stupid. Cut this cord while you can, and maybe if nothing else Aidan can teach his idiot son not to rush off in some stupid huff cause Mom pissed him off and not to drive like a fucking moron if he does.

And Just Like That, Che Diaz is a raging asshole again.

Maybe this stunt will get Sara fired so no more Che.

They could relocate Wyatt (?) to the city with Aidan. Hard to crash a cab you're not driving. Then again lots of traffic to wander into.

WTH is Carrie going to do with the 2 floors? Is she going to start a boarding house for the financially challenged stylistas of the city?

Miranda should move in with Carrie!

What are the chances of Samantha showing up at the last supper. There's a knock on the door, Carrie opens it and there she is. The End. They could have filmed it with no other cast present.

Oh, damn, it really is going to be the Last Supper isn't it r102. Carrie in the middle of a long table, her acolytes all around her, waiting for the call from the evil Judas, SAMANTHA! Goddammit.

Of all the millions of people in NYC, and the 100s (1000s?) of people Carrie knows, she invites Nya and LTW? Seema, sure, Che…well, ok. But she barely knows those other two. Oh well, I know I shouldn’t be trying to make this show make sense.

Nya and LTW have to be on the chopping block. Maybe they have some final soliloquy to deliver.

Thanx and begone bitches.

Where's my fucking invitation

R102 - we know Kim's scene is a phone call but I had the same idea about a knock at the door. Though my version was that it is not revealed who it is. We just see Carrie open the door and react. Could be Aidan? Could be Samantha? Could be ? Cliffhanger.

[Quote]Though my version was that it is not revealed who it is. We just see Carrie open the door and react.

I hope it's Skipper, with a gun. He wants revenge on Carrie for setting him up with Miranda all those years ago, and leaving him with crippling self worth.

Can it be Steve instead, R108? Yes, I have a soft spot for the mush-mouthed little guy.

R109 “You’re the one!”

I'm guessing it's been posted but I'm in a rush - renewed for season 3! Don't flame me!

R89 Kim has enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her life, she wants to spend her time on new things that aren't badly written rehashes of her most iconic character

R108 I hope it’s Berger, with a gun. Not that he was invited or wants revenge, but he seemed like a downlow psycho and it would finally be something worth watching

Kim's phone call scene was shot in a fucking garage!!!!

[quote] Kim has enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her life, she wants to spend her time on new things that aren't badly written rehashes of her most iconic character

Link?

“We are thrilled to spend more time in the ‘Sex And The City’ universe telling new stories about the lives of these relatable and aspirational characters played by these amazing actors,” executive producer Michael Patrick King said in a statement. “And Just Like That… here comes season three.”

Kim doesn't have kids like the other three or a lavish lifestyle so I don't think money is all that important to her. She's turned down a lot of money along the way from the SATC franchise.

Lisette better be invited to the supper since she now owns the place.

R118

She’s in the preview

Seems to me that the SJP/KC feud is one of the few times where both are equally at fault. I have no doubt that KC is telling the truth about SJP, who seems like a fake mean girl who was undoubtedly threatened by the popularity of the Samantha character and likely took it out on KC. But at the same time, KC seems unable to accept that SJP is the one clear star of the show.

There’s a really good podcast called Origins that went deeply into the show, and one of the people interviewed (I think it was an HBO exec) explained that in order to get SJP to sign onto the show initially, they had to promise her the world. Part of the promise was that her name would always be alone above the title, she would always get solo pics or be placed front and center, she would always have the highest salary, etc. The show essentially could called been called “The Sarah Jessica Parker Show” based on how the contracts were written. And, according to this person and others interviewed, KC couldn’t accept this.

I can't help but wonder how AJLT would have been without SJP. Just Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte? Of course Sarah would never have allowed that to happen.

Sarah Jessica Parker could never accept that, despite the way her contract was structured, someone else was the breakout star in Sex and the City.

If they had cast me as Carrie none of this would have happened because it would have been cancelled after one season!

I don't recall SJP being that big a deal when SatC first came about. Did she have the clout to make demands?

I think Darren Star was convinced he needed SJP and Kim so he probably gave them whatever they asked for at the time. They actually signed another actress to play Samantha and paid her off when Kim finally said yes.

God, Sara Ramirez sounds like a self-righteous a-hole in that link at R96. I love how everyone has to "free themselves from the gender binary" but then they decide to throw the writer of the article, who is also non-binary, under the bus for being white and throw MPK, who is gay, under the bus for being cis. This is the type of meaningless identity politics bullshit that makes people want to vote Republican.

SJP was a midlevel name and definitely considered a movie star rather than a TV personality. Back then there was a clear delineation between the two.

Also, HBO wasn't then [italic]HBO[/italic], was it? It was in build mode, as I recall. The whole idea of paying for specialty channels was nascent.

R128 huh? HBO has been around forever, at least since the very early 80s.

R129 HBO started in 1972. The oldest "pay for view" service. One reason it was curious they decided to change the brand to "Max".... it's sort of like if Coke decided to start calling itself Ram Soda.

Right but it wasn't as widely used in the early days, was it?

HBO was not exactly prestige TV when Sex and the City premiered. The Sopranos was still six months away.

By the start of 1990, HBO served 17.3 million subscribers out of a cumulative 23.7 million subscribers covered between it and sister network Cinemax.

Who was originally cast as Samantha?

In the mid- late 90s, SJP was definitely on the rise(I'm not sure quite why though) with hits like Mars Attacks and First Wives club

Lucille Ball, but Gary talked her out of it.

"Star also had a Plan B for Kim Cattrall's SATC character — actually a Plan A. “There was someone different cast as Samantha,” he said. “I didn't get a chance to know her — a wonderful woman named Lou Thornton. I don't know if she's still an actress anymore."

Kim Cattrall turned down the role of Samantha three times. “I’d read the book and threw it across the room because I found it so depressing,” Cattrall once said. “Then I was offered the part, read it again, and still didn’t think it was for me. I just didn’t care for the characters. It was only after numerous meetings that they convinced me Samantha wasn’t a silly two-dimensional character and I finally said yes.” Lou Thornton was actually first cast as Samantha, but creator Darren Star ultimately wanted someone older in the role. “The problem was that [Thornton] was in her 30s, I think,” Star said. “And it was changing who Samantha was. Samantha was 10 years older than the other girls, a totally different experience.”

interesting

Oh, good read, r138. Interesting that Sandra Bernhard pretty much trashed SJP—guess that makes for awkward times at parties at Andy Cohen’s house.

I was the captain for the table at Jean-Georges the night Darren Starr pitched the series to SJP. He wined and dined her, but she was doing an awful lot of ass-kissing that night. Then they went upstairs.

Are you implying that they fucked, captain?

Isn't Darren Star a homo?

Darren Star IS a fag!!!

Aidan moves to NYC. Carrie movies to Virginia. Here's a third option:

Carrie realizes that of course Aidan needs to be in Virginia with his kids right now. But also, of course it would be ridiculous for her to pack up her whole world and join him when they’ve only been re-dating a few months. (Do his kids even want a full-time stepmom they’ve only met one time?) But also, of course it would be ridiculous for the happy couple to break up when things are going well: Life is short, and they’re not spring chickens.

Instead of Aidan being the one to hop on a plane weekly, spending half his life in New York, my vote is that Carrie volunteers to be the nomad. Half the time in that junior one-bedroom, half the time on Aidan’s farm. Gradual introduction to the kids. Lots of delayed flights and schedule coordination and syncing of Google calendars.

It’s not a tidy resolution, and, in fact, it sounds like a slog. The kinds of compromises and scenarios adults work out when they’re finally old enough to know better, and to know themselves. And just like that, you have real life.

Carrie's ending being a farm and kids is so ridiculous.

I hope in season 3 we get to meet Aidan's ex-wife's boyfriend or is he a new husband? because we need more characters.

any leaks yet?

R146, I hope they write in all their building supers!

Anal leakage? Just Anthony.

Sandra Bernhard must have recanted her words because she later did an interview with SJP for her radio show and fawned over her.

I’m sure Andy Cohen had something to do with that

Or Sandra was paid very well to act like she had recanted. Everyone has to love Sarah.

Evan Handler reveals sex scenes on the show were weird for him.

Trust me, Evan, watching your nudes scenes was even weirder.

I went from Julliard to getting a hand job on TV.

Random factoid of the day - the actress who plays Lily Goldenblatt, who is only slightly older than her sibling Rock, is 27. Rock is played by a 14 year old.

I was asked to play the part of Lily but then found out it was for the older sister so had to decline.

R120 I don't agree. Apart from the meanness I don't think Kim expected equal status or pay. She wanted KD & CN to negotiate together for better pay for themselves. Allegedly SJP was getting paid anything up to 10 times more per episode. Wouldn't that piss you off? Especially if you were given the most embarrassing and 'sex' based storylines which would have buckled under the sometimes weak writing in less capable hands than Kim.

Again, she held out for and got a better rate for the movies. Not nearly as much as SJP but still a respectable offer. By that point she was done and declined a third movie (which sounded almost as awful as the second, with her being sexted by a teenage Brady). Then people started throwing mud at her for blocking their pay day.

How can you claim both were as bad as each other?

And Just Like That,,,, Kim's cameo was at the start of the episode and lasted all of ,90 seconds. She looked fabulous.

Kim's turnaround was so shocking o shocking – on par, I would say, with other famous TV moments like “Who shot JR?” on “Dallas” – was just how clear Cattrall had made it that playing Samantha was firmly in the past for her. As early as 2017, she notably said, “This is about a clear decision, an empowered decision in my life to end one chapter and start another… It’s a great part. I played it past the finish line and then some, and I loved it.” Last year, she even attended a Variety Power of Women event (for which she was an honoree) built around the “power of saying no” (which of course was in reference to more than simply saying no to playing Samantha, but it surely served as the impetus).

Not to mention, there were public comments by Cattrall and Parker that suggested tension between the former castmates (Cattrall’s 2017 interview with Piers Morgan, and Parker’s remarks to Andy Cohen as well as a more recent item in Variety in which she said she wouldn’t be comfortable with Cattrall returning to the franchise).

But some of us had the idea that Cattrall would one day return, even in some sort of standalone scene, if for no other reason than “money talks, and bulls— walks.” Ultimately, of course, that was the right sentiment, since Cattrall made a sly reference to her negotiations around her upcoming Season 2 finale cameo while on “The View” in June, when she said she received “a call from the head of HBO” asking for her to appear in the series. “Let me get creative,” Cattrall recalled saying, adding that one of her requirements was to have friend and longtime collaborator Patricia Field on board once again as her costume designer for Samantha.

The lesson here: as powerful as it is to say no, there’s also value in knowing when it’s OK to change your mind. But don’t get your hopes up for more Samantha in the newly-greenlit Season 3 of the series – Cattrall has gone on record saying that this cameo is as far as she’ll go.

Does anyone else feel like the scene was initially meant to happen way later in the episode, but that they (MPK and SJP) decided to waste it at the beginning so that it wouldn't be all about Kim?

Cynthia Nixon shouldn’t be filmed in direct sunlight.

R160. Nah. The call was about Samantha missing the party so it had to happen before the party. The Seema scenes were shit. Miranda reunited with Joy was nice.

It could have been much worse. Would have made a great finale to S2 with no S3 on the horizon.

I won’t comment more until more people have seen it.

R163. Yep. The end felt like THE END. It was actually a pretty good episode.

It felt like the end of a movie, R164, especially the final scene.

How long was Kim onscreen? Did she have a British accent?

Kim was on screen for 90 second and funnily enough

*SPOILER*

She did have an accent and made a funny reference to the old show because of it.

Did Kim call Carrie “fabulous” in those 90 seconds?

I liked the Samantha scene

R157, I’m not so much speaking about what I believe, but rather an explanation that made a lot of sense to me when I heard it in this podcast. The person being interviewed didn’t seem to have any vendetta against KC, he just seemed to imply SJP had very outsized guarantees that prevented the other ladies from really ever having anything close to parity. At least in the initial contracts. Since the new show is a new show, one assumes everything has changed.

And Just Like That is the worst show on television

I loved the Kim/Samantha scene. It was perfect. She dipped in. It was funny and well done.

Aidan Shaw has to be the worst written character in the history of television. What a fucking pussy. I hope he stays away and never comes back. And this is from someone who was pro-Aidan and Carrie. What a little bitch. I hate that guy.

Wtf was up with Lisset’s eye make up?!

When she’s introducing herself to Che, I noticed that only the left eye had green sparkly eyeshadow with the right eye looking bare. I thought ‘Is this a trend I am unaware of?’ Then at the table when they go around and say ‘a word’, she has barely any eyeshadow on at all and looks sweaty and druggy.

What the fuck did she do to piss off not only the makeup artists, but the director, editor, other actors, dolly grip, best boy, lighting, sound, and intern, because no one said a word and they let this edit go to air?

I’m guessing she said a nice word about Kim? R173

Kim looked great in her cameo, stylish without being a fashion victim.

I watched the cameo before I went to work. So is the rest of the episode written as if it was the final final given it was shot before they knew they were being renewed?

[quote]Miranda reunited with Joy was nice.

Who R161?

Sorry. R162?

R176 R177 R178 hmmm

Best line from R171's link:

[quote]Unexpectedly, considering so much of the series seemed to get wrapped up in the finale, a third season of And Just Like That has been confirmed, but I’m not sure I see hope for it creatively. Not when the only thrilling moment of the season involved an actor who hates the show sitting in the back of a car being sassy on her iPhone.

I thought Kim’s acting was a little stilted, but I don’t blame her. From Chrissy Snow to Kalinda and Alicia on The Good Wife, these faked scenes always feel artificial.

It wasn’t a fake scene. It was a scene between two people in two different places.

There have been millions of tv and movie scenes done the same way. Two people conversing over a phone, or otherwise not standing directly next to each other, does NOT equal fake.

SPOILER

I really liked the 'let's put our relationship on pause' scene with Carrie and Aiden. Of course Aiden is going to put his kids first. When they had sex afterwards and Carrie watched him leave from her window it reminded me of the breakup with Big in season 2.

R181 I think it's more about the pauses and timing, the editing process. Kim was good. I still want to know who wrote it!

R184 clearly I wrote it since I have almost all storyline control at this point!

That montage of sex scenes at the end.... I don't think the horse has ever been that naked before.

R186 were they new scenes or a sexy retrospective?

Please give spoilers on the final moments for us Brits x

R187: It's basically a quick montage of all the couples having sex: Seema and the director, Carrie and Aidan, Nya and the chef, and Giuseppee and Anthony. You see Aidan's side ass and apparently they thought people wanted to see Secretariat's side boobs.

I thought Aidan left her in the end? Also, no Charlotte and Miranda?

I thought the cameo would be a total disaster but it turned out to be the best thing in the episode. Kim looked great and the conversation was witty and funny. You really did get the sense that Carrie and Samantha repaired whatever rift they had. I also liked Samantha's line about Charlotte and Miranda telling her about the last supper and it felt like the core four was back together again. Yeah they knew people would tune in primarily to see the cameo so they definitely wanted to get it out of the way and not have it distract from the rest of the story.

Easy, R182. I didn’t say fake. I said “faked.” As in they were not acting together at the same time. And as r184 notes, that led to some awkward pauses and flow which, to me at least, is usually the case.

Actually think both are great actresses and still hold out some hope that a miracle will bring Samantha back for season three.

So is Carrie not going to date or have sex with anyone for the next five years?

With the exception of pussy ass Aidan I loved the episode especially the scene around the dinner table. It does have moments that resonate. And the Samantha scene was really great.

Overall the episode was really good and really moving. The dinner table scene was indeed great. I thought Kim would be a little rusty but she knocked it out of the park. Having said that, I'm sorry she's not winning an Emmy for this one minute scene. As for bringing back Samantha for season 3 R191 - I don't see a prayer of that happening.

How many times has Carrie given up that apartment only to move back? The show has been in the zeitgeist long enough and the actresses have certainly made enough money. They should've ended this once and for all especially considering this is the 25th anniversary. They're just going to fuck it all up again in season three and the women will keep making the same mistakes over and over and over and over again. Yeah I fucking hate Aidan and you knew it was going to end in tears.

Carrie told Aiden she's staying in the new apartment. She's not buying the studio back. We need a Samantha phone call in every episode of season 3.

The Samantha cameo just made me miss KC and what she bought to the show. It is sorely missing.

In the previous episode, when Aiden is telling carrie about the kids accident, she tells him breaks heal. That response made it so obvious that Carrie has no idea what being a parent is and that Aiden was probably more concerned about what was broken emotionally/mentally with is boy. I knew they would break up.

Miranda was always snarky and somewhat negative, but she had a sense of humor. Now, she's just a miserable person.

Watching Harry and Charlotte trying to set up her new iPhone in the montage of other couples having sex was very sweet.

[quote]You see Aidan's side ass and apparently they thought people wanted to see Secretariat's side boobs.

Quite big tits, Eddie.

[quote]he just seemed to imply SJP had very outsized guarantees that prevented the other ladies from really ever having anything close to parity.

What a lovely thing to negotiation. Limits on somebody else's income to please your own pride.

I really disliked Carrie's like right after the KC call ended. "Nooooo, I can't handle any more drama."

Petty, and worse, so obvious. Those people are like high school cunts.

I have to say, I am very pleasantly surprised to hear this show has been renewed.

Lisette is one of the ugliest, most strung out looking young women I've ever seen (who isn't supposed to be on drugs). The only thing more disgusting at the table was Jackie. I just don't believe Carrie would choose to hang around most of the people they've put her with these past two seasons. Seema- 100%. She and Carrie make total sense as friends, even though (as mentioned before) people in their late 50s don't make friends that easily.

However, I don't believe for a moment that Carrie could even stand to be in the same room with Jackie, Smoke, Che and Lisette. Nya and LTW she would put up with for the sake of Charlotte and Miranda, but those other four are completely cringe. I would have cut ties with Jackie the minute I didn't have to work with him again, and Che would have been dead to me the minute she trashed my friend of 30+ years on a stage in front of an audience.

Everything in this series just felt so forced, even the Cattrall cameo. It wasn't that good, and it wasn't exciting to see Samantha again because we all know- she's moved on. I was happy a character and actress I adored so much was able to escape with her dignity. And while Cattrall certainly did nothing to embarrass herself in this week's episode, it was a gigantic "so what?"

Here's my bold prediction- We're never going to see a third season of this mess. HBO has a habit of rescinding renewals. Unless they throw down an immediate quick and dirty shooting schedule that ends before the holidays, this thing is going to languish for two years. These broads are gonna be 60 by then. Hell, Miranda already looks like someone left her out in the rain, and Charlotte is one juvaderm away from looking like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.

I really felt like last night's episode was close to the old show. If they'd opened series one with this spirit everybody would be cheering it on.

I get this sense of tremendous ego and/or arrogance attached to so many decision makers on this show. They concocted that crazy, correct first series because they got accused of being too white back in the day when everybody was too white. Then they get pissy about the reaction to what was well intentioned but overall just really bad writing. It must be a snake pit to work on.

Someone piss on your muffin this morning R203? Jesus relax, take an Xanax and calm down. It's just a TV show. No one is dying or curing cancer.

This episode wrapped everything up so nicely that I think most people wouldn’t be upset if there was never anything else again.

Who the hell puts a relationship on hold in your 50s!?!? Steve should’ve been at the dinner and not all those people she barely knows.

[quote]Unless they throw down an immediate quick and dirty shooting schedule that ends before the holidays, this thing is going to languish for two years.

Tricky with the actors and writers on strike. I mean, even this turkey needs scripts and people to talk.

Two seasons to explain how Carrie ultimately becomes a crazy cat lady?

Yeah Aidan is an asshole but his little prick son who can’t stand to see his dad with another woman is the real villain.

Best AJLT episode so far, which isn't saying much but still. SJP looked great. I actually kinda like the ambiguity with Aidan. If it comes back please don't include some dumb sub-plot about Carrie sucking up to Wyatt.

But the whole SATC world really should've ended with Carrie taking John's call while walking down a NYC street.

[quote] Someone piss on your muffin this morning [R203]? Jesus relax, take an Xanax and calm down. It's just a TV show. No one is dying or curing cancer.

I love when people have this sort of gigantic overreaction to someone's post. It says more about them than the thing they're criticizing.

I thought Carrie being willing to handle ambiguity was a step forward. I also loved her asking “how long?” or something like that, which put her where Aidan had been. Rolled my eyes, but I kind of liked the cat being named Shoo.

So basically, everybody gets fucked in the end.

I hate responses like R205’s. This is a forum to specifically discuss this show. You should take it seriously to participate. That’s how intelligent consideration and discourse happen. Otherwise what’s the point?

So you think R203 post is constructive criticism, R215? I see nothing in there other than whining and bitching. Not an ounce of "Intelligent consideration and discourse" as you so eloquently describe.

That Samantha call was so laughably anticlimactic.

I can't believe they went to the effort.

KIm's appearance was an inert cameo, a scene that smacked less of comic or dramatic necessity than of a hostage proof of life video.

Samantha was the archetype of a libertine and a caricature of licentiousness. But Cattrall’s enthusiasm for the role — the husky voice, the double-dare-you smile, the symphony of sex noises — made her irreplaceable. Crucially, she liked her life. She often seemed to be the only woman in New York consistently having any fun, which made her irresistible. The finale’s drive-by Cattrall, dressed by Patricia Field in gold and red, didn’t remotely replicate that.

Kim Cattrall Improvised This Key Moment in Samantha’s Comeback Cameo, And Just Like That Boss Confirms

Kim Cattrall went off script while shooting Samantha’s anticipated return — and Michael Patrick King was not mad about it. Quite the contrary, in fact.

The And Just Like That… showrunner reveals in the latest installment of the Max comedy’s The Writers Room podcast that the “amazing” moment when “Samantha kisses the phone” after saying goodbye to Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie was “not in the script,” adding, “It was totally [an instance of] of an actor playing a moment. And it’s really nice.”

She looked great and she effectively made the most out of the little material given but I don't think the outfit was anything particularly special or memorable.

I had the same reaction when I read about the renewal. Not gonna happen. Max will blame the strike, scheduling, whatever but this last episode tied everything up and there's nothing more to tell.

If that's so, they tied it up well.

Maybe, tin hat going on, Max and the production team all cut a deal to announce a third season, before announcing in due course that time and the strikes just ruined everything, can't get the actors together, etc. etc so no third after all. Then MPK and SJP can limp quietly into the sunset saving facelifts and comfort each other about how nobody gets it via WhatsApp.

It's weird seeing that photo at r152 and remembering how pretty the women were (except SJP, who at least looked sexy). Now they're all hags.

Time really is the great leveler.

Aidan's insistence that five years would go by in a snap was, indeed, disturbing at their age. They'll be over 60 then, right? So he's wishing away half a decade of their remaining time. It's kind of grotesque, and if someone proposed that to me, I'm sure I would mention that at 56, having five years pass before you know it is rather disturbing, not romantic. That kind of thing is for people in their 20s.

I just started the season finale. As far as the Samantha call, I do appreciate the Annabelle Bronstein reference.

Steve's so nice. Andre De Shields?!

Season 2 finale:

A lot to digest. It was pretty good, but just dealing with too much. Seems to have been written as a series finale just in case Season 3 doesn't move forward. Makes sense. They really could leave it at that since so many loose ends were tied up with romantic relationships and otherwise - Like Steve and Miranda, Che and Miranda, Anthony and Giuseppe.

I'm surprised Carrie and Aiden stayed together after the reveal that he needed to stay in Virginia most of the time and couldn't focus on their relationship. 5 years?

The Samantha call. As I said earlier, I appreciate the Annabel Bronstein reference, but overall it was much ado about nothing. Though, good to see Catrall.

The ending montage of various couples fucking with Anthony getting it in the ass and a shot of Boy Butter on the night stand. Lol.

I did really like Carrie's apartment as a "character" on the show.

The "what's one thing you want to let go of in one word" construct could have been overly done, but they got around the table quick, so I think it worked.

They missed a great gag line opportunity when Miranda was leaving the party and Nya and the black chef , who were hot for each other, were at the bottom of the stairs. Miranda, who has been called to do an interview with the BBC because her boss can't, is running out and in passing tells them "I'm going to be on the BBC." Nya should have muttered under her breath as Miranda passed, "so am I."

R201 I didn't even catch that! Sad dog or are we reading too much into it?

And YOU get a boyfriend, and YOU get a boyfriend, and YOU get a boyfriend, and you get a - uh - non-binary friend!

Che and Enby hooked up!

r230

and why the fuck are we supposed to care?

Miranda dashing out of Carrie's old apartment and immediately getting a cab was a nice nod to all of the times Carrie magically hailed a cab as soon as she stepped out of her building.

I wasn't suggesting we were, R231. It was a sarcastic exclamation point.

While I don't think she could win based on the limited material I wonder if the Emmys might nominate Kim in Guest purely for the fact she was nominated and lost 5 times while creating what 20 years of hindsight has shown to be an iconic character?

This episode was oddly satisfying. No one was overly annoying. Even Miranda had it together. I was especially happy to see Nya flourish professionally and hopefully in her personal life. The Kim cameo was fun and made sense.

A season three is not necessary for me, as I have had sufficient.

The only cringe was Lisette gushing over Che.

If anybody deserves an Emmy nomination - not a win because she wasn't that good - it's Kristin Davis. She stealthily became one of the funniest comic performances on the show this season.

r233

I know... I hate Che as I'm sure you do as well

A five year break? That gives Carrie some time to take a luv-ah.

When Lisette mentioned the "ceiling stain getting bigger" and Carrie dismissed it as "your problem," I briefly thought they were foreshadowing some major plumbing burst pipe issue, Lisette backs out, and Carrie yet again stays in the apartment, which would have worked in theory because I thought at first she was going to not agree to Aiden's going back to VA for so long. I'm glad they didn't go down that road - at least the remaining in the apartment part.

Seema helps Aidan buy a house.

And they hook up.

What was with the kitten? All I could think is that it would have shat and pissed all over Carrie’s pristine new apartment. Why did they even need to introduce the kitten?

[quote]That Samantha call was so laughably anticlimactic.

I warned you.

God, that fucking enby that Che hooked up with was so goddamned ugly. Why does every single television enby have to look like a space alien?

The show really is not the same without Samantha (and for so many other reasons, of course). I agree that this should be the last season of AJLT, and if they really wanted to create a proper send-off for Carrie's old apartment, with all the weight it holds for her, and for SATC, it should have been just her three--uh, two--closest friends there for the dinner, not the chorus of nobodies who aren't even close friends of hers.

And making it a lavish affair with a Michelin-starred chef made it even less sentimental. This show has nothing to do with SATC at its core. It's just characters with the same names and similar personalities, but the relationships and the vibe are completely, utterly different.

God. I got as far as the scene where Carrie's making everyone let something go or whatever. Had to switch it off. Now I'm watching Trump get arrested.

Greece looked suspiciously like Big Sur.

R234 In theory she could get nominated for Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series (this category is not even aired), but not in Best Supporting Actress since she not a series regular.

R217 It's clear they wrote the finale assuming it was going to be the series finale since the show getting a third season was not guaranteed. Cattrall's cameo was probably intended to give a sense of closure to Samantha's arc and suggest she and Carrie would reconcile. Now that the show got a third season pickup, the cameo is rather pointless since there is no way in hell Cattrall will work with SJP in person.

Hypothetically, she could score a nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, which is a Creative Arts category. I believe the Creative Arts are televised and I think it's on one of those special channels like FXX. Ultimately, I think at best she gets a nomination and even the nomination unfortunately is looking remote. She's a great actress and did a good job but there's no way on Earth she's winning for ten lines of dialogue in a sixty second scene.

season 3 could take place in one week and Samantha gets covid so she can only interact with the other 3 via zoom that can be digitally included

I’m team KC in this mess but ain’t no way anybody’s getting nominated. The show is crap

I swear that scene was written to be as pointless as possible because the mean girls were furious HBO forced it on them. Especially followed by the "I can't do anymore drama" line.

R242- the kitten for Carrie was the same for Che saving the puppy. A cheap plot device to make you like them. And the kitten especially represented Carrie's growth and the tease that she was ready to be a mother to Aidan's children. But when everyone had to say what they could give up, I was waiting for Carrie say, the kitten.

Thanks R254 - I could see that it was a plot device but couldn’t see how it was a plot device! That makes sense.

Carrie was wearing a t-shirt with "cover girl" written on it during the Samantha call. Another way to keep saying I'm still the main character and not you.

New episodes won't happen until 2025 and they'll make a 5 year jump.

Wyatt will commit suicide and Aidan will move to NYC.

I didn’t check the credits - how was KC listed? Special Guest Star seems unlikely.

Got over my own laziness and fast forwarded - she’s last on the list with:

And Special Appearance By

Kim Cattrall

[quote][R242]- the kitten for Carrie was the same for Che saving the puppy. A cheap plot device to make you like them. And the kitten especially represented Carrie's growth and the tease that she was ready to be a mother to Aidan's children. But when everyone had to say what they could give up, I was waiting for Carrie say, the kitten.

LOL - this demonstrates how bad the writing is. She literally Saved the Cat.

I liked the kim moment. . I also liked the Charlotte drunk reminding her family she once had a life. What else? Not much. I doubt I’ll turn on season 3.

You know... I'm really disgusted by how petty the writers are. I just listened to the first few minutes of this week's pod cast, in which they discuss this last episode, and they never mention Cattrall. They call her Samantha. They sit there fellating every actor and bit player on past episodes but Kim Cattrall comes back and MPK refers to her as Samantha, describes the setup for the scene, plays the audio of a portion of it, then mentions "the actor" goes off-script, adds a nice touch of kissing the phone... and rather than elaborating on what that kiss of the phone could have meant to the viewers, he cuts to talking about the cat. I'm sorry. I've worked with many people I don't like. But I would not avoid calling them by their name and I could still be complimentary about their talents. I don't care if the feud was public. Be a professional, be complimentary, and maybe - - just maybe - - that will open the door to a resolution that will allow you to make a better show than one that thinks Che Diaz and three other characters are better than the one character so visibly and painfully missing. And even if Cattrall never comes back, it will at least possibly put an end to the bitter taste that surrounds this show, a nasty aftertaste driven by the three ladies (Parker, Nixon, and Davis) and that self-satisfied smug elf, MPK.

There must be some NYC gossip about MPK.

R263 co-signing all this. We know SJP’s issues with Kim Cattrall but Nixon and Davis are just as bad. MPK is a disgrace.

It’s abundantly clear that is if head of HBO went to Kim on bended knee asking for her to make a cameo, Kim’s appearance was a condition of season 3 even being a possibility.

What a fucking shitshow.

[quote] There must be some NYC gossip about MPK.

When you fuck him, his enormous ears flap so hard he flies around the room like one of those flying pixie dolls you have to pump a few times.

Which begs the question: did they know the show would be extended for season 3 before the announcement? The timing is interesting considering it came before the finale was broadcast.

[quote]It’s abundantly clear that is if head of HBO went to Kim on bended knee asking for her to make a cameo, Kim’s appearance was a condition of season 3 even being a possibility.

That's what I can't square. Based on what we got, why do it at all? Theories? I don't buy for the fans. This is business. Are they negotiating a return?

I don't think it's that deep or complicated. Samantha's absence was a loose end that needed to be tied up. They're saying she's fine, she sends her love, stop worrying about it.

I don't think Anthony enjoyed taking Giuseppe's monster cock.

Glad the costumers finally put Seema in something that hid her belly.

Lisa's supper dress made her look like a giant orange.

Was Carrie's apartment vine wallpaper new? Or did I just never notice it before. As if you could not notice it.

"Greece looked suspiciously like Big Sur. "

NOT filming on location? One place standing in for another? That's never happened before.

Hang on to your tits, R274 - it was just a light hearted observation on a lightweight show.

God, the people who get so invested in TV shows…

So invested as to be on this thread and get pissy because they don't like a reply, R275?

R273. I believe that wallpaper was added when Carrie redecorated in the first movie.

It’s big ratings ($$$) for Max or hbo or whatever they call it. So - season 3

Fail in Sarah Jessica Parker's And Just Like That appearance

We're on thread 5. That's why it's being renewed. Hate watching is still watching. Criticizing is still engagement.

That’s right R276 - glad you got the point!

I'm sure Kim isn't hurting for cash, she could easily milk them for several million just for a few hours work (on her terms).

I actually respect that she is honest "The boss made me an offer" and even if you've refused previously you still have the right to change your mind if it's on your terms

Given how the series as a whole has been received (called "worst show on TV" more than once), the buzz about her cameo, and the catty way it was handled by the others, the cameo was a TRIUMPH for Kim Cattrall. Comes out of it with her dignity, a reminder of her character's popularity, and plenty of money. Well done, Kim.

R263: MPK is a hack. I listened to that podcast as well and I’m almost barfed when he started crying about how Miranda told Steve he was smart. MPK and those gay black women writers he holds to no standards gave no justice to Steve. Yeah their hatred for Kim is so palpable. Last year the horse was on WWHL and she also didn’t mention Cattrall by name and just said “the actress who played that role is no longer playing that role.”

R274 if they had no budget for Virginia they certainly couldn't do Greece.

I don't forget Bernhard's quote about putting up with SJP's shit... she must be hard to work with, though there don't appear to be any whispers. My theory is MPK knows how to play her or she knows how to play him... but get MPK out of the combination and you might be able to produce a decent show. I'm not even sure Samantha needs to come back. It was great to see her, but I think the thing has moved on in many ways and the endless drama from the set is repetitive but now uninteresting, unless somebody spills new tea.

Where is one of those gorgeous Rolling Stone takedowns when you need it?

I read a line in a review that said (paraphrasing) Cattrall says she's done with the part but if she got $1 million for 70 seconds work, what could she get for 80?

Streamers don't care about ratings because they sell subscriptions, not eyeballs. I don't accept HBO is sentimental and kind and sorted this for the fans. They don't fucking care. They're a business. So (arguably) HBO brought her back at a not insignificant cost and leaked it (I would bet money everything - down to Cattrall's comments about when the president of HBO calls you go hmmmm... how can we get creative here - was negotiated) to juice subscriptions in fans who fell away or hadn't signed up, to see Samantha again (online speculation went crazy, as perhaps intended, before the appearance... they had her getting out of the car on the stoop, they had her at the party... Samantha was everywhere as speculation built.)

So wouldn't it make sense, with a writers' strike and actors' strike and loads of time, for HBO to negotiate a return of the character full time - for the purpose of driving subscriptions? Dangle some structure of a three series commitment in front of three actresses of a certain age. Offer KC great money and a development deal? Thank certain problematic elements of the behind the scenes creative team for their service and retire them?

I dunno. I watched a lot of Succession. I think it's all about money, not art, that there's always a shape of a deal and there's always a number.

[quote] I actually respect that she is honest "The boss made me an offer" and even if you've refused previously you still have the right to change your mind if it's on your terms

R282 I agree. The distinction that's important for folks to understand -- and from her own telling, was critical toward her decision -- is that "the boss" here is the head of HBO. Not MPK, SJP, or anyone else involved at the show level. We all know how she feels about them. Show business is a *business.* Kim made a business decision, which in my impression of it was to preserve an apparently good relationship with the network. Seems pretty smart to me.

I also think business will drive her return for S3. There's money to be made and an opportunity to work consistently. KC is 67 - and no Meryl Streep. A job's a job, especially when there's an element of having them by the balls.

I predict KC returns, MPK is out.

I don’t think the show is the worst on tv (check out any of the 9-1-1s for terrible), but it certainly was the most disappointing. Starting from the movies, the whole tone is off. Fashion and money were never the center of the show, but they are in the movies and AJLT. I’m rewatching the original and I’m really surprised how it holds up.

Not sure why Anthony was made to find bottoming so uncomfortable. Why not show him discovering the joys of anal sex?

Exactly, R291... think Kim Cattrall's last shot in the original series. Yes, it was vaguely demeaning to force her to play naked again in her very last scene, but at least Samantha's raising the rafters with a good orgasm.

I actually thought the whole storyline was homophobic as usual.

Weird a show dominated by a gay man behind the scenes should perpetuate stereotypes of gay people. It's like a gay minstrel show.

[quote]And making it a lavish affair with a Michelin-starred chef made it even less sentimental.

The cast were all swooning about Michelin stars as though they been invited not to a dinner of oddball strangers, but to bath in baby's blood to make themselves immortal, to turn their old bodies taut and nimble, their skin soft and glowing!

In fact, there are 73 Michelin starred restaurants in NYC. One fewer pair of shoes could have bought any of them a dinner for two at the most expensive of them.

There is a reasonably large jump from a one- to a two-starred Michelin restaurant and a bigger jump from two- to three-starred.

Not in price, not in NYC.

I love that Miranda Hobbes is being set up to be a television star. Cynthia Nixon always knocks it out of the park when pushing storylines.

Oh, I wasn't talking about price, R297, I was talking about the food. (Though none of New York's three-stars compares to Alinea.)

You’re still mistaken.

I just thought too big an issue was made of a Michelin star. In a city with 73 of them, in a circle of friends not shy in their conspicuous consumption, the panties were getting a little too wet about it, as though no one had been to a starred restaurant before.

I honestly thought the chef would turn out to be Mario Batali.

Or Che Boyardee.

Maybe Miranda will run for Governor.

Not to be snobby, but the average AJLT viewer wouldn't know a Michelin star from the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. So they'd hardly know the subtle gradation between the star ratings.

[Quote] Aidan's insistence that five years would go by in a snap was, indeed, disturbing at their age. They'll be over 60 then, right? So he's wishing away half a decade of their remaining time. It's kind of grotesque, and if someone proposed that to me, I'm sure I would mention that at 56, having five years pass before you know it is rather disturbing, not romantic. That kind of thing is for people in their 20s.

Agree with this 💯 r224

Especially given the fact that her husband and love of her life died suddenly, in his (presumably) late 50s or early 60s.

The writing on this show is a total fucking mess. None of these characters are sympathetic because they're not believable.

And why can't they see eachother on weekends or every fortnight or whatever? The kid has TWO PARENTS. Why does it have to be total estrangement for 5 years?

Dumber than dumb.

“The Mary Tyler Moore Show” gave way to “Rhoda”; “Cheers” eventually brought us “Frasier.” Could the legacy of “And Just Like That” be the London-set dramedy “Samantha”?

They did a good job of making her look like Samantha

Something I've always been curious about is why Darren Star departed and never returned. I'm assuming he originally left to work on other things, but so many creators juggle multiple shows across multiple platforms these days, including him. Was it just not done back then? I'm also guessing that KC doesn't have a great relationship with MPK, but I wonder if she'd be willing to do a Samantha spin-off run by Star.

I love how Kim's chic bag rested on her lap. It's like they wanted to get the whole Patty Fields 'look' in. I'm surprised she didn't cross her legs so we could see her shoes.

Cattrall looked better than all of them. She's had good work done because she still looked like she did in the last movie. The other ones don't.

I assumed that she was hiding a belly, r310.

Cattrall has always been the hot one. Charlotte was pretty but never sexy. Carrie had a nice body and good hair and was pretty in the first few seasons. Miranda was..well, she was the brains and cynicism.

KC will be back in some form in season 3. Can almost guarantee it. They will either build some life for her and characters in London interspersed with phone calls or they will figure out a way to get her and SJP in the same room.

R312 = MPK

R313: Pretty in the first few season? Is that a joke?

Considering what I assume was a hefty budget, the continuity was amateurish. Someone upthread mentioned Lisette only having eyeshadow on on eye for most of the supper scene. It’s been commented on elsewhere that SJP had either one hair extension slip or that there was not an extension hooked in on the opposite side but for the whole of the supper scene, which must have taken multiple takes, she had this distracting long tendril almost down to her hip on one side. Once seen it cannot be unseen.

Then there were the basics such as actors being filmed from the front during dialogue, but then when the perspective switched to from behind for the other actor’s reaction shot, their head was at an entirely different angle or looking left or right not straight ahead. Really distracting and what a continuity editor (or whatever they’re called) is paid to pick up.

"Not sure why Anthony was made to find bottoming so uncomfortable. Why not show him discovering the joys of anal sex? "

I actually thought they were trying to suggest that he did enjoy it, but it wasn't convincing. Seemed like another one-take scene, like Corbett's terrible "but I wasn't there" scene.

[Quote] Carrie had a nice body and good hair and was pretty in the first few seasons.

R313 Carrie got progressively hotter as the show progressed, along with her fashion. As for the body, it was clear she was working out intensely during the show and in particular in the back half of the series. Her arms, torso and legs were always ripped, and often tanned. It really bothered me that she ate fries and other high carb crap on the regular, yet was never shown working out, which the character would have HAD to to look like that.

Meanwhile the other 3 were all shown or declared to be into some sort of fitness at some point in the show. Not Carrie though, she's superhuman apparently.

Sarah Jessica Parker's Guide to Staying Thin

Samantha’s brief return was a reminder of the spirit and verve of Sex and the City, which And Just Like That … has often missed, putting aside the times it has been downright ridiculous. Not for a second, for instance, would Samantha have allowed laugh-murderer Che Diaz to tell those shitty jokes about Miranda. And at the first sniff of her friend’s sexuality shift she would have dragged her to gay bars galore.

Harry brandishes a new iPhone to replace the one Charlotte threw in a pitcher, which is cooed over as if they wouldn’t all have the latest iPhone. Why is Harry going to the Apple store himself? Why do these very wealthy people often exist like peasants?

SJP had a sexy body with perky tits in Season one. Then she got skinny and a little skanky looking.

[quote]Not for a second, for instance, would Samantha have allowed laugh-murderer Che Diaz to tell those shitty jokes about Miranda.

Now that would have been a scene!

Ravi Gordi is so busy taking calls from producers and movie execs, yet somehow has time to spend endless hours on TikTok. Often Ravi is on the phone to people a director would not be speaking to directly, so we get scenes such as him loitering in hallways speaking to the Egyptian film commissioner himself.

See, I got the impression that Anthony was enjoying the anal and his facial expression said 'hurts a little but I like it.'.

R319 I would say she looked her best in s2 and 3 and parts of 4. In s5 she had a short do that only worked in certain styles, not when it looked like a perm. S6 she started to show he age and lost too much weight from her face making her appear gaunt.

Samantha always looked good but was dressed better as the seasons went on. Miranda looked progressively more feminine and prettier in the later years and best in s6.

In the movies their fashion was ott. No way would Miranda get kitted out in designed gear just to go shopping with the girls.

Aidan’s whole reasoning for spending 5 years no contact is completely forced and contrived bad writing. Like she can’t even visit? PL-EASSSE?!? All Aidan is doing here as a parent is reinforcing to the Gen Z populace is that they are the center of the universe where there are no real consequences for negative behavior and nothing is ever their fault. Aidan, your son needs boundaries and discipline, giving up your own freedom and identity to cater to his sends the wrong message. Like Carrie can’t even visit? PL-EASSSE?!?! I get they want new material and the possibility of romantic entanglements for Carrie and season 3 but honestly, they’re past the point where they can even be considered middle-ages and pushing elderly or at least retirement age.

Yeah, the "I can never come back to NY for five years and you really can't visit" was just bizarre. Totally realistic that his son's accident made him rethink parenthood and the need to "be there." But still, it's way overdoing it. Maybe it's simply because they needed a reason to keep Aiden away because possibly Corbett didn't want to come back for season 3?

[quote]New episodes won't happen until 2025 and they'll make a 5 year jump

Or…they could have Carrie wake up to the shower running and finding Big there after his latest Peloton workout. The last two seasons were all just a terrible dream.

I think all of S2 was written in the expectation they'd totally fucked the pooch and there would be no season three. So the resolution was to leave it ambiguous and either piss off everybody or nobody.

Jumping ahead a few years sounds like a good idea. Che is dead. LTW and hubby moved to DC. Miranda is in a coma. Brady and Lily are married and living with Charlotte and Harry. And Carrie has a houseful of cats.

R319 they did show Carrie doing pilates or something in S1 in the episode where she farted a hole through Big's Egyptian cotton

In S3's season finale, Carrie will meet Big 2.0, and at the same time Aiden will come back, revealing that Wyatt has come out of the closet and wants to fulfill his lifelong dream of moving to NYC and becoming a hairstylist, making Aiden's return possible once again.

And the hilarity ensues! Season 4's main sponsor will be Depends.

Also in S4, Anthony tries fisting.

Henry Cavill co-stars in a Very Special Episode.

I think Wyatt has an incestuous infatuation with Aidan and cooked up this cry for help just to get between Aidan and Carrie.

I also don't understand why Aidan can't even see Carrie for five years. Wyatt is 14. He's going to grow out of this dependence on Aidan by the time he's 16 and isn't even going to want to be around him. I understand Aidan not wanting to move to NYC until the kid graduates, to make sure he's not left alone, but no teenager wants to be bombarded by their parents 24/7.

I hope Kathy gets Wyatt the psychiatric help he needs.

It’s a dumb development. These old folks don’t have that much time left.

"I think Wyatt has an incestuous infatuation with Aidan and cooked up this cry for help just to get between Aidan and Carrie."

A Josman angle would really test just how "edgy" the show is about sex.

Big dumped Carrie by moving to Paris and getting engaged to someone else. Berger used a post it. Alexsander slapped her. Aiden should have been more creative than using the old 'my kids need me so I'll see you in five years' excuse. Especially when he said the other two are 18 and 20. Honey, if those two still need their daddy you and Kathy fucked them up good.

[quote] A Josman angle would really test just how "edgy" the show is about sex.

Say what now?

5 year time jump always works!

A comic strip did that three times. They did a time jump of 10 years after a major character was killed off. After that you couldn't tell who anybody was because they all lost their individuality, which was the least problematic.

[quote]5 year time jump always works!

And it's a license for Kristen Davis to lay down some doughnuts.

The time jump on Desperate Housewives actually did inject new life into the show, moving on the characters forward. It was also novel back then and Breezy in particular did some great work that year.

If we do a time jump, I volunteer for Miranda to actually go BACK in time to who she was before AJLT.

Going back in time? I’m available to play a younger version of Charlotte.

[quote] “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” gave way to “Rhoda”; “Cheers” eventually brought us “Frasier.” Could the legacy of “And Just Like That” be the London-set dramedy “Samantha”?

Not on my watch, bitches!

Agree with the above poster that they probably shot two endings based upon getting renewed or not. One with Carrie and Aidan happily ever after and a wedding or the five year “on hold” relationship. So will next season be Carrie struggling to get through those five years by fighting off all the guys who want her? I’m done with the show.

[quote] So will next season be Carrie struggling to get through those five years by fighting off all the guys who want her?

R350 God help us if so. Before dragging us down that road, SJP and MPK would do well to recall the wisdom of Samantha Jones, when she found that grey pube: "No man wants to fuck grandma's pussy!!!!"

And Just Like That: No Man Wants to Fuck Grandma’s Pussy

Om not even on KC's "side" in this whole thing, but it would really be a shot in the arm if they got her back.

I meant "I'm."

But then wouldn't they need to film in London?

[quote]But then wouldn't they need to film in London?

Dear Dora, what a great idea! Avoid the ugly business in the U.S. or a writer's strike and try a new program with Samantha Jones as a central character. The same but different. UK writers, UK producers, UK writers (Sharon Horgan, please, and double points because she did a dud of a series, 'Divorce,' with SJP), UK cast (Cattrall was born in Liverpool.) Avoid, also the prospect of at some time two separate series productions bumping into one another in Carrielandia, and the grief of having SJP calling producers all day whing, "But it's not faaair!") It might work or it might not, but certainly more money has been spent on less. If it works, it will boost the fortunes of the AJLT franchise; if it doesn't, it won't hurt it.

MORE CHE NEXT SEASON PLS

R357 is Sara Ramirez

Samantha in London would be juggling Pierce Brosnan, Nigel Havers, Idris Elba and Jack Grealish.

Better, R359, than fucking that whinger Aiden with his scary bird's nest with its spare, sticky looking strands of zombie corpse hair.

Does Samatha work for Bing, Bing, Bing, and Bing?

[quote] Does Samatha work for Bing, Bing, Bing, and Bing?

Oh, honey. I PR things. It's what I do. PR. Now here are some Pop Specs.

Yes, and she's up for the PR Person of the Year award, sweetie!

Everything she her clients sponsor is labeled "KIND TO TREES."

Another bum note - Charlotte comes rushing in to the last supper, looks at the table and exclaims “oh Carrie it’s so fancy!”. I am pretty sure that a woman born and raised in Connecticut, then having moved through Park Avenue princess to upper east side chatelaine would use a word like “fancy”. “Beautiful”, “gorgeous” or “stunning” more likely - “fancy” made her sound like a housewife from Queens.

The script writers seem completely out if their depth and don’t seem to understand how different people speak.

"Fancy" bothers you?

Read the post again, R365.

Or not, I’m not too fussed.

Thanks for the heads up on the sex montage at the end of the last one. I fast forwarded through it.

Hiss and the City. The next Ryan Murphy's Feud.

The nudity in the montage really surprised me. Even SJP had the fun bags out.

A lot over thinking this show. The gen X shit above is way over blown. It’s badly written with no POV. Also above: ratings do matter on streaming. That’s why there are tons of single season tv shows - nobody watched them.

It's odd that Charlotte is seated next to Carrie at the supper but Miranda is at the opposite end of the table.

Maybe her pussy stinks?

R372 MAYBE?

[quote]It's odd that Charlotte is seated next to Carrie at the supper but Miranda is at the opposite end of the table.

I assumed that accommodation was made for maximum separation of Miranda and Che, and that seems true only Che takes pride of place, next to Carrie, opposite Charlotte, and Miranda is in Siberia at the opposite end of the table (image #3).

In the promo shot of the Last Supper (image #1), the procrustean table (16 guests? 13? 12?) features Carrie dead center flanked by Charlotte and Miranda.

Lisette is ugly and has fat legs.

Her eyebrows are fatter.

You know next season they'll have Carrie buy the apartment back for the 25th time just to further embarrass Kim - "thanks for everything you fucking fabulous flat."

Carrie can't move on from anyone or anything - the apartment, shoes, dresses, Big, Aidan, you name it.

R378 Actually what I liked (in a season of pretty tired and mediocre episodes) was Carrie's shift at the end. The dinner party with everyone sharing what they are letting go of.... Carrie pretty genuinely sharing "expectations".... and then the finale, she is sleeping with Aidan, happily, after the five year hiatus is agreed upon (Aidan demonstrating that world-class stupidity, dweebness). She doesn't over-dramatize nor blame the world for not giving her what she wants and thinks she's entitled to: she goes to Greece, and then holds her new little kitty in the uptrodden apartment. No victim, no entitled bitch, just a woman past middle age going on with life...

Cynthia Nixon was a cute kid.

I was the horniest and sluttiest person alive in my 20s.

In my 50s, I just want to play in my garden, hang out with my pets, and drink wine and eat bread.

You’re telling me these bitches are still horny, starving themselves, and shoehorning their asses into ridiculous outfits?!

R381- For men and women hormone replacement drugs often "reactivate" the libido. The pharma industry's profit-based model will pursue any angle of treatment so it can push prescription drug dependence of all kinds onto the population.

Point out which one is starving herself, though.

Who next for Carrie? Patrick Dempsey? Is he badly behaved on set?

I received and completed an email survey from Max yesterday about the show. At the end there was an open text box with additional comments. I had only only one: [bold]NO MORE CHE DIAZ. THE CHARACTER DOES NOT WORK. GET RID OF HER...[/bold]. Yes, I said HER and not THEY!

You should have just used THEM. Now they’re gonna write off your criticism as trolling.

I hate pronouns because the pronoun business is just an attempt to placate the non-binaries and feed their egos. Progressives don't give a shit about the gender identity and emotional well being of cisgender individuals. Yes the hard truth is gender, like sexual orientation, does exist on a spectrum and the choice will always be binary. Will the non-binaries of today spend their golden years looking back with regret or still annoy people with their "they/them" pronouns? Che is so obviously a woman and I guess they kind of inadvertently admit that when Steve says to Miranda, "I'll like you as long as you don't turn straight again."

MPK and company know Che is a disaster nobody asked or wanted. The problem is they can't get rid of Che because Che is their non-binary box. They'll get rid of a black woman before they get rid of Che. The best they can do is control the marketing. Ramirez did very little press both seasons and certainly never did any press with the six other ladies.

I hope their ratings go down and they can this shitshow next season. I was only holding out for Kim and I will no longer ever watch the show again. Anyone else?

Carrie doesn't work with Che and Miranda is no longer dating Che. Keeping Che on the show would be stupid at this point.

Once Che was moved to the background after the breakup, I thought she was palatable. Necessary, no, but palatable.

Next season? Try 2026 at the earliest.

I don’t hate Che because of the non-binary thing (arrogant and annoying as it is). I hate them because they’re an unfunny, talentless comic and a selfish narcissist. All Che cared about was their pilot taping being ruined even though that could be easily fixed. Che didn’t give a shit about Brady’s depression and the effect that was having Miranda.

Rock could fill the non binary role

I think Cynthia Nixon is the one to blame for the whole Che debacle. She probably made the character a condition of her return or some other ultimatum.

[quote] They'll get rid of a black woman before they get rid of Che.

Mmm hmm.

Well, they do have a spare one.

Well, Che has almost gotten more "words" on DL than anyone else. Clearly the character was meant to hold a place in some equation. But they were written so poorly.... they didn't know what to do with them (see the pronoun confusion? the first they is the writers the second they is the character.... if a neutral pronoun is needed, it never should have been third person plural... maybe the neutral pronouns should be Lee, Lem) so, they didn't know what to do with lem. It wasn't the actor's fault. The storyline was just all over the map.

Did they explain why Che just couldn't go back t doing podcasts? They were making a living with it before

I'm rewatching season 1 and LTW just said her Dad died in ep 2..

The problem with the new female characters is that they aren't put into funny situations. it's really real with them. S2 at least gave the Wexley's some amusing situations and their ultra glam NYC lifestyle is part of why people tune in to the show.

No man of Herbert Wexley's age would be named Herbert.

I wonder what the last year was that anyone on the planet named their baby Herbert. I’m guessing the 1940’s.

Maybe his mother gave him what she perceived to be a fancy name because she had ambitions for him even then. The mother's character was very two-dimensional, incidentally.

Herbert