Are You A Charlotte?

Sex, The City, and Cher with Cindy Chupack

Podcast: Are You A Charlotte?
Host: Kristin Davis (Charlotte York)
Guest: Cindy Chupack (Writer and Producer, Sex and the City)
Date: August 28, 2025
Episode: S2 E11 "Evolution"

Main Theme & Purpose

In this lively rewatch episode, Kristin Davis is joined by celebrated Sex and the City writer and producer, Cindy Chupack, to break down the Season 2 episode “Evolution”—exploring the ways the series evolved group dynamics, sexual topics, and the unique issues faced by women in New York. Together, they share inside stories about the making of the show and reflect on both the comic and poignant realism of the episode, with a focus on group scenes, sexual politics, and the delicate push-pull of intimate relationships (especially Carrie and Big). The episode is peppered with personal anecdotes, production tidbits, and a healthy dose of nostalgia, all delivered in the witty, emotionally authentic tone familiar to SATC fans.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Art and Challenge of Group Scenes

• Evolution of Group Scenes: The hosts reminisce about the early struggle to nail the signature four-woman group scenes—highlighting how they became central to the show's appeal and relatability.
  • “I feel like our group scenes are, like, really coming together now... They'd been kind of together, but this is the first time it's really working.”
    – Kristin Davis (03:25)
• Writing Four Perspectives: Cindy Chupack discusses the joy of writing scenes where “you could all four have different perspectives and nobody was right and nobody was really wrong,” creating space for genuine disagreement and camaraderie (04:42).
• Onscreen Chemistry: Kristin and Cindy emphasize how the “agreement” among the women to discuss anything—despite occasional judgment—set the show apart (05:18).

2. Tackling Taboo Topics with Humor and Honesty

• Fertility and Women’s Health: The group’s open discussion of fertility (tilted uterus, lazy ovary) sparked conversations that were rare for TV at the time (06:11).
  • “I say, I have a tilted uterus. And Miranda tells us about her lazy ovary, which I don't even know if they use that term anymore. It's kind of interesting.”
    – Cynthia Nixon (05:49)
• Directing Group Gynecologist Scenes: Davis and Chupack praise director Pam Thomas for filming the gynecologist scenes with both realism and humor (06:16).
  • “She’s just got a shot above of Cynthia because it’s so awkward. We've all been to... And you're going to see Charlotte at the gynecologist. But Pam just had such a creative way of filming.”
    – Kristin Davis (06:21)

3. Carrie and Big: Relationship Nuances

• The Hair Dryer Incident: The infamous scene where Carrie leaves personal items at Big’s apartment (tampons, tiny hair dryer) prompted big fan debates about what constitutes “pushing the relationship.”
  • “Carrie puts up with a lot—way more than Big puts up with.”
    – Cynthia Nixon (07:11)
  • “When he comes back with her stuff, like, ‘You left this at my house’… it’s just like, Teflon for relationships.”
    – Kristin Davis (09:12)
• Changing Perspectives Over Time: Both Davis and Chupack reflect on how their understanding of the relationship has evolved—then versus now—given cultural shifts and the influence of social media (10:36, 12:01).
  • “Thank God we didn’t have that [social media]... it was just fun not to have that option for us.”
    – Kristin Davis (10:57)

4. The Show’s Freedom & Legacy

• HBO’s Impact on Creative Choices: Not having to answer to advertisers allowed the writers to “push the envelope” (12:01).
  • “It’s pure. And that was the joy of it... at the time, the model was network TV where they were trying to please advertisers.”
    – Cynthia Nixon (12:01)

5. Charlotte’s Date Storyline with Stefan

• Dating Without Expectations: The episode’s subplot explores how Charlotte’s demeanor transforms when she doesn’t realize she’s on a date, leading to more authentic (and sexy) moments (18:28).
  • “It’s fun to see Charlotte... how she's different with a guy she doesn't think she's on a date with.”
    – Kristin Davis (18:44)
• ‘Gay, Straight, and Straight Gay’ Men: The group unpacks Manhattan’s social types—adding a comedic but insightful layer with the introduction of “straight gay” men influenced by fashion, cuisine, etc. (19:06).
• Filming Charlotte’s First ‘Real’ Sex Scene: Kristin Davis recalls nerves, direction, and support in her first intimate (not comedic) sex scene.
  • “I hadn’t really done the sex scenes. Right. And I hadn’t showed any body. But she [Pam Thomas] had a whole plan...[Dan Futterman] made me feel so much better because I was super nervous.”
    – Kristin Davis (20:48)
  • “Most of our sex scenes were for comedy... It wasn’t voyeuristic, really. It was usually a story point.”
    – Kristin Davis (20:19)

6. Iconic Fashion Moments

• The Fendi Baguette: Legendary status came more from practicality and stylist input than from intention.
  • “People talk a lot about the Fendi baguettes and how... it’s literally just because that’s who would send her some bags... Not that she didn’t love them.”
    – Cynthia Nixon (22:23)
  • Davis admits her lack of early fashion knowledge, learning through the show (22:53).

7. Samantha’s Plot & Cher

• Samantha and Dominick: A mirror of past heartbreak, Samantha’s plan to flip the rejection script doesn’t go as intended, showing vulnerability beneath her confident exterior (25:39).
• Cher Cameo Story: The inside scoop on securing Cher’s “Do You Believe” for a pivotal scene—requiring an actual meeting with Cher at Madison Square Garden.
  • “We all went, right? Yeah. And she came and, like, talked to us before the show.”
    – Kristin Davis (36:15)
  • “When it [song] ever comes on the radio, I’m so happy. It makes me so happy because it reminds me of Butterman, reminds me of Cher, reminds me of us.”
    – Cynthia Nixon (37:12)

8. Miranda’s Dating Woes & Relatable Insecurities

• Debating Egg Freezing: Miranda’s frank conversation about fertility with a date who doesn’t react well—illustrates the vulnerability and comic-tragic moments unique to the show (33:10).
• Hair Plug Moment: A humorous but authentic running gag about dating standards, judgment, and evolving self-awareness (34:03).

9. Reflections on Character Archetypes

• Are You a Charlotte? The show’s conceit gets a meta twist.
  • “I think maybe right now, for the first time in my life, I’m not [a Charlotte]. Which isn’t good... I think Charlotte is a good place to get to.”
    – Kristin Davis (41:05)
  • “It’s hard to remain Charlotte for your whole life... That’s an unrealistic expectation, even for myself and I play her.”
    – Kristin Davis (41:32)
• Blending Archetypes: Both Davis and Chupack acknowledge how people move between “Charlotte, Miranda, Carrie, Samantha” phases—and that having a ‘core Charlotte’ is a source of optimism and hope (42:05).

10. Notable Production Trivia & Favorite Moments

• Shared Sets: Behind-the-scenes details, like reusing the apartment set for multiple characters’ storylines (27:06).
• Classic Quotes:
  • “And just like that”—used in nearly every episode, predating its later status as a franchise catchphrase (40:42).
• Recounting a Beloved Scene: Kristin’s wedding-veil line about Trey—a favorite moment for both guest and host (43:19).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|-------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:42 | Cindy Chupack | “You could just dissect an issue and you could all four have different perspectives, and nobody was right and nobody was really wrong. So it was like commiserating. And that's my favorite thing to write and do.” | | 07:11 | Cynthia Nixon | “Carrie puts up with a lot—way more than Big puts up with.” | | 09:12 | Kristin Davis | “When he comes back with her stuff, like, ‘You left this at my house’… it’s just like, Teflon for relationships.” | | 20:19 | Kristin Davis | “Most of our sex scenes were for comedy... it wasn’t voyeuristic, really. It was usually a story point." | | 22:23 | Cynthia Nixon | “People talk a lot about the Fendi baguettes... it’s literally just because that’s who would send her some bags.” | | 36:15 | Kristin Davis | “We all went, right? Yeah. And she came and, like, talked to us before the show.” | | 37:12 | Cynthia Nixon | “When it ever comes on the radio, I’m so happy... it reminds me of Butterman, reminds me of Cher, reminds me of us.” | | 41:32 | Kristin Davis | “It’s hard to remain Charlotte for your whole life... That’s an unrealistic expectation, even for myself and I play her.” |

Important Timestamps for Segment Highlights

• 03:25–05:18: Writing and filming group scenes; unique dynamic of the main four friends.
• 06:11–06:48: Open conversations about fertility; filming the gynecologist scene.
• 07:11–10:36: Carrie and Big’s relationship nuances, debates about “pushing” in relationships.
• 12:01–12:37: HBO’s impact—creative freedom and how it shaped the show.
• 18:28–21:01: Charlotte’s unwitting date with Stefan; first “real” sex scene and directing insight.
• 22:23–22:59: The Fendi baguette—practicality behind the iconic item.
• 25:39–27:24: Samantha’s plot to best Dominick; reusing the apartment set.
• 33:10–34:15: Miranda’s disastrous date discussing fertility and dating insecurities.
• 36:15–37:12: Securing Cher’s “Do You Believe”—behind-the-scenes concert memory.
• 41:05–42:41: The “Are You a Charlotte?” reflection; blending all four archetypes; optimism as character core.
• 43:19–44:34: Favorite scene—Charlotte’s hopeful wedding-veil line about Trey.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a treasure trove of both Sex and the City nostalgia and sharp insights into why its characters and conflicts remain relevant and beloved. Davis and Chupack’s dialogue is candid, empathetic, and consistently funny, providing a real sense of backstage access for fans while also reflecting on how the show’s groundbreaking conversations on relationships, sexuality, and personal identity remain just as resonant in today’s world. Their conversation is both celebration and critique—a loving look back with eyes wide open to how culture, relationships, and television itself have evolved.

For fans, this episode is a masterclass in Sex and the City’s heart and humor, with plenty of “omg-I-remember-that” moments and behind-the-scenes gold.