Podcast Summary: "SNL's Rachel Dratch is Ready for a Little 'Sex'..."

Are You A Charlotte? – iHeartPodcasts
Host: Kristen Davis
Guest: Rachel Dratch
Date: September 29, 2025
Episode: S2 E16 "Was It Good For You?"

Episode Overview

In this reflective and laughter-filled episode of "Are You A Charlotte?" host Kristen Davis is joined by SNL alum Rachel Dratch to revisit “Was It Good For You?”—an episode from the second season of Sex and the City. The conversation swings from hilarious behind-the-scenes memories to thoughtful analysis of the show's impact on female sexuality, '90s culture, and the evolution of TV. Rachel Dratch shares her own journey as a fan-turned-guest-star, and the pair dig into the lasting cultural resonance of Charlotte York and her SATC companions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rachel Dratch’s “Bucket List” Moment on And Just Like That

• Nostalgia and Fan Experience: Rachel describes joining "And Just Like That," calling it a “bucket list moment” (04:37), describing how surreal it was to be on the set of a show she avidly followed.
  • “I was just like, oh. I was having a — I was like, there’s everybody. … It was a bucket list moment.” — Rachel Dratch (04:37)
• Table Read Pressure: Kristen and Rachel dive into the pressures of table reads, comparing their intensity to SNL rehearsals (06:06). Kristen notes the stress:
  • _"If you didn’t land a joke in the read through, that joke would get cut." — Kristen Davis (06:38)
• Modern Read-Throughs: The shift to larger rooms and remote read-throughs with iPads for HBO execs watching from LA.

2. Directing and Working With the SATC Cast

• Cynthia Nixon as Director: Rachel discusses being directed by Cynthia Nixon, who balanced acting and directing on And Just Like That (09:58).
  • Kristen shares how Michael Patrick King would act as a “little birdie” to offer additional direction, especially in emotional scenes (13:06).
  • “She was in the scene. … Michael was like, just kind of whispering in my ear, like, you have to get—carry the weight of the moral reality.” — Kristen Davis (13:14)
• Directing Difficult Scenes: Kristen explains the challenges—and surprises—of filming emotional scenes vs. comedic expectations (11:42).

3. Rachel’s Character and SNL Spoofs

• The “Pest” Character: Rachel played an overzealous book event planner named Kerry (with an alternative spelling to avoid "Karen") on AJLT (16:25). She recounts how costume design even included housefly earrings to emphasize her character's “pest” nature.
• SNL’s Sex and the City Parodies: Both recall the frequency and fun of watching SNL spoof SATC, with Rachel confessing her less-than-perfect Cynthia Nixon impression (17:18).
  • “I'm just gonna be honest here. … I just threw on the red wig and crossed my fingers.” — Rachel Dratch (17:22)
• Being Spoofed as a Badge of Honor: Kristen reflects, "It was like such a kind of an honor really to get spoofed." (17:42)

4. The SATC Fandom—Past and Present

• Early Days of Watching: Rachel reminisces about making SATC her Sunday ritual as a young SNL cast member in 1999 (23:33).
  • "That chord, it just gives me a good feeling... it just so encapsulated, you know, life in your 30s." — Rachel Dratch (24:17)
• Gradual Rise to Fame: Kristen shares how the show’s cult following grew slowly, especially through word-of-mouth among women before it became a TV phenomenon (25:05).

5. Making Groundbreaking TV: Women, Sex, and Real Stories

• Origins in Real Experience: Kristen details how early episode plots were “once removed” from real stories—never direct, but close to life and always authentic (26:42).
• Working Exhaustion: She describes grueling shooting schedules and the impact on memory, especially for late-season episodes (28:25).

6. Deep Dive: “Was It Good For You?” (Season 2, Episode 16)

Charlotte’s Storyline—Falling Asleep During Sex

• Unexpected Sadness: The episode begins with Charlotte’s partner falling asleep during sex—a plot point neither host remembered but both found poignant yet a little innocent amidst SATC standards (29:41).
  • "I can't even. It's weird. It's interesting. I mean, it must have happened to someone because it ended up in here." — Kristen Davis (30:40)

Tantric Sex, ’90s Wellness, and Comic Gold

• Tantric Sex Boom: Charlotte’s “solution” to her romantic woes is a group tantric sex class, which leads to one of the show’s most uproarious scenes (33:19).
  • Rachel highlights the unforgettable casting and awkward hilarity of the classroom demonstration.
  • Kristen fondly recalls filming, barely containing laughter as SJP repeatedly broke character—and how rare it was for SJP to do so (39:24).

Iconic Scene: Miranda and the “Lingam Massage”

• Behind the Scenes: The infamous “Jergens lotion and spoon” prop trick is revealed—Travis, the prop guy, would sling the lotion at Cynthia Nixon, who never broke during the take (45:40).
  • _"It hit her hair and her nose and she did not break at all." — Kristen Davis (46:09)
• Subtlety of Comedy: Rachel and Kristen appreciate the low-tech, physical-comedy roots and Cynthia Nixon’s professionalism.
• Tagging the Joke: Miranda later dabs her hair at home, referencing the spa mishap—a detail both women found delightfully subtle (47:17).

Samantha, Pansexuality, and Queer Representation

• A Forward-Looking Moment: Samantha’s storyline involves two gay men inviting her for a threesome. She declares, “the future of sexuality is that everyone will be pansexual”—remarkably prescient for 1999 (48:18).
  • “That’s something you would hear now.” — Rachel Dratch (48:47)
• Tasteful Filming: Kristen notes the care taken in shooting steamy scenes—often opting for suggestion over explicit visuals to keep things respectful and comedic (49:44).

7. Woo Woo and Pisces Energy

• Going Off-Topic—And Loving It: Rachel and Kristen connect over their Pisces birthdays and embrace woo-woo spirituality, which both consider intertwined with the core of Sex and the City’s more philosophical side (35:14).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On joining the set as a superfan:

  • “While I was in the scene, there was also, like, the other Rachel: I’m in the scene with Sarah Jessica Parker, you know! So I was fangirling and trying to act at the same time.” – Rachel Dratch (08:06)

• On ‘Carrie is a bad friend’ discourse:

  • “I never bought into that … I’m Team Carrie.” – Rachel Dratch (32:16)
  • “She’s such a sweet friend. She’s just trying to make me feel better.” — Kristen Davis (32:46)

• On Samantha, sexuality, and being ahead of her time:

  • “For a sex columnist, you are not very progressive … the future of sexuality is that everyone will be pansexual.” — Samantha Jones, paraphrased (48:18)

• On breaking during filming the tantric scene:

  • “There haven’t been that many times where different people have consistently broken right — like for Sarah Jessica to break, it’s very rare. … This was one of those times.” – Kristen Davis (39:24)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Fan to Guest Star (“Bucket List” Moment) – 04:37
• SATC Table Reads & SNL Comparisons – 06:38
• Drinking Cosmopolitans with SJP – 08:28
• Cynthia Nixon as Director, Behind-the-Scenes Insights – 09:58
• The “Pest” Character and Costume Details – 16:25
• SNL Spoofs and Impressions – 17:18
• SATC’s Gradual Rise to Fame – 24:39
• Making TV from Real Stories – 26:42
• On-set Exhaustion and Memory Gaps – 28:25
• Rewatching "Was It Good For You?" – 29:27
• Tantric Sex Class Scene, Breaking Character – 33:19 & 39:24
• Behind the Jergens Lotion Prop – 45:40
• Miranda’s At-home Callback – 47:17
• Samantha’s Pansexual Foresight – 48:18
• Filming Intimate Scenes Tastefully – 49:44
• Woo-Woo & Pisces Bonding – 35:14

Episode Tone & Style

Lively, honest, and warm—with bursts of laughter and loving irreverence. Both hosts blend nostalgia for the ‘90s and early 2000s with frank discussions of how TV can reshape conversations about women, friendship, and sex. Rachel’s comedic timing and self-effacing humor pair well with Kristen’s affectionate deep dives and industry insight.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode is a treasure for Sex and the City fans, ’90s/2000s pop culture enthusiasts, and anyone curious about TV production. It offers rich behind-the-scenes stories, thoughtful reflections on changing attitudes about gender and sexuality, and plenty of laughs—especially about on-set mishaps and the quirks of fame. The chemistry between Dratch and Davis is delightful, making for an engaging and often hilarious hour.