Are You A Charlotte? – “Speed Dating with Clark Gregg” (Jan 26, 2026)
Host: Kristin Davis | Guest: Clark Gregg

Episode Overview

In this lively, nostalgic episode, Sex and the City’s Charlotte York herself, Kristin Davis, welcomes acclaimed actor Clark Gregg to revisit the pivotal episode “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Through laughter and thoughtful reflection, they unpack 90s/2000s dating culture, beloved SATC storylines, the cultural impact of the series, and what’s changed—and what hasn’t—about dating, honesty, and female friendship. Gregg brings humor, humility, and a fan’s perspective from the “man toy” vantage point, while Davis offers behind-the-scenes memories and fresh insights for old and new fans alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Clark Gregg’s ‘Sex and the City’ Experience

• Memories of Casting & the SATC Set
  • Gregg reveals he barely had HBO at the time but knew SATC’s reputation:

    "Guys I knew were like, I'm the bimbo this week...what's your thing?" (05:37, Clark Gregg)

  • He describes the pride of joining the “club” of New York actors guest-starring on the show, akin to a rite of passage (25:43).
• Speed Dating: Then and Now
  • The guest star's episode centered on Miranda’s foray into speed dating, a precursor to dating apps:

    “It is so much precursor of...swiping left...just poor man’s Raya.” (07:35, Kristin/Clark)

  • Davis marvels at the old-school, in-person tension of face-to-face encounters—something both note has changed drastically.

2. Gender Roles, Honesty, and Storytelling in SATC

• Miranda, Men, and the Harvard Problem
  • Hilarious recall that Miranda’s intelligence and ambition immediately “turned off” speed daters (08:43).
• Lies and Identity in Dating
  • Both discuss the mechanics and reasons people (and their characters) fib or edit their identity, especially pre-Google:

    “They couldn't have done any digging on each other...You couldn't really lie that much [now].” (09:58, Kristin Davis)

• The Stewardess vs. Flight Attendant Bit
  • A wink at dated language and how quick SATC was to poke fun at shifting norms (09:09).

3. Revisiting the Episode’s Themes: Truth, Choices & Female Agency

• Charlotte’s Relationship Arc with Kyle
  • Davis reflects on Charlotte getting “everything she wanted” on paper, only to find something lacking:

    “Everything would look perfect, everything would seem perfect, but then it wouldn't really be...” (14:10, Kristin Davis)

  • Clark admires Charlotte’s (and the show’s) assertion of female sexual agency:

    “You're standing up for a woman's right to have her own sexual life and freedom.” (16:06, Clark Gregg)

• Clark’s SATC Storyline Legacy
  • He is frequently recognized for his faux-ER doctor role; “it landed for some people.” (13:13, Clark Gregg)

4. Behind the Scenes: Cast, Guest Stars, and Law & Order Parallels

• Male Guest Star Rankings
  • Clara and Kristin reminisce about a People Magazine–style “hottest guest stars” ranking, leading to competitive banter with actors like John Slattery and Bobby Cannavale (25:00 onwards).
• Appreciation for Supporting Actors
  • Davis credits the show’s stacked roster of male “mantoys” for enriching the series’ ensemble energy (26:45).

5. The Big Emotional Themes: Truth, Betrayal, and Innocence Lost

• Carrie & Aiden's Storyline
  • Davis and Gregg dissect Carrie’s confession of infidelity to Aiden and the raw, “gentle” masculinity of his heartbreak:

    “He seems to have...a gentle form of masculinity...he's talking about trees and how they complement each other...” (48:09, Clark Gregg)

  • Gregg, from a modern perspective, calls out red flags and explores how forgiveness operates differently now:

    “If you did it for three weeks...the conversation should be very different.” (52:15, Clark Gregg)

  • Both express empathy for both Carrie’s guilt and Aiden’s pain.
• Changing Relationship Norms
  • The hosts note how much more jaded or transactional dating (and society’s attitude toward sex and honesty) has become, post-apps and post-COVID:

    “There is...an innocence compared to now...it's made for people like, well, this is what I'm into, this is my transaction..." (33:53, Clark Gregg)

6. The Fight Scene: Bridesmaids & Realism in Female Friendship

• Charlotte vs. Samantha in Vera Wang
  • Davis revisits the episode’s biting bridesmaids’ fight, noting its realism and connection to Pat Field’s costume choices (40:44).
  • Gregg points out the subtle class commentary and humor in the scene.

7. The Legacy of SATC: Critique, Celebration, and Gender

• Early Backlash to SATC’s Format
  • Davis recalls sexist early criticism, such as the notion the characters were “really gay men dressed as women” because of two prominent gay male writers (38:21).
  • Both refute this and champion the authenticity—and diversity—of the show’s perspectives.
  • They celebrate Kim Cattrall’s Samantha as a character “we hadn't seen before...the complete unapologetic way that she lives her life is so unusual and different...” (39:11).

8. Life, Parenting, and The Comfort of SATC for Mothers

• SATC as New Mom Comfort TV
  • Davis acknowledges the impact the series had on new mothers, offering an aspirational “form of freedom” during early parenting (36:51).

9. Clark Gregg’s New Indie Series: “The Artist” on The Network

• Indie Streamer Spotlight
  • Gregg gives an elevator pitch for The Network’s “The Artist,” a Gilded Age murder drama, and champions supporting independent creators (56:30–58:26).

10. “Are You a Charlotte?” – Who Are We, Really?

• Clark Gregg’s SATC Self-Diagnosis
  • Clark doesn’t feel like a Miranda and instead claims:

    “I think of Charlotte as softer, good girl. Confused by some of her dark or naughty impulses...then a little bit too analytical...as I would kind of say, Carrie. And there's always the Specter of my 1980s Samantha on my shoulder..." (59:33–60:02, Clark Gregg)

  • Kristin responds she’s “half and half” Charlotte and Carrie.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Guys I knew were like, I'm the bimbo this week...what's your kink?” —Clark Gregg (05:37)
• “It is so much precursor of...swiping left...just poor man’s Raya.” —Kristin & Clark (07:35–07:49)
• “You're standing up for a woman's right to have her own sexual life and freedom.” —Clark Gregg (16:06)
• “It's right up there with ‘Law & Order’...It's a rite of passage for a New York actor.” —Clark Gregg (25:43)
• “He seems to have...a gentle form of masculinity...he's talking about the kinds of trees...” —Clark Gregg on Aiden (48:09)
• “If you did it for three weeks...the conversation should be very different.” —Clark Gregg on Carrie’s cheating (52:15)
• “There’s so much awareness that feels healthy...but it feels like some of the innocence, some of the mystery, might be getting peeled away.” —Clark Gregg (34:13)
• “Anytime women own their sexuality...they have to find some thing to take it away.” —Kristin Davis (38:21)

Important Segment Timestamps

• [04:18] Gregg on working across genres & prepping for SATC
• [07:03] Discussion of speed dating origins and mechanics
• [14:19] Reflecting on Charlotte’s relationship conundrum
• [25:00] Male guest stars ranking/“mantoys” banter
• [29:11] Analyzing the “truth” theme and high emotional stakes
• [33:53] Changes in dating and relationship culture
• [48:04] Aiden’s representation of gentle masculinity
• [52:45] Debating the ethics of Carrie’s infidelity
• [56:22] Clark pitches his new show, “The Artist”

Tone & Style

The episode’s tone is warm, authentic, and peppered with self-deprecating humor and nostalgia. Davis is candid and curious; Gregg is witty and reflective, offering a male guest star’s perspective with humility. Both are unafraid to critique themselves and the show’s legacy.

Final Thoughts

A must-listen for SATC fans and newcomers alike, this episode deftly weaves insider stories with cultural critique and emotional resonance. Through a blend of laughter and sincerity, Kristin Davis and Clark Gregg remind us why Sex and the City still matters—and what we can learn from its stories about love, honesty, and growing up, then and now.