Are You A Charlotte? – "The Glamorous Life with Jenny Bicks" (S3 E16 "Frenemies")

Podcast: Are You A Charlotte?
Host: Kristin Davis
Guest: Jenny Bicks (Sex and the City writer)
Episode Date: February 26, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode features a heartfelt and often humorous conversation between Kristin Davis (Charlotte on Sex and the City) and returning guest Jenny Bicks (writer of the episode "Frenemies"). Together, they reminisce about the behind-the-scenes realities of making Sex and the City, discuss stories and challenges from the set, and reflect on the endurance and legacy of the show. The pair dive into what made the series—and specific episodes—so resonant, the camaraderie of the cast and crew, and how the show's relevance continues to impact viewers both old and new.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Appreciating the Sex and the City Experience

• Nostalgia & Appreciation:

  • Both Davis and Bicks reflect on the gratitude they feel looking back at their time on Sex and the City.
    • "Did we really fully appreciate what we had?" (Kristin, 03:40)
    • Jenny confesses that by season six, she realized “how special and amazing” the experience really was (03:44-04:05).
  • They marvel at the show's ongoing impact and continued discovery by new generations, as evidenced by memes and younger audiences tuning in (05:11).

• Watching the Show Hold Up:

  • Kristin shares her fears about the show aging poorly, but is pleasantly surprised with how well most of it stands the test of time (04:57-05:11).

The Chaos and Camaraderie of Production

• Ambition & Crossboarding:

  • Discussion of production complexities, particularly “crossboarding”—shooting multiple episodes simultaneously:
    • "There was a point … we were shooting three different episodes at the same time." (Jenny, 08:24)
    • Kristin describes scenes where crew and cast would be color-coded by T-shirts (A, B, C) to know which episode they were working on (08:48-09:07).
    • They detail the confusion, challenges, and need for meticulous continuity, with lots of gratitude for the crew’s attention to these details (09:49-15:17).

• The Unmatched Writer’s Room & Creative Synergy:

  • Jenny reminisces about the unique chemistry of their writer’s room, crediting showrunner Michael Patrick King:
    • "He knew who could handle him, who could work in the system where we would get the best out of everybody.” (Jenny, 07:58-08:07)

• Shooting in New York & LA:

  • Both vividly recall the intensity of shooting on location in New York (with often bonkers hours), and Jenny touches on their LA adventures—including stories about the Playboy Mansion and night shoots (46:25–47:20).

The Learning Annex & Themes of "Frenemies"

• Writers as Accidental Relationship Gurus:

  • The conversation shifts to the Learning Annex storyline and how it paralleled the bizarre expectation that writers (or actors) must be relationship experts:
    • “People assume you know a lot about relationships. So people would come to us as writers…” (Jenny, 21:47-22:56)

• Cameos and Guest Stars:

  • Kristin lists actors who appeared as “nobodies” on the show and have since made big names for themselves—Katherine Curtin, Rebecca Wisocky, Dominic Fumusa, etc. (23:35-24:15).
  • They reflect on the thriving New York acting community and how the show drew a vibrant pool of talent, especially as a rare non-cop show filming locally (24:25-25:16).

Memorable Moments & Sex and the City Magic

• Wild & Iconic Storylines:

  • They revisit classic moments—like Samantha’s sense of boundaries (35:37), her “powerful, not needy” sexuality, and the sheer fun of LA episodes with lines like “tit soup” (37:36-38:07).
    • "Even Samantha has a line she won't cross... I'm not, I don't have to go under a table because that's about her sexuality." (Jenny, 35:38)

• Production Challenges and Lessons:

  • Reminiscing about the “scary car accident” while filming in LA (39:09-40:01).
  • Kristin points out her awe at the show’s frequent scenes where the actresses were doing stunts—like running in high heels—without injury or major mishaps (41:07-41:31).

• Enduring Legacy & Golden Globes ‘Crinkle Cut Cheese’ Story:

  • Jenny shares the “crinkle cut cheese” story—an inside joke about humble beginnings at the Golden Globes, emblematic of the cast and crew’s journey from outsiders to award darlings (43:27–44:45).
    • "When Michael and I say something is a crinkle cut cheese moment, it's when you expect it to be like, really everything. And you just walk into a hotel room with some crinkle cut American." (Jenny, 44:29–44:45)

Reflection on Relationships & Advice

• Mentorship & Support:

  • Kristin shares personal career stories—being mentored by George Clooney, his wisdom about persistence and humility in acting (27:10–28:53).
    • "[Clooney] was so smart about it all... You’re gonna get what's meant for you, and you didn't lose that part. You never had that part. You just want to be in the mix." (Kristin, 28:12–28:53)

• The Sex and the City Sisterhood:

  • Both women express gratitude for their deep bonds and the way the experience shaped their lives and those of so many viewers (48:02–48:20).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the longevity of Sex and the City:
  • "You just don't know when someone's going to pick up something... Kids, gals above the age of 16, whatever, are finding the show." – Jenny (05:11)
• On set chaos:
  • "We'd have to go to our trailer, change into what we wore like three months ago, go to, you know, Stage four and hold a phone and have to hit a mark to get an insert that we had forgotten." – Kristin (12:47)
• On female empowerment and character boundaries:
  • "The thing about Samantha that I do love... is the power of her freedom, you know, she's powerful, she's not needy." – Kristin (36:15)
• On production humility & perspective:
  • "You have to have those moments to really appreciate... Like, you don't just get to go and be the belle of the ball." – Jenny (45:32)

Episode Timeline (Timestamps)

• 03:40 – Reminiscing about whether they fully appreciated the experience at the time
• 05:11 – Discovery of the show by new audiences and meme culture
• 08:24–13:27 – Crossboarding chaos & behind-the-scenes production details
• 15:01–15:17 – Shout-out to the “best” crew, editors, hair & makeup
• 21:37–22:56 – The Learning Annex storyline and writers as accidental relationship experts
• 23:35–24:25 – Notable minor actors and the New York acting community
• 35:38–36:15 – Discussion of Samantha’s boundaries and sexual empowerment
• 37:36–38:07 – LA and Playboy Mansion stories (“tit soup”)
• 41:07–41:31 – High-heel running and on-set athleticism
• 44:29–45:18 – The Golden Globes “crinkle cut cheese” anecdote
• 46:25–47:20 – Tough LA shoots & joys of filming locally
• 48:02–48:20 – The importance of perspective and memory between collaborators

Final Reflections

The episode is a warm, funny, and insightful conversation for fans—whether die-hard or new. Davis and Bicks offer a rare and personal perspective on both the chaos and magic behind Sex and the City, illuminate the show’s ongoing relevance, and celebrate the sisterhood, hard work, and serendipity that have made the series beloved for decades.

"Together we can find one memory." – Kristin (48:18)