Are You A Charlotte?

Episode: "The Music Man with Craig Bierko…" (S4 E3 "Defining Moments")

Release Date: March 30, 2026
Host: Kristin Davis
Guest: Craig Bierko (Ray King, “the jazz guy” in Sex and the City)

Episode Overview

In this richly nostalgic and insightful episode, Kristin Davis welcomes actor Craig Bierko, who played Ray King—Carrie’s captivating “jazz man” in Sex and the City episode “Defining Moments” (aired June 10, 2001). The conversation delves into behind-the-scenes memories, the experience of joining an established, iconic show mid-run, and the unique nuances of playing a character with ADHD. Together, Kristin and Craig discuss the evolution of the TV landscape, actor experiences as recurring guests, the importance of chemistry, and audience reactions then and now. The episode is packed with warmth, humor, and fresh perspective for fans old and new.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Craig Bierko’s Arrival on Sex and the City

• Craig reflects on joining the show:

  • Had just finished a year starring in "The Music Man" on Broadway; describes the grueling eight-show weeks as both “exhausting” and liberating.
  • The offer for Ray King came during this period, and he was drawn to the part’s uniqueness.
  • Quote: “I read it and thought, ‘I can't not do it. I've never read a part like this.’” (05:29)

• On being welcomed by the core cast:

  • Craig highlights the genuinely warm and welcoming environment, which isn’t always the case for guest actors on established shows.
  • Quote: “The sooner they feel like they’re part of the cast…the more a cast can make them feel like a regular part of the cast.” (06:39)
  • He describes how developing inside jokes and rapport on set makes a real difference.

2. Playing Ray King: Authentic ADHD Representation

• Personal connection to character:

  • Craig shares openly about growing up with ADHD and his appreciation for how Ray King was written—not solely as comic relief but in a way authentic to his own experiences.
  • Quote: “I grew up with ADHD, and I'd never seen it represented as anything but a comic conceit. But in this case...I would want it to be as close to my own experience as possible.” (07:27)

• Approach to performance:

  • Tells how the set felt welcoming and comfortable, letting him be fully present and creative from day one.
  • Discusses the “immediacy” of how actors on Sex and the City often have to jump right into intimate scenes, which could be daunting but was made easy thanks to Sarah Jessica Parker’s professionalism and warmth. (09:10)

3. The Guest Star Experience

• Comparisons to other TV guest spots:

  • Kristin and Craig swap stories about the range of experiences on multi-camera sitcoms, with Kristin noting some shows constantly rewrote her parts, unlike Sex and the City’s more stable scripts.
  • Quote: “Each environment, ecocosm, whatever you want to call it, they’re different…the vibe is different and the part is different.” (16:04)

• Unique casting and audition approach:

  • Describes the special nature of guest-starring as Ray: he didn’t have to do a conventional audition, instead he met and talked with Sarah Jessica Parker, which led to more genuine on-screen chemistry.
  • Notable advice from Craig: “You just do it and get out. Even if you lay a big stink bomb, get the hell out.” (11:47)

4. Chemistry On-Screen: Carrie, Big, & Ray

• Kristin’s take:

  • Emphasizes the “breath of fresh air” Ray brings, and how as a viewer, she’s relieved Carrie is drawn to someone new besides Big.
  • Quote: “She’s literally on a date with Big, but not a date, like a date—and you’re on stage flirting with her…so relieved as a viewer that she’s into something new!” (12:21)

• Missed opportunities with the rest of the cast:

  • Craig notes he (Ray) only had one scene with the rest of the girls—something both Kristin and Craig wish had been different for fun ensemble energy. (07:04)

5. Audience Reaction and Immediate Impact

• Craig’s story of being recognized:
  • Shares after his episode aired, a stranger approached him late at night in NYC with “Are you going to hurt her?” confusing at first, but referencing Carrie.
  • Quote: “It was the closest experience I ever had to, like, maybe being on a soap or something…they’re people walking around thinking you’re their actual friends.” (24:58)
  • Reflects on how legacy and familiarity with the character follow him, even decades later.

6. “Defining Moments”: Rewatch & Behind-the-Scenes Highlights

• Casting memories:
  • The episode boasted a remarkable guest line-up (Craig Bierko, Kyle MacLachlan, Sonia Braga, Jim Gaffigan).
  • Kristin marvels at the casting and recalls Jim Gaffigan’s then-budding career.
  • Quote: “I got to work with none of you.” (27:52)
• Hat and Jazz Bar Stories:
  • Craig still has the tape used to fake playing the bass, had to learn just a few notes for verisimilitude.
  • A running joke and minor annoyance about his character’s hat, persistently insisted on by the costume department. (29:09)

7. Thematic Exploration: Relationships, Communication, & Relatability

• Carrie’s Triangle:

  • Carrie is caught between Big (“still charming, still hurting”) and Ray (“something new, fresh, with real chemistry”).
  • The group discusses how Ray’s “lack of questions” signals both his coolness and possible distance. (39:06)

• Charlotte & Trey subplot:

  • Kristin recaps how Charlotte’s storyline explores sexual confusion and communication issues after marriage.
  • Quote: “The main problem is not the sex. It’s that he cannot seem to talk about anything.” (43:18)

• Age, Perspective, and Relatability:

  • Craig and Kristin reflect on rewatching the show with more life experience—how its details hit differently with age.
  • Quote: “I've gone through each one of those experiences…it's…why it connects so much, is that there's so much to connect to.” (47:46)
  • Craig says, “...it's a validation to see something on a show...that tells you it's okay. Yeah, this happens.” (49:06)

8. Evolution of TV, Storytelling, and the Industry

• Changing landscape:

  • They discuss the differences between the “theater-to-TV” pipeline of past television and today’s creators (e.g., Quinta Brunson, Benito Skinner) emerging from digital platforms and social media. (51:10–52:39)
  • Craig: “People haven’t changed…so the stories. It’s still about story. And it’s just the format.” (53:01)
  • Both admire the freshness and scrappy innovation of new “plots of land” for storytelling, though lament the loss of old norms. (53:10)

• On Broadway & celebrity-driven casting:

  • Craig observes that Broadway casting now often prioritizes celebrity, and doubts he would land "The Music Man" today, underscoring how risk and trust factored into his original casting. (54:41–54:54)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On joining an established show (Craig, 05:29):

  • “I read it and I thought, ‘I can't not do it. I've never read a part like this. I don't know that I've seen a part like that since, actually, which is crazy.’”

• On representation and performance (Craig, 07:27):

  • “I grew up with ADHD, and I'd never seen it represented as anything but a comic conceit…if I was going to inhabit it…I would want it to be as close to my own experience as possible.”

• On intimacy, guest roles (Craig, 09:10):

  • “You meet somebody and you jump right into bed...to jump inside of that from the beginning…But I actually didn’t feel uncomfortable because [Sarah Jessica Parker] was so much fun.”

• On guest star nerves and advice (Craig, 11:47):

  • “You just do it and get out. Even if you lay a big stink bomb, get the hell out. That's genius.”

• On guest actors as “red shirts” (Craig, 25:18):

  • “Any guys that aren’t Mr. Big are essentially different grades of the guys on Star Trek with the red shirts. We’re going back down to the planet. But we’re not coming back.”

• On Carrie’s love triangle (Kristin, 12:21):

  • “As a viewer, I was so relieved that she’s into something new, you know? Thank God. Thank God.”

• On rewatch relatability (Craig, 47:46):

  • “I've gone through each one of those experiences…that's obviously part of the soup of the show. It's why it connects so much, is that there's so much to connect to...seeing something on a show that tells you it's okay. Yeah, this happens.”

• On storytelling (Craig, 53:01):

  • "People haven’t changed…so the stories. It’s still about story. And it’s just the format."

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Craig joins Sex and the City/“The Music Man” era: 04:35–06:53
• ADHD, Ray King’s character, authentic representation: 07:27–08:18
• On chemistry, guest star experience, and audition process: 09:55–11:47
• Audience reaction and being recognized: 24:58–26:48
• Memory lane: ensemble guest cast, Jim Gaffigan, the hat saga: 27:34–29:28
• Kristin and Craig on authentic hookup/approach anxiety: 32:59–35:06
• Rewatching: character analysis, Charlotte & Trey’s subplot: 41:02–43:18
• TV/industry changes: old shows, new creators, and storytelling: 51:00–53:33

Conclusion

In this episode, Kristin Davis and Craig Bierko deliver a heartwarming, open, and often hilarious conversation about jumping into iconic TV worlds, forging on-set connections, and seeing your work through the lens of time. Fans will love Craig’s candidness about Ray King, his own ADHD, and the quirks of being a guest in Carrie Bradshaw’s orbit. The discussion reflects on how Sex and the City’s relatable ups and downs resonate across generations, and how—no matter how formats shift—it’s always the story that endures.

Stay tuned for Part Two promised later in the week!