“You look great? That was not one of the things I told you to say.” (S4 E8 "My Motherboard, My Self")

Summary

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Are You A Charlotte?

Episode: “You look great? That was not one of the things I told you to say.”

(S4 E8: "My Motherboard, My Self")

Host: Kristin Davis
Guests: Julie and Alisa (Sex and the City writers)
Date: May 4, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this vibrant and moving episode, Kristin Davis welcomes Julie and Alisa, the acclaimed writing duo behind some of the most resonant episodes of Sex and the City, for an in-depth rewatch and analysis of Season 4 Episode 8, “My Motherboard, My Self.” They reminisce, laugh, and (nearly) cry as they share behind-the-scenes stories from their first-ever TV job, discuss evolving perceptions of support and vulnerability, dissect the mechanics of the writers’ room, and reflect on the enduring power and challenges of the “chosen family” at the core of the show.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Writing Duo’s Journey to Sex and the City

• Julie and Alisa recall being absolute fans before being hired (05:01), and how “My Motherboard, My Self” was both their first TV job ever and the first episode they wrote for the show.
• Serendipity: The pair nearly missed their critical meeting with Darren Starr. “Sleep on my kid’s floor if you have to. You are not missing out,” Julie recalls her agent saying (06:13).

Creating “My Motherboard, My Self”

• The episode’s driving themes—support in various forms (tech support, bra support, emotional support)—all originated from real-life stories:
  • Julie’s laptop crisis and her boyfriend’s well-intentioned but irritating attempts to help (09:07)
  • Alisa’s bra shopping experience with her handsy salesperson and mother (09:35)
• Michael Patrick King (MPK) wove their anecdotes into the story’s architecture, linking physical and emotional “support” with the show's usual narrative wit (10:22).

  “Suddenly the idea of tech support, bra support, friendship support... it just clicked together.”
  — Julie (10:22)

Behind the Scenes: The Writers’ Room & Table Reads

• The writers’ room was a place for personal stories and vulnerability, which were transformed into the show’s beats (08:42, 59:00–60:11).
• Table reads were initially daunting for newcomers, who found it hard to be critical when starstruck by the cast (17:00).

  “It was very hard for me to be critical at table reads because I was just like, I’m watching my favorite!”
  — Alisa (17:00)

• MPK’s rigorous read-throughs taught the writers to “listen for when something dies” (18:01). Kristin and Julie agree it’s a rare skill for young writers and actors today (18:54).

Episode Insights: Storytelling, Craft, and Vulnerability

• The episode uniquely omits Carrie’s trademark “question,” due to both narrative necessity (her laptop is dead) and editing constraints (12:21).

  “It was exactly 48 seconds too long or whatever. That is exactly the length of that question.”
  — Julie (13:30)

• Scenes were almost lost in editing—most notably, the dressing-room bra fitting scene, which survived by a whisker (13:30).
• Kristin and the writers discuss the complexities of acting and writing for ensemble storylines (26:08–32:46): Charlotte as comic “runner” (not just a “D-story”), and the band/jazz analogy for character interplay.

Emotional Resonance: Death, Chosen Family, and Support

• The episode was a breakthrough in showing vulnerability and grief, as Miranda’s mother dies and the women rally around her—topics seldom depicted so rawly on TV (33:44).

  “When you sort of didn’t know what to do when someone died... you want that person who says, ‘this is what we’re going to do.’”
  — Julie (32:46)

• Charlotte’s role as the “Martha Stewart of death,” comforting Samantha and mothering others, mirrored real-life experiences, including Alisa’s Charlotte-like mother (33:44).
• The iconic funeral scene, with Steve and Aidan showing up for Miranda, marked a subtle yet powerful display of found family (36:12).

  “That became Elisa’s [role, reading opposite from off-camera], but it would normally be our script supervisor. It really changes the whole scene.”
  — Julie (30:34)

Reflections on Carrie, Aidan, and Endgame Relationships

• Kristin probes the writers: Was Big always the “endgame”? (47:01–48:26)
  • Julie and Alisa maintain the outcome was not predetermined; other boyfriends were seriously considered (48:26). The writers reflected their own romantic uncertainties in the character’s journeys.
• The team affirms they wrote all four main characters as flawed, complex women—something still rare in today’s TV landscape (55:19, 56:24).

The Creative Process & Personal Connections

• Julie admits to being highly critical on first viewing, unable to enjoy the episode for years (69:18):

  “All I could see were things I wanted to tweak... Only now I can do it.”
  — Julie (73:45)

• Kristin jokes that she only ever criticized her own performance.
• The analogies—director as chef, writers room as jazz band—underscore the ensemble nature of creative TV production (67:17, 32:24).

Lasting Legacy – and Personal Stories in the Fiction

• The grief in “My Motherboard, My Self” paralleled multiple behind-the-scenes personal losses (mothers, parents, friends), and its airing was an act of honoring those histories (77:02).
• Julie shares how her own ambivalence about marriage, echoed in the narrative, was radical to see onscreen (79:13–80:01).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On integrating personal stories into scripts:

  “We were in LA writing... just being in shock. And when we met you guys, I was starstruck probably for the entire run.”
  — Alisa (16:42)

• On delivering tough notes for performers:

  “If something was on the chopping block... Michael would say, ‘Nope, it’s never the actor’s fault. That’s our fault.’”
  — Alisa (19:22)

• On taking creative risks:

  “It was a very dark episode... I was worried, is it overly sentimental? And of course... that shot with the guys [at the funeral]—it was just perfect.”
  — Julie (36:12)

• On Charlotte’s comedic trajectory:

  “I was supposed to be the boop-boop-bop, bop... and then I got to come back up.”
  — Kristin (32:24)

• On flawed female characters:

  “There’s not a lot of flawed women characters and there certainly aren’t four of them leading a show.”
  — Kristin (55:19)

• Episode title moment:

  “You look great? That was not one of the things I told you to say.”
  — Charlotte to Samantha (39:36)

• On found family:

  “We’re there to support and celebrate each other, and that is not like a your story versus my story.”
  — Kristin (22:20, 45:06, 65:43)

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Timestamps by Segment

| Time | Segment / Topic | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:07 | Introduction of Julie & Alisa (writers) | | 05:00 | How they landed the writing job; first time in TV | | 09:00 | Real-life stories inspiring “support” theme | | 12:21 | The missing Carrie question—why it was cut | | 13:30 | Nearly-lost dressing room scene; editing realities | | 17:00 | Starstruck at table reads; MPK’s lessons for writers | | 26:08 | Acting ensemble insights; Charlotte as the “runner” | | 32:46 | Charlotte’s role in grief and support | | 36:12 | The iconic funeral scene; chosen family moment | | 47:01 | Was Big always the end game? Writers reflect | | 55:19 | Complexity of flawed female leads in TV | | 60:11 | Writers’ room as ‘idea soup’—personal stories to scripts | | 69:18 | Writers watching their own episodes; first impressions | | 77:02 | Inspiration from real-life losses behind the scenes | | 79:13 | Narrative as therapy: Julie’s proposal reluctance |

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Final Takeaways

• The episode cements the legacy of Sex and the City as an ensemble, character-driven series where authenticity, wit, and emotional vulnerability intersect.
• The creative process behind the show was deeply collaborative, shaped by the real lives and personalities of its cast and writers, and willing to break comedic boundaries by exploring loss, grief, and uncomfortable truths.
• Julie and Alisa’s reflections highlight how television writing can be both deeply personal and universally resonant, especially when it dares to honestly depict women’s flaws, friendships, fears, and triumphs.

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If you love insider stories, emotional honesty, and a masterclass in how great TV gets made, don’t miss this two-part conversation—the warmth, vulnerability, and joy leap across time and through your speakers.

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Transcript

[Kristin Davis]

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[Dani Shapiro]

Your husband is not who you think he is. Your body is not what you thought it was. Your identity is formed by a secret history. I'm Dani Shapiro and these are just a few of the stunning stories I'll be exploring on the 14th season of Family Secrets.

[Kristin Davis]

He kind of shoved me out of the way and said move. And he went out the front door and he jumped in a car and drove off and that was the last time I saw him.

[Dani Shapiro]

Listen to season 14 of Family Secrets on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Psychology of Your Twenties Host]

Your twenties can be so exciting, but they can also be really overwhelming, confusing, and honestly just kind of lonely. May is mental health awareness month and the psychology of your twenties is breaking down the science behind the biggest roadblocks we face.

[Kristin Davis]

I was six years into my career,

[Alisa (Writer)]

the 80 hour weeks and just the first one in, the last one out

[Kristin Davis]

and I ended up burning out. There was a large chunk of my twenties that I like was so wanting to like be out of that phase, out of my skin. And I just like really regret not

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

living in the present more.

[Psychology of Your Twenties Host]

You don't need to have everything figured out right now. You just need to understand yourself a little bit better. Listen to the psychology of your 20s on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Chelsea Handler]

This season on Dear Chelsea with me, Chelsea Handler, we have some fantastic guests like Amelia Clark.

[Kristin Davis]

When like young people come up to

[Alisa (Writer)]

me and they want to be an

[Kristin Davis]

actor or whatever, my first thing is

[Alisa (Writer)]

always, can you think of anything else

[Kristin Davis]

that you can do?

[Chelsea Handler]

Rather be disappointed in.

[Kristin Davis]

Do that.

[Chelsea Handler]

David Oyelowo.

[Motivational Speaker / Podcast Guest]

I love this podcast.

[Kristin Davis]

Whether it's therapy or relationships or religion

[Motivational Speaker / Podcast Guest]

or sex or addiction or you just

[Kristin Davis]

go straight for the guts.

[Chelsea Handler]

Dennis Leary, Gaten Matarazzo from Stranger Things, Tana Mongeau, Camilla Morrone, Carrie, Kenny Silver, and more. Listen to these episodes of Dear Chelsea on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

Hi, I'm Kristen Davis, and I want to know, are you a Charlotte?

[Kristin Davis]

Oh, everybody, welcome to Are youe a Charlotte? Today is such a big day when I tell you that I have been waiting so long this to happen.

[Julie (Writer)]

You and me both.

[Kristin Davis]

Yeah, I mean, right? You guys who are listening today, for the first time, we are welcoming Julie and Elisa, who are our. Our favorite girl partnership writers that we love so much.

[Julie (Writer)]

This is a brilliant save. You, Justin. Yes, I know. So as not to say we're your favorite writers. We're your favorite team writers. Right.

[Kristin Davis]

Because I don't want to get in trouble.

[Alisa (Writer)]

But you guys have Baron and the other team writers.

[Kristin Davis]

Exactly. You have a very special place in the history of our show. But also to me personally. So I have been counting the days for so many reasons. And I mean, for one thing, I think I should just say right up front that Julie and Alisa were hugely integral to. And just like that. And I feel very much like so close to them as a result, because they are both mothers. They live in Brooklyn. Charlotte got a lot of good.

[Julie (Writer)]

A lot of the trauma of our lives we were able to share with you.

[Kristin Davis]

I wasn't gonna use that word, but yes, you guys, you gave a lot. You gave a lot.

[Alisa (Writer)]

You became our spirit animal for motherhood, domestic bliss, and.

[Kristin Davis]

Hell yes. And I love that so much. And it was such a. Like. Because when you came onto Sex and the City, it was this fourth season, which, as I've told my listeners before, I have a bit of a blackout.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Yes.

[Kristin Davis]

I can't remember. I was so.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Yeah, I just heard you talking about that.

[Julie (Writer)]

First of all, let's just say it. That was. It wasn't just our first episode of Sex and the City, which in and of itself would be huge. That was our first TV job ever.

[Kristin Davis]

Which is insane.

[Julie (Writer)]

That is insane. And wait, I work for tv.

[Kristin Davis]

The episode we are discussing is My Motherboard myself, which is literally possibly our best episode ever written. Like, the fact that that was your first TV job is insane. It's insane.

[Julie (Writer)]

We acknowledge that.

[Kristin Davis]

How did it happen?

[Julie (Writer)]

Oh, my God.

[Alisa (Writer)]

The episode or. Yeah.

[Kristin Davis]

That you came to us.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Oh, gosh, there's.

[Julie (Writer)]

I'm a tough. I mean, I don't even know.

[Kristin Davis]

I don't know.

[Alisa (Writer)]

The short answer is that we happened to be in the very beginning of our careers. We were at the same agency as Darren and we were in la. We had this little development deal with Studios usa and we were pitching this little sitcom that we had come up with and we pitched it to all the networks. And then right before we were set to fly back to New York, our agent said, oh, Darren Starr wants to meet with you guys before you go back.

[Kristin Davis]

Adorable.

[Alisa (Writer)]

And Julie had the famous response.

[Julie (Writer)]

I, being an idiot, said, cause he said he wants to meet with you guys Thursday morning. And I was like, ah, too bad. We're flying back Wednesday night. I love you guys. And we literally said, change your flight. Sleep on my kid's floor if you have to. You are not missing out even.

[Alisa (Writer)]

But he had nothing in New York that was waiting for him. We had no.

[Julie (Writer)]

That was Matt.

[Alisa (Writer)]

We had no kids, nothing.

[Julie (Writer)]

I give him a lot of credit. And that just shows how incredibly Matt Solo you were. Matt Solo. Thank you, Matt Solo.

[Kristin Davis]

Good job.

[Julie (Writer)]

Good job. So we changed our flight. We slept on another friend's fl and we literally, with our suitcases, arrived the next morning. And we met Michael, Darren, Jenny and Cindy. And at that point, we were fans.

[Alisa (Writer)]

We were just the biggest fans writing season three.

[Kristin Davis]

So they were in the writers room and they're like, got it.

[Julie (Writer)]

And just to be in the same room with them was an honor. And we were dying. We were like, just like peeing ourselves with excitement. That felt like the victory. Like, we just got to meet them and tell them how much girls love the show. And. And then we went back to our lives and of course that pilot didn't go. And we figured, like, we're done. That was it. That was over.

[Kristin Davis]

Our career. We took a shot.

[Julie (Writer)]

We'll go back to our day jobs. And lo and behold, like, a year later, Michael actually hired us. And we were like, you mean to bring coffee to people? Like, like, really? It was like, yeah, I love you guys. So we're gonna, like, sweep. We're gonna sweep the floor where they are.

[Kristin Davis]

So then. So did you come to the writers room?

[Julie (Writer)]

So, yeah, and then we had.

[Alisa (Writer)]

We had like five days. Like, we heard on a Monday that he was going to hire us and that we had to, like, be in

[Julie (Writer)]

LA and find housing. It was like being shot out of a cannon. Yeah, a very exciting cannon that we still. We got there and we were like, is this a mistake? And, like, we'll definitely get fired on the first day.

[Alisa (Writer)]

And then we learned that Michael Patrick's favorite joke is, you're fired.

[Julie (Writer)]

Like, with writers, he would say, that

[Alisa (Writer)]

was all the time happening all the

[Julie (Writer)]

time, and then poke his head into our office and be like, you're fired.

[Kristin Davis]

Oh, my God. Michael Patrick.

[Julie (Writer)]

But anyway, back to the writers room. So this is season four. We're there for the first time at our very first, you know, TV job, just, like, pinching ourselves. And of course, we had gathered a whole bunch of our own stories and ideas and things that happened to us and what might work in the show.

[Kristin Davis]

Did they ask you to do that? No, but we just came prepared.

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

Got it.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Julie has notes for this one.

[Julie (Writer)]

I do have. No, that's true. Okay, fair enough. I have notes for this is my sad time. I would love.

[Alisa (Writer)]

No, you are prepared. You are a good student.

[Julie (Writer)]

Thank you.

[Kristin Davis]

It's fantastic.

[Alisa (Writer)]

We were coming up with ideas and. And themes, too, because Sex and the City was so thematic, right?

[Julie (Writer)]

So literally, I think maybe the first day, maybe the second day, we each shared. We had these separate stories around support. My MacBook had crashed, and I went to Techserve with my very loving, wonderful boyfriend, who I was so irritated by, even though all he was doing was trying to help me. I told this story about text over my Mac and support and tech support. Alisa.

[Alisa (Writer)]

I had just been bra shopping for just no reason in Philadelphia at Saks Fifth Avenue. And the bra salesperson was extremely handsy and, you know, did all of the measurement. And I was like, Miranda. I was with my mom, which was interesting now, looking back. But I remember being irritated by the woman because it was more than I had asked for. And she was telling me that I was shopping everything that I was shopping for the wrong size, and here's what you should do. And then I left, and I felt like a new person. I was like, oh, I can see now. I can, you know, breathe underwater. And so we linked those two.

[Julie (Writer)]

Ross support and tech support. And Michael, because he knew in his. He knew he wanted Miranda's mother to die at some point, I guess we should mention this is the episode where Miranda's mom dies. And he looked at the board, and he was, like, somewhere around there. And suddenly the idea of tech support, bra support, friendship support, how do we help each other in these different ways? And then it just, like, clicked together.

[Kristin Davis]

That gives me chills.

[Julie (Writer)]

No, it was, to this day, like, it was the luckiest. It was a very, very lucky. It was a gift because, I mean, and we didn't know anything, really. I mean, obviously we wrote and we knew how to do that. But what Michael and Cindy and Jenny and everyone else there did, what we did in the room together was build help to build out the episodes and the structure and the beats of the story. You know, what's Charlotte's story gonna be? How does Samantha's bring into that? That was also something we were excited to do because so good. Like, Samantha obviously has a ton of sex, is having orgasms, like 100 an episode. And I remember, like, I really wanted to do an episode where it actually wasn't that easy for her to have an orgasm. And actually it was like, felt impossible. And all the comedy around that and watching it again. Oh, my God. I mean, we should mention Michael Angler directed this episode. Like, so tremendous job. Beautifully. And again, we were so new. Like, we didn't even know how lucky we were. But of course he did this incredible job. But even things like looking back. So every episode, obviously there's a question, but guess what's missing from this episode?

[Kristin Davis]

Is there no question? No question.

[Alisa (Writer)]

The only one. Yeah.

[Julie (Writer)]

And we killed ourselves writing that question. We wrote it forever and a day. And Michael kept rejecting it.

[Alisa (Writer)]

And I'll just say all I remember is there were Doc Martens that were mentioned.

[Julie (Writer)]

Oh, yeah.

[Kristin Davis]

Support your brain. This rings a bell.

[Julie (Writer)]

I was shocked because we shot it with Sarah Desmond.

[Kristin Davis]

Okay.

[Julie (Writer)]

But we had so much trouble circling this question around support. I should have pulled up the notes, but. And every time we thought we had cracked it, he was like, nope, it's not that. And we go back in.

[Kristin Davis]

I mean that it was like Doug Martin's like, shoe support. Like footsteps.

[Alisa (Writer)]

I just remember there were.

[Julie (Writer)]

We should pull. Somebody's got. The dainelies must exist. She pulls. We had her looking at her shoes, talking about support. I guess. I'm so glad you remember the Doc Martens.

[Alisa (Writer)]

I just remember.

[Julie (Writer)]

And then, of course, she tied it together and yeah, it was neatly. So finally we achieved it. And he signed off on it. Right. We shot it and we're in post and the episode was running a little long, of course. Oh, and I remember.

[Alisa (Writer)]

And you know what? Almost got cut. Which is shocking to even say. But I remember on the possible chopping block was the dressing room scene.

[Julie (Writer)]

No.

[Alisa (Writer)]

With Mary Pat, Lisa.

[Kristin Davis]

That would have been horrible.

[Alisa (Writer)]

I remember that was. There was a day we were shooting a coffee shop seen for something else. And it was like, so maybe. Maybe that. And you know, I felt too close to it to know.

[Julie (Writer)]

But yeah, that and also like, we were like, new here. So it was like whatever you think. Right, right. Right, of course, of course. But I remember Michael sitting us down and saying, guys, the episode was exactly, you know, 48 seconds too long or whatever. That is exactly the length of that question. She doesn't have her laptop.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Right. It's sort of perfect.

[Kristin Davis]

Well, because she's right. Yeah. She's writing the question when it dies. Well, he comes to kiss her.

[Alisa (Writer)]

She's writing the column.

[Kristin Davis]

Right? She's writing the column. Which would have been the question.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Right.

[Kristin Davis]

Theoretically.

[Julie (Writer)]

And also, I had forgotten that he leans over and he reads it out loud. I have

[Kristin Davis]

invasive.

[Julie (Writer)]

That felt like a radical invasion.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Definitely.

[Kristin Davis]

And she's like, I didn't finish writing

[Alisa (Writer)]

this, but it's almost like he broke it.

[Kristin Davis]

I know. It feels that way. It totally feels that way. And then she's irritated with him, even though he is trying to help. But you kind of understand.

[Julie (Writer)]

Right.

[Kristin Davis]

And also the other thing that I really love, because this has happened in this season when she has to write her first email. Right?

[Alisa (Writer)]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Kristin Davis]

I was laughing so hard.

[Julie (Writer)]

I know.

[Alisa (Writer)]

I want to see that again. Wait, wait, wait. What is the episode where she writes the email?

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

Oh.

[Kristin Davis]

And she doesn't know if he's seen it. And then she's there, and Willie's there. Stanford is there. And you remember how you used to. Aol used to have, like, messenger, instant messenger. And it says. It would say if you were online. And she ducks. She's like, can I see me?

[Julie (Writer)]

Oh, my God.

[Alisa (Writer)]

That is amazing.

[Kristin Davis]

It's a time capsule.

[Julie (Writer)]

That's insane.

[Kristin Davis]

Yeah, yeah, it's really good.

[Julie (Writer)]

But, like, him reading, him, like, invading her voice.

[Kristin Davis]

I know. He just swoops in, big old self and reads aloud.

[Julie (Writer)]

Did we have her writing it longhand?

[Kristin Davis]

No, she's typing.

[Julie (Writer)]

No, I'm thinking that scene that we. No, I think it was a just voiceover.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Oh, I think it was just voiceover.

[Kristin Davis]

It could have been voiceover while she's reaching for. Because I remember Doc Martin something.

[Julie (Writer)]

Yeah, there was vague.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Yeah, no, we wrote.

[Kristin Davis]

But.

[Julie (Writer)]

And I think then Michael said, like, what? It should be the only episode where there isn't a question because her computer is in tech serve. So we were like, okay, I guess. I guess.

[Kristin Davis]

No, what do you remember of the filming of it? Like, what were you thinking? What were you feeling first of all, again?

[Julie (Writer)]

First time, like, on set. Yeah, we.

[Alisa (Writer)]

I mean, that's.

[Julie (Writer)]

I mean, that's little children.

[Kristin Davis]

We have those cute pictures.

[Alisa (Writer)]

You have those pictures.

[Kristin Davis]

I can't wait to put them on the Instagram.

[Julie (Writer)]

Oh, my God.

[Kristin Davis]

We're like little children. Especially you guys. Practically so cute. It wasn't bad. It was cute as anything.

[Julie (Writer)]

We were happy, let's put it that way.

[Alisa (Writer)]

I'll just say, like we wrote, we were in LA writing the season or the beginning, you know, as much as we could before filming began.

[Kristin Davis]

Right.

[Alisa (Writer)]

And that in and of itself was an out of body experience for three months of just being in shock. And are we really, Is this really the show? Like, meeting the other writers, getting to know the whole process. But then when we met you guys.

[Julie (Writer)]

Yeah, that was crazy.

[Alisa (Writer)]

I think that was crazy. Like, I was starstruck probably for the entire Sex and the City run. Like, I'm not kidding. Like, I really just felt so I. It was very hard for me to be critical at table reads because I was just like, I'm watching my favorite.

[Kristin Davis]

Table reads are special.

[Alisa (Writer)]

No, I, I, but like, other people would have notes and I would just be like, I thought it was great.

[Kristin Davis]

Like, I just. Yeah, yeah, no, that's me at a table read as well. Cynthia's got the critical. I'm just like, it's fantastic. I love everyone.

[Julie (Writer)]

After that first table read, it must have been season four, one, two. Yeah. Cause we would read them together. And I remember I was so excited and there was like all that delicious food and it's free. Like, that was all still very exciting. And then I remember at the end of the table and we got to meet everyone, we're saying, hi, I'm so excited. And then Michael was like, everybody in my office.

[Kristin Davis]

Oh yeah, that was a bloodbath.

[Julie (Writer)]

And I was like, wait, what? Like, I need to go to university of table reads. I didn't understand what was so wrong. And it actually really helped me. It actually taught me what to listen for in a table read. And like, why he felt it had gone so badly. Because that's everything. Now that I understand that, it's like learning to look at an X ray and saying like, did you notice everyone's sort of disengaged right around page 8? Or did you notice that actually felt too harsh for that character? And just what to listen for was so valuable. And now it's the most important tool. I mean, there are so many. But I say if I have to pick one thing for a writer to think about is have a read even in your living room with your friends.

[Kristin Davis]

But don't you find that almost no one knows this now?

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

Yes.

[Kristin Davis]

Like, I think that Michael is this wonderful.

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

Shows don't even care.

[Julie (Writer)]

I know it's weird to not hear from page one to the End. You have to hear the rhythm of it. And what I agree.

[Kristin Davis]

I tried to explain to my young pretend children the importance of this as well. Because also as an actor, it's really, really important.

[Julie (Writer)]

You have to bring it.

[Kristin Davis]

Your stuff can get cut, right? You can't just be sitting there with your head in the script whispering, that's true. It's not good.

[Alisa (Writer)]

That's true. Although, Michael, I will say every once in a while, if something was on the chopping block, someone in the writers meeting might say like, well, I don't know if they really got that joke. And he would say, nope, it's never the actor's fault.

[Julie (Writer)]

Yeah, he would say, that's our fault.

[Kristin Davis]

That's so nice. That's so nice.

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

Working out. Just got reformed with your Reformer. It's a gorgeous piece of furniture too. I just got one of these. You guys is so beautiful and it makes it so easy to do my workout. Just 20 minutes. I just hop on, hop off, get ready to go. It's amazing. Every Euroformer purchase includes access to Euroformer app, which has over 1,000 instructor led on demand workouts. You get your first three months free on the app. If you're not quite ready to invest, you can actually rent your reformer for $39 a week. That's less than the average cost of a studio class. Your Reformer delivers to your home within seven days across mainland USA. Visit your reformer.com and use the code. Are you a Charlotte? 200 to receive $200 off your purchase, your space, your pace, your Reformer.

[Jared Odono / Gerard Adono (Comedian)]

Hey, I'm Jared Odono. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out help on the Internet.

[Kristin Davis]

Somebody, please.

[Jared Odono / Gerard Adono (Comedian)]

But there's so much more to me than that. I'm an actor, I'm a comedian. And recently I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions.

[Kristin Davis]

Psych.

[Jared Odono / Gerard Adono (Comedian)]

I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Cream of chicken soup.

[Kristin Davis]

Hey, Cream. Cream of chicken soup.

[Jared Odono / Gerard Adono (Comedian)]

This is help from a Hypocrite. The worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Kultura Podcast Network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Julie (Writer)]

Hi, everyone.

[Cheryl Strayed]

I'm Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild and Tiny Beautiful Things. I'm excited to share that I have a new podcast called Mind Over Mountain. In each episode, I interview athletes, adventurers, and adrenaline seekers to discuss the inner landscapes and life experiences that informed and inspired their extraordinary feats. I also bring a bit of advice into the mix so we, too, can better understand how to face our own seemingly insurmountable challenges.

[Motivational Speaker / Podcast Guest]

Do you know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna pull out what you already have inside. We come into this world fighting for our lives. All I'm gonna do is pull out what you already got inside.

[Kristin Davis]

We're there to support and celebrate each other, and that is not like a your story versus my story.

[Cheryl Strayed]

You're gonna walk up and over that dang mountain. You're not just gonna put your mind over it.

[Motivational Speaker / Podcast Guest]

Yep, yep, Exactly. And if I can't walk up and over it, I'm gonna go through it.

[Cheryl Strayed]

Listen to Mind Over Mountain every Thursday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Tom Boger]

American Soccer is about to explode.

[Tab Ramos]

The World cup is coming.

[Jared Odono / Gerard Adono (Comedian)]

Ramos sending on the Ernie Score, the Chip Score

[Kristin Davis]

usa.

[Tab Ramos]

I'm Tab Ramos.

[Tom Boger]

I'm Tom Vogt. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines.

[Tab Ramos]

I'm not worried about Pulisic. I'm not worried about Baligan. I'm not worried about McKinney. My only concern is what happens in the back.

[Tom Boger]

The biggest decisions.

[Tab Ramos]

You're going to look at stats and numbers. He has no shot at making this World cup team.

[Tom Boger]

And the truth about the US national

[Tab Ramos]

team, it wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals or potentially a great run into the semifinals.

[Tom Boger]

The World cup is almost here. Experience it all with us. Listen Inside American Soccer with Tom Boger and Tab ramos on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Kristin Davis]

I do think also, and I mean, I think all of us have progressed. We've been together now forever. And it's a blessing and a joy, as you all know. I feel, and I know you feel, and I think that in the beginning, and you guys didn't come in the beginning beginning, right, because the beginning was like this just exploration. Then the pressure kind of like, you know, the success. Right. Came together. And then Michael Patrick has such a kind of exacting, you know, like the rhythm, the vision and the vision of it all. And Everything's got to be firing together. And I think all of that came more so. And I remember for myself, because as an actor, you go. And I did learn, you know, I'd watch Cynthia and Sarah and like, you know, they come from theater and they were like, this is a creative. This is its own creative experience. The read through.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Right.

[Kristin Davis]

I've also been to filmmakers that are not that way. Oh, interesting. Where it's more. I mean, I think the executives are listening to it, but maybe not all the actors are feeling like they need to bring it, as you said. Right.

[Julie (Writer)]

I have to imagine you're an actor. I'm not. That you as an actor, are. You're nervous for your piece of it, right? Sometimes.

[Kristin Davis]

Depends.

[Julie (Writer)]

Yeah. Because I realized, like, when you've written the episode, you are so nervous. I was like, God, because it can die.

[Alisa (Writer)]

I mean, it could die on the table. Like this happened.

[Kristin Davis]

Right.

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

Of course.

[Julie (Writer)]

And then we're up all night rewriting, rewriting. Right. When we get to change of a dress, remind me. Because that's a fascinating story for me as an actor.

[Kristin Davis]

I didn't really. I knew obviously, that there was a B, C, D storyline. Right. And you always knew when you got the scripts that you might be D storyline and that might get cut. It was just part of it. Right. That was what I signed on for. You know what I mean? I didn't really take it that personally. I mean, as you always all know, Charlotte started kind of as the D storyline.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Right.

[Kristin Davis]

And then flowered and grew and evolved under your tutelage. No.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Not an accident.

[Kristin Davis]

Thank you so much. Thank you so much. But, you know, it was a joy. Right. So for me, it was all. I never was. Like, I sucked and therefore it got good. You know what I mean? I never felt bad for you, so I wasn't nervous. I think for me, too. I think the table read was so much fun and there's so much energy.

[Julie (Writer)]

It's like a party.

[Kristin Davis]

Yeah. We all get to be together, which isn't always true on this set.

[Julie (Writer)]

That's true. And also to hear it, because we shoot out of order. I know you've talked about this, but that is often surprising to people. We shoot way out of order and we crossboard, too.

[Alisa (Writer)]

And you're often not in a lot of scenes with a lot of people.

[Kristin Davis]

Like, you don't get to see the other romantic stuff. You get to see the girls at the coffee shop and all that.

[Julie (Writer)]

So then you get to hear everyone else's story.

[Alisa (Writer)]

I have a question for you.

[Kristin Davis]

Yeah.

[Alisa (Writer)]

As an actor on the show back in the day. Did you watch it every. Like, would you turn it on every Sunday night and watch it?

[Kristin Davis]

No. They would give us a VHS tape.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Okay.

[Kristin Davis]

And sometimes it wasn't 100%. Like, there might be a card. There might be.

[Alisa (Writer)]

It's like temp music or something.

[Kristin Davis]

It might be not complete. But I. And this was my experience. I don't. I don't know everyone. I think everyone had different experiences. Right. For me, I was like, oh, it's here. Just like when we got the scripts right, like, if they handed it to us at work in the manila envelope, you know, we would. I would run home and rip that baby open and put it in, and I would watch it alone, you know, in my apartment, and I might really stress out. That would be when I would be critical of myself.

[Julie (Writer)]

Right.

[Kristin Davis]

But generally speaking, I think yes, I would watch it from a critical standpoint of my own performance, but also just generally fanning about what we had created

[Alisa (Writer)]

and seeing it all come together.

[Kristin Davis]

Yes, yes, yes. And obviously it kind of grew and changed and more of got deeper and all the things. And I just loved it. But then I didn't watch it again. Like, I wouldn't watch it on Sunday night. I would be trying to in some way, though. I don't know if I would have expressed it this at the time. You know, you're trying to protect your creative process to some certain extent.

[Julie (Writer)]

You know what I mean?

[Alisa (Writer)]

You don't want to get into bad habits.

[Julie (Writer)]

Right.

[Kristin Davis]

You don't want to think about response and think about whatever people like or don't like or whatever. And you're just trusting and hoping, letting go, doing what it's due.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Right?

[Kristin Davis]

Letting go, yes. So that's what I was doing a lot of the time afterwards, until now when I'm rewatching it from a far

[Julie (Writer)]

distance, which is so. Yes. All this time later, having not watched it in so long. Another little bit of trivia about shooting my mother word myself that scene in Techserve. And for people who weren't around in the 90s, TechServ was the only place if you had a Mac that you could go to get your computer fixed.

[Alisa (Writer)]

There were no genius bars.

[Julie (Writer)]

We were like the weirdos with the Apple thing. And only one place could fix it. So anyway, and we love TechServe. RIP. Yes, very sad. It's not here anymore. But anyway, when we were shooting that, all that stuff with John Corbett and SJ and Asif Moms, he's gonna come tomorrow.

[Alisa (Writer)]

He's gonna come to me, we just saw him.

[Kristin Davis]

Wait. Oh, good.

[Julie (Writer)]

Yes, we saw him. Anyway, that night, it turned out we wound up shooting super duper late.

[Kristin Davis]

And it was like as was our

[Julie (Writer)]

way, two, three in the morning. I don't know what it was. And I remember because Carrie has that call with Miranda in Philadelphia. And Cynthia got dressed, came down, did her side just to be on the phone.

[Kristin Davis]

I told someone we did this the other day, and they were shocked. I was like, yeah, no, we just deleted it.

[Julie (Writer)]

Yeah. And that. That was really an amazing thing and a testament to all of you for being so supportive even when you're not. It wasn't her side. She wasn't on film.

[Alisa (Writer)]

No, she wasn't on film.

[Kristin Davis]

Right, right, right. So basically, just to make sure everyone knows what we just said. So it was the middle of the night. Sarah is working with Corbett at the tech serve with Asif, assuming. And Cynthia got out of bed, got dressed, came down to be off camera for her phone call. When she called Carrie, she tells Carrie that her mom had is.

[Julie (Writer)]

She's in fear in the hospital. Yes. She had a heart attack because she

[Kristin Davis]

didn't pass away yet.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Often it's just a temp reader. It's just on the other side of it.

[Kristin Davis]

Or you guys just like that. Which was wonderful.

[Julie (Writer)]

That became Elisa's.

[Kristin Davis]

Yes. Elise's very good at it. She's very good at. But it would normally be our script supervisor, who we also love. Jen Getzinger, I think at this point would have been Jen Getzinger. Right.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Or Betty Ann did it a lot.

[Julie (Writer)]

We.

[Kristin Davis]

Which would really change the whole scene.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Yes, yes.

[Julie (Writer)]

I'm having thought of a scene that now maybe. Was it cut because you reminded me. Cause I remember there was a scene where Miranda's looking for a black dress in Philly, had to find a shitty black dress.

[Kristin Davis]

Right.

[Julie (Writer)]

Shitty black bra under her dress.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Right.

[Julie (Writer)]

But because we were in the store that was letting us use their store, Jen Getzinger, our amazing script supervisor, who is now an amazing director, read the line. Her pretty black. Had to find a pretty black. I go with her pretty black dress.

[Alisa (Writer)]

I'm pretty. I am fairly certain.

[Julie (Writer)]

Cut that scene.

[Alisa (Writer)]

That. No, no. Well, that. That line was actually. Yes, that is true. I mean, I think this story.

[Julie (Writer)]

We were just trying to not offend the owners of the store, who were so excited that we were shooting there. So to be suggesting that that is where one would find a shitty black bra.

[Kristin Davis]

Oh, my God, that's adorable.

[Julie (Writer)]

Okay, so that scene is in it.

[Kristin Davis]

Yeah, that scene is there. It's very. It's very brief, and it's kind of close on her, which now you are explaining why. Because she's in. You're. You can't really tell where she is when that happened.

[Alisa (Writer)]

I also just want to go back to what you said about the Dee story. And just for your information, we on Sex and the City, we never. That isn't how we were.

[Julie (Writer)]

How do you feel?

[Alisa (Writer)]

It's actually not even how Michael talked about it or. Yeah.

[Kristin Davis]

How would you talk about it?

[Alisa (Writer)]

We would say, like your story, which I just loved rewatching. The Martha Stewart of death was the runner. You're the runner.

[Kristin Davis]

Oh, I'm the runner.

[Alisa (Writer)]

And that's just like running comedy.

[Julie (Writer)]

So it was never the D story.

[Kristin Davis]

Well, that's super interesting. Explain exactly what does that mean?

[Alisa (Writer)]

It's like a comedy. It's a comedy story that's light, so it's staccato. It gets, like, sprinkled through instead of like a beginning.

[Kristin Davis]

Listen, almost all of Charlotte does staccato. I have tried to explain this to people, especially in the beginning, because we're a band, right. Or a jazz quartet, if you'd like. And I was supposed I needed to be the boop, boop, bop, bop. Yeah. You know, through a little, for a long time. And then I got to.

[Alisa (Writer)]

And then sometimes.

[Kristin Davis]

But then I might need to come back up. And that's true probably for all the characters. You know what I'm saying?

[Julie (Writer)]

You know what else I thought about watching it again all these years later is that really was a time. And this is, like, poignant because now we're older and we are sadly surrounded by a lot more death. But when you sort of didn't know what to do when someone died, like, the fact that it was like, we're going to Philadelphia and you knew what to do. Like, Charlotte knew what to do. And you always want that person. Even now. Like, it feel when you're panicked and there's been terrible news of, like, the person who's going to say, this is what.

[Kristin Davis]

This is what we're going to do.

[Alisa (Writer)]

And this is what. And I loved that role. I had the same feeling. And it really. For me watching it now, I realized a, you reminded me. You really reminded me of my mother, who is no longer here and who was definitely a Charlotte, like, more than I realized.

[Chelsea Handler]

Just.

[Alisa (Writer)]

You can say this, you can say that. You can say that. And you were, like, mothering Samantha in a really wonderful way.

[Kristin Davis]

And I. I am just gonna cry because when I watch it, I am a Crier, as you all know. But also, like, I hadn't rewatched this in a long time, right? So I think of it as top three, at least of our whole show, you know. And I know what it's about, obviously, right. But the detail, you know, and the sweetness and the fact that this was a time in our life where we hadn't gone through all these things that we've gone through now. And, like, the fact that Samantha can't feel the feelings and doesn't say. But also, like, the way that she goes to sex, you know, it's like such addict behavior, which she's, you know, me talking. But it's so interesting, right? And it's funny, but it's also not like it's interesting in so many levels. And then I had fully, fully forgotten. I had remembered filming the funeral. And obviously, we were so wanting it to have the weight that it needed to have and do all of our different parts within that weight. And I had forgotten that Stephen and

[Julie (Writer)]

I have to talk about that moment, first of all. And I will go on the record. And there are witnesses. That was not originally. We had many drafts, obviously. But at some point when we were getting notes on the script and Michael had the thought, like, let's just have a shot of those guys. And I remember thinking, it's too treacly. It's too sentimental. And you have to understand our fear in writing this as our very first episode. That was a very dark episode. We were like, are people gonna think we ruined the show until this final and brought death end? Oh, no. I don't know about that. But just that it was, like, a real departure from what we expected. Yeah. And I think I was so. I was worried, like, is that over? Is that overly sentimental? And, of course, first of all, of course he was right. Of course, like, that gets me when I see that shot of them. But also what I realized watching it now, it's one shot, right?

[Kristin Davis]

You can see them.

[Julie (Writer)]

There's no. We're talking about the shot when Miranda's walking down.

[Kristin Davis]

Well, because it's been set up that it's embarrassing for her that she has been shamed.

[Alisa (Writer)]

People are worried that she's alone at

[Kristin Davis]

her mother's funeral at 35 and she has no one to walk down the aisle, which really killed me.

[Julie (Writer)]

And then, of course, Carrie goes to her and is with her. But you cut to Steve and they're standing there and it's so surprising. And they're just solemn in their suits. And, like, the fact that they got Themselves to Philadelphia. But that's it. We never cut that closer.

[Kristin Davis]

There's no close up. That's the special part.

[Julie (Writer)]

But there's no close up.

[Kristin Davis]

We don't even cut back to that. But we don't even need to. I know, because that's how powerful it is right now. Look, if you guys had done a close up and had Carrie have a meaningful look, it could have been treacling, right? So it was all in the execution as well. But also, it's such a shock. And it's just like, there they are. They're amazing guys.

[Alisa (Writer)]

And then with that voiceover of, you know, just showing up, there's really the. I have to say the, you know,

[Kristin Davis]

the chosen family part, you know, and

[Alisa (Writer)]

I'll say one another thing about the chosen family part. I remember when we were assigned this episode and, you know, we had been talking in the room for weeks, if not months, about what episode eight would be. And then at a certain point, it's like, okay, Julie and Elisa, you'll work on what you think the scene should be and then come back and we'll. On Monday, we'll hear what you. What you kind of envision. And so we come back and we had done our little homework together and we came in and we were like, well, what if when we're with Miranda and we. Her sister and her. And her. The rest of her family, blah, blah, blah, like, she's in Philadelphia and here are the things that could happen to her with her family, right? And Michael was like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

[Kristin Davis]

He feels very strong, right?

[Alisa (Writer)]

We are not playing Miranda's family. We're gonna play them tiny.

[Kristin Davis]

Well, it was just enough. But he had the best. She can do it in two seconds.

[Alisa (Writer)]

I loved his reason for it. It was like when you're. People are. They are putting their own family. Everybody has their own idea of what Miranda's family is. And he tells a great story that you've probably heard about. I guess when they were doing season one, anytime they started talking about, I think it was Miranda's family. Jenny was inserting her family. Michael was inserting his family. And he realized that's how it should be. And the more information you actually have,

[Julie (Writer)]

right, the less takes you out of your own.

[Kristin Davis]

Yeah, that's true.

[Alisa (Writer)]

So that's why Becky Ann Baker is just enough to tell you the big sister.

[Julie (Writer)]

But I did love seeing it today. The idea that Miranda, this, like, really strong person is, like, kind of afraid of her big sister.

[Kristin Davis]

Definitely. It was so good it was so good.

[Julie (Writer)]

But what you said about Charlotte mothering, like, well.

[Kristin Davis]

Cause then in the end, when she cries on her shoulder, it's the cutest.

[Julie (Writer)]

And also, just when she. When they. Miranda. And like. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. And Samantha says, you look great. And you. I totally forgot this. That you say, that is not one of the things I told you.

[Kristin Davis]

So good. Right. But I just deliver it very lightly, which I was very pleased. I was very pleased.

[Julie (Writer)]

Another little bit of trivia to make those flowers look as tacky as possible was not easy because I'm reading on

[Alisa (Writer)]

camera the glitter in life.

[Julie (Writer)]

They looked insane. Insane and tacky and glitter. Huge and weird. But then on screen, you would look at the.

[Kristin Davis]

And they were just like white flowers and it's red.

[Julie (Writer)]

So we kept saying, like, more.

[Alisa (Writer)]

More glitter, more.

[Kristin Davis]

Listen. I mean, I didn't remember any of that. I remembered the outfit that I wore. But I would never have placed it in this outfit in this episode. Sorry, the outfit in the episode. And I remember it because there's a cute picture of me walking across the street with my flip phone and my little earpiece that, like, lives on, you know, on Instagram or whatever. I never knew it was this episode and that I was, you know, taking Martha Stewart. Ing the funeral and the situation. But I love the entire. Every moment. Yeah.

[Julie (Writer)]

Yes.

[Kristin Davis]

What did the notes tell you?

[Julie (Writer)]

Well, I mean, Professor, I love you.

[Kristin Davis]

I love you so much.

[Julie (Writer)]

Did I mention I'm a nerd?

[Kristin Davis]

The best possible kind.

[Julie (Writer)]

Well, I realized that Carrie's having this thing with Aidan where he's trying to be helpful. And she's so irritated. Then she gets on the phone and is with Miranda and is like, what can I do? Like, just wanting to support Miranda. And Miranda's like, I'm fine.

[Kristin Davis]

Right.

[Julie (Writer)]

And then at that coffee shop scene. And I remember you because we were watching at the monitors. Carrie gets, you know, tears up when she says, miranda's mother dies. And you come around and you hand her a handkerchief. And she doesn't take it. Like, I don't remember that part. It's very small. But I remember you saying, she's not. She's not accepting that moment of support.

[Alisa (Writer)]

It's like nobody wants.

[Julie (Writer)]

We all choose to be. When we can really let ourselves be vulnerable or accept support. But, like, it was almost like a. Not a domino effect, but it was just sudden. I was seeing it in a different way. That everyone.

[Alisa (Writer)]

No one's comfortable with it.

[Kristin Davis]

Yeah, I guess.

[Julie (Writer)]

And that, you know, when Carrie gets that call from Miranda. And you see Aiden behind her in bed, trying to support her and even just touch her.

[Kristin Davis]

No, she has to go in the bathroom. She goes to the bathroom, right? But also, he heard when the funeral was and he totally knows. And then she says she doesn't know. That hurt me. For Aiden. I'm totally sure that that's what he's playing. I don't know if that's what you guys intended, but I'm sure that's what he's playing. Which also is so meaningful that he gets there. Do you know what I mean? It's so good. It's so good.

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

Want to know how I worked out my workout problem? Your Reformer?

[Kristin Davis]

Yep.

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

Not just a mindful private workout, but a piece of gorgeous furniture too. It really is. I just got one myself. It's so beautiful and so incredibly easy to just hop on, get a quick workout, and then get ready for my day. And every Reformer comes with access to over 1000 instructor led workouts on the youe Reformer app, including all the tools and accessories. Your first three months on the app are free and You've got expert led classes right from the start. They deliver across mainland USA within seven days. Just visit YourReformer.com hey, you're reformer. Thanks for working out my workout problem. Go to YourReformer.com and use the code are YOUASHARLOTTE200 for $200 off your purchase, your space, your pace, your Reformer.

[Jared Odono / Gerard Adono (Comedian)]

Hey, I'm Jared o'. Donnell. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out help on the Internet.

[Kristin Davis]

Help. Somebody please.

[Jared Odono / Gerard Adono (Comedian)]

But there's so much more to me than that. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope From a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions.

[Kristin Davis]

Psych.

[Jared Odono / Gerard Adono (Comedian)]

I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Cream of chicken soup.

[Kristin Davis]

Egg cream. Cream of chicken soup.

[Jared Odono / Gerard Adono (Comedian)]

This is Help from a Hypocrite. The worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Kultura Podcast Network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Julie (Writer)]

Hi everyone.

[Cheryl Strayed]

I'm Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild and Tiny Beautiful Things. I'm excited to share that I have a new podcast called Mind Over Mountain. In each episode, I interview athletes, adventurers, and adrenaline seekers to discuss the inner landscapes and life experience that informed and inspired their extraordinary feats. I also bring a bit of advice into the mix so we, too, can better understand how to face our own seemingly insurmountable challenges.

[Motivational Speaker / Podcast Guest]

Do you know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna pull out what you already have inside. We come into this world fighting for our lives. All I'm gonna do is pull out what you already got inside.

[Kristin Davis]

We're there to support and celebrate each other. And that is not like a your story versus my story story.

[Cheryl Strayed]

You're going to walk up and over that dang mountain. You're not just going to put your mind over it?

[Motivational Speaker / Podcast Guest]

Yep, yep, exactly. And if I can't walk up and over it, I'm going to go through it.

[Cheryl Strayed]

Listen to Mind Over Mountain every Thursday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Tom Boger]

American soccer is about to explode.

[Tab Ramos]

The World cup is coming.

[Jared Odono / Gerard Adono (Comedian)]

Ramos sending on to Ernie Stewart the Chip Score

[Kristin Davis]

usa.

[Tab Ramos]

I'm Tab Ramos.

[Tom Boger]

I'm Tom Bogart. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines.

[Tab Ramos]

I'm not worried about Pulisic. I'm not worried about Baligan. I'm not worried about McKinney. My only concern is what happens in the back.

[Tom Boger]

The biggest decisions.

[Tab Ramos]

You're gonna look at stats and numbers. He has no shot at making this World cup team.

[Tom Boger]

And the truth about the U.S. national team.

[Tab Ramos]

It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals or potentially a great run into the semifinals.

[Tom Boger]

The World cup is almost here. Experience it all with us. Listen Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogard and Tab ramos on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

[Kristin Davis]

Now, let me ask you guys a general Aiden question, because as I'm rewatching this now, also, we have all of our future knowledge, right? But when I'm rewatching it, sometimes I forget because it's super, super interesting. And we've just. We're about to go to the country, right? Sex in the country is next. Is that right, Hannah?

[Julie (Writer)]

Nine.

[Kristin Davis]

Yes, I think that's nine. Which is crazy, right? And big shows up, which is a whole complex thing, which I don't know if you guys remember this.

[Julie (Writer)]

It's cuckoo crazy. I'm super rusty. It's super crazy.

[Kristin Davis]

It's really interesting. But one of the things that I'm thinking about when I'm watching, you know, the Aiden of it all, they're so different. Right. But I love it that they're different, and I love it that they're trying. But then also you're like, ooh, they're just so fundamentally different. True. Like, what at the time were you guys thinking? Big is the end game? You know, like, what was the writers room?

[Julie (Writer)]

Thought not then?

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

No.

[Kristin Davis]

Okay.

[Julie (Writer)]

I don't think so. I mean, I don't remember that.

[Kristin Davis]

There was a time that I believe also that it wasn't always discussed. It might have always been in Sarah Jessica's heart and mind, but I don't feel like, as a group, that you guys were always like, how are we gonna get to the end game of bae?

[Julie (Writer)]

I mean, we knew then the beginning of the fourth season, we knew Aiden was not gonna make it to the end of the season. We had that arced out on the whiteboard.

[Kristin Davis]

Right.

[Alisa (Writer)]

I'm just gonna say, like, I don't think we knew it was always gonna be big, because then there were other boyfriends who we. Seriously. Now, I could say maybe in Michael Patrick's head, it was always gonna be big, but I don't think that was openly discussed.

[Kristin Davis]

When you say other boyfriends, do you mean burger?

[Alisa (Writer)]

Yeah, I mean, I think there was a time.

[Kristin Davis]

Wow.

[Alisa (Writer)]

There was a time when at least some of the writers were kind of like, she needs this kind of guy.

[Julie (Writer)]

Right? Oh, my God.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Yeah.

[Julie (Writer)]

My kids could not.

[Alisa (Writer)]

And that would be.

[Julie (Writer)]

Not the actor. Ron's great.

[Kristin Davis]

No, no.

[Julie (Writer)]

We're gonna get there.

[Kristin Davis]

We haven't gotten.

[Alisa (Writer)]

There was written.

[Julie (Writer)]

Sorry.

[Kristin Davis]

No, no, no. Everyone knows. Everyone listening knows.

[Alisa (Writer)]

No, but it was. I feel like it was a. It was an open question, and it was like, well, she needs. We've never seen her with that kind of guy. Maybe that's her guy. Because a lot of us hadn't found our guys also.

[Kristin Davis]

Right. And you were writing from your own lives.

[Alisa (Writer)]

So there was like, who is it for her? And then who is it who haven't

[Kristin Davis]

I met kind of thing, too. Yes, of course.

[Julie (Writer)]

I have to just, like, insert something. Cause I mentioned in that first writing experience that obviously Cindy and Jenny, who had been there before and were very instrumental in all of it. But there was also Amy B. Harris.

[Kristin Davis]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Julie (Writer)]

And also Liz Ticillo came in later. I just want to say they haven't

[Kristin Davis]

written their own scripts yet. That's true. Which is so hard for me because I also have them in My head, because they were around. Right. But their names have not appeared on a script. And I'm trying to wait till those names appear to have everybody on as far as the.

[Julie (Writer)]

I want to say those names. And especially because Amy was there the fourth season and she was so crucial in character that had been there since the beginning, so.

[Kristin Davis]

And I also think that it's always great to remember that there was this really vibrant, interesting group of women who are writing our show. Because everyone thinks of Michael, the mythology. Right. Which it was only them for just a tiny amount of time. Without Jenny, Cindy, you know, the development of.

[Julie (Writer)]

It grew lucky for us. Okay. Another line that we worked so hard on, you'll remember in Philadelphia outside the funeral. First of all, let it be said Elisa and I are from Philadelphia.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Just coincidentally, we did not coincidentally, Miranda was. She was already been established.

[Julie (Writer)]

It had been established.

[Kristin Davis]

Don't remember that.

[Alisa (Writer)]

There's a line in season one or two where she says, like, my mother's in Philadelphia. And blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Like something. It's just a throwaway. We got very lucky. Maybe that's why we were hired.

[Julie (Writer)]

There's a line. Well, first of all, that first shot of we're allegedly in Philadelphia, of course, which you were not in, like, the Bronx or something, but. And Samantha says, I'm not gonna find my orgasm in this town. So first of all, you can imagine how much we got from our Philly friends.

[Kristin Davis]

Did we get you in trouble?

[Alisa (Writer)]

No, we had to catch extra guys. I believe in the script we were so. I think we called them, like, gross guys.

[Kristin Davis]

I feel so bad for those guys.

[Julie (Writer)]

And then we had to. Oh, my God. She was extras. It was like, oh, my God.

[Kristin Davis]

Oh, that's embarrassing.

[Julie (Writer)]

But anyway, they didn't know the but I was gonna say so.

[Kristin Davis]

So.

[Julie (Writer)]

So you say to Samantha, that's not. When she says, you look great to Miranda. And you say, that's not one of the things I told you to say. There was a line. Samantha said something back. We gave her a joke back.

[Alisa (Writer)]

I don't remember.

[Julie (Writer)]

And Michael was like, uh, that's not good enough. Come up with something better. And we were like, okay, back to the drawing board. We came up with another line, sent it in.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Julie, I'm so glad you still have.

[Julie (Writer)]

Oh, I totally.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Your memory.

[Kristin Davis]

I don't remember.

[Julie (Writer)]

We came up with, like, another line. Nope, that's not it. I think we must have gone, like, round five times.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Do you remember even what one of them was?

[Julie (Writer)]

Go home and pull them up today.

[Kristin Davis]

I don't remember. Any of them.

[Julie (Writer)]

Anyway, here's what the last thing we submitted, our last offering before we shot it was, and it says in the action line that Samantha, like, shrugs. And he laughed so hard at that. He was like, that's it. So it wasn't even a line.

[Kristin Davis]

So that. Yeah, I was gonna say there's no line. She doesn't need to have a line.

[Julie (Writer)]

Charlotte saying, that's not. But Kim was like, right.

[Kristin Davis]

And that was us. We're fantastic. Oh, my God.

[Julie (Writer)]

I like this. Like, we're just throwing our hands.

[Kristin Davis]

But that's also the thing that I think is so interesting. Everyone loves it when the writers come on the podcast because. Yes, yes.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Okay.

[Kristin Davis]

First of all, because you guys were there, and so you have all kinds of interesting memories and things that I don't have. Right. From your own perspective. Second of all, they don't necessarily realize that you guys were the, you know, inspiration, the origin stories for all of our stories. So it's really interesting to hear. Like, Jenny's told us some amazing Cindy both. I mean, really fascinating, you know.

[Julie (Writer)]

Love those episodes, by the way.

[Kristin Davis]

Of course.

[Julie (Writer)]

I love hearing them.

[Kristin Davis]

Yeah, they're all great. But it's fun for the audience to hear because especially also at the time, it wasn't like we had podcasts where we could have you guys talking about these things. No one came and interviewed you guys necessarily.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Right.

[Julie (Writer)]

Certainly didn't. Well, the uncomfortable thing. And now rewatching both the episodes we wrote in season four, I'm realizing there are a number of moments where people will say, like, that is so awful of her. And it's like, that was me.

[Kristin Davis]

Well, like what?

[Julie (Writer)]

Just like.

[Alisa (Writer)]

You mean, like, viewers will.

[Julie (Writer)]

Well, like, my computer crashed and my incredible boyfriend was very helpful.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Now your husband.

[Julie (Writer)]

Now, my husband took me to Texas and, like, stayed there with me while I was, like, having. I was.

[Alisa (Writer)]

And panting.

[Julie (Writer)]

Yeah. I was sweating and panicking because everything was in that laptop.

[Kristin Davis]

Right.

[Julie (Writer)]

Well.

[Kristin Davis]

Cause we didn't know to back up exactly what someone taught us.

[Julie (Writer)]

But I was irritated by him much the way Carrie is by Aidan. And when I hear people say, like, what is her God? All he's doing is being a nice guy.

[Kristin Davis]

Oh, I probably get him. Don't worry about it.

[Julie (Writer)]

I'm the jerk.

[Kristin Davis]

No, no, no, no. First of all, I think it's a lot of what you already said, which is that when she's writing, he swoops in and just reads aloud. Okay. Like, Aiden has a certain very different, like, golden retriever. Yes, golden retriever. I mean, not to say that Ben's not a. But also John's to Aiden. You know, Archiehem.

[Alisa (Writer)]

There's issues and.

[Julie (Writer)]

Well, and it's sare. I was gonna say, I remember our thing when we joined. I remember you said it in one of our last conversations with Michael before we got hired, when we were talking about what we would want to do in season four is we wanted to lean into their flaws. And I remember you said warts and all that, like to.

[Kristin Davis]

When you say their flaws, you mean the four of us? Yes. I mean, this is one of the things. I was just talking to Evan. Yeah. Earlier about it. You know, people are complaining now that there aren't. And I. I feel this way as well as a viewer of, you know, television or whatever we want to call it now. There's not a lot of flawed women characters and there certainly aren't four of them leading a show. Except for I love la.

[Julie (Writer)]

Oh, my God. Which is great.

[Kristin Davis]

Oh, love that trippy, trippy show.

[Julie (Writer)]

It is trippy show. There are four of them.

[Kristin Davis]

There's three of them, I think. Are there three or four? Well, it depends if you wanna count her boss Leightonmeester. If we count her, there's four. Right. There's three friends plus a guy. Right. But anyway, let's go back to the complicatedness. Right. And you know, I do think it's interesting because at the time, and I don't know from a writing perspective we're. Because right when we start the show, it's, you know, into a vacuum. Right. Like we've got the column. Darren got Candace's column. We're taking that as a jumping off point. Point. As, you know, the first one you're talking about.

[Julie (Writer)]

Yeah.

[Kristin Davis]

The beginning of the show.

[Julie (Writer)]

Yeah. That was wild.

[Kristin Davis]

It's all over. It's all over. It's all over. But great. Now that I've rewatched it, I understand the. The really just starting from scratch. Right. And how much you feel the city and the time and the. All of it. Right.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Man on the street.

[Kristin Davis]

Oh, Lordy, yes. Oh, my goodness.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Yeah.

[Kristin Davis]

Right. And now I do too, now that I'm re. Watching it from a distance. I also like all of it. I love all of it. But then as time went on and we got to deepen, like as writing and in the room. How much. Like if you guys talked to Michael before you started and you said, you know, warts and all.

[Julie (Writer)]

Right.

[Kristin Davis]

Like it was discussed.

[Julie (Writer)]

Yeah, yeah.

[Kristin Davis]

How much of the. I mean, let's just talk about Carrie. Cause Carrie is obviously the central. We've got Aiden, the.

[Alisa (Writer)]

A story, I will say, but we never called her that.

[Kristin Davis]

Right. But of course, as she should be. This is what I believed we signed on for, which is why I didn't ever worry about whatever. Like, whatever I got was, you know, icing or whatever. But, I mean, how did you all look at her own. What you were writing Carrie's issues as. Or, like, how aware of that were you?

[Alisa (Writer)]

I feel like every one of us unconsciously infused our own things into.

[Kristin Davis]

So it wasn't really discussed. But it was in your writing. Oh, all of us. That makes sense.

[Julie (Writer)]

It was our personal. We really wrote from a place of personal experience and what we were wrestling with or what we had to get off our chests.

[Kristin Davis]

Because when we get to a change of address, I mean, it's out there. It's right out there in a really great, great way. And I don't know, like, would you. When you were. Let's say you got assigned. Okay, so you're gonna do this one, then you're gonna do that one. Would you tell the stories of your own personal self in the room? Yeah.

[Alisa (Writer)]

I mean, we start. I feel like it kind of goes. There's an order. There's a disordered order to it. Like, you start.

[Julie (Writer)]

Especially that season four.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Yes. But all the seasons, like, we start out telling a lot of stories and just trying to entertain each other with the crazy things that have happened in our lives. Funny things we've heard, funny things we've experienced. Embarrassing. Like, we just kind of do a big dump.

[Kristin Davis]

Like a brainstorm. Yes.

[Julie (Writer)]

Everyone sharing stuff. Someone's running up and writing things on the board that we wanna remember that

[Alisa (Writer)]

are really that, like, get the biggest laughs, phrases, stories, anecdotes, friends stories, all kinds of things. And then as the conversation develops over time, Michael. I feel like one of his gifts is he'll hear a story, he'll hear an issue. Oh, it was so annoying that he was there. Julie's telling a story about tech support, and she doesn't know it's gonna be a Carrie story necessarily. She's like, ooh. And then Ben was there, and he was annoying me so much just by being so nice. And he's like, that's. Carrie would have that issue with me.

[Kristin Davis]

Right.

[Alisa (Writer)]

You know, and so it's like, you're telling the stories, and then he's kind of marrying them to people. Oh, that's such a Miranda attitude. I, you know, hurt my neck in the writers room. And we didn't know that was gonna be a Miranda story, but he was like, that would happen with Miranda.

[Kristin Davis]

So he's like the conductor. And all of you guys are just giving ideas freely, not even realizing where they might fit in or how important.

[Alisa (Writer)]

And then as you get more experience, though, like, I feel like on and just like that not to jump ahead, there were things that ideas that I would have that I would be like, this is such a Charlotte story. You know for sure with experience.

[Kristin Davis]

By then, you really know us,

[Alisa (Writer)]

like, every day.

[Kristin Davis]

No way. Every day. Oh, you've been waiting.

[Julie (Writer)]

Just yesterday, literally.

[Kristin Davis]

You've made me so happy. You've made me so happy. Keep going.

[Alisa (Writer)]

She's still with me.

[Kristin Davis]

I mean, she's with me too.

[Julie (Writer)]

She reminded me that season four and again, it was our first. First day being alive in this amazing industry. But after we wrote my motherboard, myself, that itself felt like, oh, my God. That was like. It was our dream come true. And then it was shot la la la. And we were sort of exhaling right. When, of course, we were in production, we were back in New York, Everything was. Now we're really up against it. And we figured, like, we were lucky we got to write one our first season. Sure. Oh, you knew you had guarantee.

[Alisa (Writer)]

No.

[Julie (Writer)]

And Michael poked his head into our office and he was like, how do you feel about writing for 15 episodes? And we were like,

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

Okay, let's talk about the ultimate main character moment.

[Kristin Davis]

You know the feeling.

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

You wake up, the light is hitting your living room just right. And instead of rushing out the door, fighting traffic, and battling for a parking spot at a crowded studio, you just transition from sleep mode to me mode without even leaving your sanctuary. This is the magic of your Reformer. I just got one of these, you guys, and it is so beautiful. And I put it in my bedroom

[Kristin Davis]

where the kids aren't there, so that I can just literally do it whenever I'm getting ready.

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

I can just take 10, 20 minutes,

[Kristin Davis]

get a little workout in.

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

It's amazing. And every Reformer purchase includes access to your Reformer app, which has over 1,000 instructor led on demand workouts. You get your first three months free on the app. And you can start with confidence, expert instruction, and all the tools and accessories you need to progress at your own pace.

[Kristin Davis]

Space.

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

Oh, and did I mention, it's a gorgeous piece of furniture as well.

[Kristin Davis]

It really is.

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

You guys not quite ready to invest? You can actually rent your Reformer for your home for only $39 a week. That is less than the average cost of a studio class your Reformer delivers to your home within seven days. Across the mainland USA, visit your reformer.com. use the code. Are you a Charlotte? 200 to receive $200 off your purchase, your space, your pace, your reformer.

[Jared Odono / Gerard Adono (Comedian)]

Hey, I'm Gerard Adono. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out help. On the Internet. Help.

[Kristin Davis]

Somebody, please.

[Jared Odono / Gerard Adono (Comedian)]

But there's so much more to me than that. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Psych.

[Jared Odono / Gerard Adono (Comedian)]

I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Cream of Chicken Soup Hey, Cream.

[Kristin Davis]

Cream of Chicken Soup.

[Jared Odono / Gerard Adono (Comedian)]

This is is Help from a Hypocrite. The worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from a Hypocrite as part of the Mike Cultura Podcast Network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Tom Boger]

American soccer is about to explode.

[Tab Ramos]

The World cup is coming.

[Kristin Davis]

Ramos sending on Ernie Stewart. The Chip Score usa.

[Tab Ramos]

I'm Tab Ramos.

[Tom Boger]

I'm Tom Bogle. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines.

[Tab Ramos]

I'm not worried about Pulisic. I'm not worried about Baligan. I'm not worried about McKinney. My only concern is what happens in the back.

[Tom Boger]

The biggest decisions you're going to look

[Tab Ramos]

at stats and numbers. He has no shot at making this World cup team.

[Tom Boger]

And the truth about the U.S. nationals team?

[Tab Ramos]

It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals or potentially a great run into the semifinals.

[Tom Boger]

The World cup is almost here. Experience it all with usa usa. Listen to Inside American Soccer with Tom Boger and Tab ramos on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Julie (Writer)]

Hi everyone.

[Cheryl Strayed]

I'm Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild and Tiny Beautiful Things. I'm excited to share that I have a new podcast called Mind Over Mountain. In each episode, I interview athletes, adventurers and adrenaline seekers to discuss the inner landscapes and life experiences that informed and inspired their extraordinary feats. I also bring a bit of advice into the mix so we too can better understand how to face our own seemingly insurmountable challenges.

[Motivational Speaker / Podcast Guest]

Do you know what I'm going to do? I'm Going to pull out what you already have inside. We're coming into this one world, fighting for our lives. All I'm gonna do is pull out what you already got inside.

[Kristin Davis]

We're there to support and celebrate each

[Alisa (Writer)]

other, and that is not like a

[Kristin Davis]

your story versus my story.

[Cheryl Strayed]

You're gonna walk up and over that dang mountain. You're not just gonna put your mind over it.

[Kristin Davis]

Yep, yep.

[Motivational Speaker / Podcast Guest]

Exactly. And if I can't walk up and over it, I'm gonna go through it.

[Cheryl Strayed]

Listen to Mind Over Mountain every Thursday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Kristin Davis]

Us. Can you guys believe how many episodes we used to do?

[Julie (Writer)]

No.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Just last night, my husband was like, you guys did 18 episodes. I was like, I know.

[Kristin Davis]

How did we live through it?

[Alisa (Writer)]

Season six, we did 20.

[Kristin Davis]

I know. Because you remember why? Do you remember why? Yeah, no, it wasn't really broken in two on the era. It was broken into not in life. It was because of the pregnancy season,

[Julie (Writer)]

and that was season five.

[Kristin Davis]

I know, but that's why. Yeah. Because then when they got us back, they were like, well, we're not letting them go anywhere. We're going to make them do as many as we possibly can, and then we're just gonna do what we want

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

with it later in post.

[Kristin Davis]

But we worked for a calendar year into the cold when it was five degrees.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Right. And we had to wear the real blizzard.

[Kristin Davis]

Yes, the real blizzard.

[Julie (Writer)]

Oh, my God.

[Alisa (Writer)]

The real blizzard.

[Julie (Writer)]

The being in New York. Once we came back, like, as Alisa was saying, like, you generally, you didn't know exactly what episode you were going to do. And I heard you talking to Jenny about this, and it's true. Like, if you had, you know, in her case, she gave as a great example a woman's right to choose.

[Kristin Davis]

Right.

[Julie (Writer)]

But if you had. If you had a story, you likened him to a conductor. I also feel like. Like he's a chef opening a refrigerator. And things that you would think, like, we should throw out this mandarin orange. Nobody's gonna eat this. But he would find a way to, like, whip it into something. I'm mixing a lot of metaphors.

[Kristin Davis]

Oh, I like it.

[Julie (Writer)]

Once we were back in New York. Cause we'd done all the writing and the. Not all the writing, but that. The planning, the first batch of scripts we wrote out there. But I remember we were here when we got notes. And then back in New York, of course, we're living our lives and having more experiences and things that we wanted to put into the season so that felt like an infusion of. We would have different kinds of writers rooms. It wasn't ever like it was in LA when we were very methodically.

[Kristin Davis]

It was always methodical.

[Julie (Writer)]

It was just different.

[Kristin Davis]

Right, right, right. Cause you were on the set.

[Julie (Writer)]

Because we were on set a lot of time.

[Alisa (Writer)]

More hysterical, I would say, like more frantic paced. And we would be. We would have writers meetings all over the city.

[Kristin Davis]

Right.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Like at restaurants sometimes at night. Like, I remember so vividly a night where we were. We had a late night probably, like at, you know, crew lunch at, you know, 9 o'.

[Kristin Davis]

Clock. Lunch could be at any time, you guys.

[Julie (Writer)]

It doesn't mean lunch.

[Alisa (Writer)]

It would be dinner for everybody else. But we would be like. I remember we were at Blue Ribbon Bakery having dinner. The writers. Just the writers. And at the next table, there were people who were talking about Sex and the City, this week's episode of Sex and City. And they were debating amongst themselves. And we were having a writer's meeting about future episodes.

[Kristin Davis]

I love it.

[Alisa (Writer)]

It was so thrilling like that. So thrilling happened. Like, that doesn't.

[Kristin Davis]

So let me ask you this. So you write my motherboard myself, which obviously was huge. And were you happy with it? Oh, my God. Like, did you feel.

[Julie (Writer)]

Well, first of all, Wendy Stanzler, our incredible editor, who went on to become an incredible director, but she cut that episode. She was the editor of that episode. And I remember Michael invited us down. When you got invited to see a cut of an episode, like, it was very exciting. And I remember watching it and thinking, this is terrible. This is terrible. Why did you think that I could see every cut. It was like I was floating. I can't explain how. I had zero perspective. All I could see were things I wanted to tweak. And I remember after that little break, you loved it.

[Alisa (Writer)]

I loved it.

[Kristin Davis]

Thank God. Thank God. So this is why you guys are a great partnership. Yay.

[Alisa (Writer)]

This is a great show.

[Kristin Davis]

Good.

[Julie (Writer)]

So I was like, I have some thoughts. And I remember Michael had to go back to set. Cause, you know, and he was like, you sit down with Wendy. Do whatever you want with her, but don't mess with it. And I remember Wendy was awesome. And I was like, just this moment. Is there a take where she did this? Da, da, da. I was just, you know, I'm mean.

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

So, yes,

[Julie (Writer)]

I had to get in there a little. But I couldn't see it. I couldn't see it in the way that now I can see it. I was so close to it.

[Kristin Davis]

I understand. I mean, I definitely. My first viewing, I have it. But only about me.

[Julie (Writer)]

Right?

[Kristin Davis]

So, I mean, first of all, I loved every episode. I don't remember any. I don't remember at the time ever being like, yeah, that one was bad, or whatever. It would never enter my mind. Right. But I might think I was bad, you know? Or I might think, like, I didn't do great in that, or I didn't do what I wanted in that scene or something like that.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Did you ever think, like, oh, I thought I was doing a different thing. Like, would you ever be surprised? Like, oh, that's how it turned out, or that's how I turned out?

[Kristin Davis]

Not fundamentally, no. And I think that's because I really know Charlotte.

[Julie (Writer)]

Right.

[Kristin Davis]

Like, I really know Charlotte. Like, certain directors would try to tell me that I was wrong. And I was like, no, no, I'm really sorry, you're wrong. But I didn't have the wherewithal to say that to them. So I'd have to go call Michael Patrick and be like, michael, I really need your help down here. Can you get down here? I'm being told, yeah, I'm being told something that is fundamentally not true about my girl. And it's like, messing with me.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Sure.

[Kristin Davis]

I need help. Need back up. Help me, help me. I do feel like maybe now when I'm looking at it, I can see layers that were going on. Like, personally, I guess. Meaning, you know. Cause as much as you're acting, you're also a human being. And you're in. Whatever situation you're in right. That day or with that person or whatever. Like, I was watching an episode recently and I thought to myself, you know, why is my voice so high? And I do think I was. Charlotte was nervous in what she was saying. It was. I don't wanna say too much. Cause I wanna tell the whole story. And if I say too much, you're gonna know what I'm talking about. Then I realized it was a director who didn't really get me.

[Julie (Writer)]

Ah, so you were responding to that. You didn't feel safe, comfortable.

[Kristin Davis]

Right, right.

[Julie (Writer)]

Well, it's also, I have to say, the distance of time because. And it's true, I am very critical. And things that bothered me at the time, like, really, it was hard for me to let that go.

[Kristin Davis]

Let me just say one thing, though. You wrote it so you had a very clear vision in your mind. I totally understand why, no matter how great the episode is, if it doesn't match what's in your mind.

[Julie (Writer)]

Of course, it's a process of learning.

[Alisa (Writer)]

I also Think there's fear that you have when you're watching?

[Kristin Davis]

For sure.

[Alisa (Writer)]

As much as I'm a fan, like, I do relate. I do relate to. Is this good?

[Kristin Davis]

Oh, yeah.

[Julie (Writer)]

What if it is good?

[Alisa (Writer)]

I think it's good.

[Julie (Writer)]

And now I have to say now, all these years later, my kids are teenagers. They started watching the entire series from the beginning.

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

Oh, my God.

[Julie (Writer)]

And I. They. They, of course, held this up to me. I said each time it was like, oh, that. That was really. That's better than I remember. Like, I realized all my critic. All my criticism that I had, I think, didn't allow me to just sit, fully enjoy it.

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

Oh, for sure.

[Julie (Writer)]

Only now I can do it.

[Kristin Davis]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, that is the problem with being a perfectionist. Yes, yes. But I also want to say, just as a side note, you're a fantastic director.

[Julie (Writer)]

Oh, that's very.

[Kristin Davis]

You really are. I called you and told you this.

[Julie (Writer)]

I know.

[Kristin Davis]

And I'm going to cry. But, I mean, I knew that you would be because you're so, you know, steeped in everything, and your brain already is working like that. There's people whose brain works like that, and there's people whose brain doesn't. My brain doesn't really work like a director. You know, they were always forever asking me, do you want to direct? I was like, please, God, no. Please, God, no. First of all, because I have the children and I can't be asked any more questions during the day.

[Alisa (Writer)]

That's how I feel. Yeah, exactly.

[Kristin Davis]

You're with me.

[Alisa (Writer)]

I'm like, I want to not direct.

[Kristin Davis]

Exactly. Exactly.

[Alisa (Writer)]

I enjoy Julie directing. Exactly. She's very natural.

[Julie (Writer)]

Comes through.

[Alisa (Writer)]

It does.

[Kristin Davis]

Because that's how your brain is already functioning. So I could see why, if you're just writing and kind of giving over that control, that there's a process.

[Julie (Writer)]

Kristen, you're right. I realized, because it took me until. And just like that to actually direct.

[Kristin Davis]

Right.

[Julie (Writer)]

But you're right. I think I was, like a frustrated director, but I didn't realize that.

[Kristin Davis]

Exactly.

[Julie (Writer)]

I was just being picky.

[Kristin Davis]

And a lot of actors are frustrated directors, too. And sometimes you can tell because they're trying to say something about what the other actor's doing. And I'm almost like, that's not your.

[Julie (Writer)]

That's not lame.

[Kristin Davis]

Back up, back up. But I'm not that way. I would love to produce. I want to put the people together to make projects. Right. Let's do it. That's fine. Let's do it. Let's do it, you guys. Because you guys are such a incredible team players. That's the other thing that I want to say.

[Julie (Writer)]

The thing I haven't said enough on this podcast is looking back. We can talk all night long about the writing or the directing. It's you guys. Like, you every. I laugh at. I realized it's not the writing. I mean, okay, it's the writing. It is. It's your. You're interpreting.

[Kristin Davis]

We have incredible chemistry. It's true. We have incredible chemistry. And sometimes I'm also. No, you can't. You can't. I agree. But you can also have incredible chemistry. And if you don't have the foundation of the writing, it's just frothy. Do you know what I'm saying? Frothy. It'll just, like, evaporate into nothing. It won't land without the foundation of the writing. And I feel like what's so great about the writing. And this is true. We want to talk about a change of address as well. I was trying to put my makeup on stupidly while I was watching my motherboard myself.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Oh, yeah.

[Kristin Davis]

It really didn't matter.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Not anticipating the tea tears.

[Kristin Davis]

No. And of course, I've cried it all off anyway now, so it's fine. And who really cares? But, like, I was so stupid. Do you know what I mean? But, like, also, it's one of those things. And people say this to me all the time, like, oh, you know, the first time I watched the show, I thought I was a carrier or whatever. And now with life experience, I think I'm a this, I'm that, or whatever. Like, to watch my motherboard myself from this perspective. Just so good. Painful, you know, it's painful because we were so innocent, you know? We were so innocent. Don't you feel? Yeah, but that's also, like, you guys wrote it so beautifully that you can have these different reactions over the years as you're seeing it. It's amazing.

[Julie (Writer)]

Thank you.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Such a. Yeah. It's a really blessing to have been part of it.

[Julie (Writer)]

We should also mention a big inspiration for that was there was a lot of loss behind the scenes. Melfi had just lost his mother.

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

Yeah.

[Alisa (Writer)]

And Grace.

[Julie (Writer)]

Naughty Grace.

[Kristin Davis]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Julie (Writer)]

And so we felt like we were doing this to honor all of them.

[Kristin Davis]

And you did a beautiful job. You did a beautiful job. Also, Jenny going through the cancer twice. I mean, at this point in time.

[Julie (Writer)]

And Michael had lost his father. Right. Like, there is all that.

[Kristin Davis]

It was starting. It was starting. And obviously we're at many, many years later and many losses later. But also, I Feel like the idea that you even tried, you know, that even everyone was like, hey, we've got this comedy that's, you know, like, getting.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Thank God Michael had the courage to do that. It was. He came in on day one and knew that that was gonna happen at some point. And there were other things. I remember that was the most clear season.

[Julie (Writer)]

That. And you know what?

[Alisa (Writer)]

Yeah. He was like, this is happening. And that's happening. And that's happening.

[Julie (Writer)]

I realized when you're saying this, and I'll try not to cry, that watching it again this morning, what got me choked up was that last line. She's at her laptop and she says something about accepting support. And then she says, so can a boyfriend if you can learn to let him. And I realized, like. And that's the easiest transition to 4, 15. Because that was like me pushing this great guy away.

[Kristin Davis]

You were pushing Ben away.

[Julie (Writer)]

I mean, I can get into it and change of address, but, like, I did not want to get married for many, many years.

[Kristin Davis]

And he tried. That is adorable. I don't think I knew this.

[Julie (Writer)]

It's only adorable because it ended well. Right.

[Alisa (Writer)]

So he wasn't like Aiden.

[Kristin Davis]

So, like, when she says when. When your boyfriend gets down in the street and proposed to you, just say yes, because that's what you do. Not that I wanted it. She's basically saying, I didn't. I don't want this. That's where you were.

[Julie (Writer)]

That's totally how I felt.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Wow.

[Julie (Writer)]

And also, I felt like I'd never seen on tv. I'd only seen a proposal scene where the woman says yes and ultimatum.

[Alisa (Writer)]

You know, I wanna get married.

[Kristin Davis]

Right, Right.

[Julie (Writer)]

By the woman.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Right. Yes.

[Julie (Writer)]

And I felt very alone. I felt very alone in not wanting to get married.

[Kristin Davis]

Oh, you should have come and talked to me.

[Julie (Writer)]

Oh, wow. Yeah. Let's take a trip back. But, yeah, I felt really like a freak. And it was. I was relieved that Michael wanted to put that on the air and give that to Carrie. Yeah.

[Kristin Davis]

Because Michael knows that this is a cultural situation. This is a cultural situation where women are feeling, you should want to get married.

[Julie (Writer)]

You should want to.

[Alisa (Writer)]

You should be impatient about it, even.

[Julie (Writer)]

Right.

[Kristin Davis]

And thank God this is changing. Thank God in heaven. It's a good thing. It's a good thing. But it is taking so long. Good God.

[Alisa (Writer)]

You know what I mean?

[Julie (Writer)]

Although I was pretty discovered on your other podcast that women are now. Was it Jenny?

[Kristin Davis]

Yeah.

[Julie (Writer)]

Jenny told us the highest owners are single women.

[Kristin Davis]

Because we were talking about when Miranda. Remember when Miranda has to keep. Keep like saying that she's single when she's buying the house. I've been through this personally. It's. That's, that still happens. The banks have not cut up.

[Julie (Writer)]

Sure. No, I'm sure.

[Kristin Davis]

I mean, maybe not quite as much as it was, but it's up there where they're just like, wait. Where they're like. Even with my kids right at school, the fact that there's only one signature on all of the permissions and the contracts, you know, for like they always. Yes, admission. They get very worried that the other parents who's out there is not in agreement or whatever. You know what I'm saying? They have like legal worries. You have to jump through some hoops, man, to be like, no, I am the only one. I am the only one. Yeah, please get on board.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Right, Right.

[Kristin Davis]

Let's. Kind of crazy.

[Alisa (Writer)]

Sign the form.

[Kristin Davis]

You guys, this is so much fun that we are gonna have to have a part two. So join us later in the week on Rus Charlotte.

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

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[Kristin Davis]

It makes it so easy.

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

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[Dani Shapiro]

Your husband is not who you think he is. Your body is not what you thought it was. Your identity is formed by a secret history. I'm Dani Shapiro and these are just a few of the stunning stories I'll be exploring on the 14th season of Family Secrets.

[Kristin Davis]

He kind of shoved me out of the way and said, move. And he went out the front door and he jumped in a car and drove off. And that was the last time I saw him.

[Dani Shapiro]

Listen to season 14 of Family Secrets on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Psychology of Your Twenties Host]

Your twenties can be so exciting, but they can also be really overwhelming, confusing, and honestly, just kind of lonely. May is mental health awareness month, and the psychology of your twenties is breaking down the science behind the biggest roadblocks we face.

[Julie (Writer)]

I was six years into my career,

[Alisa (Writer)]

the 80s hour weeks, and just the

[Kristin Davis]

first one in, the last one out, and I ended up burning out. There was a large chunk of my twenties that I like, was just so wanting to, like, be out of that phase, out of my skin. And I just, like, really regret not

[Kristen Davis (Ad reads for Your Reformer)]

living in the present more.

[Psychology of Your Twenties Host]

You don't need to have everything figured out right now. You just need to understand yourself a little bit better. Listen to the psychology of your 20s on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Chelsea Handler]

This season on Dear Chelsea with me, Chelsea Handler. We have some fantastic guests like Emilia Clarke.

[Kristin Davis]

When, like, young people come up to

[Alisa (Writer)]

me and they want to be an

[Kristin Davis]

actor or whatever, my first thing is

[Alisa (Writer)]

always, can you think of anything else

[Kristin Davis]

that you can do?

[Chelsea Handler]

I'd rather be disappointed in.

[Kristin Davis]

Do that.

[Chelsea Handler]

David Oyelowo.

[Motivational Speaker / Podcast Guest]

I love this podcast. Whether it's therapy or relationships or religion or sex or addiction, or you just

[Kristin Davis]

go straight for the guts.

[Chelsea Handler]

Dennis Leary, Gaten Matarazzo from Stranger Things, Tiana Mongeau, Camilla Marone, Carrie, Kenny Silver, and more. Listen to these episodes of Dear Chelsea on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or

[Julie (Writer)]

wherever you get your podcasts, this is an iHeart podcast.

[Kristin Davis]

Guaranteed Human.