So, to summarize: Weak and compromised characters, ridiculous outfits, unsupportable materialism, narcissistic comedy, and generally few redeeming characteristics... except for openness about sex. Hmm. That could describe either the Roman elites during the Caligula years or the entertainments of our era. Oh well.
I never understood the appeal of that show, but after reading your article, maybe I do - partially. A female friend of mine related to me that the Rodeo Drive shopping scene of "Pretty Woman" was almost orgasm-worthy and women loved to watch and re-watch that scene. Perhaps hedonism in Sex and the City was a similar vicarious pleasure - in addition to the frank talk about sex, that is ...
I've avoided seeing Pretty Woman, but I would not likely share those feelings. I dislike shopping, and seeing Rodeo Drive when I went there made me think more about income disparity and the failures of late-stage capitalism than anything related to orgasms. ;-) It wasn't the shopping and materialism that appealed to me in Sex and the City. The materialism was the disturbing part; I watched the show in spite of it, not because of it. (I don't say "hedonism" because that's not what shopping feels like to me, as I don't enjoy it.)
Her Mac crashed and she hadn't backed anything up. Aidan tried to help her, but he had a PC and the tech person she finally consulted said they weren't compatible. ;-)
I feel like shows like SATC, Friends and Seinfeld were great shows of their time, but as an adult they’re ruined because you know what it’s like to date, have a real job, need to afford things 🤣 I still watch Friends because it’s “comfy” for me. I recently just watched Seinfeld for the first time all the way through last year and I think out of all of them, it’s the best written although wacky.
I somehow feel the need to ALWAYS defend Friends no matter what. Nostalgia, baby.
Haha! Well, I was in my thirties when those shows came out, so I did have some sense of the lack of reality. Still enjoyed them, though. Seinfeld was indeed so well written, and stood out from the other two — and just the other day I had occasion to refer to it, as life often mirrored something that had happened in a Seinfeld episode. I love that you defend Friends! I was once in a minor car accident and went really hard against the seat belt. I came home and turned on Friends, but I had to turn it off because it was making me laugh too much and it hurt. ;-)
Fun fact: Seinfeld was very reality-based: so much of it rings true because so much of it was true. Kramer did not need "visible means of support" because he has patterned after a neighbor of Larry David's (also named "Kramer") who invented the tiny glowing earrings that were a five minute fad in 1970s disco culture. Rent control creates many "housing miracles" in NYC, and it is not like any of them had expansive Central Park views...
True, Seinfeld was way more realistic than the other shows. And I've had various friends with "housing miracles" there. I do seem to recall Elaine moving at least once, though. But hey, the Seinfeld characters at least took the subway now and then, which I don't think anyone on SATC ever did! Crazy!
I tried watching Seinfeld so many times in my early 20s and was like, “how do people like this show?!?” Now I’m either quoting it or relating it daily like you said!
Jun 28, 2023·edited Jun 28, 2023Liked by Rosana Francescato
I have seen less than a handful of "Friends" episodes but recently found one of my streaming services had the entire catalog so I watched the #1 episode. I have to say that there are at most 3 TV shows in history with an episode as perfect as "The One Where Everybody Finds out" - https://imdb.com/title/tt0583452
I’d agree!! I think the show had a great finale too. The finale of Seinfeld lacked for me. I read a bunch about why they did what they did but after a brilliantly written show, the finale didn’t fit.
Jun 28, 2023·edited Jun 28, 2023Liked by Rosana Francescato
You may know that Seinfeld is a continuation of "The Dick Van Dyke Show". A series of stories about peoples' petty foibles getting them into tremendous troubles, or as Jerry Likes to say, "It's a show about nothing at all!" - but that drove the storylines in both of these TV series ... If you haven't seen Dick Van Dyke check out the the giant rock episode or the walnut episode ...
Great analysis and wonderful writing! A pleasure to read! I am guilty of watching every Thursday's episode. I'm fascinated by the characters' "aging," and "wisdom," a cartoon version of the real thing, but every once in a while, it hits a an accurate chord for me. I loved, for instance, when Carrie leaves the bedroom of the "dashing, bike-riding entrepreneur," recognizing his lack of availability. It's a triumph. I also loved when Aiden has a visceral reaction to going into the apartment that represents the demise of their former relationship. I'm NOT defending the show. Just feel that it has moments.
Thank you!! It's definitely a cartoon version and doesn't live up to even the highly flawed SATC. I'm still hooked, but I cringe at every episode. And there's so much more they could do with the topic of aging, something I'm finding so rich with possibility in my own life.
I could say so much more about these shows but try to keep my posts from getting too long! I have such fond memories of SATC, like the time I stayed up so late with a straight male friend watching episode after episode that I had to sleep on his couch ...
So, to summarize: Weak and compromised characters, ridiculous outfits, unsupportable materialism, narcissistic comedy, and generally few redeeming characteristics... except for openness about sex. Hmm. That could describe either the Roman elites during the Caligula years or the entertainments of our era. Oh well.
And it was fun! You forgot about the fun. Maybe that would also apply to Caligula.
Laurie Stone's essay is, indeed, wonderful! Thanks for sending me to both pieces.
I never understood the appeal of that show, but after reading your article, maybe I do - partially. A female friend of mine related to me that the Rodeo Drive shopping scene of "Pretty Woman" was almost orgasm-worthy and women loved to watch and re-watch that scene. Perhaps hedonism in Sex and the City was a similar vicarious pleasure - in addition to the frank talk about sex, that is ...
I've avoided seeing Pretty Woman, but I would not likely share those feelings. I dislike shopping, and seeing Rodeo Drive when I went there made me think more about income disparity and the failures of late-stage capitalism than anything related to orgasms. ;-) It wasn't the shopping and materialism that appealed to me in Sex and the City. The materialism was the disturbing part; I watched the show in spite of it, not because of it. (I don't say "hedonism" because that's not what shopping feels like to me, as I don't enjoy it.)
I don't remember that comment, but very true. Well, they've both matured--we'll see what happens!
Her Mac crashed and she hadn't backed anything up. Aidan tried to help her, but he had a PC and the tech person she finally consulted said they weren't compatible. ;-)
True, she didn't, but he was kinda controlling of her and a bit rigid (even though also a sweetheart).
And they really weren't totally compatible, as she said of their laptops! ;-)
Money, probably!
I mean, the character. She didn't treat him so well before! ;-)
I hear Aidan is coming back. I love that actor . . .
He is! Why he wants to, I'm not sure, lol.
I feel like shows like SATC, Friends and Seinfeld were great shows of their time, but as an adult they’re ruined because you know what it’s like to date, have a real job, need to afford things 🤣 I still watch Friends because it’s “comfy” for me. I recently just watched Seinfeld for the first time all the way through last year and I think out of all of them, it’s the best written although wacky.
I somehow feel the need to ALWAYS defend Friends no matter what. Nostalgia, baby.
Haha! Well, I was in my thirties when those shows came out, so I did have some sense of the lack of reality. Still enjoyed them, though. Seinfeld was indeed so well written, and stood out from the other two — and just the other day I had occasion to refer to it, as life often mirrored something that had happened in a Seinfeld episode. I love that you defend Friends! I was once in a minor car accident and went really hard against the seat belt. I came home and turned on Friends, but I had to turn it off because it was making me laugh too much and it hurt. ;-)
Fun fact: Seinfeld was very reality-based: so much of it rings true because so much of it was true. Kramer did not need "visible means of support" because he has patterned after a neighbor of Larry David's (also named "Kramer") who invented the tiny glowing earrings that were a five minute fad in 1970s disco culture. Rent control creates many "housing miracles" in NYC, and it is not like any of them had expansive Central Park views...
True, Seinfeld was way more realistic than the other shows. And I've had various friends with "housing miracles" there. I do seem to recall Elaine moving at least once, though. But hey, the Seinfeld characters at least took the subway now and then, which I don't think anyone on SATC ever did! Crazy!
I tried watching Seinfeld so many times in my early 20s and was like, “how do people like this show?!?” Now I’m either quoting it or relating it daily like you said!
I have seen less than a handful of "Friends" episodes but recently found one of my streaming services had the entire catalog so I watched the #1 episode. I have to say that there are at most 3 TV shows in history with an episode as perfect as "The One Where Everybody Finds out" - https://imdb.com/title/tt0583452
I’d agree!! I think the show had a great finale too. The finale of Seinfeld lacked for me. I read a bunch about why they did what they did but after a brilliantly written show, the finale didn’t fit.
Yes, the Seinfeld finale was awful — not worthy of such a great show.
You may know that Seinfeld is a continuation of "The Dick Van Dyke Show". A series of stories about peoples' petty foibles getting them into tremendous troubles, or as Jerry Likes to say, "It's a show about nothing at all!" - but that drove the storylines in both of these TV series ... If you haven't seen Dick Van Dyke check out the the giant rock episode or the walnut episode ...
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0559873/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0559769/ - considered the # 1 episode
Will check them out! I never watched that show and always found him really annoying, lol.
Great analysis and wonderful writing! A pleasure to read! I am guilty of watching every Thursday's episode. I'm fascinated by the characters' "aging," and "wisdom," a cartoon version of the real thing, but every once in a while, it hits a an accurate chord for me. I loved, for instance, when Carrie leaves the bedroom of the "dashing, bike-riding entrepreneur," recognizing his lack of availability. It's a triumph. I also loved when Aiden has a visceral reaction to going into the apartment that represents the demise of their former relationship. I'm NOT defending the show. Just feel that it has moments.
Thank you!! It's definitely a cartoon version and doesn't live up to even the highly flawed SATC. I'm still hooked, but I cringe at every episode. And there's so much more they could do with the topic of aging, something I'm finding so rich with possibility in my own life.
Just happened to see a couple pieces about AJLT. I think this one nails it, https://oldster.substack.com/p/notes-on-another-new-life-6, this one less so https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/and-just-like-that-has-one-too-many-cosmopolitans
I could say so much more about these shows but try to keep my posts from getting too long! I have such fond memories of SATC, like the time I stayed up so late with a straight male friend watching episode after episode that I had to sleep on his couch ...