04/10/2026 |
Sex and the City & Us: Legacy, Fashion, and Flaws
Show Notes:
YouTube Audio Version Available:
https://youtu.be/903CXJJERtE?si=RlsX0Fir6Kq57GpB
https://youtu.be/903CXJJERtE?si=RlsX0Fir6Kq57GpB
What made Sex and the City a cultural phenomenon? Author Jennifer Keishin Armstrong returns to Advanced TV Herstory to discuss her 2018 book Sex and the City and Us — exploring the series’ origin story, lasting impact, and contradictions.
Hosted by Cynthia Bemis Abrams, the episode covers:
- The behind-the-scenes inspiration, evolution, and epilogue of SATC
- The influence of Patricia Field on fashion and the show’s iconic style
- Amy B. Harris’s role in shaping the series
- How the show broke new ground with realistic gay characters and sexual storylines
- The show’s flaws — including lack of diversity and its mixed feminist legacy
They also examine the media-fueled tension between stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall, and how that dynamic shaped the show’s public narrative.
Referenced ATH episodes:
- 1.15 Women of MTM (1970–1977) Pt. 1 (https://traffic.libsyn.com/advancedtvherstory/Women_of_MTM_1970-77_Pt_1.mp3)
- 1.16 Women of MTM Pt. 2 (Words, Casting, Fashion) (https://traffic.libsyn.com/advancedtvherstory/Women_of_MTM_words_people__fashion_Pt_2.mp3)
- 1.17 Women Writers of MTM Pt. 3 (Treva Silverman) (https://traffic.libsyn.com/advancedtvherstory/Women_of_MTM_Pt_3_Treva_Silverman.mp3)
Additional guest resource:
Jennifer Keishin Armstrong (https://jenniferkarmstrong.com/)
Jennifer Keishin Armstrong (https://jenniferkarmstrong.com/)