Photo Credit: Backgrid
AND JUST LIKE THAT…AN ERA ENDS
All good things must come to an end–even when we don’t want to see those iconic closet doors filled with Manolo Blahnik eye candy shut for the last time.
When "Sex and the City" first aired in 1998, it prompted subsequent defining moments in pop culture history, particularly for impressionable, young females. Think about how many times a girl put herself in the designer shoes of Carrie Bradshaw, Miranda Hobbes, Charlotte York, and/or Samantha Jones. After six successful seasons on HBO, two movies, and one spin-off show, Sarah Jessica Parker and showrunner Michael Patrick King poetically announced that Carrie Bradshaw will bid farewell in And Just Like That’s finale on August 14th. Aside from their public expressions, Deuxmoi has learned that the show would have gone on…for the right price.
But sadly, Carrie Bradhawl is not (and will never be) a bargain shopper. It’s runway or bust for the likes of this ride-or-die New Yorker.
As highlighted in Deux/U’s August 7th podcast episode, SJP hinted at her character’s return to her old apartment on "Watch What Happens Live" in mid-July. What seemed like a natural progression back to Carrie’s roots is now seemingly a symbolic message for her upcoming departure. However, Deuxmoi has been informed by a source that there was more to the story. In fact, the source said “the truth is…the apartment in Gramercy…allegedly sold right before they started shooting. And the new owner has lots of restrictions around shooting and bringing in furniture.”
While the cast filmed a decent amount of the show on a sound stage, the insider intimated to Deuxmoi that allegedly “the outside took months of reshoots.” Further intensifying the process, production repeatedly sought to “film inside the apartment, but they were banned to do so.” Their attempts to film within Gramercy Park’s exclusive greenery were also dismissed, per the source.
Given this information, it would make sense why the interior always appeared sparsely decorated. If you were a fan of AJLT, you might recall Carrie’s inability to furnish the spacious Gramercy apartment in its entirety. Was it because of the filming setbacks or Ms. Bradshaw’s hesitancy?
Well, like most business decisions, the show’s true future came down to the bottom line: money. A source told Deuxmoi allegedly “that despite Michael Patrick King’s statement, there were active and ongoing negotiations about a fourth season when this third season started filming and was underway. Ultimately, both parties couldn't come to terms, both in terms of cost-per-episode basis and salaries involved.” As the source summed up, “it cost a fortune to film this show” — and “Sarah Jessica Parker’s salary as being a cast member and also a producer was rather high.”
Take one look at the cast’s wardrobe, lifestyle, and collective event calendar, and one can assume millions were shelled out to create their idyllic lives.
Since its debut in 2021, "And Just Like That" was long ridiculed for plot holes, character judgments, and plain ol’ WTF moments. However, the dialogue and charm remained intact. Another source shared with Deuxmoi that supposedly “there was concern that this show wouldn’t do as well in syndication. People wouldn’t be rewatching these episodes as much as they do of Sex and the City.”
At the end of day, would Carrie Bradshaw ever trade in luxury for mediocrity? Staying on brand in anticipation of next week’s series finale, we will be in our nostalgic era. From her bus stop ad to heartbreak to global adventures with her girlfriends, Deuxmoi will never forget the memories created around this iconic show — alongside how it shaped us as a whole.
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