April 11, 2025 • 33 mins
Charlotte and Anthony were a match made in wedding planning heaven. The BFFs went way beyond “HATES IT” to become the closest of friends both on screen and off. Their Sex and the City friendship endured multiple weddings, babies, love stories, Liza Minelli and the loss of dear friends.
Mario Cantone returns to join Kristin to laugh and cry and tell all.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hi, I'm Kristen Davis, and I want to know are
you a Charlotte? You guys Mario Cantone is here.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
I've been waiting. It's so exciting.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
I know.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
That's what he said when I texted him, Hey, do
you want to be on the podcast?
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Oh? I hope. So I've been waiting for you to
ask me.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
But my feeling was in my mind when I agreed
to do the podcast to rewatch, which I hadn't rewatched,
you know, since it originally came on. I thought, I'm
going to go chronologically and in order.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
But it's too.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Hard to wait.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Okay, it is too hard to wait. And so funny.
I caught myself because I saw that we were going
to recap this episode, and I was like, why aren't
we doing an episode? I'm in that we and she
was and I went, oh, wait a minute, Okay, you're
doing one at a time. You're doing a chronological.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Correct I said, so great, And well you're just you're
just such a joy that I have to have you now.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
I needed to be here. I know he was.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
He was not messed around. He was like, well, I
was waiting.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
I've been waiting. I know.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
We came all the way to lovely San Francisco.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
I know, I talk to you and we're in beautiful
Marinecome it's very beautiful, beautiful. I mean, wow, There's there's
a lovely little town that I'd say at once in
a while called Bolinas, which is like hidden. The locals
ripped the signs down. Don't know how to get there
unless secret, guys. Beautiful.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
So here is Mario, the fantastic Mario Cantone. Now what
I want to do with you? Let's go back to
the beginning.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Okay, I want to ask you. Okay, what year did
you get cast? And how did it come about? On
Sex and the City.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Okay, So I started I in the eighties. I was
doing stand up with Michael Patrick King at them at
the forty fourth Street and ninth Avenue, the original improv
that Bud Friedman and Silver Friedman owned, and then they
divorced it. Bud got the one in la and Silver
got the one in New York. She passed me. I
met Michael. He was in a comedy theme at the time,
Wow King and Mende, and then he ended up stand
(02:00):
up on his own right. I remember one time Joan Rivers'
husband had just passed away. And so he Michael said
to me, Okay, you're Joan Rivers, who also knew that
I did her and loved me. Okay, she goes, have
to preface it, so she goes, you're Joan Rivers, You're
on a cruise and get just died. You're grieving, you're
getting over it. Go I would have to like improv
(02:21):
like Melissa, how are you? Can I sit down, Let's
have some breakfast and we're doing better today? Wait? Just
could I get some eggs? Exit? Yeah, we would, And
it went on and on, and then I ended up
doing that on stage a week later, and it was
Joe soon but it was very but it.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Was he always got my eighties.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
This is the eighties. So I was doing an off
broall Way show at the time. It was it was
the end of nineteen ninety nine, I think, or two thousand, Okay,
I think it was early two thousand and I he said,
I wrote you something. So he wrote it for you.
Oh yeah, he read.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
But I was doing an off ball show at the time,
and but I went in to read just make it official,
and you know, So I was doing a show called
The Crumple Zone, which did very well, ran for six
months off Broadway, and I I remember our night. The
day we filmed. It was a tech day and a
(03:20):
director who I loved very much not please no, he
didn't want to let me out. I'm like, it's a
tech day. People stand there and you light it right,
and I went like this, I'm going to do this
episode because there was an issue of maybe, Oh no,
I was like, I'm going to do my.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
This episode and I went, oh no, it wasn't what
was on.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
It was one episode that.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Was wedding as your wedding Wedding player.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
And do you remember we had two scenes we had
a second scene. I remember, Okay, see I love I
love so you do every episode I don't. I was recurring.
I did people go how many episodes did I do?
I did twelve? Only twelve. I did one Season three,
Our two, season four, three, season five and six, Season six,
(04:06):
and then both movies. The movies really kind of solidified it,
which was nice. You know. So uh there were two
scenes in that first episode. There was the one hates it,
the very famous hates it with yeah don't yeah, all
(04:27):
that's okay, you're you're dragging and I'm yelling at the girl.
And then there was another scene in the back of
the Vera Wang in this kind of little area yep,
and I was fitting you and you were getting very
anxious as Charlotte and I had his scissors and it
ripped the dress and you were furious and we just
(04:48):
kind of looked at each other. That scene got cut
because it was at three in the morning, four in
the morning. There wasn't enough coverage, and they cut it.
Luckily they cut it because it was almost like an
argument between us.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Oh, so it might not have gone well. So if well,
they probably wanted to keep you. They probably knew already.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
I don't know, Noll.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
I remember running into Michael and he said, do you
know how much great feedback we got on you? I said,
I don't know, I said, and I don't care. I
just want to know him I coming back, I said, yes,
So that's that's adorable.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
I vaguely remember. They'll tell you what I remember most
about the Vera Wang. So we're in Vera Wang, which
I think was a big deal.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Yes, and we're you know, I had already tried on
like thirty five actual Vera Wang dresses to see what
Charlotte would wear.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
It was a whole drama.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
And we're there and it's going very late, as was
our just general m O. And I'm so sorry if
I'm repeating myself, but you know all the time, it was.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Very late, very late. He got out of four in
the morning.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Then exactly, and so the executive from HBO, Michael Hill, came,
do you remember, And I remember.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
The reason I remember is that it's not very big
in Vera Wang. It's very fautique.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
So he's sitting over the over across the room, like
just glaring at everyone.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Because he wants us to hurry up because we're over budget, right,
and he's just glaring at everyone, which doesn't help anything, No,
it does.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
And so I'm sure that that also influenced the scene
that we the other scene that got cut, which is
actually a good thing that it got cut, as you're saying,
But I don't remember that other scenes, I really, I mean,
when I'm rewatching, I don't remember anything.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
I'm like, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
What, the first time, I just started watching a bunch
of them because they're just playing them on HBO a
lot now, right, And I'm seeing the young cut version
of it. Usually I'm used to seeing them quickly on.
I also don't like seeing myself that long ago, because.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Oh, come on, I just go.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Boy, was that pretty?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
So asdorable? You're still I was pretty happened?
Speaker 2 (06:36):
But you know, I remember it's so funny because I
didn't remember Michael Hill. I don't. I don't remember him coming.
If I had known, I probably would have been like,
oh god, good thing. I didn't know.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
I tried to protect you from such things.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
And the other thing was like when you do when
you were when we were rehearsing it, and I remember
Betty Anne and all the crews, they were laughing hysterically,
and then of course they can't laugh on. So when
my comedians sick mind, you think, well, I'm not funny anymore.
I've lost it, you know, there's that issue. No, But
I just I remember that night like it was yesterday.
And also that night, my husband's uh was opening in
(07:09):
an off Broadway show. Oh my god, and I couldn't go,
but he was so Look, this changed my life. I'm
glad it changed my life. It's a and and the
fact that it's come back, and it's this successful, and
it's no reboot runs.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
We don't call it reboot, I know, you know what I'm.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Saying, no reissue, no whatever. But it doesn't it doesn't
happen like this.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Well I think it also just doesn't happen that you
get to revisit the characters for thirty years or whatever,
twenty eight whatever it is. So that's alone shocking. And
then the other thing that I mentioned a lot, but
is really I think important to remember is that there's
not I can't think of any other female driven you know, franchise,
(07:54):
which is what we are at this point. Yeah, that
is as successful and ongoing. So we're just incredibly lucky.
From the series to the movies to this exactly.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
And also you know with within, just like that, there's
been big changes made in characters all the way around.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
And Arlotte, well you.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Know what's interesting, Yeah, except but watching watching that early episode,
it was it was interesting.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Well but thank you, but you.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Well you know, when Charlotte did get formed, Yeah, it's
interesting what happens especially let me talk about the the
the the sequel here and just like that. What I
think has happened to you is that your confidence level
and I think this happened when you formed the character too,
(08:52):
but it has kind of heightened. Your confidence level is
stronger and your anxiety level is higher, which makes for
magnificent comedy that you listen you.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
But I got to tell you something, there is no
way that my anxiety level is higher than it was
first season. That's all I can think of when I
watch is how I'm talking about the cansite.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
I know, I don't know you.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
I can't say it, you know, and I don't know
what that hacked, Like I don't know where this was going.
But also I wasn't even worried about where it was going,
like like I was more just trying to pull off Charlotte.
And Charlotte was so underdeveloped, like Michael told me when
he came on the podcast that he was like, I
don't know how to write for that one. And I
was like, I love to hear that, because definitely I
(09:36):
I could tell that I was not fully fleshed out.
And then Jenny Banks came on, which was so great
because Jenny grew up on the Upper East Side, so
she was actually an authority who could write me knowing
what that was, you know what that was about?
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Did Thank god? So it came together. But what I
want to say.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
About you, and then we're going to talk about you,
because we're here to talk about you, my friend. So
what I want to say is that the success that
we've had for all these many years in all these
different forms is because we have the most amazing cast
and that includes every element of the cast and the
incredible writers and the incredible fans. So you have been
a huge, huge, huge part of that success.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Our chemistry is so good and I love working with you.
And on the note of anxiety, yes, every episode I
did a Sex and the City I left that set
thinking I didn't hit it. I didn't get like you think.
I'd let you know, Michael, I let you go with
I know I didn't get it.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
I know you were always so always sweet.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
And then I would watch it and be like, all right, yeah,
all right.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
So you learned, you learned as you will.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
That's great because I was all I always knew that
you had five times what you thought you had. You
know what I'm trying to say, Like, and you just
needed to take a breath, Yeah, you know, just take
a breath.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
And now look at you now and look at me now.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Yeah, unless there's a lot of bread.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
No kidding, Oh, well here's this is a lovely story props.
I'm talking about props, you guys.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Case Also you're not sure, Well he has a bread
bread business.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Well you know it's so funny. Tell secretly yes, and
everyone knows. I've said an interviews when that first scene
that we did together where I'm picking out your wedding
dress and I am saying that, oh, the placket, that
the lace application, I had no idea what I was saying.
I didn't get that, gay Jean, I couldn't pick up
your dress or your shoes. I'm not that kind of
a homosexual. I don't know, I don't, I don't care,
(11:34):
and that I don't care. I know it looks good, but.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
I just I don't think Michael Patrick King care is.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Either No, no, it's about it's about you know. So
I didn't like being a wedding planet even though that wasn't.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
No, but I was, no, you pulled it off.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
You didn't complain, no, no, no, no complain, Just say
the lines and hit your mark and shut up.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
But we never said that.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
When I said that to my head, yeah, not that.
I it's just like this wouldn't be my choice to
play got it. But when this came on, and just
like that came along, because I've known Michael years, so
I just thought he said, I know, I knew I
wanted to do something culinary with you. And I I bake.
(12:17):
I sell a banana bread to a coffee shop in
my neighborhood. No, yeah, I bake, I bake, I cook.
I'm a big baker.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Oh you cook, but I didn't know you baked.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Oh, I bake, I bake a lot of stuff.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Wow, we've got to get your banana bread at hot Oh.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
I know, well, you know what. And the other interesting
thing is my one of my favorite bakeries is Sullivan
Street Bakery, which is right across the street from me.
All the bread that we used from there, and I
know Jim wagh he really, well, it's a great place.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
What year is it? And how did you get the part?
Speaker 1 (12:55):
You knew?
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Michael?
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Oh, that's right, I just read it and he and
he cast me and got it.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
And you thought it was one.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
I thought it was one.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
So then you run into him and you're like, I
don't care about the feedback.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Yeah I want it again. He said, you're definitely coming back. Great.
So I was on the second episode in season four, right,
and then I did one other episode and season four. Yeah,
and then I did like three in season five and
six and season six.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
And were you just like calmly hoping or were you
calling him your agents?
Speaker 3 (13:25):
What were you doing?
Speaker 2 (13:26):
No? I didn't. I just prayed and I was coming
back because I didn't. I honestly, Look, I can't call
them and make them like where is my why? I
don't do that. Look, And there are people that are
the opposite. They're there with recurring people. There are people
that are on that have recurring roles sometimes and not
(13:46):
just our series. I'm talking about anywhere where they have
to work around them and then not available. I was
always on call because I always afraid I would get
fired if I couldn't make it. It's stressful, you know.
And then you well they had to write AM out
of this episode. Well they had you know this one
couldn't do that and this, right, I.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Couldn't be that way, But I think that's great. I
also would never have been that way in that situation. Yeah,
I'm always abounderstand it. But also I think, you know,
I also feel like and tell me, tell me if
you feel this way. You know you might be different
with different projects, right, but like, if you feel that
this is for you, like if it clicks, if you
(14:27):
are thrilled with it, and you like the working environment,
you like the part and the finished product or whatever,
you know, that's your priority. And I think that people
know that. And look, our business is crazy and sometimes
you can't control it, right, you cannot, But you can
tell what the priorities are. And I know Michael Patrick
really cares that you also care.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Oh I do all of us care, right.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
You know? I mean I never even asked for like, oh,
I can't make it that day, be could you possibly?
I mean there's a few times I was like, I
want to go to LA and just do this game
show for a day, can can? I could you find
a day for me? You know That's how I am.
I don't I don't push I don't push it, you know.
But this look this, I also knew when I did
(15:10):
my first episode that this was a by the third season.
It was a big show, got it?
Speaker 1 (15:15):
And you didn't come before the third was in my
mind you were there earlier, but no, because you were
my wedding planner. I don't get married to the thirsty
That's right, that makes sense, that is true. The third
season is when we really hit I would say.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
I would say so too, yeah, and and and then
it just kept going. And also back then to have
I didn't I didn't know I was going to come back,
especially you already May he rest in peace for great
Willie Garson. You had already had one gay male character
on the show, and back then one was enough for
the public. You know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
I means a different times, a different times to.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
The fact that I got to become a recurring character
on it, and you know, and then eventually have my
relationship with Stanford with will so you know, it was.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
So you didn't have super high expectations based on the
fact that we already had one gay character.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Yeah, and this was the nineties and or early two thousands,
and that was a lot. But luckily we were on
HBO and they pretty much let us do what we
wanted to do.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
But we still were and it's part of the reason
I wanted to do the podcast, because if you think
about how things were in the society in ninety seven,
some things were really different, and television as a reflection
of the society.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
And then some things weren't really different.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Right, Like there are things now that are really different
that we would not have seen coming. And then there
are some things where it's still very relevant the things
that were in the show, you know, like the themes,
the kind of ideas. But also I think the reality
of New York City. We were trying our best to
reflect that then, and some of that was a stretch,
(16:50):
Like having more than one gay character is a stretch,
which is crazy.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
To think about speaking of New York City. Yeah, the influence,
the influence, the influence that this show had on fashion.
And also look, I live down the street from the
Meek packing district. This show accelerated, it accelerates, it accelerated
the development of that area.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
I can't.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
I know, babe, I know.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
And you see those four girls in this for a second.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
You know what's so funny? Is it still because I
live in LA when we're.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
Not working at you know, and part of the reason
I live in LA is because it's very chill compared
to us in New York.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
You're like, no, New Yorkers don't care. I'm like, well,
I mean it's great because they consider us theirs. I think.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
I took my shirt off once on Sex in the
City was.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
In there's a lot of stress.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
So yeah, and I was like, oh god, yeah, I
looked all right, I look okay. So this was two
years ago. We'll we're going into the second season and
Michael Patrick King called me up and said, hey, just
so you know, you're gonna be getting a storyline. You're
gonna be gonna be getting a boyfriend. So guess what.
I trainer and I started working out, and and and
(18:17):
and but the when I have a backside shot, I'm
in bed with Sebastian. Sebastiano, he plays who I just adore.
I'm the luckiest man in the world with that. He
sent in one audition tape and got it. We had
no chemistry tests and it is a godsend. And he's
like my brother now, you know, which is a little
weird kissing him first season, I was like, I got
(18:38):
to kiss this beautiful young man. Now I'm like, you're
like my brother, and I'm over here when it's a
little weird, but I love it.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
He's just a good he's a guy.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
So I looked, I looked at it, and I went, well,
the night before I dropped, I didn't sleep. I was like,
these homosexuals are gonna come after me. And then I
saw it and I went, you know what, I look okay,
and I'm all and and I'm next to him. I
was like, okay, it's not as bad as I thought
it was going to be.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
You were very stressed. I remember very stress, because how
could you not be. It's a very real thing.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
And and you know, even with like the intimacy coordinators,
because Sebastiano is a guy and I'm a guy, we're
both like whatever. We're not like choreographing every move and
we had in this which is fine. Look it's different
for women, it's a different thing.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
The other thing is, I don't think anyone wants to
choreograph everyone. It's about feelings safe, right, So you don't
know the intimacy coordinator is there because you don't know
the situation and you don't know how the other actors
can be.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
I mean we do an our normally you don't know
and you don't know.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
What the director. You're working with different men all the time,
Definitely a different time. I'm totally I felt so safe
with them, say with me, you're good but and it's
you know, for a man from guy. All these guys,
the crew, I love my crew. They're all straight guys.
You know, when you're a woman, it's a different thing.
I mean, it's a whole other thing. But anyway, So
(20:00):
before season three started filming, I said to Michael, I
want more nudity, I said. My dms blow up. The
next day, I want more nuity, I said, I like
sexualized at sixty five years old. It's good.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
Well, God bless you, God bless you.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
And you know what I mean, We're lucky that we
even get the chance to do anything.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
You know what I mean? Exactly right, let's pause, let's
back up in time. Do you remember meeting Willy?
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Yes, it was that first day, the first day, I'm sorry,
not the first day. It was my second.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
Episode when we're at that fashion show, the fashion show, which.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Was really fun.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
I remember being really fun.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
I remember that day. I remember because I remember walking
into that the aisle of the fashion.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Yeah, it was big too, it was big, Remember how
big it was. And remember we weren't the main story, sir,
Jessica walking and falling. Heidi Klum and Kevin A. Kwan
was there, so we were just having fun. Yeah, we
were just having good time.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
Me and Will.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
Right away, I got who he was. I adored him.
He's hilarious, his storytelling is phenomenon. He's just a great
it's just a great person to be around. It was,
it was just so much fun. And I yeah, we
hung out and here and there and you know, I
remember when he first adopted his son and all of that. Yeah, Nathan,
(21:21):
So it's yeah, I I it's fascinating because who knew
we were going to get married eventually? I know. And
what did you think of that? I thought I thought
it was good. I think I think it was great.
I think things happened. You I mean, I've met people
and I'm like, I'm totally not attracted that I don't
and then all of a sudden it flips. That's that
that happens all the time in life.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
I still and I can't really separate this from actual life,
you know, because we didn't uh, you know, we didn't
know that he was sicking the obviously, we really didn't
think it was going to be as bad as it was,
as quickly as it was.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
We had to really shift gears with your storyline. I mean,
how'd you feel.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Oh, I was. Well, first of all, he told me
while we were filming BIG's funeral. I didn't know. That's
when we all kind of found out. I already knew,
you knew. I didn't know, and that was a hard
John Belfie was running around and he was something like,
what's going on? And I sat down on the bench
with Willy and he told me, and he turned his
(22:20):
head and I thought he was laughing because I thought
it's a joke, and then he wasn't, and so we
both will crying, and he said he has to leave
the show, and I don't know what's going to happen,
and I'm sorry, I'm like what it was? It was
mind blowing. It really was horrible, and you know, I
was like, wow, whatever happens for me? I was like, whatever,
(22:43):
you know? I mean? And so Michael came to me
and said, look, because he had a write on the
fly for me, because all that stuff.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
I remember what you had, which.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
He did brilliantly. Of course he just did, but you know,
and he I remember him saying to me, you know,
I'm gonna need you now more than ever, and you know,
I started crying. It was just it was a lot, uh,
and then Willie was gone. And I always this story
about when we were going in to see Lily's recital
that first that first episode, and we filmed the argument
(23:23):
out in the front when you were coming in and
we went in, and then we filmed the interior like
three weeks later, and he couldn't make it, and that
scene was rewritten that morning by Michael And I remember
that day. So I was, you know, the court gesture
and trying to be funny and keep it all light.
You know. Michael was always throw out with Betty Davis
say so I will you know, but it was it
(23:45):
was we all just kind of held on and kept
moving forward. But it was it was rough. But you know,
here we are.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
Can you do? It is really shining, still shocking.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
And cancer my whole family's there's so many of my people,
my mother and my father, a lot of you know
a lot of people have gone from cancer. My family, cancers.
It sucks, It sucks. I mean I just feel like,
why isn't it cure yet? Where's the fix? I agree,
this money making thing, where's the fix? At least? What
I don't? I mean, look, I know it's the things
(24:22):
that have gotten better. It's also this also treatments that
aren't available and we don't know about that are available
in Germany.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
Or for some reason is the place. Yes, it's interesting.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
Mostly a cancer vaccination there that they make for you
according to your cancer that really supposedly.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Helps well, listen up everyone.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Yeah, exactly, Peter Gabriel is doing it. Yes, Okay, so
you know, let's go.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
Doctors, doctors. We're not non medical advice, no, but interesting, interesting, right, yeah, yeah,
I mean I wish we could go back in time.
I wish we could go back in time. It is strange.
When I first started the podcast, I had to go
back and rewatch the pilot, right, And I haven't seen
any of these things since you know, the beginning, right.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
I used to really hate.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
To rewatch because I just felt, I don't know, weird
about it, like I didn't want to spend my time
in the past, I guess. But because we're here together
and talking about it is a connecting. The podcast is
a way to connect, you know, and because so many
people I'm sure you experienced this talk to me about
it throughout the day. You know, you're moving through the
(25:28):
world and different things strike different people. Differently, right, And
they'll come up and say, oh, I remember blah blah blah,
I remember blah blah blah. And you know, it's so
so amazing, like the way that you can touch touch
people or be part of something that touches, and.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
How they know the material better than we do.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
We forget it yet.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
I mean, I remember the big storylines, but so many
things I didn't remember a line, right.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Isn't that crazy that people remember the lines?
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (25:55):
Yeah, but I think you know, to go back when
I first watched the pilot, I had always remembered the
pilot being bad.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
In my mind, it was bad because we didn't really
know what we were doing. We didn't really know. There
was so much talking to the camera.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
You know, it was very dark, which in my mind
had been bad. But when you look back on it,
it's kind of bold and amazing and interesting and dark,
like not like television at the time at all.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Right, the season, yeah, very little different.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
So the tone of the first season, Yeah, we didn't know.
We didn't know nothing in terms of what we're.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
Doing of talking sometimes.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Which is fantastic.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
Last night there was a lot of oh, yes it
was and I've never seen that I know because.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
Michael does know.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
He doesn't do that. No, no, no, he doesn't.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
No, No, it's that sometime it's his, it's his pattern
that he writes.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
But back when I first watched the pilot, you know,
I'm just in my bed, you know, the night before
the first podcast recording, watching it, and when they introduced Stanford,
it's just this super close up of Willie who already knew.
I knew Willy because I met him on the XBOU
set in like Vancouver, in an abandoned insane asylum.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
Like super spooky.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
But of course Willy makes any place fun, right, So
it was just a really good time.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
He's telling stories and doing the whole thing. So I
already knew him, which was great.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
And its just smash cut to Willi's face, his young face,
and oh, it hit me so hard.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
It hit me so hard. But this is the joy
of film, that it lasts forever.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
Right, And he made his mark in so many different shows,
is so many movies.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
He worked a lot, so much.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
Everyone knew him everyone everyone, everyone.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
Knew him, and he worked with the lot of people.
He did a lot of works.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
And now ask you.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
This, do you feel when you think back is it.
Is it something where you can think about, Oh, I
remember when you know, Willie and I were doing this
and I was observing him and I learned this.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Or are you all just like soaking it up wherever
you go?
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Just you know, you're just it's day to day. It's
a different an experience every time you're on that set.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
Which is what I love about acting.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
It's absolutely it's a different experience. You're feeling different things,
and you're you know, you're more anxious one day and
a little less anxious another day, and care too much
one day, and then one day you're like, I don't
have a cat today. I'm no, I don't.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
I know you better than that?
Speaker 2 (28:23):
No, I don't. I don't, I don't never you know
what I mean? You feel different things?
Speaker 3 (28:27):
Well, you have you have to.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
I think the interesting thing is you have to manage
where you your personal self are that day, but then
you also have to manage yourself into where.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
Your character is that day, right, which absolutely.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
Like take some work sometimes does yeah, yeah, And you
have to figure that out as you go.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Because sometimes when not not that I mean, I don't
give a shit one day, it's like I I care
a little less, which relaxes me more. The same person
going through the day in the same way, but I'm
a little bit more relaxed. You happened later and right.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
But it's a great thing because you you don't need
to be as anxious as you are.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
Yeah, they make jokes about Charlotte's wedding.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
Your wedding was, oh my gosh, my sisters, my real sisters.
You don't really see as close to them, but you
see two women. I remember this down the island, both
my sisters, and one of them passed away in twenty nineteen.
She died a cancer. So yeah, but she got to
walk me down the aisle.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
That sounds pretty great. With the swans and.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
With the swans, and I always say, I always go
like this. I always say, I go up. When I
was like, I danced Chang the single ladies, and I
danced so high that I stamped on a swan and
broke its snack. It was an accent, and I was like,
who said, who has swans at their weddings? I didn't
(29:47):
have swans at my real wedding. My real wedding was
very I'm sure people on my roof. That was it.
And then we went to dinner, after.
Speaker 3 (29:53):
Which you were in like a wedding by Michael Patrick King,
which is a situation. It was like a musical from
the forties.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
Oh yeah, that's set.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
I know. It was huge with the water and the Swans.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
We were all out in our trailers and you guys
were in there for days, and we'd all be like, hey, hey,
does anyone know what's going on in there? Does anyone
know what's going on in there? And then we would
walk in like, hey, you guys, what are you doing?
And it was like Eliza. It was Eliza Show was amazing.
So we would stand in the back and watch the
Eliza Show. And then it was the Swans and there
was a gay man's health course and that was you guys.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
We were like, well, some someday they'll need us, and
the four of us was shot back out.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
Yeah, I know.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
I don't think the studio was very happy with us,
though they were a little annoyed.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Well, the show, it did well. It did, we did well.
It did. Both movies did well. It's true. Financially the
first movie did super great, super great.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
Second movie we caused too much, but that's okay. We're
not here to talk about that it's okay, it's.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
Not globally they all do well.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
I know that's right, and we're lucky.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
We are so lucky because theoretically, comedy and women are
not supposed to travel.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
Ha oh no, it's a huge globe.
Speaker 3 (30:57):
I know, baby Maria, what are you?
Speaker 2 (31:00):
You are? Charlotte part of me is yeah, I think
I I like things in their place. I uh, I
like lovely things. I definitely have high anxiety. I definitely yeah,
oh yeah, and I definitely have to like, you know,
(31:20):
control things. That's that's definitely do you love? Oh yeah,
I do believe minutes happily married, haply married. And I'm
a lucky lucky man because I would marry me. But yeah, yeah,
I'm definitely I think I never thought of that. But
(31:45):
I think if I had to say which one I was,
because I'm not a Carrie, because you know, Carrie goes
through a lot of things that She's had a handful
of relationships during the show.
Speaker 3 (32:01):
Right, really only two important one really only, But I
mean Charlotte has had a bunch.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
Of because I'm always I always think about them, of course,
because she's you know, single now and I guess you know, uh,
I'm partly samantic because I'm a smart ass, and if
for sure, and I don't think, I don't think I'm
a Miranda.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
Miranda, would you kind of do tell things like like
it is Miranda, that's true, it is.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
I just think she's so such an intelligence about her
too so but you're intelligent sometimes. But yeah, I think
there's a lot of me and Charlotte, and I never
thought that. That's very interesting.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
I keep forgetting to ask people the question.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
It's a good question.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
Why.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
I know it's psychologically it's a great question.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
You're joy, Thanks for being here, okay by everybody. Yes,
Hi, I'm Kristen Davis, and I want to know are
you a Charlotte? You guys Mario Cantone is here.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
I've been waiting. It's so exciting.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
I know.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
That's what he said when I texted him, Hey, do
you want to be on the podcast?
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Oh? I hope. So I've been waiting for you to
ask me.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
But my feeling was in my mind when I agreed
to do the podcast to rewatch, which I hadn't rewatched,
you know, since it originally came on. I thought, I'm
going to go chronologically and in order.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
But it's too.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Hard to wait.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Okay, it is too hard to wait. And so funny.
I caught myself because I saw that we were going
to recap this episode, and I was like, why aren't
we doing an episode? I'm in that we and she
was and I went, oh, wait a minute, Okay, you're
doing one at a time. You're doing a chronological.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Correct I said, so great, And well you're just you're
just such a joy that I have to have you now.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
I needed to be here. I know he was.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
He was not messed around. He was like, well, I
was waiting.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
I've been waiting. I know.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
We came all the way to lovely San Francisco.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
I know, I talk to you and we're in beautiful
Marinecome it's very beautiful, beautiful. I mean, wow, There's there's
a lovely little town that I'd say at once in
a while called Bolinas, which is like hidden. The locals
ripped the signs down. Don't know how to get there
unless secret, guys. Beautiful.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
So here is Mario, the fantastic Mario Cantone. Now what
I want to do with you? Let's go back to
the beginning.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Okay, I want to ask you. Okay, what year did
you get cast? And how did it come about? On
Sex and the City.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Okay, So I started I in the eighties. I was
doing stand up with Michael Patrick King at them at
the forty fourth Street and ninth Avenue, the original improv
that Bud Friedman and Silver Friedman owned, and then they
divorced it. Bud got the one in la and Silver
got the one in New York. She passed me. I
met Michael. He was in a comedy theme at the time,
Wow King and Mende, and then he ended up stand
(02:00):
up on his own right. I remember one time Joan Rivers'
husband had just passed away. And so he Michael said
to me, Okay, you're Joan Rivers, who also knew that
I did her and loved me. Okay, she goes, have
to preface it, so she goes, you're Joan Rivers, You're
on a cruise and get just died. You're grieving, you're
getting over it. Go I would have to like improv
(02:21):
like Melissa, how are you? Can I sit down, Let's
have some breakfast and we're doing better today? Wait? Just
could I get some eggs? Exit? Yeah, we would, And
it went on and on, and then I ended up
doing that on stage a week later, and it was
Joe soon but it was very but it.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Was he always got my eighties.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
This is the eighties. So I was doing an off
broall Way show at the time. It was it was
the end of nineteen ninety nine, I think, or two thousand, Okay,
I think it was early two thousand and I he said,
I wrote you something. So he wrote it for you.
Oh yeah, he read.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
But I was doing an off ball show at the time,
and but I went in to read just make it official,
and you know, So I was doing a show called
The Crumple Zone, which did very well, ran for six
months off Broadway, and I I remember our night. The
day we filmed. It was a tech day and a
(03:20):
director who I loved very much not please no, he
didn't want to let me out. I'm like, it's a
tech day. People stand there and you light it right,
and I went like this, I'm going to do this
episode because there was an issue of maybe, Oh no,
I was like, I'm going to do my.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
This episode and I went, oh no, it wasn't what
was on.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
It was one episode that.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Was wedding as your wedding Wedding player.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
And do you remember we had two scenes we had
a second scene. I remember, Okay, see I love I
love so you do every episode I don't. I was recurring.
I did people go how many episodes did I do?
I did twelve? Only twelve. I did one Season three,
Our two, season four, three, season five and six, Season six,
(04:06):
and then both movies. The movies really kind of solidified it,
which was nice. You know. So uh there were two
scenes in that first episode. There was the one hates it,
the very famous hates it with yeah don't yeah, all
(04:27):
that's okay, you're you're dragging and I'm yelling at the girl.
And then there was another scene in the back of
the Vera Wang in this kind of little area yep,
and I was fitting you and you were getting very
anxious as Charlotte and I had his scissors and it
ripped the dress and you were furious and we just
(04:48):
kind of looked at each other. That scene got cut
because it was at three in the morning, four in
the morning. There wasn't enough coverage, and they cut it.
Luckily they cut it because it was almost like an
argument between us.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Oh, so it might not have gone well. So if well,
they probably wanted to keep you. They probably knew already.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
I don't know, Noll.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
I remember running into Michael and he said, do you
know how much great feedback we got on you? I said,
I don't know, I said, and I don't care. I
just want to know him I coming back, I said, yes,
So that's that's adorable.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
I vaguely remember. They'll tell you what I remember most
about the Vera Wang. So we're in Vera Wang, which
I think was a big deal.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Yes, and we're you know, I had already tried on
like thirty five actual Vera Wang dresses to see what
Charlotte would wear.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
It was a whole drama.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
And we're there and it's going very late, as was
our just general m O. And I'm so sorry if
I'm repeating myself, but you know all the time, it was.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Very late, very late. He got out of four in
the morning.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Then exactly, and so the executive from HBO, Michael Hill, came,
do you remember, And I remember.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
The reason I remember is that it's not very big
in Vera Wang. It's very fautique.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
So he's sitting over the over across the room, like
just glaring at everyone.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Because he wants us to hurry up because we're over budget, right,
and he's just glaring at everyone, which doesn't help anything, No,
it does.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
And so I'm sure that that also influenced the scene
that we the other scene that got cut, which is
actually a good thing that it got cut, as you're saying,
But I don't remember that other scenes, I really, I mean,
when I'm rewatching, I don't remember anything.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
I'm like, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
What, the first time, I just started watching a bunch
of them because they're just playing them on HBO a
lot now, right, And I'm seeing the young cut version
of it. Usually I'm used to seeing them quickly on.
I also don't like seeing myself that long ago, because.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Oh, come on, I just go.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Boy, was that pretty?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
So asdorable? You're still I was pretty happened?
Speaker 2 (06:36):
But you know, I remember it's so funny because I
didn't remember Michael Hill. I don't. I don't remember him coming.
If I had known, I probably would have been like,
oh god, good thing. I didn't know.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
I tried to protect you from such things.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
And the other thing was like when you do when
you were when we were rehearsing it, and I remember
Betty Anne and all the crews, they were laughing hysterically,
and then of course they can't laugh on. So when
my comedians sick mind, you think, well, I'm not funny anymore.
I've lost it, you know, there's that issue. No, But
I just I remember that night like it was yesterday.
And also that night, my husband's uh was opening in
(07:09):
an off Broadway show. Oh my god, and I couldn't go,
but he was so Look, this changed my life. I'm
glad it changed my life. It's a and and the
fact that it's come back, and it's this successful, and
it's no reboot runs.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
We don't call it reboot, I know, you know what I'm.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Saying, no reissue, no whatever. But it doesn't it doesn't
happen like this.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Well I think it also just doesn't happen that you
get to revisit the characters for thirty years or whatever,
twenty eight whatever it is. So that's alone shocking. And
then the other thing that I mentioned a lot, but
is really I think important to remember is that there's
not I can't think of any other female driven you know, franchise,
(07:54):
which is what we are at this point. Yeah, that
is as successful and ongoing. So we're just incredibly lucky.
From the series to the movies to this exactly.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
And also you know with within, just like that, there's
been big changes made in characters all the way around.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
And Arlotte, well you.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Know what's interesting, Yeah, except but watching watching that early episode,
it was it was interesting.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Well but thank you, but you.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Well you know, when Charlotte did get formed, Yeah, it's
interesting what happens especially let me talk about the the
the the sequel here and just like that. What I
think has happened to you is that your confidence level
and I think this happened when you formed the character too,
(08:52):
but it has kind of heightened. Your confidence level is
stronger and your anxiety level is higher, which makes for
magnificent comedy that you listen you.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
But I got to tell you something, there is no
way that my anxiety level is higher than it was
first season. That's all I can think of when I
watch is how I'm talking about the cansite.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
I know, I don't know you.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
I can't say it, you know, and I don't know
what that hacked, Like I don't know where this was going.
But also I wasn't even worried about where it was going,
like like I was more just trying to pull off Charlotte.
And Charlotte was so underdeveloped, like Michael told me when
he came on the podcast that he was like, I
don't know how to write for that one. And I
was like, I love to hear that, because definitely I
(09:36):
I could tell that I was not fully fleshed out.
And then Jenny Banks came on, which was so great
because Jenny grew up on the Upper East Side, so
she was actually an authority who could write me knowing
what that was, you know what that was about?
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Did Thank god? So it came together. But what I
want to say.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
About you, and then we're going to talk about you,
because we're here to talk about you, my friend. So
what I want to say is that the success that
we've had for all these many years in all these
different forms is because we have the most amazing cast
and that includes every element of the cast and the
incredible writers and the incredible fans. So you have been
a huge, huge, huge part of that success.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Our chemistry is so good and I love working with you.
And on the note of anxiety, yes, every episode I
did a Sex and the City I left that set
thinking I didn't hit it. I didn't get like you think.
I'd let you know, Michael, I let you go with
I know I didn't get it.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
I know you were always so always sweet.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
And then I would watch it and be like, all right, yeah,
all right.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
So you learned, you learned as you will.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
That's great because I was all I always knew that
you had five times what you thought you had. You
know what I'm trying to say, Like, and you just
needed to take a breath, Yeah, you know, just take
a breath.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
And now look at you now and look at me now.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Yeah, unless there's a lot of bread.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
No kidding, Oh, well here's this is a lovely story props.
I'm talking about props, you guys.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Case Also you're not sure, Well he has a bread
bread business.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Well you know it's so funny. Tell secretly yes, and
everyone knows. I've said an interviews when that first scene
that we did together where I'm picking out your wedding
dress and I am saying that, oh, the placket, that
the lace application, I had no idea what I was saying.
I didn't get that, gay Jean, I couldn't pick up
your dress or your shoes. I'm not that kind of
a homosexual. I don't know, I don't, I don't care,
(11:34):
and that I don't care. I know it looks good, but.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
I just I don't think Michael Patrick King care is.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Either No, no, it's about it's about you know. So
I didn't like being a wedding planet even though that wasn't.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
No, but I was, no, you pulled it off.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
You didn't complain, no, no, no, no complain, Just say
the lines and hit your mark and shut up.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
But we never said that.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
When I said that to my head, yeah, not that.
I it's just like this wouldn't be my choice to
play got it. But when this came on, and just
like that came along, because I've known Michael years, so
I just thought he said, I know, I knew I
wanted to do something culinary with you. And I I bake.
(12:17):
I sell a banana bread to a coffee shop in
my neighborhood. No, yeah, I bake, I bake, I cook.
I'm a big baker.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Oh you cook, but I didn't know you baked.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Oh, I bake, I bake a lot of stuff.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Wow, we've got to get your banana bread at hot Oh.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
I know, well, you know what. And the other interesting
thing is my one of my favorite bakeries is Sullivan
Street Bakery, which is right across the street from me.
All the bread that we used from there, and I
know Jim wagh he really, well, it's a great place.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
What year is it? And how did you get the part?
Speaker 1 (12:55):
You knew?
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Michael?
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Oh, that's right, I just read it and he and
he cast me and got it.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
And you thought it was one.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
I thought it was one.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
So then you run into him and you're like, I
don't care about the feedback.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Yeah I want it again. He said, you're definitely coming back. Great.
So I was on the second episode in season four, right,
and then I did one other episode and season four. Yeah,
and then I did like three in season five and
six and season six.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
And were you just like calmly hoping or were you
calling him your agents?
Speaker 3 (13:25):
What were you doing?
Speaker 2 (13:26):
No? I didn't. I just prayed and I was coming
back because I didn't. I honestly, Look, I can't call
them and make them like where is my why? I
don't do that. Look, And there are people that are
the opposite. They're there with recurring people. There are people
that are on that have recurring roles sometimes and not
(13:46):
just our series. I'm talking about anywhere where they have
to work around them and then not available. I was
always on call because I always afraid I would get
fired if I couldn't make it. It's stressful, you know.
And then you well they had to write AM out
of this episode. Well they had you know this one
couldn't do that and this, right, I.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Couldn't be that way, But I think that's great. I
also would never have been that way in that situation. Yeah,
I'm always abounderstand it. But also I think, you know,
I also feel like and tell me, tell me if
you feel this way. You know you might be different
with different projects, right, but like, if you feel that
this is for you, like if it clicks, if you
(14:27):
are thrilled with it, and you like the working environment,
you like the part and the finished product or whatever,
you know, that's your priority. And I think that people
know that. And look, our business is crazy and sometimes
you can't control it, right, you cannot, But you can
tell what the priorities are. And I know Michael Patrick
really cares that you also care.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Oh I do all of us care, right.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
You know? I mean I never even asked for like, oh,
I can't make it that day, be could you possibly?
I mean there's a few times I was like, I
want to go to LA and just do this game
show for a day, can can? I could you find
a day for me? You know That's how I am.
I don't I don't push I don't push it, you know.
But this look this, I also knew when I did
(15:10):
my first episode that this was a by the third season.
It was a big show, got it?
Speaker 1 (15:15):
And you didn't come before the third was in my
mind you were there earlier, but no, because you were
my wedding planner. I don't get married to the thirsty
That's right, that makes sense, that is true. The third
season is when we really hit I would say.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
I would say so too, yeah, and and and then
it just kept going. And also back then to have
I didn't I didn't know I was going to come back,
especially you already May he rest in peace for great
Willie Garson. You had already had one gay male character
on the show, and back then one was enough for
the public. You know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
I means a different times, a different times to.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
The fact that I got to become a recurring character
on it, and you know, and then eventually have my
relationship with Stanford with will so you know, it was.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
So you didn't have super high expectations based on the
fact that we already had one gay character.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Yeah, and this was the nineties and or early two thousands,
and that was a lot. But luckily we were on
HBO and they pretty much let us do what we
wanted to do.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
But we still were and it's part of the reason
I wanted to do the podcast, because if you think
about how things were in the society in ninety seven,
some things were really different, and television as a reflection
of the society.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
And then some things weren't really different.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Right, Like there are things now that are really different
that we would not have seen coming. And then there
are some things where it's still very relevant the things
that were in the show, you know, like the themes,
the kind of ideas. But also I think the reality
of New York City. We were trying our best to
reflect that then, and some of that was a stretch,
(16:50):
Like having more than one gay character is a stretch,
which is crazy.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
To think about speaking of New York City. Yeah, the influence,
the influence, the influence that this show had on fashion.
And also look, I live down the street from the
Meek packing district. This show accelerated, it accelerates, it accelerated
the development of that area.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
I can't.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
I know, babe, I know.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
And you see those four girls in this for a second.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
You know what's so funny? Is it still because I
live in LA when we're.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
Not working at you know, and part of the reason
I live in LA is because it's very chill compared
to us in New York.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
You're like, no, New Yorkers don't care. I'm like, well,
I mean it's great because they consider us theirs. I think.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
I took my shirt off once on Sex in the
City was.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
In there's a lot of stress.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
So yeah, and I was like, oh god, yeah, I
looked all right, I look okay. So this was two
years ago. We'll we're going into the second season and
Michael Patrick King called me up and said, hey, just
so you know, you're gonna be getting a storyline. You're
gonna be gonna be getting a boyfriend. So guess what.
I trainer and I started working out, and and and
(18:17):
and but the when I have a backside shot, I'm
in bed with Sebastian. Sebastiano, he plays who I just adore.
I'm the luckiest man in the world with that. He
sent in one audition tape and got it. We had
no chemistry tests and it is a godsend. And he's
like my brother now, you know, which is a little
weird kissing him first season, I was like, I got
(18:38):
to kiss this beautiful young man. Now I'm like, you're
like my brother, and I'm over here when it's a
little weird, but I love it.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
He's just a good he's a guy.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
So I looked, I looked at it, and I went, well,
the night before I dropped, I didn't sleep. I was like,
these homosexuals are gonna come after me. And then I
saw it and I went, you know what, I look okay,
and I'm all and and I'm next to him. I
was like, okay, it's not as bad as I thought
it was going to be.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
You were very stressed. I remember very stress, because how
could you not be. It's a very real thing.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
And and you know, even with like the intimacy coordinators,
because Sebastiano is a guy and I'm a guy, we're
both like whatever. We're not like choreographing every move and
we had in this which is fine. Look it's different
for women, it's a different thing.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
The other thing is, I don't think anyone wants to
choreograph everyone. It's about feelings safe, right, So you don't
know the intimacy coordinator is there because you don't know
the situation and you don't know how the other actors
can be.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
I mean we do an our normally you don't know
and you don't know.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
What the director. You're working with different men all the time,
Definitely a different time. I'm totally I felt so safe
with them, say with me, you're good but and it's
you know, for a man from guy. All these guys,
the crew, I love my crew. They're all straight guys.
You know, when you're a woman, it's a different thing.
I mean, it's a whole other thing. But anyway, So
(20:00):
before season three started filming, I said to Michael, I
want more nudity, I said. My dms blow up. The
next day, I want more nuity, I said, I like
sexualized at sixty five years old. It's good.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
Well, God bless you, God bless you.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
And you know what I mean, We're lucky that we
even get the chance to do anything.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
You know what I mean? Exactly right, let's pause, let's
back up in time. Do you remember meeting Willy?
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Yes, it was that first day, the first day, I'm sorry,
not the first day. It was my second.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
Episode when we're at that fashion show, the fashion show, which.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Was really fun.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
I remember being really fun.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
I remember that day. I remember because I remember walking
into that the aisle of the fashion.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Yeah, it was big too, it was big, Remember how
big it was. And remember we weren't the main story, sir,
Jessica walking and falling. Heidi Klum and Kevin A. Kwan
was there, so we were just having fun. Yeah, we
were just having good time.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
Me and Will.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
Right away, I got who he was. I adored him.
He's hilarious, his storytelling is phenomenon. He's just a great
it's just a great person to be around. It was,
it was just so much fun. And I yeah, we
hung out and here and there and you know, I
remember when he first adopted his son and all of that. Yeah, Nathan,
(21:21):
So it's yeah, I I it's fascinating because who knew
we were going to get married eventually? I know. And
what did you think of that? I thought I thought
it was good. I think I think it was great.
I think things happened. You I mean, I've met people
and I'm like, I'm totally not attracted that I don't
and then all of a sudden it flips. That's that
that happens all the time in life.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
I still and I can't really separate this from actual life,
you know, because we didn't uh, you know, we didn't
know that he was sicking the obviously, we really didn't
think it was going to be as bad as it was,
as quickly as it was.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
We had to really shift gears with your storyline. I mean,
how'd you feel.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Oh, I was. Well, first of all, he told me
while we were filming BIG's funeral. I didn't know. That's
when we all kind of found out. I already knew,
you knew. I didn't know, and that was a hard
John Belfie was running around and he was something like,
what's going on? And I sat down on the bench
with Willy and he told me, and he turned his
(22:20):
head and I thought he was laughing because I thought
it's a joke, and then he wasn't, and so we
both will crying, and he said he has to leave
the show, and I don't know what's going to happen,
and I'm sorry, I'm like what it was? It was
mind blowing. It really was horrible, and you know, I
was like, wow, whatever happens for me? I was like, whatever,
(22:43):
you know? I mean? And so Michael came to me
and said, look, because he had a write on the
fly for me, because all that stuff.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
I remember what you had, which.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
He did brilliantly. Of course he just did, but you know,
and he I remember him saying to me, you know,
I'm gonna need you now more than ever, and you know,
I started crying. It was just it was a lot, uh,
and then Willie was gone. And I always this story
about when we were going in to see Lily's recital
that first that first episode, and we filmed the argument
(23:23):
out in the front when you were coming in and
we went in, and then we filmed the interior like
three weeks later, and he couldn't make it, and that
scene was rewritten that morning by Michael And I remember
that day. So I was, you know, the court gesture
and trying to be funny and keep it all light.
You know. Michael was always throw out with Betty Davis
say so I will you know, but it was it
(23:45):
was we all just kind of held on and kept
moving forward. But it was it was rough. But you know,
here we are.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
Can you do? It is really shining, still shocking.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
And cancer my whole family's there's so many of my people,
my mother and my father, a lot of you know
a lot of people have gone from cancer. My family, cancers.
It sucks, It sucks. I mean I just feel like,
why isn't it cure yet? Where's the fix? I agree,
this money making thing, where's the fix? At least? What
I don't? I mean, look, I know it's the things
(24:22):
that have gotten better. It's also this also treatments that
aren't available and we don't know about that are available
in Germany.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
Or for some reason is the place. Yes, it's interesting.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
Mostly a cancer vaccination there that they make for you
according to your cancer that really supposedly.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Helps well, listen up everyone.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Yeah, exactly, Peter Gabriel is doing it. Yes, Okay, so
you know, let's go.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
Doctors, doctors. We're not non medical advice, no, but interesting, interesting, right, yeah, yeah,
I mean I wish we could go back in time.
I wish we could go back in time. It is strange.
When I first started the podcast, I had to go
back and rewatch the pilot, right, And I haven't seen
any of these things since you know, the beginning, right.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
I used to really hate.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
To rewatch because I just felt, I don't know, weird
about it, like I didn't want to spend my time
in the past, I guess. But because we're here together
and talking about it is a connecting. The podcast is
a way to connect, you know, and because so many
people I'm sure you experienced this talk to me about
it throughout the day. You know, you're moving through the
(25:28):
world and different things strike different people. Differently, right, And
they'll come up and say, oh, I remember blah blah blah,
I remember blah blah blah. And you know, it's so
so amazing, like the way that you can touch touch
people or be part of something that touches, and.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
How they know the material better than we do.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
We forget it yet.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
I mean, I remember the big storylines, but so many
things I didn't remember a line, right.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Isn't that crazy that people remember the lines?
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (25:55):
Yeah, but I think you know, to go back when
I first watched the pilot, I had always remembered the
pilot being bad.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
In my mind, it was bad because we didn't really
know what we were doing. We didn't really know. There
was so much talking to the camera.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
You know, it was very dark, which in my mind
had been bad. But when you look back on it,
it's kind of bold and amazing and interesting and dark,
like not like television at the time at all.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Right, the season, yeah, very little different.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
So the tone of the first season, Yeah, we didn't know.
We didn't know nothing in terms of what we're.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
Doing of talking sometimes.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Which is fantastic.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
Last night there was a lot of oh, yes it
was and I've never seen that I know because.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
Michael does know.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
He doesn't do that. No, no, no, he doesn't.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
No, No, it's that sometime it's his, it's his pattern
that he writes.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
But back when I first watched the pilot, you know,
I'm just in my bed, you know, the night before
the first podcast recording, watching it, and when they introduced Stanford,
it's just this super close up of Willie who already knew.
I knew Willy because I met him on the XBOU
set in like Vancouver, in an abandoned insane asylum.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
Like super spooky.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
But of course Willy makes any place fun, right, So
it was just a really good time.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
He's telling stories and doing the whole thing. So I
already knew him, which was great.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
And its just smash cut to Willi's face, his young face,
and oh, it hit me so hard.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
It hit me so hard. But this is the joy
of film, that it lasts forever.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
Right, And he made his mark in so many different shows,
is so many movies.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
He worked a lot, so much.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
Everyone knew him everyone everyone, everyone.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
Knew him, and he worked with the lot of people.
He did a lot of works.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
And now ask you.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
This, do you feel when you think back is it.
Is it something where you can think about, Oh, I
remember when you know, Willie and I were doing this
and I was observing him and I learned this.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Or are you all just like soaking it up wherever
you go?
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Just you know, you're just it's day to day. It's
a different an experience every time you're on that set.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
Which is what I love about acting.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
It's absolutely it's a different experience. You're feeling different things,
and you're you know, you're more anxious one day and
a little less anxious another day, and care too much
one day, and then one day you're like, I don't
have a cat today. I'm no, I don't.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
I know you better than that?
Speaker 2 (28:23):
No, I don't. I don't, I don't never you know
what I mean? You feel different things?
Speaker 3 (28:27):
Well, you have you have to.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
I think the interesting thing is you have to manage
where you your personal self are that day, but then
you also have to manage yourself into where.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
Your character is that day, right, which absolutely.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
Like take some work sometimes does yeah, yeah, And you
have to figure that out as you go.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Because sometimes when not not that I mean, I don't
give a shit one day, it's like I I care
a little less, which relaxes me more. The same person
going through the day in the same way, but I'm
a little bit more relaxed. You happened later and right.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
But it's a great thing because you you don't need
to be as anxious as you are.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
Yeah, they make jokes about Charlotte's wedding.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
Your wedding was, oh my gosh, my sisters, my real sisters.
You don't really see as close to them, but you
see two women. I remember this down the island, both
my sisters, and one of them passed away in twenty nineteen.
She died a cancer. So yeah, but she got to
walk me down the aisle.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
That sounds pretty great. With the swans and.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
With the swans, and I always say, I always go
like this. I always say, I go up. When I
was like, I danced Chang the single ladies, and I
danced so high that I stamped on a swan and
broke its snack. It was an accent, and I was like,
who said, who has swans at their weddings? I didn't
(29:47):
have swans at my real wedding. My real wedding was
very I'm sure people on my roof. That was it.
And then we went to dinner, after.
Speaker 3 (29:53):
Which you were in like a wedding by Michael Patrick King,
which is a situation. It was like a musical from
the forties.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
Oh yeah, that's set.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
I know. It was huge with the water and the Swans.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
We were all out in our trailers and you guys
were in there for days, and we'd all be like, hey, hey,
does anyone know what's going on in there? Does anyone
know what's going on in there? And then we would
walk in like, hey, you guys, what are you doing?
And it was like Eliza. It was Eliza Show was amazing.
So we would stand in the back and watch the
Eliza Show. And then it was the Swans and there
was a gay man's health course and that was you guys.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
We were like, well, some someday they'll need us, and
the four of us was shot back out.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
Yeah, I know.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
I don't think the studio was very happy with us,
though they were a little annoyed.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Well, the show, it did well. It did, we did well.
It did. Both movies did well. It's true. Financially the
first movie did super great, super great.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
Second movie we caused too much, but that's okay. We're
not here to talk about that it's okay, it's.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
Not globally they all do well.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
I know that's right, and we're lucky.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
We are so lucky because theoretically, comedy and women are
not supposed to travel.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
Ha oh no, it's a huge globe.
Speaker 3 (30:57):
I know, baby Maria, what are you?
Speaker 2 (31:00):
You are? Charlotte part of me is yeah, I think
I I like things in their place. I uh, I
like lovely things. I definitely have high anxiety. I definitely yeah,
oh yeah, and I definitely have to like, you know,
(31:20):
control things. That's that's definitely do you love? Oh yeah,
I do believe minutes happily married, haply married. And I'm
a lucky lucky man because I would marry me. But yeah, yeah,
I'm definitely I think I never thought of that. But
(31:45):
I think if I had to say which one I was,
because I'm not a Carrie, because you know, Carrie goes
through a lot of things that She's had a handful
of relationships during the show.
Speaker 3 (32:01):
Right, really only two important one really only, But I
mean Charlotte has had a bunch.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
Of because I'm always I always think about them, of course,
because she's you know, single now and I guess you know, uh,
I'm partly samantic because I'm a smart ass, and if
for sure, and I don't think, I don't think I'm
a Miranda.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
Miranda, would you kind of do tell things like like
it is Miranda, that's true, it is.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
I just think she's so such an intelligence about her
too so but you're intelligent sometimes. But yeah, I think
there's a lot of me and Charlotte, and I never
thought that. That's very interesting.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
I keep forgetting to ask people the question.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
It's a good question.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
Why.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
I know it's psychologically it's a great question.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
You're joy, Thanks for being here, okay by everybody. Yes,
Host
Kristin Davis
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