SJP: "Sex and the City"

One piece of "Sex and the City" lore is that no plot or subplot can see the light of day unless it has its roots in an actual event from a staff writer's life.

Again and again, you can think, "Yes, that does seem like something that might actually happen to me." Some examples. Che Diaz seems to reject physical contact, and this behavior sends up red flags, but really Che is just feeling weird about Che's gut (because of comments from TV producers).

Or: Seema dumps a guy because he has an odd "renter" arrangement with his ex-wife, and then Seema becomes defensive when her hairdresser accuses her of always rushing to judgment.

Finally, Nya's discovery of her own "extramarital feelings" happens on the same night that she (accurately) accuses her estranged husband of indulging a roving eye.

All of this interests me, but here's my concern: The stories don't add up to a TV show. There isn't a sense of urgency on the page. Also, the characters don't seem like characters; they seem like bits of furniture, and they're shoved around and rearranged for fifty minutes (and these minutes move slowly).

Maybe I'm jumping to conclusions. I do think the writer responsible for "Che Pasa," and for Che's standup routine, ought to receive his pink slip. (That's you, Michael Patrick King.)

More later.

P.S. The writers have said they're "in on the joke" with reference to Che. But if that's true, why has no one pointed out that Che's comedy is very bad? Miranda is intelligent; however, I guess she is (also) blinded and besotted right now. What about Carrie?

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