On Monday night, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen welcomed one of its hostâs best friends, actress Sarah Jessica Parker, to discuss all things And Just Like ThatâŚ
And right off the bat, Cohen asked Sex and the Cityâs Carrie Bradshaw about how the show handled the absence of Kim Cattrallâs Samantha following a very public off-screen feud between the two starsâvia a series of text messages between Carrie and Samantha.
âI can take no credit to how we handled it except that I got to convey those messages, since theyâre not really spoken,â said Parker. âBut it is Michael Patrick King, who is our showrunner and our head writer, and his extraordinary group of amazingly talented writers. It was an idea because, Samantha is not goneâthe actress who played the role is no longer playing that role, but people arenât absent from your life when you donât want them to be.â
âSo, I thought that, in typical Michael Patrick fashion, he threaded it through with grace, and dignity, and respect, and love, and affection for that character. And I thought it mimicked many friendships that challenge each other, and struggle, and want to remain connected, in a way, because itâs too painful.â
Cohen failed to press Parker on the circumstances that led to Cattrallâs departure from the series, nor did he ask about the series of sexual-assault allegations against actor Chris Noth, who plays Mr. Big on the show.
The Bravo host did, however, pose a question to Parker that many wondered after viewing the HBO revivalâs season premiere: Why didnât Carrie immediately call 911 following Bigâs heart attack?
âThatâs an understandableâand logicalâexpectation,â explained Parker. âBut I always think of that particular moment⌠itâs suspended animation. Itâs this moment where everything stops, and whatever collapsing of time that happens does not stop her from taking care of somebody in a fashion that you would want and expect from your partner, or husband, or wife.â
She added, âIn my head, she struggled through this moment and tried to get him to be responsive, and then she, you know, came to her sensesâIâm going to say after about two to three seconds.â (Editorâs Note: It was considerably longer than that.)
One area Parker would not touch is the Che Diaz of it allâthe podcaster/stand-up comic and Mirandaâs non-binary lover. Che has proven to be highly divisive, inspiring tons of memes mocking their caricature-like nature and lame comedy chops. When Cohen asked Parker if she found Cheâs stand-up funny, Parker punted on the question, claiming that she hadnât seen episodes 3-10 of the series.
âI feel that Iâm not in a position to declare whether Cheâs comedy is funny or notânor does it matter what I think,â she said.
It doesnât sound like sheâs craving her some Che.