Yesterday, I announced my next book, Gwyneth: The Biography. Thank you all so much for your kind comments, supportive messages, and pre-orders! If you live in the U.S., I would be so grateful if you pre-ordered the book here. If you are in the U.K. you can pre-order the book here:
I can’t say THANK YOU enough for all your support. And now, let’s deal with And Just Like That. (You can find Back Row’s full recap archive here.)
“Loose Threads” will return next week.
Before we get into the third episode of And Just Like That season three, we need to address Sarah Jessica Parker’s Howard Stern interview.
Credit is due to Stern who, no matter what you think of him, did his homework, which was watching And Just Like That carefully enough to notice Aidan licking his hand in the scene where he’s in a truck in a Virginian field getting drunk alone and trying to have phone sex with Carrie. Also, Stern seemed to have taken the show seriously versus dismissing it as a recycled, Samantha-less abomination that’s basically on the streaming version of life support.
Anyway, here’s a transcript of the exchange based on Ryinskott’s Instagram edit of all the bits of this line of questioning (which is nothing short of remarkable to watch).
Howard Stern: There’s such a weird moment where he [Aidan]’s having phone sex with you, and he’s about to play with himself when he’s talking to you, and he licks his hand.
Sarah Jessica Parker: I’m sorry, what?
HS: He takes his tongue, and he starts licking his hand, and then he plays with his penis. Did you know he did that in that scene, because you probably filmed it — have you seen this scene at all?
SJP: No, I have not seen that.
HS: Is that really true? You really have not seen it?
SJP: I have not seen it, no.
HS: I’m shocked.
SJP: I can’t comment on that, my lawyer has advised me not to comment.
HS: Really, is that true?
SJP: No, I mean, I have no attorney weighing in.
HS: No, I mean is it true that you really have no knowledge of it? This is a crazy scene.
SJP: I have no knowledge. I haven’t seen most of Sex and the City ever, and I haven’t seen And Just Like That. Every now and then, Michael Patrick [King, who’s credited as a producer, director and writer] will say to me, “Please watch episode” — you know, um, so I don’t know. This is the first I’m hearing about that.
HS: It’s CRAZY. Because, as a man, I got — I was like, why is Aidan licking his hand? I have been known to do this — not lick my hand, I’ve been known to masturbate.
SJP: [Laughs uncomfortably.]
HS: I don’t lick my hand. I was really shocked and I felt your character would have been insulted because, like, what are you licking your hand dude? It’s gross.
SJP: Wow.
HS: It’s a very — it’s a big deal to me.
SJP: Wow. Is he in a truck?
HS: Yes. He’s in the truck, he zips his pants and then he licks his hand and then he starts playing with himself.
SJP: [More uncomfortable laughter.] You’ve gotta stop saying that, you’ve gotta stop saying that.
HS: Why? You — listen, you’ve been around the block. You know what’s happening.
SJP: What does that mean — been around the block?
HS: You’re not an innocent. Are you uncomfortable talking about men’s masturbation?
SJP: [With head in hand.] I don’t even recall that I’ve ever discussed it my entire life.
HS: [Gleeful laughter.] Buy some lube. If you’re that dry down there. Don’t spit in your hand. It was hideous.
SJP: This is how we’re gonna end things. Oh, you bring it full circle.
It was hideous. That scene was so cringe that it has colored the entire show. And Just Like That could have been your average ambient television viewing experience — empty, but with some FASHUNS — but instead, it’s become a grotesque psychograph of cringe. I can’t look at Aidan, played by John Corbett, and think of anything but how unappealing he is, and that scene is 100 percent to blame.
As for SJP never seeing And Just Like That or much of Sex and the City…
Girl, with long-held affection and all due respect: what are you doing?? We are paying to watch this show, you are getting paid handsomely to make the show — as both top-billed cast and executive producer and — you’ve never seen it?!
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