History of Sex and the City in Timeline
Sex and the City is an American romantic comedy-drama television series created by Darren Star for HBO, based on Candace Bushnell's newspaper column and 1996 book. It premiered on June 6, 1998, and concluded on February 22, 2004, after six seasons and 94 episodes. Michael Patrick King was a principal producer, screenwriter, and director. The series explores the lives of four women in New York City as they navigate careers, friendships, and romantic relationships.
1990: Miranda Hobbes Graduates from Harvard Law School
In 1990, the character Miranda Hobbes (played by Cynthia Nixon) graduated from Harvard Law School. She is one of the four main characters in Sex and the City, known for being a career-driven attorney from the Philadelphia area.
1996: Candace Bushnell's Book Published
In 1996, Candace Bushnell published the book Sex and the City, which served as the basis for the later HBO television series.
June 1997: Pilot Episode Shot
In June 1997, the pilot episode of Sex and the City was shot a year before the series premiered. Sarah Jessica Parker initially disliked the pilot.
June 6, 1998: Sex and the City Premieres
On June 6, 1998, Sex and the City, a romantic comedy-drama television series created by Darren Star for HBO, premiered in the United States. The show is based on Candace Bushnell's newspaper column and 1996 book.
August 1998: Season One Concludes
August 1998 marked the conclusion of Season One of Sex and the City, which aired on HBO.
February 1999: Sex and the City Premieres in Ireland
In February 1999, Sex and the City premiered in Ireland on TV3, introducing the series to an Irish audience.
October 1999: Season Two Concludes
October 1999 marked the end of Sex and the City's Season Two, which was broadcast from June to October.
October 2000: Season Three Concludes
October 2000 marked the conclusion of Season Three, which aired from June to October on HBO.
August 2001: Season Four (Part 1) Concludes
August 2001 marked the end of the first part of Season Four of Sex and the City, which originally aired from June to August 2001.
February 2002: Season Four (Part 2) Concludes
February 2002 marked the end of the second part of Season Four of Sex and the City, which originally aired in January and February 2002.
September 2003: Season Six (Part 1) Concludes
September 2003 marked the end of the first part of Season Six of Sex and the City, which aired from June to September.
February 2004: Season Six (Part 2) Concludes
February 2004 marked the end of the second part of Season Six of Sex and the City, which aired from January to February.
February 22, 2004: Sex and the City Series Finale
On February 22, 2004, the final episode of Sex and the City aired, concluding the series after six seasons and 94 episodes.
2004: W Begins Airing the Series
In Australia after 2004, the cable channel W began airing Sex and the City.
2005: Network Ten Repeats the Series
In Australia, Network Ten repeated Sex and the City from 2005 to 2010, further broadcasting the series to a wider audience.
2006: Repeats Aired on 3e
Since 2006, repeats of Sex and the City have aired on 3e in Ireland, further broadcasting the series to viewers.
2007: Sex and the City Listed as One of TIME's 100 Best TV Shows
In 2007, TIME magazine listed Sex and the City as one of the "100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME."
May 2008: Release of Sex and the City Feature Film
In May 2008, the feature film Sex and the City, written, produced, and directed by Michael Patrick King, was released.
September 23, 2008: DVD Release of Sex and the City Movie
On September 23, 2008, the Sex and the City movie was released on DVD, making it available for home viewing.
2008: Sex and the City Movie Release
In 2008, the first Sex and the City feature film was released, continuing the story of the characters from the television series.
2008: Arena Begins Airing the Series
In Australia in the summer of 2008, Arena began airing Sex and the City along with Will & Grace, with promotions highlighting the shows' LGBT themes.
August 2009: Broadcast on Comedy Central
As of August 2009, Comedy Central in the UK aired a double bill of Sex and the City each weeknight, increasing its availability.
May 2010: Sex and the City 2 Film Release
In May 2010, Sex and the City 2 was released in theaters, continuing the story of the main characters.
2010: Sex and the City 2 Movie Release
In 2010, Sex and the City 2, the sequel to the first film, was released, continuing the storyline.
2010: Network Ten's Repeats End
In Australia, the repeats of Sex and the City on Network Ten concluded in 2010, after five years of broadcasting.
2010: ABC News Lists Carrie as One of the Worst Characters
In a 2010 retrospective, ABC News named Carrie Bradshaw one of the ten worst characters of the past twenty years, citing her snobbery and lack of personal growth.
February 2011: Eleven Begins Airing the Series
In Australia in February 2011, Eleven (later rebranded as 10 Peach) began airing Sex and the City, continuing its broadcast on Australian television.
January 14, 2013: The Carrie Diaries premiere on The CW
On January 14, 2013, The Carrie Diaries, a prequel series based on the book by Candace Bushnell, premiered on The CW, with AnnaSophia Robb as young Carrie Bradshaw.
2013: Glamour Calls Carrie "The Worst" Character
In 2013, Glamour magazine referred to Carrie Bradshaw as "the worst" character on Sex and the City, criticizing her self-absorption and brattiness.
2013: The Carrie Diaries Premieres
In 2013, The CW commissioned the prequel television series The Carrie Diaries, which ran for two seasons.
2013: Influence on Fashion Trends
In 2013, The New York Times credited Sex and the City and its costume designer Patricia Field with influencing fashion trends such as nameplate necklaces, Manolo Blahnik shoes, flower corsages, and visible bra straps.
May 8, 2014: Cancellation of The Carrie Diaries by The CW
On May 8, 2014, The CW cancelled The Carrie Diaries after two seasons.
September 16, 2014: Sexo e as Negas series premiere
On September 16, 2014, the Brazilian television series Sexo e as Negas, adapted from Sex and the City, premiered with a focus on black actresses and a suburban setting.
2015: Series Repeated on CBS Drama
From 2015, Sex and the City was repeated on CBS Drama in the UK, ensuring continued viewing opportunities.
September 28, 2017: Cancellation of the third Sex and the City film
On September 28, 2017, Sarah Jessica Parker announced the cancellation of the third Sex and the City film due to Kim Cattrall's disinterest in the project, disappointing both the cast and the audience.
2017: #wokecharlotte Memes Gain Popularity
In 2017, the #wokecharlotte memes gained popularity on social media, criticizing Carrie's insensitive comments and Samantha's transphobic language.
February 2018: Series Returns to Channel 4
Starting on 26 February 2018, Sex and the City returned to Channel 4 on its music-oriented channel, 4Music, further expanding its presence.
2018: The Guardian Article Highlights Problematic Legacy
In 2018, an article in The Guardian addressed the problematic legacy of Sex and the City, highlighting racial insensitivities and the lack of non-white series regulars.
2018: Enduring Fashion Impact
In 2018, an article in The Guardian highlighted the show's lasting impact on fashion, noting its influence on mixing high fashion and fast fashion.
2019: Kim Cattrall clarifies departure from the franchise
In 2019, Kim Cattrall clarified her decision not to participate in a third Sex and the City film, stating that she had moved beyond the character of Samantha and that it was time to end the role.
December 2020: Redevelopment of the third movie plot into a television series
In December 2020, it was reported that the cancelled third movie plot was being redeveloped into a television series for HBO Max, without the involvement of Kim Cattrall's character.
2020: Series Aired on Sky Comedy
Since 2020, Sex and the City has been aired on Sky Comedy in the UK, ensuring ongoing broadcasting.
January 2021: And Just Like That... confirmed by HBO Max
In January 2021, the revival series And Just Like That... was officially confirmed by HBO Max, with the return of Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis.
February 2021: Remastered Version Released on HBO Max
In February 2021, a remastered high-definition version of Sex and the City was released on HBO Max. The original film negatives were rescanned at 4K resolution and reformatted to a 16:9 aspect ratio by extending the sides of the frame.
November 2, 2021: Blu-ray Release of Remastered Series
On November 2, 2021, the high-definition remastered version of Sex and the City, including the two films, was released on Blu-ray.
December 9, 2021: And Just Like That... Premieres on HBO Max
On December 9, 2021, And Just Like That..., a sequel series to Sex and the City, premiered on HBO Max without Kim Cattrall.
2021: E! Broadcasts Syndicated Version
As of 2021, the E! network occasionally broadcasts the syndicated version of Sex and the City, making it accessible to a wider audience.
2021: And Just Like That... television series release
In 2021, the plot for the cancelled third movie was reimagined as the television series And Just Like That…, without Kim Cattrall returning to the role of Samantha.
2021: And Just Like That... Spinoff
In 2021, the spinoff series And Just Like That... premiered, continuing the Sex and the City storyline.
March 2022: And Just Like That... renewed for a second season
In March 2022, And Just Like That... was renewed for a second season. During the season, Kim Catrall reprised her role in a cameo for the season finale.
May 2023: Series Available in 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos
In May 2023, following the rebranding of HBO Max to Max, Sex and the City became available in 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos for enhanced viewing and listening experience.
August 2023: Renewal of And Just Like That... for a third season
In August 2023, the series And Just Like That... was renewed for a third season.
2023: Variety Ranks Sex and the City Sixth-Greatest TV Show
In 2023, Variety ranked Sex and the City as the sixth-greatest TV show of all time, acknowledging its lasting cultural impact.
April 1, 2024: Sex and the City Released on Netflix
On April 1, 2024, Sex and the City was released on Netflix, expanding its availability to a broader streaming audience.
2025: Expected return of And Just Like That...
In 2025, the show And Just Like That... is expected to return for its third season.
Mentioned in this timeline
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