This article is about the TV series. For the book on which it is based, see. For its subsequent films, see and. Sex and the City is an American television series created by and produced by. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of 94 episodes. Throughout its six-year run, the show received contributions from various producers, writers, and directors, principally. Sex and the City Also known as S. Cuomo Didier Rachou Country of origin United States Original language s English No. Starring as , as , as , and as , the quirky series had multiple continuing storylines that tackled relevant and modern social issues such as , , , and , while exploring the difference between friendships and romantic relationships. The deliberate omission of the better part of the early lives of the four women was the writers' way of exploring social life—from sex to relationships—through each of their four very different, individual perspectives. Sex and the City has received both acclaim and criticism for its subjects and characters, and is credited with helping to increase HBO's popularity as a network. The series has won several accolades, including seven of its 54 nominations, eight of its 24 nominations, and three of its 11 nominations. The series still airs in worldwide. It spawned two feature films, 2008 and 2010 , and a television series commissioned by , 2013—2014. The show was based in part on writer 's 1997 , compiled from her column at. Carrie Bradshaw was a writer living in New York City. Carrie Bradshaw and Candace Bushnell have the same initials, a flourish emphasizing their connection. Moreover, just as Carrie Bradshaw has articles for the fictional New York Star published as a book in later series, the entire Sex and the City series is based on a compilation of Bushnell's own columns for the New York Observer. Sex and the City creator wrote the pilot with Parker in mind as Carrie. He convinced me, begged me to do it, and I signed a contract. She wanted to get out of the contract, offering to work in three HBO movies unpaid. Though Star would not release her, he listened to her concerns and implemented major changes before shooting the first season. I never thought, though, that the show would become what it has become. Stanford Blatch, a gay talent agent from an aristocratic family played by , is Carrie's best friend outside of the other three women. Carrie is entangled with , whose real name is revealed in the final episode Season 6, Episode 8 to be John James Preston, in a tumultuous, on-and-off-again relationship. In a running joke, whenever Carrie is about to introduce Mr. Big on-camera to another character, she is interrupted before she can say his name. He is the reason for many of Carrie's breakdowns as he never seems ready to fully commit to her. He is once-divorced by the time the series opens and is a prominent businessman and an aficionado of jazz and cigars. Carrie and Big break up when he leaves New York for a work secondment to Paris and does not show willingness for Carrie to accompany him or continue a long-distance relationship, citing commitment issues. Carrie is heartbroken and some months later runs into Big at a party in the Hamptons. He is accompanied by his 20-something year old girlfriend, Natasha, whom he met in Paris. Despite this, Carrie attempts to be friends with Big, however this goes awry when he tells her that he and Natasha are getting married, something he'd never considered with Carrie. In season three, Carrie meets and is instantly attracted to up-and-coming furniture designer Aidan Shaw who becomes her boyfriend. Aidan is more traditional and patient about relationships than many of Carrie's other love interests and for a while they are happy together. At a furniture show, the pair run into Big and now-wife Natasha, where Mr. Big confides to Carrie that he made a mistake marrying Natasha and wants out. Soon after, Big and Carrie begin an affair, with it ending only when she is caught at Big's apartment by Natasha. Wracked with guilt, Carrie tells Aidan of the affair on the day of Charlotte's wedding to Trey, and the two break up. They reunite in Season four, when Aidan opens a bar with Miranda's ex, Steve. Carrie realizes she is still in love with Aidan and wins him back. He struggles to trust her, particularly as Mr. Big has gotten divorced from his wife and he and Carrie have a platonic friendship. Carrie stands firm on her friendship with Big, even inviting him up to Aidan's cabin after a girl had broken up with him. When Carrie's building goes co-op, Aidan offers to buy her apartment and the one next door so they can move in together. She agrees and later finds an engagement ring in his gym bag. Aidan later proposes and Carrie accepts. A
