The Legend, the Myth and the Lies Behind "Sex and the City"

A show revolving around the sex lives of four thirty-something single girlfriends, peppered with humor and almost painfully true scenes about what a joke sex can sometimes be, became a huge breakout comedy for HBO. Before The Sopranos became famous, Sarah Jessica Parker was walking down the red carpet to receive her Emmy as the leading lady of Sex. Rowdy, bawdy, even ornery, and always hilarious, Sex and the City became the guilty cable delight of most of America's women.

But plenty of men ended up tuning in, too. And Sex became a huge hit, and an even bigger success. Award after award, Emmy after Emmy, year after year, Sex and the City only seemed to get better and better. Until it all came to a sudden, inexplicable halt, just when the show seemed to be at its peak.

Despite public outcry, the show ended at the end of the sixth season. Fans were disappointed across the country, while show executive and writers said that lead actress Sarah Jessica Parker (portraying Carrie Bradshaw) wanted to devote more time to motherhood and movies by way of explanation. It's much better to leave a party while its peaking, explained one writer of the show.

Quit a show when it's hotter then ever before? Let's be serious, would HBO really ever pull the plug on their biggest hit series? Rumor has it that the off-screen rivalry between Kim Cattrall (Samantha Jones, to the show) and executive producer and star Sarah Jessica Parker blossomed when Cattrall demanded a pay raise equal to the amount Parker was already receiving.

According to E Network's in-depth True Hollywood Story of the show, this rumor may not be far from true. Reported pay disputes within the cast probably contributed a great deal to the show's cancellation, and a rivalry between the two actresses had been brewing for years before the sixth season ever hit the air.

As soon as Sex ended, rumors began that a Sex and the City movie was in the works. Fans eagerly checked movie listings and trailers in anticipation. Time passed, and no movie seemed to be forthcoming. Without explanation, plans on the Sex-y movie were put to a halt and later, canceled completely.

What gives? Reports say that regular cast members Cynthia Nixon (playing lawyer Miranda Hobbs), Kristen Davis (playing Charlotte York-Goldenblatt), and lead actress Sarah Jessica Parker were all signed on for the movie. Cattrall hedged, there were some pay negotiations, and then Cattrall opted out of the project. Movie plans were canceled. And who came blame Sex execs for that? - You can't have Sex and the City without Samantha Jones. At a function after the movie's cancellation, the three former cast members of Sex were seen seated together. Cattrall sat at a separate table.

Rumors that the movie will go on without Samantha's character, or with another actress being used to play the character, are untrue. Those associated with the show have no plans to re-cast the role of Samantha for the movie, nor of writing a script that does not include the character. Also despite some of the more outrageous rumors, there is no Sex reunion show of any kind in the works.

For now, fans will have to contend with watching the six seasons of Sex, all of which are available on DVD and video through HBO Enterprises. Will there be more Sex in the future? Only time will tell, but fans shouldn't hold their breath.