Sarah Jessica Parker on Howard Stern: Carrie Bradshaw, Studio 54, Selfies, and the Booker Prize | Edited Transcript
A professionally copyedited transcript of Howard Stern's conversation with Sarah Jessica Parker.
This is a professionally copyedited transcript of Howard Stern's conversation with Sarah Jessica Parker. It has been edited for readability and lightly formatted while preserving the entire substance of the discussion.
Made with: The Transcript Desk Chrome Extension
Full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH3pLZfycuw
Howard talks to Sarah Jessica Parker in 2025 about her wardrobe archive, navigating selfies, and producing and starring in Season 3 of And Just Like That.... The conversation ranges from not watching her own work and setting boundaries around nude scenes to the labor behind Carrie Bradshaw's wardrobe, why she still loves the subway, memories of Studio 54, the shift from autographs to selfie culture, and what it means to read 150 to 200 books as a Booker Prize judge.
Episode Guide
00:00 Howard Welcomes Sarah Jessica Parker
00:02 Not Watching Show & Carrie Bradshaw
08:31 Nude Scenes, Outfits & Food On-Set
23:02 Ozempic, Taking the Subway & Stardom
36:52 Studio 54, Weed, “SNL” & Selfies
49:25 Wardrobe Archive & The Booker Prize
01:06:01 Billy Joel, Libraries & Matthew Broderick
01:17:26 Fans On-Set & Goodbye
Transcript
00:00-00:02
Howard Stern: Hi, Sarah.
Sarah Jessica Parker: Hi.
00:02-00:07
Howard Stern: Do you know why I'm playing Alanis Morissette? She made an appearance on your show. Did I kiss her?
00:07-00:11
Sarah Jessica Parker: Is that—I mean, I'm not making this about me. This is about Alanis, not me.
00:11-00:18
Howard Stern: I'm making it about you. You played Spin the Bottle with Alanis Morissette on Sex and the City.
Sarah Jessica Parker: Yes. Yes.
00:18-00:22
Howard Stern: Do you remember that? Is that not a big deal to you? To me, that would be a big deal.
00:22-00:29
Sarah Jessica Parker: It was a big deal. I do remember that. I don't remember a lot, but I remember that for a variety of reasons.
00:29-00:37
Sarah Jessica Parker: I remember where we shot it. I remember what I was wearing. And most importantly—and least surprisingly—it was just a huge deal that she agreed to do the show.
00:37-00:44
Sarah Jessica Parker: I think we shot over perhaps two nights, or one very long day into a night. And I do recall kissing her. It was very pleasant.
00:44-00:50
Howard Stern: It was pleasant?
Sarah Jessica Parker: It was. I don't recall it being uncomfortable. I don't recall feeling embarrassed or self-conscious.
00:50-01:00
Sarah Jessica Parker: She's lovely. She was, you know, all in. I have no feelings about it other than it being sort of easy and buoyant.
01:00-01:05
Howard Stern: When you read the script where your character is going to have a lesbian sex scene—well, a kiss—it was an innocent thing. People are playing Spin the Bottle.
01:05-01:11
Sarah Jessica Parker: Yes.
01:11-01:15
Howard Stern: And you're sitting there, and you're very surprised to learn that Alanis Morissette, who's playing a character...
01:15-01:23
Sarah Jessica Parker: Yes.
Howard Stern: ...spins the bottle, and she's excited to kiss you, but you're hesitant because you've never done this before.
01:23-01:28
Howard Stern: Is that the story, or is that just what I'm assuming?
01:28-01:31
Sarah Jessica Parker: Maybe you have too much backstory.
Howard Stern: I liked it! No, but it was good.
01:31-01:38
Howard Stern: She comes over to kiss you, and you're uncomfortable in the scene. Is that right? And then you get up and walk away. Listen, I study these things.
01:38-01:43
Howard Stern: Anytime there's a lesbian scene, you really—is that true? You've never seen it?
01:43-01:49
Sarah Jessica Parker: It's very possible I never saw it. Yeah.
01:49-02:00
Howard Stern: Why do I find that so hard to believe? I think you've said this before—that you rarely watch something you've been in. Is it a superstition? Is it you being humble?
02:00-02:07
Sarah Jessica Parker: It's probably more vain than that. I don't like to look at myself. I don't like to watch my work.
02:07-02:15
Sarah Jessica Parker: For some, it's hugely helpful to look at your work or look at dailies and learn from it. In my case, I learned very early on.
02:15-02:22
Sarah Jessica Parker: I think when I did Square Pegs, they invited me to watch dailies. I had never in my life been invited to watch dailies, which are the previous day's work.
02:22-02:32
Sarah Jessica Parker: Everybody used to gather in a room—the director, the producer, the cinematographer—just to make sure everything was right. I found it to be an almost unbearable hour and a half.
02:32-02:39
Sarah Jessica Parker: I think it just has never helped me. It made me pay attention to things that really don't matter and don't add up to something being worth an audience's time.
02:39-02:46
Sarah Jessica Parker: My grave concern is that it's actually more vanity than any kind of taste or humbleness.
02:46-02:53
Howard Stern: You think if you looked at yourself, you'd be critical of your physical appearance?
02:53-02:57
Sarah Jessica Parker: My fear is that I would wish I had done a scene differently or made a different choice.
02:57-03:04
Sarah Jessica Parker: Physically, I'm less interested in critiquing that because that is what it is.
03:04-03:15
Sarah Jessica Parker: The things within my control—what I could have done differently, better, smarter, more efficiently, or more emotionally impactful or funny—those are the things that would keep me up.
03:15-03:23
Sarah Jessica Parker: They would make me feel ill-equipped to return to the set the next day with any kind of confidence.
03:23-03:27
Howard Stern: When they hand you a script and it says, "Oh, you're going to kiss a girl"—let's say that's a good example.
03:27-03:35
Howard Stern: With Alanis Morissette, do you say to them, "Well, who is this girl? Am I kissing an extra?" Do you become concerned? Do you get nervous? Do you rehearse that with her?
03:35-03:39
Sarah Jessica Parker: When I read the script, I had no concerns at all.
03:39-03:42
Sarah Jessica Parker: I thought, you know, you're asked to kiss a man and it can mean nothing.
03:42-03:52
Sarah Jessica Parker: Now you're in a scene where you're all slightly inebriated or stoned, playing Spin the Bottle, and it lands on you. Someone assumes an agreement has been reached, right?
03:52-03:58
Sarah Jessica Parker: In Spin the Bottle, typically you rehearse a scene, and then you get to the kissing part and you just lean into the other person.
03:58-04:06
Sarah Jessica Parker: You make the motions for the camera so they understand the positioning in rehearsal. I typically don't kiss anybody in rehearsal.
04:06-04:15
Sarah Jessica Parker: Then you just do it, and it always feels more real to me. Sometimes there are conversations about the kind of kiss it's going to be or the intensity.
04:15-04:23
Sarah Jessica Parker: This was before intimacy coordinators and that kind of attention was paid.
04:23-04:30
Sarah Jessica Parker: But that would be because the director might want it to start a certain way, or move a certain way, or have a specific body part involved.
04:30-04:36
Sarah Jessica Parker: My guess is that with Alanis, we talked about it and then we shot it.
04:36-04:43
Sarah Jessica Parker: We probably shot it a hundred different ways from a hundred different angles. I don't know how many close-ups there were or what they were focusing on—hands, mouths, eyes, body.
04:43-04:49
Sarah Jessica Parker: I have no recollection. It was all real, but very innocent.
04:49-04:55
Howard Stern: But you know, it makes me think of the new season of And Just Like That. I'm up to episode three now.
04:55-05:02
Sarah Jessica Parker: Okay.
05:02-05:07
Howard Stern: There's a scene where Aidan, your boyfriend in the show—you're having phone sex with him. You two live very far apart.
05:07-05:13
Howard Stern: This is not a spoiler, but it's such a weird moment. He's having phone sex with you and he's about to, you know, play with himself.
05:13-05:20
Howard Stern: While he's talking to you, he licks his hand.
05:20-05:24
Sarah Jessica Parker: I'm sorry, what?
05:24-05:31
Howard Stern: He takes his tongue, starts licking his hand, and then he plays with his penis. Did you know he did that in that scene? You probably filmed your part, but have you seen this scene at all?
05:31-05:36
Sarah Jessica Parker: No, I have not seen that.
05:36-05:38
Howard Stern: Is that really true? You really haven't seen it?
05:38-05:43
Sarah Jessica Parker: I haven't seen it. No, I can't comment on that. My lawyer has advised me not to.
05:43-05:47
Howard Stern: Really? Is that true?
Sarah Jessica Parker: No, I have no attorney.
05:47-05:52
Howard Stern: But I mean, is it true that you really have no knowledge of this? This is a crazy scene.
05:52-06:02
Sarah Jessica Parker: 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 will say to me, "Please watch this episode."
06:02-06:06
Sarah Jessica Parker: So, I don't know. This is the first I'm hearing about that.
06:06-06:16
Howard Stern: It's crazy because, as a man, I was like, "Why is Aidan licking his hand?" I've been known to masturbate, but I don't lick my hand.
06:16-06:18
Sarah Jessica Parker: I see.
06:18-06:25
Howard Stern: I was really shocked. I felt your character would have been insulted, like, "Why are you licking your hand, dude? It's gross."
06:25-06:28
Sarah Jessica Parker: Wow.
Howard Stern: Yeah, it's a big deal to me.
06:28-06:36
Sarah Jessica Parker: We should probably reach out to John Corbett. He's pretty open about those kinds of choices. No one mentioned it to me.
06:36-06:44
Sarah Jessica Parker: He shot that much later than I shot my coverage. I think he's in a—is he in a truck?
06:44-06:48
Howard Stern: Yes, he's in the truck. He unzips his pants, licks his hand, and starts playing with himself.
06:48-06:51
Sarah Jessica Parker: You've got to stop saying that. You've got to stop saying that.
06:51-06:55
Howard Stern: Why? Listen, you've been around the block. You know what's happening.
06:55-06:58
Sarah Jessica Parker: I mean, come on.
Howard Stern: You're not an innocent.
06:58-07:02
Howard Stern: Are you uncomfortable talking about male masturbation?
07:02-07:07
Sarah Jessica Parker: I don't even recall ever discussing it in my entire life.
07:07-07:10
Howard Stern: Wow. You are a goody-two-shoes, which is hot.
07:10-07:14
Sarah Jessica Parker: No, I don't know if I'm "goody."
07:14-07:18
Howard Stern: Isn't this funny? Because you think about the character Carrie Bradshaw, right?
07:18-07:26
Howard Stern: She's so open that you'd think you would be very loose about this stuff, but I sense that you're very uncomfortable talking publicly about sex.
07:26-07:35
Sarah Jessica Parker: Yeah. I think it's one of the many ways in which I'm very, very different from Carrie Bradshaw. I always say we look alike and share a skeleton, but there are countless ways we differ.
07:35-07:41
Sarah Jessica Parker: We share some similarities and are aligned on a few important things, but I've never been someone who discusses intimacy with my closest friends.
07:41-07:50
Sarah Jessica Parker: I just don't. I'm not against it, and I think it's wonderful that people who want to can have those conversations.
07:50-07:58
Sarah Jessica Parker: I'm very present for friends who want to discuss it, but I typically don't contribute. I'm not withholding, though.
07:58-08:08
Sarah Jessica Parker: It's not as if my friends feel like, "Wait a minute, I just bared my soul and you're silent." I don't think they feel any less heard or counseled.
08:08-08:20
Sarah Jessica Parker: When friendships do that for one another, I just... for some reason... and I'm not religious. I come from a very progressive home, so I don't know why I'm disinclined.
08:20-08:31
Howard Stern: When you turn on a talk show and see a young actress talking freely about her sex life, are you sitting there thinking, "This is amazing, I could never do this"?
08:31-08:39
Howard Stern: Do you admire it, or do you think, "Oof, you're going to feel horrible in ten years when you watch this back and wish you'd kept your mouth shut"?
08:39-08:46
Sarah Jessica Parker: I would assume my feeling is that I'm glad the person feels comfortable talking about that part of their life.
08:46-08:54
Sarah Jessica Parker: I have no judgment about it at all. It's the same thing with nude scenes. I never wanted to do them.
08:54-09:03
Sarah Jessica Parker: As long as the director didn't feel they were being cheated by me not doing it, I was happy to maintain that position.
09:03-09:12
Sarah Jessica Parker: For those who felt comfortable, I never felt like, "How could you? You'll regret this."
09:12-09:20
Sarah Jessica Parker: It always felt like the most democratic part of the decision-making on a set: who feels comfortable doing what, and those who don't are free to tell the story in a different way.
09:20-09:28
Howard Stern: Did you ever turn down a movie because the director said, "Look, I'm not doing this to be salacious, but I want you to be nude for a love scene"?
09:28-09:33
Howard Stern: Did you ever say, "You know what? I'm going to pass," and then later think, "Oh, damn, this movie was huge"?
09:33-09:41
Sarah Jessica Parker: I don't think so. Anytime I've had those conversations, we've reached a decision where both parties got what they needed.
09:41-09:48
Sarah Jessica Parker: When it's been written in and I've talked to directors or writers, I never felt as if they were being cheated. I don't recall passing for that reason, but I'll text you later if I remember.
09:48-09:57
Howard Stern: You never had that moment where you get called into the director's office and they go, "Listen, honey, I need you to..."?
09:57-10:05
Sarah Jessica Parker: I did. I have had that situation happen on a set after a discussion where no nudity was required.
10:05-10:12
Sarah Jessica Parker: It became pretty acrimonious and really uncomfortable for me.
10:12-10:21
Sarah Jessica Parker: So much so that I called my agent and said, "I thought we were clear. Now they're telling me I have to be nude tomorrow, and they're making jokes about it on set."
10:21-10:23
Howard Stern: "Sarah Jessica is going to be nude tomorrow."
10:23-10:32
Sarah Jessica Parker: Exactly. "Sarah Jessica's going to be in the bed nude." Even if I were considering it, that would make it fifty times worse because now it's a whole thing.
10:32-10:42
Howard Stern: And it was all men on the set?
Sarah Jessica Parker: Correct. There was suddenly this culture that I didn't care for.
10:42-10:51
Sarah Jessica Parker: I called my agent, and I will say, he told me, "I'm going to FedEx you an airline ticket." In the old days, you had to do that—it was those three-layered carbon copies.
10:51-11:02
Sarah Jessica Parker: He FedExed me a ticket on US Air, called the producers and the studio, and said, "This conversation will stop. If not, she's flying home in the morning, so don't ask her again."
11:02-11:10
Sarah Jessica Parker: And they didn't.
Howard Stern: Did the movie suffer? I mean, was it still a success?
11:10-11:17
Sarah Jessica Parker: Absolutely not. It was a massive success.
11:17-11:24
Howard Stern: When I was watching the new season, they talk about your clothing and the outfits. I've read that the reason it takes so long to shoot a season is that the wardrobe is a job in itself.
11:24-11:31
Howard Stern: I read that you have to be fitted for up to five hours a day. Why does it take so long to put you in these outfits and measure everything?
11:31-11:40
Howard Stern: I know it's a big part of the show. I love it when you come out in these outfits.
11:40-11:48
Howard Stern: More and more is pointing to the fact that maybe I'm not heterosexual, but I love seeing you in these outfits. I don't feel that way with Charlotte or the other characters.
11:48-11:57
Howard Stern: I don't care what they wear, but for some reason, I like to see what you're dressed in.
11:57-12:05
Sarah Jessica Parker: That's so nice. I will explain. Sometimes there can be as many as 20 to 30 changes per episode.
12:05-12:14
Sarah Jessica Parker: I carve out time within the shooting schedule. Sometimes it's during my lunch break, or if I'm not in the next scene, I'll do 40 minutes.
12:14-12:21
Sarah Jessica Parker: Then we'll wrap at 11:00 PM and I'll run to the wardrobe department and fit for two and a half hours.
12:21-12:28
Sarah Jessica Parker: If there are 30 changes per episode, everything has to be pulled and tried on because we're creating.
12:28-12:34
Sarah Jessica Parker: It's not like the outfits are set. There's a basic blueprint, but sometimes you put something on and think, "Actually, Sema is wearing this and Charlotte is wearing that."
12:34-12:39
Sarah Jessica Parker: Or we thought it would look good, but those two whites are different and they're clashing.
12:39-12:44
Sarah Jessica Parker: We might have to take a vintage piece apart, or a designer says we can borrow something but we have to tailor it in a way that can be released later.
12:44-12:50
Sarah Jessica Parker: We have to be very thoughtful about how we take it in. It takes a lot of time.
12:50-12:58
Sarah Jessica Parker: Even though they have my body form and we have an extraordinary tailor named Adrian, it still takes time because then you have to think about jewelry, bags, shoes, belts, hats, coats, and gloves.
12:58-13:06
Sarah Jessica Parker: Galoshes, umbrellas, backpacks, briefcases—all of it has to tell the same story and not be in conflict.
13:06-13:13
Sarah Jessica Parker: It sounds simple to just pull from racks, but if you're being thoughtful and trying to tell a story from episode 1 to 12, you're laying all that in.
13:13-13:17
Sarah Jessica Parker: Say we're working toward a complete Victorian silhouette by episode 10—when do you start changing the silhouette? Where are those pieces coming from?
13:17-13:22
Sarah Jessica Parker: How are they helping Michael Patrick tell his story? If you're running down the street to catch a cab, can you pick up those three layers?
13:22-13:31
Sarah Jessica Parker: Can you switch a shoe? Can you buckle a shoe while walking? If that's in the script, is this the shoe you can actually buckle?
13:31-13:39
Sarah Jessica Parker: If you walk in the door and have to kick off a shoe and put it back on, it can't be a shoe with a difficult buckle. It's that level of detail.
13:39-13:46
Howard Stern: I get it. It's not the "glue" of the show, but it's a huge part of it. You walking around in those outfits—you wear them well and you have a specific movement.
13:46-13:55
Howard Stern: Like a dancer, you have this body and a way of moving in these outfits that becomes a big part of the show.
13:55-14:02
Sarah Jessica Parker: That's also thanks to Molly Rogers and Danny Santiago. Molly has been with us since the first day of Sex and the City.
14:02-14:06
Sarah Jessica Parker: They are exceptionally good at knowing what I can and can't do in shoes, boots, dresses, tutus, and corsets.
14:06-14:14
Sarah Jessica Parker: Everybody is working together to make you believe I'm good at that. We're all conspiring to convince you that I can be gazelle-like no matter what I'm wearing.
14:14-14:21
Sarah Jessica Parker: It's not always effortless; it takes a huge amount of preparation.
14:21-14:29
Sarah Jessica Parker: I like to get to a space beforehand and work with the director and the DP and say, "Okay, the camera is going to be there. I have this bag, and we want to show it because it's an Easter egg."
14:29-14:36
Sarah Jessica Parker: "So I'm going to take it off over my head and toss it. Is the camera going to catch that? Because when you come back to me, I know Michael Patrick wants these boots in the shot."
14:36-14:45
Sarah Jessica Parker: Everybody works together to create the "ballet" you referred to.
14:45-14:53
Howard Stern: I never realized how much work went into that. It shows me you guys are incredibly aware that people love that part of the show.
14:53-14:56
Howard Stern: In your personal life, do you understand buying a Birkin bag? Some of those can be $30,000 or $50,000.
14:56-15:03
Sarah Jessica Parker: Yeah.
15:03-15:10
Howard Stern: I say to my wife all the time, "What is it?" I look at the bag and I don't see anything worth $50,000 just to hold your stuff.
15:10-15:18
Sarah Jessica Parker: I can't imagine Beth is someone who's purchasing a lot of those either.
15:18-15:26
Howard Stern: She's very different. But on the show, the Birkin bag is something you would feature.
15:26-15:34
Sarah Jessica Parker: I feel like Samantha carried one or talked about wanting one 20 years ago.
15:34-15:45
Sarah Jessica Parker: I like that you see how important it is, because the goal is to make it look seamless—as if none of it took effort. But all of it does.
15:45-15:53
Sarah Jessica Parker: We're incredibly vigilant about every solitary detail, every tableau, every frame.
15:53-16:00
Sarah Jessica Parker: Michael Patrick and I will talk about everything in the background. "Why is that there? Move the phone. She wouldn't be reading those books anymore; maybe this one should be dog-eared." All of it matters.
16:00-16:08
Howard Stern: What about the decision in episode two or three where you and Sema are sitting on a bed having an intimate conversation while eating Kentucky Fried Chicken?
16:08-16:11
Howard Stern: I thought that was a great detail. You guys really worked through that, right?
16:11-16:19
Sarah Jessica Parker: Yes, very specifically. It's sort of gross watching people eat and getting all that grease everywhere.
16:19-16:26
Howard Stern: Do you do it just to piss people off or to make them a little disgusted?
16:26-16:30
Sarah Jessica Parker: No. If I recall, Sema says she'll come with me to Virginia because she wants great Southern food and fried chicken.
16:30-16:36
Sarah Jessica Parker: But she's denied it—every restaurant she goes to has turned into a "healthier" version of Southern cuisine, and she's enraged.
16:36-16:44
Sarah Jessica Parker: So we get Kentucky Fried Chicken as a reward for her being a good friend. We're just sitting there eating a bucket of KFC.
16:44-16:53
Sarah Jessica Parker: I was extremely excited about that because when I was a little girl, we never ate out. That was beyond our imagination.
16:53-17:02
Sarah Jessica Parker: But every now and then, my dad would bring home a bucket of KFC, and it was such a big deal.
17:02-17:07
Howard Stern: Me too! It was like you'd won the lottery.
17:07-17:14
Howard Stern: I remember as a little boy, my father took me to a place in Freeport, Long Island, called V-Rocks. There was no such thing as KFC yet; they used to sell the recipe to individual diners.
17:14-17:24
Howard Stern: My father loved it so much he wanted to buy the stock when they went public. My mother said, "Who buys stock in chicken?" He didn't buy it, and for the rest of my life, I heard him say he'd be a billionaire if he hadn't listened to her.
17:24-17:31
Howard Stern: KFC is really part of the fabric of our lives.
17:31-17:40
Sarah Jessica Parker: It really is. I was very aggressive about eating a lot in that scene, which I always do because Cynthia and I were always the ones actually eating.
17:40-17:49
Sarah Jessica Parker: The prop department would say they were breaking for lunch, and we'd be like, "No, we're going to finish these plates."
17:49-17:58
Sarah Jessica Parker: Anyway, I was eating that chicken and really indulging. I think if you're going to have food in a scene, please eat it. Don't just push it around the plate.
17:58-18:07
Howard Stern: But isn't that dangerous from an acting standpoint? Because of the editing?
18:07-18:16
Sarah Jessica Parker: No, being mid-chew is good! You just have to match the continuity every single time. That's where it gets complicated.
18:16-18:22
Sarah Jessica Parker: I work really hard on continuity so I can always be eating, or have a pen in my hand, or be twirling a rubber band—things human beings actually do.
18:22-18:30
Sarah Jessica Parker: It takes the onus off the lines. The minute you're doing a human activity, you're just talking like a person.
18:30-18:35
Sarah Jessica Parker: That bucket arrived at the end of a long day. We shot that in a hotel in Midtown, and I ate and ate. I felt like the envy of everybody.
18:35-18:43
Sarah Jessica Parker: But I will confess, I felt really sick afterward. I'm usually like a garbage can—I can eat anything. I'll eat street food all over the world and never get sick.
18:43-18:51
Sarah Jessica Parker: But that night, I realized something was changing. I don't know if I can do that anymore.
18:51-18:58
Howard Stern: I even said to my wife during that scene, "I guarantee you these women are spitting that chicken out to watch their figures." But you actually swallowed it?
18:58-19:05
Sarah Jessica Parker: One hundred percent.
19:05-19:13
Howard Stern: How much pressure is on you because of the clothes and your look? Staying in shape is obviously important, and you're in great shape. You must be neurotic about food.
19:13-19:21
Sarah Jessica Parker: No, I'm not. I'm not very disciplined.
19:21-19:27
Howard Stern: Have you eaten today?
19:27-19:35
Sarah Jessica Parker: The only reason I haven't eaten is that we were up at 4:00 AM. I had one cup of
30:03-31:22
Sarah Jessica Parker: I threw myself at it because it wasn't mine, and the only way for me to feel like a local was to live it. Even as a little girl, I knew I had to do what I saw everyone else doing—like taking a yellow cab. That’s why it’s been so hard for me to move on to ride-sharing apps; I still have this sentimental attachment to yellow cabs and the way they look on our streets. When I first came to New York, they dominated the avenues. If you looked out a hotel window or an office building, 7th Avenue South was just a sea of yellow. It was all Checker cabs and sedans, back before minivans and sliding doors. They were beautiful automobiles. Every driver knew the streets, they all had accents, and it was a truly authentic New York experience. I never wanted to run from the subway either, because I felt like I earned it. I had to fight to be a New Yorker. I don’t know how many years it takes before you’re officially called one, so I thought, "What do I have to do? I have to know the bus routes. I have to know the crosstown buses." I think that’s why I still feel so devoted and loyal to our public transportation.
31:22-31:55
Howard Stern: I was joking about you earlier this morning. I said, "Sarah Jessica Parker must really laugh at these idiots who say show business is hard." At 13, you were already on Broadway, and by 14, you were starring in Annie. I often fantasize that you left other child actors in the dust. They usually say, "Yeah, I was a child actor, but as an adult, I couldn't get famous again," or "I was typecast." You did it effortlessly. You were 13 in Annie, you went on all these shows, you did movies, and then Sex and the City became huge. It’s been a magical run, really.
31:55-32:25
Sarah Jessica Parker: The opportunity to have worked in the theater straight through saved me from the kind of scrutiny and public opinion that I think a lot of child stars suffer from. It can be debilitating. You have to have an incredible constitution and great people around you to make you feel worthwhile, regardless of what happens—whether you become an engineer, a plumber, a janitor, a librarian, or remain a working actor.
32:25-33:47
Sarah Jessica Parker: One thing I will say is that when we were young and starting our careers—you wanting to be in entertainment and radio, talking to people and commanding attention—I don’t know if you necessarily thought about being a "star." We didn’t talk about stars when I was growing up. There were movie stars, but that felt like an alternate universe, totally removed from what I was pursuing. I just wanted to be a working actor, and I mean that genuinely. You wanted to be on the air. You didn't care what it took—whether you had to start in the office or do grunt work. I never thought about being rich or famous. I just wanted to be like the other actors I was in plays with—the "journeymen," as we called them. They’d go from play to play, do a small role in a movie, or get a two-episode arc on a TV series shooting in LA. The way we constantly look at people now, characterizing who they are and where they stand in the culture—that didn't exist for us. We just had our heads down and were willing to work incredibly hard.
33:47-34:07
Sarah Jessica Parker: We didn’t care how many hours we were asked to be at the station or the theater. If you wanted me there at 7:00 a.m. and were only going to pay me $45, I’d say, "Fine. I’ll be the first one there and the last to leave. Do you want me to help iron the costumes? I’ll do that." I just wanted to know what it took to stay in that theater.
34:07-35:28
Howard Stern: That’s a really good point. If you set out specifically to be a star, you’ll probably never be one. It’s a very difficult destination to aim for, and it’s bound to be painful. I know social media makes it look like there are a million stars and buckets of success because we see all these images of people with money—and I think influencers are bundled into that now. I’m not taking anything away from anyone’s success, but that isn't the same as building a career that lasts until you're in your 80s or 90s. Look at the great actors and broadcasters who just worked and worked. Some are household names, some aren't. There are people who read the news in Omaha for their entire lives and had the best careers and the best lives. It’s hard for people to reset what success means because the world is telling them something different. Aiming to be a star isn't always a productive path. Wanting to be good, working hard, and learning from great people is a much more fruitful approach. It gives you a richer life.
35:28-35:43
Howard Stern: I think that’s a great message. My fantasy was just to make $250 a week as an announcer. I wanted to talk into a microphone, have people hear me, and be treated with respect by other announcers. I just wanted to be part of that family.
35:43-36:01
Sarah Jessica Parker: You’re so right. Who could have predicted your success? Back then, you don’t even think about buying a house; you just want to pay your rent. If someone in your family needs help, you want to be able to say yes. You know exactly how much a slice of pizza or a subway fare costs. To be an announcer was the "golden ticket."
36:01-36:53
Sarah Jessica Parker: But because you cared and worked hard, people started noticing. They’d ask, "Who is that kid? Why is he still here? Why is he hanging around?" Don’t you look back at those days and think how wonderful it was just to have five bucks in your pocket? I remember the guy who greeted me at the door; he’d been there for ten years, and I’d wonder if one day I’d walk in and he’d say, "Hey, Howard, how are you doing?" because I’d finally become a fixture there. There was so much to dream about, but it was just a different approach to dreaming.
36:53-37:25
Howard Stern: I read that when you were 13 or 14 and starring in Annie, you were one of those people who would go to Studio 54. I remember that scene—it’s hard to explain. People were high as a kite. It was Andy Warhol, the Kennedys, everyone famous. I went a few times because I was a program director and they’d let me in. What was it like as a kid to be in that adult world, watching them party?
37:25-38:12
Sarah Jessica Parker: There was a security man at the Alvin Theatre—which I think is the Neil Simon now—on 52nd Street. Studio 54 was just two blocks north on 54th. This incredibly elegant man named Big George was the bouncer at Studio 54, but he also worked security for us at the Alvin. When we came out after the show to sign autographs, Big George was always there. He was huge and handsome. He had a gold chain with a tiny little comb hanging off it that he’d use to groom his mustache. He’d say, "Hey, why don't you guys come up to 54?" and we’d say, "Okay." There were no parents around, and apparently no child labor laws!
38:12-39:17
Sarah Jessica Parker: I was living on Roosevelt Island at the time, so I’d take the N or R train home. My brother was also doing a Broadway show, so we’d meet halfway between our theaters and take the subway to the tram, which I think stopped running at midnight. So, we’d go to Studio 54 and Big George would let us in through a back or side door. I remember these massive installations hanging from the ceiling—a moon, a star, a spoon. I realize now those were all symbols for cocaine. People were dancing inside these circular curtains. My brother and I would just sit on the floor and play Jacks—we actually brought Jacks with us! I remember someone in stilettos stepped on my Achilles while they were dancing. People were definitely wasted.
39:17-39:27
Howard Stern: Did guys hit on you? Did anyone offer you drugs?
39:27-39:44
Sarah Jessica Parker: No, we were little and uninteresting. I was 13; nobody hit on us. I have never been offered drugs in my entire life—until the second season of Sex and the City, when someone finally offered me something. But before that, never.
39:44-40:47
Howard Stern: You don't do any drugs? You never even tried pot?
40:47-41:31
Sarah Jessica Parker: I tried it once. I remember Kenny G was playing on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. I don’t know how much I actually inhaled, but as he played the saxophone, I became completely mystified. I was staring at him thinking, "What is that appendage coming out of his mouth?" He looked like one solid entity with the instrument. It was terrifying. I realized then that I wasn't thinking rationally and decided that was enough for me. Throughout my years in show business, I stayed away from it. After Square Pegs, there was a lot of chatter about drugs on set, which I never actually saw. I was very clear about not wanting to be around it because it seemed dangerous and damaging. I saw how rumors hurt people, and I was scared of what drugs could do to a life. Watching people I loved struggle with addiction only reinforced that fear.
41:31-41:37
Howard Stern: Why do I think you were friends with John Belushi?
41:37-42:06
Sarah Jessica Parker: Anne Beatts, who created Square Pegs, was one of the original writers on SNL. She was best friends with Judy Belushi, John’s wife. John passed away right as we were about to shoot the pilot for Square Pegs, so we had to postpone filming so Anne could attend the funeral. That’s my only connection—I didn't know him, but I loved his work.
42:06-42:13
Howard Stern: Why did you only host Saturday Night Live once? Was it a bad experience?
42:13-43:25
Sarah Jessica Parker: It wasn't a bad experience, but it was during a time that is historically known as not being the happiest period for the show. I can't remember if Lorne Michaels had just come back, but there was a sense that the show wasn't quite "humming." However, I have great memories of working with Adam Sandler, Chris Farley, Norm Macdonald, Janeane Garofalo, and Sarah Silverman. I’ve been asked back since, but the timing never worked out because of my filming schedules. I love that show, though. I thought the 50th anniversary special was one of the most perfect pieces of entertainment I’ve ever seen.
43:25-43:40
Howard Stern: You went to that with your husband, Matthew Broderick. He’s hosted a few times too. When you’re in a long-term relationship with someone else in the business, do you ever internally gauge who is getting more attention?
43:40-44:25
Howard Stern: I’m asking because I’m sensitive about it. Jimmy Kimmel is a good friend of mine, and we went to Italy together. We’d be walking around and people would flock to him, and I’d feel embarrassed in front of my wife that no one was making a fuss over me. Then some tourists would recognize me and ignore Jimmy, and I’d think, "Thank God!" Do you ever feel that way with Matthew? Is it hard for him when you’re at the height of your fame?
44:25-44:51
Sarah Jessica Parker: Honestly, no. If anything, when someone comes up to me, I worry if it’s imposing on our private time or becoming an irritant. I’m more sensitive to the interruption than I am to who is being recognized.
44:51-45:08
Howard Stern: Have you ever been at a restaurant where everyone asks for your autograph but ignores Matthew?
45:08-45:54
Sarah Jessica Parker: I wish people still asked for autographs, Howard! Now it’s all selfies. I really struggle with that. I was at LaGuardia airport recently, and a woman walked up—didn't even say hello—and just said, "Can I take your picture?" I told her, "We haven't even met. You didn't introduce yourself. What's your name?" When she told me, I said, "Julie, I’m going to say no to the picture, but let’s have a conversation instead. I guarantee this will be more meaningful than a photo you’ll probably lose anyway."
45:54-46:21
Sarah Jessica Parker: I told her I had to get food for my family first, but I promised to come back. My brother and I got the food, then went back and talked to her whole group. They were a crew from Central Jersey in town for a training session.
46:21-47:08
Howard Stern: That sounds exhausting! You’re like a school teacher instructing people on how to behave. I find it annoying.
47:08-47:32
Sarah Jessica Parker: I prefer a conversation to someone just clicking a camera in my face. I’m always startled by that. I’d much rather someone say, "My name is Veronica, I’m excited to see you, do you have a moment for a photo?" Then I can ask them where they’re from or what their dreams are. Even if I can't take the photo because I'm with my kids, we’ve had a real moment.
47:32-47:40
Howard Stern: For me, it’s different. I tell people, "Look, if I were George Clooney, I’d love to take a picture. But I look like crap and I don't need another bad photo of me circulating." It’s exhausting. What did you used to say to get out of it?
47:40-48:06
Sarah Jessica Parker: For a long time, I’d say, "I can't because of the government." It really confused people! Another one Matthew heard from a big star was to simply say, "They won't let me." It’s so absurd that it usually works.
48:06-49:25
Sarah Jessica Parker: We recently landed in Stockholm and were so excited to walk into the old part of the city. We were enjoying the elegance and the fact that no one had their phones out. Then, in my peripheral vision, I felt a familiar movement. A woman came running up and yelled, "Sarah! I'm a New Yorker! Can I take a picture?" I tried the line: "They won't let me." She immediately shot back, "Who's 'they'?" I started crying laughing because the line had worked for so long until I met another New Yorker. Now, I just stick to having a dialogue.
49:25-50:20
Howard Stern: My wife told me that you have archived every single outfit you’ve worn on Sex and the City and even some films. You have them in climate-controlled storage. I asked her why anyone would do that, and she said, "Are you kidding? I’d do anything to see those outfits." She thinks it’s genius. How much are you spending on storage, and what was the thought process behind saving everything?
50:20-51:28
Sarah Jessica Parker: Early in my career, my attorney—who I’ve been with for 37 years—gave me some great advice. He told me not to worry about perks like candles or specific colored M&Ms in my dressing room. Instead, he said, "Just put it in your contract that you keep everything you wear." Some studios balked at it, but when Sex and the City came around, it was in the contract. I have almost everything, except for items that were borrowed from design houses or vintage shops. Though, often, designers would just tell us to keep the pieces.
51:28-52:45
Howard Stern: What are you going to do with it all?
52:45-53:05
Sarah Jessica Parker: We actually use the archive every year on the show. We bring pieces back from 10 or 15 years ago, and the audience loves seeing them. Sometimes a dress from Season 4 is just hanging over a door in the background. It’s also helpful because we loan pieces out to designers for their own historical archives. It’s been wonderful to have the shoes, bags, and jewelry.
53:05-53:49
Howard Stern: I should have saved my Fartman costume! I saw someone selling a replica and realized I should have kept the original. I remember that crazy, giant hat you wore in the first episode of the new season while walking through the park. At first, I thought it was ridiculous, but then I realized every woman would be wearing it in a year. That’s fashion.
53:49-54:02
Sarah Jessica Parker: That hat was made by an amazing milliner in Berlin. It was whimsical and beautifully made, and it weighed absolutely nothing. By the end of the episode, I loved it.
54:02-54:34
Howard Stern: You’re a fascinating woman. Here’s a little-known fact: Sarah reads, on average, two books a day. She’s currently a judge for the Booker Prize, which is a massive literary award. How do you find the time? You’re a mother, a wife, an actress, and a producer. Are these short books?
54:34-55:24
Sarah Jessica Parker: No, the one I’m reading now is 600 pages. This is for a finite period. The Booker Prize is one of the most important literary awards in the world. There are five judges, and we spend from late December until the winner is announced reading through a massive submission list. We’ll end up reading between 150 and 200 books. We deliberate in London, create a longlist in August, a shortlist in September, and announce the winner in November. I’m only reading at this volume because of the commitment to the group.
55:24-56:03
Howard Stern: That sounds like my version of hell! What happens if you’re 100 pages into a 600-page book and you realize it’s terrible? Do you still have to finish it to be fair?
56:03-57:12
Sarah Jessica Parker: Once you establish a "gold standard" during deliberations, you weigh everything against that. If a book isn't meeting the criteria by page 80, you might put it down to start another one that shows more promise. But I open every book with hope. It’s the privilege of a lifetime. I’ve followed the Booker for years and never imagined I’d be asked to judge. You give up a year of your life to do it, and you can really only do it once.
57:12-58:02
Howard Stern: It’s all fiction, right? Do you have a book with you today? Do publishers try to bribe you or influence you?
58:02-58:54
Sarah Jessica Parker: There’s a very strict process. Each publisher is capped at a certain number of submissions—usually one, or up to three if they’ve had past success on the lists. Everything has to go through the Booker committee. I get unsolicited books all the time, but those aren't the ones I'm judging.
58:54-59:56
Howard Stern: Do you feel a heavy responsibility to the authors? You could wake up on the wrong side of the bed or have an argument with your kids, and then a book might just rub you the wrong way.
59:56-59:59
Sarah Jessica Parker: The reading actually removes all that peripheral noise. It’s so concentrated that everything else goes away. I feel a deep need to give every book my undivided attention because some of these authors spent a decade in solitude writing them. It’s daunting, and I just want to do right by the work.
1:00:04-1:00:14
Howard Stern: Are you the first big celebrity to be one of the Booker Prize judges—to actually sit there and read all these books?
Sarah Jessica Parker: I don't think so. I believe there have been other actors, though I can't say for sure. However, the committee also includes writers, Booker long-listed authors, and previous winners.
1:00:20-1:00:46
Howard Stern: Do you get in touch with the other readers? Do you have discussions amongst yourselves, or is it all done individually?
Sarah Jessica Parker: It’s done individually. We’re all separated. We meet once a month, and sometimes there’s overlap on emails. We originally met in London in February for our first meeting, but our last two monthly meetings have been on Zoom. We’ll be back together in July for the longlist. We talk and send emails, but mostly we work on our own. I think they found out about me because I follow them on Instagram. I’ve been waiting for the longlist forever—for both the International and the Booker. I’m always waiting to see which books make the cut because usually, I’ve either read a lot of them or I want to. I follow along closely, so I was always commenting on their Instagram.
1:01:12-1:01:24
Howard Stern: What is your IQ? Have you ever had it tested?
Sarah Jessica Parker: No. I’m sure I’d test very low. I’m sure my IQ is not impressive at all. That would be my guess.
Howard Stern: I bet it is high. I bet you just tested poorly in school.
Sarah Jessica Parker: Very poorly.
1:01:24-1:01:52
Howard Stern: Did you take the SATs, or did you not even bother because you were already working?
Sarah Jessica Parker: I only took the PSATs, and after that, I was pretty much absent from school. My guess is I did really poorly on them. I get very nervous taking tests. I feel like I’m going to vomit the whole time and I forget everything I ever knew. I would test as if I’d never even been exposed to a classroom. I’m sure it was a big disappointment for my parents.
1:01:52-1:02:13
Howard Stern: No, I mean, you’re doing all this reading. Did you test well, Robin?
Robin Quivers: I tested at the "idiot" level. I think they saw me as dull; I think that was their classification.
Howard Stern: Idiot? Yeah, I was in remedial math, too. I was put in remedial math with all the football players. It was incredibly embarrassing.
1:02:13-1:02:24
Sarah Jessica Parker: But you might be worse than me.
Howard Stern: I did manage to get a 100 on the algebra Regents exam, so maybe I’m not that bad. That was my big claim to fame.
1:02:24-1:02:42
Howard Stern: Wait a second. So you're telling me that if I were married to you, most of your day would be like, "Listen, Howard, we're not having sex today. I have to read."
Sarah Jessica Parker: I rarely get a whole day to read, but the house knows when I am. They say they walk by and hear a funny sound—it’s just the sound of my finger moving across the page.
Howard Stern: Do you ever listen to audiobooks? I’ve been doing a lot of that lately.
1:02:42-1:03:00
Sarah Jessica Parker: I can't do it for this job. But I did listen to Barbra Streisand’s book.
Howard Stern: What did you think of that?
Sarah Jessica Parker: It was amazing. I loved it. It was incredible. It’s the only audiobook I’ve ever heard in my life, and it’s the only one I ever want to hear. It was fantastic. Your interview with her was great, too.
1:03:00-1:03:12
Howard Stern: Before I go, I want to ask you two things. First, the rumor here is that you’ve moved on from painting to the guitar. I see guitars behind you—are those the ones you’re working on mastering?
1:03:12-1:03:26
Sarah Jessica Parker: Yes. I am no longer painting; I don’t paint at all anymore. I love playing the guitar, but I suck. I’m terrible, but I want to learn the language. I really want to learn the language.
Howard Stern: What happened? Why the change?
1:03:26-1:03:56
Sarah Jessica Parker: It just dawned on me all of a sudden: "Oh my god, I have all these guitars and I’m fascinated by musicians." I mostly read books about musicians and their life stories. I just finished Mike Campbell’s book—he was in Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It’s a fabulous book. I said to myself, "I would really love to learn this language before I drop dead." I’d like to be able to communicate like a musician. I don’t have time to paint and play. I painted something the other day, but generally, I don’t have time for both. Whatever free time I have, I grab the guitar.
Howard Stern: Are you doing it with a teacher? Did you reach out and find the best possible person? How did you find them? Did you ask a million musicians for a recommendation?
1:03:59-1:04:23
Sarah Jessica Parker: My wife did. For months—maybe even a year—I kept saying to her, "I wish I could learn to play the guitar." When my birthday came, she said, "I got you a guitar lesson." I went into a total panic. I was so intimidated. Can you imagine? It’s scary to start something new at our age.
Howard Stern: It’s humbling and scary.
1:04:23-1:04:51
Sarah Jessica Parker: She got in touch with Billy Joel—or more importantly, Billy Joel’s wife—and they had a guy in their band who recommended his nephew. He is the greatest guy in the world. He’s so patient with me. He walked in the first day and said, "Here’s a book. You’re going to learn how to read music." I said, "No, I’m not. How could I? Dots on a page? I can’t do it." He told me I would, and we do a little bit every day. Now, I can actually read music.
1:04:51-1:05:16
Howard Stern: How far along are you? Do you have a standing date for the lessons?
Sarah Jessica Parker: We do a lesson together maybe twice a week. Sometimes three if I’m off the radio. I try to learn as much as I can, but I’m a total beginner.
Howard Stern: But just the fact that you can say, "I thought I couldn't learn to read music, and then I did."
Sarah Jessica Parker: Yes. It just shows that when you’re interested and you really want to, it makes it so much easier. Don’t you feel much more conversant than you ever thought you’d be?
1:05:27-1:05:49
Howard Stern: Exactly. That’s how I feel you are with the books. If I have ten minutes free, I grab the guitar and practice. That’s what I do.
Sarah Jessica Parker: That’s what you’ve got to do. What book are you reading now?
Howard Stern: I can’t say.
Sarah Jessica Parker: Oh, why?
Howard Stern: Because it’s one of the books for the Booker Prize. I feel like I shouldn’t say because the author doesn’t know they’ve been selected yet.
1:05:49-1:06:06
Sarah Jessica Parker: Can I ask you one more quick question? I know I’m overstaying my welcome.
Howard Stern: No, this is fun. You could never overstay your welcome.
Robin Quivers: See how you feel when I leave!
Sarah Jessica Parker: I was so upset and concerned when I heard the news about Billy Joel about ten days ago. My mother keeps telling me, "According to the Times, this is the diagnosis," and it just really upset me. My husband was about to go see him in concert and asked me to go. I told him I would carve out time from my reading to be at that concert last Wednesday. I know you talk to him, so I wanted to see how he was doing. If you could just tell him he’s on my mind; it really bothered me and I hope he’s okay.
1:06:40-1:07:04
Howard Stern: Well, first of all—and I’ve said this before—I’m certainly not Billy Joel’s spokesperson.
Sarah Jessica Parker: I know you’re not, but you’re the closest I’m going to get.
Howard Stern: In all seriousness, I had dinner with him right when that story came out. We had dinner and he said, "This is so weird because people think I’m dying or something." Billy is not dying. We had a great dinner together.
1:07:04-1:07:26
Sarah Jessica Parker: That's great.
Howard Stern: We email each other. He just emailed me a bunch of classical music to listen to. He turned me on to this woman who plays classical guitar who is mind-blowing. I should stress that he is not in some dire situation. He’s just dealing with his health and he’s doing fine. He’s okay. But again, I feel funny speaking for him, though I know you’re a huge fan.
1:07:26-1:07:49
Sarah Jessica Parker: I didn’t mean for you to be indiscreet. It’s just that when things are put in such stark terms in the news, it's worrying. I’m glad to know that because I want to see him on stage as often as I can. I’m glad he’s doing well; please send him my warmest regards.
1:07:49-1:08:19
Howard Stern: By the way, when we went out to dinner, I was actually thankful for this: a guy comes up to the table and asks for my autograph. I was surprised, but then I realized once he saw Billy was there, he was all over Billy. It made me feel good because I didn't want to be sitting there in front of my wife and Billy’s wife and just be ignored, you know? It would crush me. I really am concerned about what people think. But anyway, listen...
Sarah Jessica Parker: No selfies? It’s a miserable life.
1:08:23-1:08:47
Howard Stern: No, it’s not. I know that’s not true. Never go to dinner with me because I’ll be sitting there the whole time watching you sign autographs and being miserable.
Sarah Jessica Parker: That’s not true.
Howard Stern: If you go to dinner with me, wear a mask, okay? We’ll go back to a time when people actually asked for autographs.
Sarah Jessica Parker: I’ve never gone to dinner with you, but let’s skip it. I think it would be a miserable experience.
Howard Stern: Yeah, it’ll be terrible. You’re so famous and on TV all the time, it would be a disaster.
1:08:47-1:09:13
Howard Stern: I should mention that her love of books goes beyond being a judge for this award. She co-produced a documentary called The Librarians which is about book banning. You must be heartbroken over what's happening to libraries.
Sarah Jessica Parker: I am. It’s a topic for another day—actually, it’s not a topic for another day; it’s acute and urgent right now.
1:09:13-1:09:57
Sarah Jessica Parker: Everyone, do all you can to support your local libraries. Stay in touch with your local elected officials who make funding decisions. We’re having that problem in New York City, and on a larger scale, there are federal cuts to the American Library Association. What’s happening in our libraries, on naval bases, and in our schools is of very serious concern. We should all be paying attention because libraries are beacons in our communities for countless reasons. The loss of them would be immeasurable.
Howard Stern: Just because I haven’t been in a library in a hundred years doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have them.
Sarah Jessica Parker: Correct.
Howard Stern: That’s my real message: everything is about me.
1:09:57-1:10:18
Howard Stern: Listen, Sarah Jessica, what did we learn today? First of all, we learned you’re delightful.
Sarah Jessica Parker: Thank you, Howard. You’re delightful, too.
Howard Stern: As are you. Robin, we love her new show. You know we love it.
Sarah Jessica Parker: Thank you.
Howard Stern: I love it. In fact, sometimes I wonder why I love it so much. It makes you feel like yourself.
1:10:18-1:10:43
Howard Stern: Am I going to buy a house next to you like Andy Cohen did and just live there and worship you? I don’t know. But I love it. I love the outfits, the acting, and the storylines. I loved Rosie O’Donnell as a lesbian.
Sarah Jessica Parker: I heard she was fantastic. She was so good at the table read; I was like, "Wow." And she looks great.
Howard Stern: Tell your co-star for me: buy some lube if you’re that dry down there. Don’t spit in your hand.
1:10:48-1:11:07
Sarah Jessica Parker: We’re going to end on that?
Howard Stern: I thought that was a porn move! Poor Sarah. I was like, "What is that?" I don’t like it when people lick their hands and then touch their private parts. I’m sorry, I just don’t do that. What was he doing?
1:11:07-1:11:30
Sarah Jessica Parker: Isn’t it funny that we arrived back at that? This is how our entire conversation started. The most interesting thing to come back to is that big make-out scene in episode three between you and Aidan. Let’s face it, it was quite a passionate kiss.
Sarah Jessica Parker: Well, yeah. You know.
1:11:30-1:11:54
Howard Stern: We also learned Sarah won’t take a selfie with you, but she’ll talk to you for a few hours, which is exhausting.
Sarah Jessica Parker: And listen, I’m always happy to be asked. It’s not that I’m glib or cynical. I just would prefer to say hello first.
Howard Stern: And I prefer nobody bother me unless my wife is there and I want to show her I’m famous. All right, you’ve done it again, Sarah. You’re delightful, and that’s what everyone is going to take away from this.
1:11:59-1:12:15
Howard Stern: Next time you come in, we’ll talk about your obsession with Mahjong.
Sarah Jessica Parker: Oh yes! Really?
Howard Stern: Yes, we will. What is going on there? You should start getting high.
Sarah Jessica Parker: Maybe it’s time.
1:12:15-1:12:35
Howard Stern: We also learned that you’re about to hop on the subway to get back home.
Sarah Jessica Parker: No, you guys sent a car.
Howard Stern: We did? We’ve never done that before. Wow, we must feel bad for you. We don’t do that. Could you keep quiet about that? Maybe HBO paid for it. There’s no way we paid for it; we don’t have that kind of budget.
1:12:35-1:13:01
Howard Stern: By the way, that’s a nice watch you’re wearing. What is it?
Sarah Jessica Parker: It’s my husband’s. I bought it for him as a Christmas gift. It’s a fancy Cartier watch, but he lets me borrow it.
Howard Stern: He’s a lucky man. I’d love to see you wearing my watch. Is he the love of your life? Your husband?
Sarah Jessica Parker: He’s the guy. Yeah, he’s still the one. We’ve been together 33 years now.
1:13:01-1:13:20
Howard Stern: Thirty-three years. And this is a woman who has dated some of the best-looking men in America. Matthew must be very proud of that fact. Do you ever say to him when you’re fighting, "You know, I could have been with this one or that one"?
Sarah Jessica Parker: No. His "swordplay" is too good; he throws me off my game.
1:13:20-1:13:50
Howard Stern: He throws you off your game?
Sarah Jessica Parker: Yeah, he’s wicked smart. In our disagreements, I don’t feel equipped to come up with one-liners. There’s that thing called l'esprit de l'escalier—the "spirit of the staircase"—which refers to all the things you wish you’d said as you’re walking away. But generally speaking, we get along really well.
Howard Stern: Remind me not to argue with him; I’d lose every time. Is it good to work with him? Because you guys work together sometimes.
1:13:54-1:14:26
Sarah Jessica Parker: We worked on Broadway and in London together. We had never really worked together before that. We did How to Succeed, but it was short and we didn't create it together. Honestly, it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. We were so happy. We were alone together a lot because the cast was small. We were living together in London and Boston, and it was an enormously happy, hard, but deeply satisfying time.
1:14:26-1:14:42
Howard Stern: Your husband had an opportunity to work with you on Sex and the City. They offered him the role of the premature ejaculator, and he turned it down.
Sarah Jessica Parker: He wisely said no.
Howard Stern: He would have been a terrific premature ejaculator because the man is a great actor!
1:14:42-1:15:09
Sarah Jessica Parker: It was a full-court press. Michael Patrick King called him himself. I remember those days of the StarTAC flip phones; he really pleaded the case, but Matthew said absolutely not.
Howard Stern: I look at some of those old episodes—Bradley Cooper’s first TV appearance was on Sex and the City as a potential love interest. Jon Bon Jovi was on the show, too.
1:15:09-1:15:27
Sarah Jessica Parker: Yes. Justin Theroux was on a couple of times as different characters. Matthew McConaughey, too.
Howard Stern: I forgot about that. And Alanis Morissette—you made out with Alanis. Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Coolidge...
Sarah Jessica Parker: Yes. I don’t think I was in the scene with Jennifer, but she was on the show.
1:15:27-1:15:49
Howard Stern: All right, I’ll let you get to it. This is a big day. What a time we’ve had; we’ve really gotten close.
Sarah Jessica Parker: Yes. Well, I’ll see you this summer.
Howard Stern: And you want to know something? Andy Cohen is probably so jealous right now because I’m here with you.
1:15:49-1:16:10
Sarah Jessica Parker: I can’t stop by his show today. There’s no time.
Howard Stern: Good. Don’t. I’m so sick of Andy saying, "Yeah, I’m friends with Sarah Jessica, we go everywhere together, I was in Sex and the City as a shoe salesman." Who cares? Good for you—don’t go to his show.
Sarah Jessica Parker: It’s not purposeful, I’m just not able to today.
1:16:10-1:16:35
Howard Stern: I’ll be back later in the summer. I run into you once in a while in Midtown.
Sarah Jessica Parker: Yeah, we’ll be running into each other. We had a good time last time we saw each other.
Howard Stern: I thought so, too. We talked. I don’t usually talk to anybody, so it was fun; I felt like a human being. You talked to Beth, too. Thank you for that.
Sarah Jessica Parker: I love talking to her. Everyone is thrilled to talk to you.
1:16:35-1:16:54
Howard Stern: She didn’t ask you for a picture, I know that. All right, listen, you’ve done it again. You’ve got another great season ahead of you, and you’ve got books to read. You better go read right now.
Sarah Jessica Parker: I’m going to. I’m going to read the entire way downtown.
Howard Stern: That’s fantastic. I think it’s great that you’re reading.
1:16:54-1:17:17
Howard Stern: If I were married to you, I would practice my guitar while you read on the couch.
Sarah Jessica Parker: Oh, that would be so nice. I think it would be romantic. Sometimes Matthew reads while I’m reading.
Howard Stern: And you could listen to my metronome going beep, beep, beep. You have no idea—my poor wife. I’ll ask, "Honey, can you hear me playing?" and she says, "No, but I hear that damn metronome." All right, Sarah, thanks.
Sarah Jessica Parker: Thank you. And thank you for not making me go to Andy’s show. I did this show just so I could say that.
1:17:25-1:17:50
Howard Stern: You know, sometimes I see you shooting a scene for your show and there are people lined up on the street watching you. Isn’t that crazy? I saw you shooting outside of Tiffany’s and there were thousands of people just congregating to watch you act.
Sarah Jessica Parker: It’s so nice. I have to say, it’s always been kind of sentimental that that happens.
Howard Stern: You like it?
1:17:50-1:18:01
Sarah Jessica Parker: We love it. It’s so touching. Those are the people who have been watching all these years. Those are the people who will come up and say hello, and I’ll learn their names. I look forward to that.
Howard Stern: Sarah, you’ve done it again. See Sarah Jessica Parker in And Just Like That... It’s a terrific show. Thanks, Sarah.
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