1998: HBO Premieres 'Sex and the City'
On this day in 1988, HBO premiered Sex and the City. The half-hour comedy starred Sarah Jessica Parker as a columnist who chronicled her single lifestyle and dating experiences — and those of her friends — in a New York newspaper.
The Bradshaw character, and her column, was modeled after New York Observer columnist Candace Bushnell, whose popular "Sex and the City" columns were later published in an anthology.
During its six-season run, the show focused on the primary cast — Parker and her three best friends, played by Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis — and their turbulent relationships and life decisions. Law & Order's Chris Noth portrayed Bradshaw's on-again, off-again boyfriend, "Mr. Big."
Sex and the City quickly became a pop-culture influencer; everything from its frank storylines to its outrageous designer fashions developed into a mainstream meme. The widespread attention the show received helped to catapult the reputation, and popularity, of made-for-cable TV series.
To date there have also been two Sex and the City feature films, with the original cast members reprising their roles. Also, in January, 2013, the CW will premiere the prequel series, The Carrie Diaries, with AnnaSophia Robb portraying the young Carrie Bradshaw.