The Surprising Connection Between And Just Like That And The Golden Girls
Upon debuting in 2021, the highly-anticipated "Sex And the City" revival, "And Just Like That," broke the mold by featuring middle-aged women who candidly discuss their age. As actor Sarita Choudhury admitted during a panel discussion (via Page Six), "When I read the script I was like, 'D*** everyone says their age,' and it kind of hit me — like, I don't think I've seen this on a TV show [before]." She added, "Usually when you join a show, a lot of times you're the only woman and you're the oldest. To be on a show where everyone is around the same age is so exciting." Choudhury further praised the series for its transparency, explaining that the lack of anxiety tied to her age led her to feel "so empowered."
Likewise, fellow castmate Nicole Ari Parker revealed that she feels better in her 50s. "For the first time in my life I feel so incredibly sexy, I feel so ready," she said, via Page Six. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case for returning stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Kristin Davis, who admitted to getting negative responses tied to their respective ages. In an interview with Vogue, Parker argued that her gray hair wouldn't be a topic of conversation if the show followed men, while Davis told The Times that, "Everyone wants to comment, pro or nay or whatever, on our hair and our faces and our this and our that." That said, their mature ages put the ladies of "And Just Like That" in league with another beloved feminist show.
The ladies of "And Just Like That" are close in age to the "Golden Girls"
"And Just Like That" follows the characters of Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda in their mid-50s, which is a marked change from the original "Sex and the City," which chronicled their lives as 30-somethings. Now that Carrie is older and (hopefully) wiser, she and her friends are around the same ages as the eponymous "Golden Girls," as Cheat Sheet notes. The beloved '80s sitcom has a cult following to this day, and was back in the spotlight after the death of Betty White in December 2021. Per Parade, "The Golden Girls'" Blanche Devereaux never revealed her true age, although a Mother's Day episode acknowledged she was 17 in 1949. Since the series debuted in 1985, it's safe to assume that her character was around 53 years old when the story kicked off.
Dorothy Zbornak also never revealed her age, but fans guessed she was in her mid-50s too, via Parade. Elsewhere, Rose Nylund confirmed she was 55 when "The Golden Girls" first aired, making her the same age as "And Just Like That's" Miranda. While the two shows are different — especially when it comes to their progressive politics — it's refreshing to see that "The Golden Girls" was something of a pioneer back in its heyday.