After tiring of hearing all of the buzz and promos surrounding HBO’s new show Girls, (“it’s the new Sex and the City for 20-somethings” as an example), I harrassed man-go-round until he downloaded the first three episodes for me. After a shaky start, I quickly got hooked to the series. Whether I’ve been hooked by the show itself or the hoopla surrounding it (i.e. knowing what the Jezebel posts are talking about…) is hard to say. But in all fairness to our first “Female Manhattan” sitcom, I thought I’d do a little Venn Diagram with the bamboo to compare the two shows.
Returning Champion: Thirty-something Carrie and Company on SATC:
Source: movies.tvguide.com via Meredith on Pinterest
Tonight’s Challenger: Hannah and the Gang on Girls:
Source: esquire.com via Meredith on Pinterest
So what’s the verdict?
So far, I continue to have a special place in my heart for SATC despite my new infatuation with Girls. I think I can keep both in my TV arsenal for now. In fact, of all of the crappy copycat shows I’ve tried to stomach via netflix (Cashmere Mafia, Lipstick Jungle), this is by far the most palatable. I’m also looking forward to the CW’s “Carrie Diaries” at this point, though. For me, I can never get enough girly TV!
Have you watched Girls yet? Are you a fan of Sex and the City? Do you watch more than one show with a similar theme/ style (i.e. lots of reality TV or lots of medical dramas)?
Meri
Since I don’t get HBO in my bedroom (the two TVs that get it are usually occupied by sports) and I’m a fan of watching an episode when it airs, I haven’t watched Girls yet. Doesn’t really appeal to me. Sex and the City never has, although I’ve been told that I’d like it. What’s interesting is that the most girly TV I watch is on Disney Channel, even though I’m an adult girlie-girl myself.
As I’ve mentioned before, I watch a lot of crime/cop procedurals: Castle, NCIS, the CSIs, The Mentalist, Bones, Law & Order: SVU, and reruns of Cold Case. Other than that, my shows are all over the place as far as genres/types
I have completely forgotten about Castle this season- but I love that show!
I just saw the first few episodes as well, and while I also still prefer SATC (I abso-freakin-lutely love that show), I’ll continue to watch Girls, at least for this season
I’m 30-something so I feel like I shouldn’t be able to relate anymore, but I actually still do with some of them hehe
I like that there are elements that are sort of over the top (the shoshanna character) or silly, and some that almost break your heart as you’re laughing with them. You’re one of the only commenters who has seen the show so I’m glad to hear feedback!
I’m glad to hear you liked Girls! I’ve been meaning to check it out…but I don’t have HBO so I’ll have to mooch of my parents, or my one friend who does have HBO
P.S. feel better!
Yeah, we download it or else I have to go to my parents’ house too haha
Glad to hear you liked the show – I’ve been dying to watch!
Annie
The Other Side of Gray
Let me know what you think!
I haven’t seen Girls, but my interest is piqued! I really appreciate your Venn diagram too. I was wondering just how similar it was going to be to SATC. I may steer clear of the Carrie Diaries though. It just sounds too gimicky to me!
I wish no one had even made that comparison. I would have probably liked Girls right off the bat if I wasn’t expecting mini SATC. I think Lena Dunham is really talented though- there is something very refreshing about the show and having very funny and real parts but also having the characters look like “real people” as opposed to the designer/cookie cutter SATC.
I haven’t seen girls yet… but SATC was really well made (except the movies, they’re not very good, but it’s hard to sum up the show in a 2 hour movie regardless), it’ll be hard to top off!
I wish I had never heard the comparison between the two shows- I think I would have liked Girls right away then!
SATC will always be the pinnacle for me. There’s no beating it! I have watched the entire series from beginning to end 4 times. I have episodes memorized, and Carrie is still my one and only fashion idol. SJP will always be Carrie to me – no matter what she does. I think 20 years from now women will still be able to relate to that show and it’s characters…
I haven’t seen Girls yet… but I think even from it’s title “Girls” it falls short of SATC. Sex and City already lets you know that strong confident women are involved…
I won’t knock it till I watch it though!
Amber
I love how campy and over the top and thematic SATC is. And the eye candy (i mean clothes and the cityscapes, not the gross guys on the show. except for smith jerrod).
I honestly haven’t really watched either show. Maybe I should give them both a shot? I don’t really have a type of show that I watch, but I do watch a lot of CW shows. ie, “Vampire Diaries”, “Supernatural”, “Gilmore Girls”, “ANTM”, “Hart Of Dixie”…
yesss- the cw shows are totally great guilty pleasure shows. I hope they don’t cancel hart of dixie!
I have not watched Girls….but was thinking about checking it out. I think I’ll give it a shot.
I like SATC, but was never an avid watcher. I just don’t fit in a lot of tv consistently. I watch The Killing since my cousin is a producer, and I watch Private Practice and Parenthood just because somehow I got hooked on them (but if I miss a season or bunch of episodes, it’s no biggie).
When taken with a grain of salt (aka it is not going to change the world), it is pretty enjoyable. It’s more believable for people my age than a lot of network programming I think.
I haven’t seen the show. we don’t have TV so unless it’s available on Hulu, I pretty much don’t see shows
We usually stick to netflix but for occasional shows we download them through usenet. Most network television I watch on the show’s website or hulu.
Sex and the City was definitely groundbreaking, but I’d love to see something a little more realistic (which is what I’m hearing about Girls). I don’t have HBO, but I’ll have to see if I can find some episodes on Netflix or Amazon!
we download it through usenet, but if you know anyone with HBO on demand I bet you could watch it that way. The pilot might be on the HBO website as well.
I havent even heard about it, can you believe it? That’s how far I’ve been from reality, working my life away. But I am back – again, and gladly you pointed me in the direction of a good no brainer time
thx !!
In certain web sites, etc. it has been really hyped up, but i could see how you could completely miss it too!
I’ll always be a fan of Sex & the City, and I’ve just gotten into Girls too. But like you, I wasn’t sure at first… But I’m much more into it now. I find it quirky & funny.
Plus I was impressed to learn that the main character actually writes the show!
I think once you’ve seen the show a few times and can just appreciate it for what it is without the other expectations, its a lot more enjoyable. Plus, I think the episodes are improving.
i couldn’t stay focused on lipstick jumgle, but i did like cashmere mafia…can’t remember if i oomph flixed that one…but, it will never replace SATC! i’ll have to check out these 20-something girls.
ever since watching (gah, drawings a blank), but some vampire show, i’ve been watching all the similar recommendations….aliens, ghosts, werewolves, haha.
[oomph.]
I’m not sure what it is about some shows like that that makes them great, and why cashmere mafia and lipstick jungle were sort of “meh.” Is it all about star power? or the writing?