Brief
Evan Handler says a producer’s note nearly cost him his role on ‘Sex and the City’
The actor explains how a producer’s criticism of a Season 5 scene put his job on thin ice before executive producer Michael Patrick King intervened.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Evan Handler revealed on the Oct. 12 "Are You a Charlotte?" podcast that a producer’s note about a Season 5 finale scene nearly led to his dismissal from Sex and the City.
What happened
During filming of the Season 5 finale “I Love a Charade,” Handler’s character Harry Goldenblatt is confronted about his hairy back. Handler said a producer handed him a note that read, “Don’t be so nice … It’s too sweet, stop being sweet.”
What the report adds
Handler recalled that he responded by telling the producer the scene was the one he auditioned with and that it had already been approved, a reply he later described as a “firing offense.” Writer Craig Blankenhorn (also known as Max Liz Tuccillo) told Handler his reaction did not sit well with the production team. Executive producer Michael Patrick King then called Handler, warning him that he was “on thin ice” and that the show was considering letting him go.
What was said
“I kept getting a note, ‘Don’t be so nice … It’s too sweet, stop being sweet,’” Handler said on the podcast.
“Listen, this is a scene I auditioned with, and I got the part, so…,” he added, describing his own reply.
“You’re on thin ice. They’re talking about getting rid of you,” Michael Patrick King told him, according to Handler.
How it came about
Handler’s recounting follows his earlier comments to Bustle that he was proud to be part of a series that continues to explore women’s lives into their 50s. The near‑dismissal episode illustrates the tension on set that ultimately resolved with King’s intervention, allowing Harry Goldenblatt to remain a central love interest.
Key facts
- Evan Handler said a producer gave him a note criticizing his performance in a Season 5 finale scene. (bustle.com)
- Handler’s response to the note was described by him as a potential firing offense. (bustle.com)
- Executive producer Michael Patrick King warned Handler he was on thin ice and could be let go. (bustle.com)
Sources
- [1] bustle.com — originally reported as “‘SATC’ Star Evan Handler Almost Got Fired Over One Scene”
