by Beth Nissen

April 1, 2004

CNN's Beth Nissen helps you catch up on the entire series, from beginning to end, in only sixty seconds:

First of all, the cast of characters. They are:

* Carrie, who writes a newspaper column about sex and relationships...

* Samantha, who's in public relations (when she's not in bed)...

* Miranda, a sardonic attorney...

* and Charlotte: more traditional and prim - although she still...well, let's just say she "dates" a lot.

Here's a season-by-season break-down of what happens to these four brunch-sharing, cosmo-sipping, lover-seeking gals. Try to keep up.

Carrie meets Mr. Big, played by the guy from "Law and Order." "Big" is not his real name - Carrie just calls him that because he's a big shot, with big bucks, and a big..limo. Also a big little black book of other women. That breaks Carrie's heart; Carrie and Big break up.

Meanwhile, Samantha "dates" a 20-something, a married man, and Charlotte's doorman, among others. Miranda goes through a dating dry spell, and Charlotte obsesses about getting married. OK, that's Season One.

Season Two: Carrie realizes she's not over Big, and they get back together -- but then -- (nats, "I may have to move to Paris.") They break up again.

Meanwhile, Samantha "dates" a 70-year-old, her neighbors, and Charlotte's brother, among others. Charlotte doesn't find a husband, but she does find some nice shoes. Miranda starts seeing Steve, but she's a lawyer and he's a bartender and it doesn't work, so they break up, but then they get back together.

Carrie starts to date Seth, who is Bon Jovi. But then she runs into Big, who's back from Paris - with his beautiful, young fiance.

Season Three: Carrie, trying to forget Big, starts dating Aidan, a furniture designer, who is that guy from "Northern Exposure," although he hasn't yet hit it big in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."

Meanwhile, Samantha "dates" a firefighter, a short man, and her office assistant, among others. Charlotte meets a rich doctor, Trey, who is the guy from "Twin Peaks." They get engaged and then married. Miranda and Steve move in together, but Steve wants to have a baby and Miranda doesn't, so they break up again. (nats, "This isn't gonna work, Steve.")

Carrie cheats on Aidan with a now-married Big -- then confesses to Aidan, which breaks his heart; they break up.

On to Seasons Four and Five: Carrie and Aidan get back together, move in together, and get engaged -- but then Carrie gets cold feet, and they break up for good. She sees Big once more -- but then he moves to California.

Meanwhile, Samantha briefly tries a relationship with someone who has XX chromosomes, but she soon goes back to XY.

Newlyweds Charlotte and Trey have bedroom problems. Trey moves out. Charlotte starts to date her divorce attorney.

Miranda and Steve see each other again for one night, and Miranda gets pregnant; she has a baby boy and becomes a single working mother.

Carrie writes a best-selling book. She starts to date a fellow author, Jack Berger, who is the guy from "Office Space," a cult film prized by cubicle workers everywhere...

Which brings us to the current season: Berger breaks up with Carrie - by post-it note.

Meanwhile, Samantha develops a real relationship with a waiter-slash-actor, Smith, who lovingly stands by Samantha while she goes through chemo for breast cancer, and loses her hair.

Charlotte converts to Judaism, and marries her divorce attorney. They try to have a baby, but can't; Charlotte gets a cavalier king charles spaniel instead.

Miranda takes up with a handsome doctor, who is a guy from "LA Law," but then gets back together with Steve. She and Steve get married, and move to Brooklyn with their son.

Seemingly over Big at last, Carrie gets serious about a Russian artist, Aleksandr Petrovsky, who is Mikhail Baryshnikov. Petrovsky tells her he's moving to Paris - what's with all the men in Carrie's life moving to Paris? - and asks her to move with him. (nats: "I'm hoping you'll come and be with me.") She does, despite her friends' misgivings, and a last-minute, last-ditch visit from Big.

Big meets with Carrie's friends, asks what he should do. (nats: "Go get our girl.")

And that's where things stand at the end of Episode 93, with only one more episode to go.

Me personally, I'm guessing it'll be a Big finish.

---

Beth Nissen is a contributing editor to CNN's Newsnight with Aaron Brown