Culture
The Most Iconic Stanford Blatch ‘Sex and the City’ Moments
In loving memory of Willie Garson.
The world lost a force of an actor on September 21, with the tragic death of Willie Garson, who is best known for playing Stanford Blatch on Sex and the City. Stanford himself is unforgettable: a style icon, a rabid gossip, a loyal friend, and the only person who consistently calls out Carrie for not being one back. He was a kind of gay character who hadn’t been shown on TV yet, as the writer Evan Ross Katz points out, and despite being written as the Gay Best Friend, gave depth to an otherwise caricatured role. Here, we revisit some of the Stanford’s most fabulous Sex and the City moments.
Stanford in the gay underwear bar: Season 2, Episode 12
Stanford has been spending his nights drinking martinis and talking to guys in chatrooms under the alias “Rick9Plus” and plans to meet up with his online crush “Bigtool4U.” When he gets to the after-hours gay club, he meets the mandatory dress code and strips down to his white boxer briefs. Stanford’s initial shyness is incredibly sweet, and the entire scene leaves for feeling nothing but tenderness for Manhattan’s most eligible gay bachelor.
Stanford on therapy: Season 2, Episode 13
Carrie is so weird about going to therapy, and Stanford reveals he has three therapists: “How can you not have a shrink? This is Manhattan. Even the shrinks have shrinks. I have three,” he says. “One for when I want to be cuddled, one for when I want tough love, and one for when I want to look at a beautiful man.” A mental health advocate before Instagram infographics!
Stanford and the weird dolls: Season 3, Episode 5
Everyone forgets Stanford is the one who introduced Aidan and Carrie. (He should apologize! Only kind of kidding...) Stanford drags her to Aidan’s furniture show, where he meets a hot designer obsessed with collectible dolls. The relationship ends with Stanny breaks a doll — bullet dodged!
Stanford as our favorite judgmental king: Season 5, Episode 4
Stanford comes over to help Carrie pick out an outfit for her book cover and is giddy to tell her about Marcus. He doesn’t want her to judge him because he’s a dancer, and when she says she doesn’t judge, he says — speaking for many of us: “We all judge. That’s our hobby. Some people do arts and crafts. We judge.”
When Stanford calls out Carrie: Season 5, Episode 6
Carrie is an awful friend to Stanford a lot of the time, using their chic hangs to complain about her life, which is actually more than fine at the end of the day. In this episode, he gives her a much-needed reality check, saying: “I’ve listened to you talk about Aidan for what, 10 blocks and two years and I’ve been a wonderful audience, and I ask you about my Marcus and all I get is ‘nice?’” Long overdue!
Anthony and Stanford get together - Sex and the City: The Movie
It shocked fans that Anthony and Stanford, who always hated each other, ended up together (especially as the only two gay characters?) but nevertheless they both notice they have no one else to kiss, down their champagne classes, and make out in this sweet scene.
Liza Minelli marries Stanford and Anthony, Sex and the City 2
I watched Sex and the City 2 last month and it is almost unwatchable, save for Stanford and Anthony’s wedding. The film devotes 20 minute to the event, where they’re also married by Liza Minelli, who does a rendition of “All The Single Ladies.” Stanford gets to be the belle of the ball, and it’s film’s only redeeming quality.