Mario Cantone "Sex and the City"
5/11/202656 min
What happens when one of the funniest and most outspoken stars from Sex and the City sits down with one of television’s original openly gay entertainment journalists?
In this deeply funny, brutally honest, and surprisingly emotional episode of STILL HERE HOLLYWOOD, Mario Cantone opens up to Steve Kmetko about fame, fear, gay representation in Hollywood, censorship, aging, Broadway, comedy, family, and the legacy of Anthony Marentino from Sex and the City and And Just Like That....
Mario reveals:
Why Johnny Carson canceled his appearance
The truth about working with the cast of Sex and the City
What really happened after Willie Garson passed away
His thoughts on Kim Cattrall not returning
Why he believes AIDS set gay progress back decades
The line from Sex and the City he still gets recognized for
His emotional meeting with Carol Burnett
Why he thinks comedians can’t say what they want anymore
The conversation also dives into growing up gay in the 70s, Broadway, Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand, surviving Hollywood, and the cultural impact of Sex and the City.
Funny, raw, emotional, and wildly entertaining, this is Mario Cantone like you’ve never seen him before.
00:00 Intro
00:47 Mario Cantone joins the show
01:44 Johnny Carson canceled Mario over “gay material”
04:52 Becoming Anthony on Sex and the City
06:45 Why And Just Like That ending hurt
07:01 Mario reads every comment online
08:46 The explosion of Sex and the City fame
10:07 Michael Patrick King directing Mario
11:24 Willie Garson’s death changed everything
12:35 Was Mario typecast?
14:49 Fear of being openly gay in comedy clubs
17:47 Anthony & Stanford’s relationship
19:48 Will & Grace vs Sex and the City representation
21:20 Lines Mario couldn’t believe he got to say
24:14 Most iconic Anthony scenes
25:38 Steve Kmetko opens up about coming out
28:52 Being bullied as a kid
30:08 How AIDS changed gay progress
32:06 Steve reveals his father married him to a woman
34:02 Mario says he never hid who he was
35:32 George Clooney reaction to People magazine article
36:40 Straight actors playing gay characters
39:40 Chris Noth controversy
40:38 Kim Cattrall not returning
41:50 Getting in shape for nude scenes
42:35 Willie Garson storyline discussion
45:12 Mario loves cooking and baking bread
47:29 Celebrity Autobiography on Broadway
49:20 Discovering Judy Garland at age 2
50:45 Steve’s Barbra Streisand story
52:54 Mario cries meeting Carol Burnett
54:11 Mario reflects on his cultural impact
55:27 Will Sex and the City ever return?
Show Credits
Host/Producer: Steve Kmetko
All things technical: Justin Zangerle
Executive Producer: Jim Lichtenstein
Music by: Brian Sanyshyn
https://stillherehollywood.com
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Suggest Guests at: stillherehollywood@gmail.com
Advertise on Still Here Hollywood: jim@stillherenetwork.com
Publicist: Maggie Perlich: maggie@numbertwelvemarketing.com
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSteve Kmetko· Host0:00
[instrumental music] Yes, I'm still here, Hollywood. And coming up on today's episode, some performers walk into a scene, others take it over. For years, he's been the guy who shows up and instantly makes everything sharper, funnier, and just a little more honest. Whether it's stand-up, Broadway, or one of the most iconic TV franchises of all time, his voice is unmistakable. And after decades in the spotlight, he's still evolving, and still surprising, and still saying exactly what everyone else [laughs] is thinking. This is Still Here, Hollywood. I'm Steve Kmetko. Join me with today's guest, from Sex and the City and And Just Like That..., actor and comedian, Mario Cantone. Hello, Mario.
Mario Cantone· Guest0:47
Hello, Steve.
Steve Kmetko· Host0:48
It's so nice to meet you.
Mario Cantone· Guest0:49
It's so nice to meet you, too.
Steve Kmetko· Host0:49
It's been so long.
Mario Cantone· Guest0:50
Well, I, adm- I've, I have admired you and your brave ballsiness since you were on E! And- I'm ballsy? Yeah, you are, because you were, uh, you were out and ahead of it. [laughs] And you know what it was like back then, and how troubling it was, like we both do.
Steve Kmetko· Host1:07
Yes, I do.
Mario Cantone· Guest1:08
Oh, yeah.
Steve Kmetko· Host1:08
I do.
Mario Cantone· Guest1:09
Was- Uh, in fact, I've been writing my memoirs kind of thing. Yeah.
Steve Kmetko· Host1:15
Sounds so bogus.
Mario Cantone· Guest1:16
No, but you should.
Steve Kmetko· Host1:17
But, uh- I'd love [laughs] to read it. It's- 'Cause I know you've got stories ... well, they're taking it out this week to see if we can't find somebody to publish it, but I was telling Jim today in the car on the way over here that it's stirred up so much stuff.