Unless you’re a true born-and-raised New Yorker, it’s likely that your first introduction to the Big Apple was through iconic movies and TV shows. There’s no limit to media that paints an unrealistic picture of life in New York City, and it’s basically impossible to consume every show set in the city that never sleeps.
I may sound as insane as Hannah Horvath, but the New York City-based series you adore says a lot more about you than you may think. And since I’m meaner than the streets of New York City themselves, I’m bound to judge your taste. So sit back, relax and please don’t take any of this too personally.
“Sex and the City”
You are undeniably fun and fabulous, yet you care a lot about what people think of you, a fact made evident through your skillfully curated Instagram presence. Just because you run a Substack about your failed situationships and clubbing antics doesn’t mean you’re Carrie Bradshaw. And although you have admirable taste in clothes, you have horrific taste in men — you can’t keep expecting that Mark from Tinder is gonna be your Mr. Big or Aidan Shaw when he’ll probably end up being Jack Berger. Don’t hate me!
“Friends”
Look, I have nothing against cheesy laugh tracks or ’90s sitcom antics, but you have to admit that this is a basic pick. If this is your favorite show on the list, I’m going to assume it’s the only one you’ve seen or you just have the aura of a millennial. You probably went through a big moustache or emoji phase and had “normal is boring” in your Instagram bio in middle school. Although you’ve outgrown your cringe phase, you’re still a proud nerd who dabbles in Generation X and millennial fandoms. You might even be a Disney adult in training.
“Girls”
Much like the show’s leading ladies, you have an individuality complex. You secretly long for the return of Twee fashion and were definitely there for the alt-TikTok era of 2020. Like every “Girls” fan, you think you’re Shoshanna Shapiro or Elijah Krantz, when you’re most likely a Marnie Michaels and Hannah hybrid. Speaking of Hannah, you’re probably working towards a degree that won’t guarantee a stable career — bonus points if it’s English or art history. But keep doing you, babe. Remember, all adventurous women do.
“30 Rock”
Your Notes app is packed with unfinished stand-up comedy routines that will likely never see the light of day. Instead of trying to perform at that open mic night you’ve thought about for years, you spend most nights mindlessly scrolling through LinkedIn and being haunted by the lack of job prospects in the entertainment industry. Remember: The producers at “Saturday Night Live” aren’t gonna know your name unless you actually DO comedy.
“Gossip Girl”
You think having Chanel No. 5 as your signature scent and wearing button-up shirts from the TikTok Shop gives you “old money” vibes when it’s actually not giving anything at all. When you first packed up your Goyard bag (which may or may not be real) and moved to the city, you were shocked to find out that your first-year dorm room looked nothing like a penthouse apartment in the Waldorf Astoria. One of the worst moments of your life was finding out that Blake Lively and Leighton Meester aren’t friends, which was almost as bad as the day they “revealed” Gossip Girl’s identity — if you know, you know. #justiceforEricvanderWoodsen
Contact Annie Emans at [email protected].
