The Sex and the City Effect

I have to admit I used to be a big fan of the show. It was pretty good. It shows you a glamorous side of New York City that the average person would not have known existed. Although I liked the show I never wanted to emulate the characters. I am thoroughly entertained walking the streets of NYC seeing young women in my age bracket and beyond trying their best to mimic these characters. They try to mimic everything from wearing high end fashion, to eating Tasti-*- Lite, to drinking Cosmos, screwing every man they can, being a docent, to trying to find every bar or club ever mentioned on the show, they even nick name men in their life after the characters beaus. "OMG, he's so Mr. Big" or "I'm looking for a guy like Aidan". The aforementioned beavhior shall be called the Sex and the City Effect.

The main character I see emulated is Carrie. She was the glue that held the four women together. She's a fashionista, writer, had no problems meeting men (wealthy men), and abreast of all the hip happening things in the city. I'm guessing this is why most women like Carrie. I find Carrie the most annoying out of the four characters. She is so exaggerated and most don't even realize it. She was a writer for some skuzzy gossip magazine which meant she probably made about $50K per year. In middle America or anywhere but a metropolis you can live comfortably with that income. In NYC you can not live on the Upper East Side, dine out everyday, impulsively purchase couture and high end fashion (Manolo Blahniks, Jimmy Choos, Roberto Cavalli, Hermez, Prada, Yves St. Laurent etc...), and participate in NYC nightlife on $50K per year. Yes her apt was rent controlled however, everything else would have had her eating Ramen noodles and shopping off the sale rack at M*cys. In Manhattan dry cleaning a dress cost $8 and up, mani\pedis cost $30+, and the initial cab fare is $2.50, not to mention the places she and the girls dined were moderately priced so in NYC that means about $50 for dinner (appetizer main course and soda). There's no way Carrie could afford the life she lived

Carrie was financially irresponsible, immature, and selfish. There's an episode when her bf moved out and gave her the option to buy her apt or he would keep it and sell it. She had no assets whatsoever. No savings account, checking, retirement funds, stocks, mattress fund.. nothing. She purchased $500 shoes b\c she had to have them. She's immature because she got upset with Charlotte for not offering her the $ for the down payment on her apartment. Her selfishness in relationships and friendships all make her annoying.

The show has warped all these 20 and 30 something women's minds. All these women in the city are suddenly Cosmo drinking, couture wearing, nutty 4inch heel wearing robots. I love my city! But the show only shows how corporate people live in NYC. The average person in NYC can't impulsively buy a $700 bag, dine out everyday, nor cab everywhere. It just doesn't happen like that.

So my question is why has this show become a guide to life for so many 20 and 30 somethings? Why is it that so many women want to model themselves after Carrie in particular? Am I over analyzing the impact of the show?