It turns out that Rosie O’Donnell’s surprising appearance on And Just Like That… Season 3 was a long time coming.
While appearing on The View, Cynthia Nixon shared that Michael Patrick King, who holds various roles in And Just Like That… including executive producer, showrunner, and chief writer, had consistently included a part for Rosie O’Donnell in each season of the spinoff series with the hope of having her join the cast.
Nixon mentioned, “[He] had written a part that he was hoping Rosie would do in each of the seasons and itâs never worked out yet, but this one worked out. And I think it was a good one.” She also hinted at the characters’ initial encounter at a lesbian bar which leads to some enjoyable moments.
Sarah Jessica Parker also praised O’Donnell, adding, “She was great at the table read. She was so great.”
Rosie O’Donnell definitely left a mark with her Season 3 guest appearance. In the season opener titled “Outlook Good,” Miranda finds herself in a situation with Mary (played by O’Donnell) following their meeting at a lesbian bar. However, Miranda soon realizes she may have made a mistake after discovering more about Mary. Their encounter turns out to be not just a casual fling but also Mary’s first sexual experience.
On The View, Nixon later addressed why they chose to make her character, Miranda, queer in the spinoff series.
“Michael Patrick King and I had a super brief conversation, like a one-minute conversation,” she revealed. “It was like, ‘We really want the show to be more inclusive than it used to be. Weâre adding all these queer characters, would you like Miranda to be one?’ And I was like, ‘Sure why not.’”
Nixon also credited the show for being “so great at exploring” topics like this.
“It felt like a really natural fit. And itâs just one thing that our show has always done so brilliantly,” she said. “It has allowed us, first of all, to age, to not hide the fact that weâre aging. But also to evolve and change.”
The View airs on weekdays at 11/10c on ABC.
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