Last week marked the 20 year anniversary of one of the best known series of all time, “Sex and the City.” The first episode of this famous show aired on June 6, 1998, and its original run had a total of 94 episodes. The series finale of the original show played on February 22, 2004, but the story continues on to this day as part of an HBO series.

“Sex and the City” has always been deeply intertwined with its setting of New York City, and that has not changed regardless of whether this romantic comedy drama is playing out as part of a TV show, a feature length film or as a paper and ink book. The very premise of the show is based around the habits of New Yorkers in “their natural habitat” as Carrie Bradshaw chronicles the “mating habits” of singles in the City.

“Sex and the City” has become a household name, and many people remember their favorite episodes. From today’s point of view, however, it can be easy to forget exactly how much “Sex and the City” influenced culture.

One of the show’s biggest moves was the use of a pseudo-forbidden word, “sex” in its title. As executive producer Michael Patrick King said, “Before “Sex and the City,” whenever the word ‘sex’ was written…it was always black and oily, and now whenever you see the word ‘sexy,’ it’s usually pink…That’s us. We took the shame out of it and we made it fun. I’m very happy to have put a light…on a situation that society deemed as dark and shameful.”

“Sex and the City” also made it clear that a TV show could blend genres and still remain successful in a time when shows were either dramas or sitcoms. The show was not afraid to take similar risks with the story either. “We broke a lot of rules,” said King. “The series started as four single women, but in Season 3, I was like, ‘If Charlotte really existed in the world, she would be married.’ So we just broke the brand and had her get married.”

For all that the show focused on the sex lives, or lack thereof, of its principle characters, “Sex and the City” was careful to make sure that the women-centric show did not fall into the trap of being all about men. Carrie does eventually get her happy ending, but King was insistent that the moral never be “find a man to love you so you’ll be whole.” Instead, the mantra was meant to be “love yourself and your girlfriends, and maybe somebody will come along and join the party.” It is for that reason that Carrie ends her final monologue with surprisingly wise words for a show that has become so associated with a vivid pink drink: “The most exciting, challenging, and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself.” This advice remains equally valid regardless of whether it is the first or fiftieth time one has watched “Sex and the City” with a frilly pink Cosmo in their hand.