Monday on Utah TV: "The Carrie Diaries" as "Sex and the City's" origin story

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

According to the executive producer of "The Carrie Diaries" (7 and 8 p.m., CW/Channel 30), that show is to "Sex and the City" as "Smallville" is to "Superman."

And she has a point. This hourlong teen drama is a prequel to "Sex and the City," following the adventures of a teenage Carrie Bradshaw (AnnaSophia Robb). It's based on the book of the same title, Candace Bushnell's prequel to her Sex and the City book.

"I really saw this as an origin story," said executive producer Amy B. Davis. "If you look at 'Smallville,' you're meeting Clark Kent before he realizes he has super powers. If you're meeting Carrie Bradshaw, I wanted to meet her before she had sex, before she fell in love, and before she met Manhattan.

"It was like: Let's get to those things. Like let's set her on those paths."

Somewhat to my surprise, I actually rather like the pilot of "The Carrie Diaries." And, most importantly, you don't have to have seen a single episode of "Sex in the City" to watch this new series.

Elsewhere on TV ...

"How I Met Your Mother" • (7 p.m., CBS/Channel. 2): Ted plans Robin and Barney's wedding.

"The Bachelor" • (7 p.m., ABC/Channel 4): The group date has the women compete to appear on the covers of romance novels.

"The Biggest Loser" • (7 p.m., NBC/Channel 5): Contestants play a trivia game.

"Bones" • (7 p.m., Fox/Channel 13): A dancer is murdered; an archaeologist is murdered.

NBA • (7 p.m., ROOT): Miami Heat at Utah Jazz

"Being Human" • (7 and 10 p.m., Syfy): In the season premiere, Aidan returns to find the vampire community has changed greatly.

"Lost Girl" • (8 and 11 p.m., Syfy): In the season premiere, Bo does a favor for Lauren at great risk to herself.

"Mike and Molly" • (8:30 p.m., CBS/Channel 2): Mike and Molly try to get healthy in order to get pregnant.

"Hawaii Five-0" • (9 p.m., CBS/Channel 2): A professor is murdered.

"Castle" • (9 p.m., ABC/Channel 4): A DJ is murdered.

"Deception" • (9 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): Edward comes under suspicion.

"Switched at Birth" • (9 and 11 p.m., ABC Family): Angelo tells Regina about Lana and the baby.

"Bunheads" • (10 p.m., ABC Family): Talia sets Michelle up on a blind date.

Scott D. Pierce