It turns out that Rosie O’Donnell’s surprising appearance on And Just Like That… Season 3 was a long time coming.

During an appearance on The View, Cynthia Nixon revealed that Michael Patrick King – who serves as the And Just Like That… executive producer, show runner, and chief writer – had written a part for O’Donnell in every season of the spinoff series in the hopes of having her on the show.

“[He] had written a part that he was hoping Rosie would do in each of the seasons and it’s never worked out yet, but this one worked out. And I think it was a good one,” she explained on The View. She then teased their characters “meet at a lesbian bar and fun ensues.”

Sarah Jessica Parker also praised O’Donnell, adding, “She was great at the table read. She was so great.”

The comedian certainly made a splash in her Season 3 cameo. The season premiere, “Outlook Good,” shows Miranda hooking up with Mary (O’Donnell) after meeting in a lesbian bar. But Miranda quickly comes to regret her decision after she learns more about Mary. Not only was this a one night stand, but it was actually Mary’s first time having sex!

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. We’re 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 it’s 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 we’re aging. But also to evolve and change.”

The View airs on weekdays at 11/10c on ABC.