The L Word (2004–2009)

Follows the lives and loves of a small, close-knit group of lesbians living in Los Angeles as well as the friends and family members that either support or loath them.

Creators:

Michele Abbott, Ilene Chaiken, Kathy Greenberg

Stars:

Jennifer Beals, Leisha Hailey, Laurel Holloman

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 5 wins & 23 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Jennifer Beals	...	Bette Porter (70 episodes, 2004-2009)
Leisha Hailey	...	Alice Pieszecki (70 episodes, 2004-2009)
Laurel Holloman	...	Tina Kennard (70 episodes, 2004-2009)
Mia Kirshner	...	Jenny Schecter (70 episodes, 2004-2009)
Katherine Moennig	...	Shane McCutcheon (70 episodes, 2004-2009)
Pam Grier	...	Kit Porter (70 episodes, 2004-2009)
Rachel Shelley	...	Helena Peabody (54 episodes, 2005-2009)
Daniela Sea	...	Max Sweeney (44 episodes, 2006-2009)
Erin Daniels	...	Dana Fairbanks (39 episodes, 2004-2007)
Marlee Matlin	...	Jodi Lerner (29 episodes, 2007-2009)

Storyline

'The L Word' follows the lives and loves of a group of lesbian friends living in Los Angeles. The main character, Jenny, is a recent graduate of the University of Chicago, who moves to Los Angeles to live with her boyfriend Tim and begin a professional writing career. Jenny's life is turned upside down when she attends a party hosted by Tim's next-door neighbors, Bette and Tina, a lesbian couple who are about to take the step into parenthood after being together for seven years. A brief encounter at the party with Marina, the owner of the local coffeehouse, suddenly has Jenny thrust into a whole new world that makes her question her own sexual orientation. Other friends of Bette and Tina include Dana, a professional tennis player who is shy but eager to meet the right woman; Alice, a magazine writer who has a brief relationship with a self-identified "lesbian" man; and Shane, a hairstylist who can't stick to just one woman, and Kit, Bette's half sister who struggles with alcoholism.

---

Plot Keywords:

lesbian | writing | tennis | lesbianism | homophobia | 

---

Taglines:

L hath no fury...

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Official Sites:

Showtime [us]

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 January 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Earthlings

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Anonymous Content, Dufferin Gate Productions, Showtime Networks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ossie Davis had a recurring role as the father of the Jennifer Beals's character. In the second season, Davis filmed scenes that showed his character becoming ill, then dying. Davis then died before his final episode was broadcast, so that episode was dedicated to him.

---

Quotes

Kit Porter: Let me talk to Tina.
Bette: What would you say?
Kit Porter: That my sister is a pootie chasin' dog, who deserves to be tied down and whupped upside the head, but it doesn't change the fact that she loves you more than she loves her own life. And that you should finish punishing her and get back to figuring on how to live with one another for the next 50 years or more.
Bette: You could give it a try.
[Goes to take a bite of food, and stops, looking as if she's about to cry]
Kit Porter: Now don't you go and pull a Marina on me now.

---

Connections

Referenced in Weeds: The Godmother (2005)

User Reviews

Great Show

I think that some people are so used to watching 1 or 2 dimensional garbage they wouldn't know a really good show if it jumped up and slapped them.

This show is EXCELLENT. Nuance, subtext, the characters (particularly Jenny - like her or not) are so real... they breathe! I've read a lot of comments in different forums about how these women don't look like "lesbians". I'm not sure what "lesbians" they've been looking at but the ones that I know look a lot like these women. Progressive, professional, feminine, sexy and proud of it. Keep up the good work Chaiken and crew!