The L Word 

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 loathe 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.

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Plot Keywords:

lesbian | lesbian couple | african american lesbian | lesbian mother | black lesbian | 

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Taglines:

L hath no fury...

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Official Sites:

Showtime [United States]

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 January 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Earthlings

Filming Locations:

Santa Monica Mountains, Los Angeles, 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

During Season Three, Jennifer Beals was pregnant with her daughter, Ella.

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Quotes

Bette: [Bette and Tina are talking on the phone] And you know who's responsible for this? Your buddy Helena Peabody. The woman is a fucking dragon and she's making my life a living hell.
[Tina doesn't respond. Instead, she looks around impatiently, no longer looking interested in the call]
Bette: Oh, please tell me you're not sleeping with her, Tina.
Tina: [frustrated] Bette.
Bette: Are you sleeping with her? Are you fucking sleeping with her?
Tina: It's none of your fucking business.
Bette: Don't do it, Tina, that woman will eat you ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Fish Out of Water (2009)

User Reviews

Well-Done TV Series about Lesbians with Universal Themes that Appeal to All Audience

This artistically well-done Showtime-made TV series primarily focuses on portrayal of lesbians in their 20s to 40s as urban professionals and deals with their everyday issues; at the same time, thematic materials such as working on relationships or struggling against temptations have universal qualities so that any open-minded persons, regardless of gender and sexual orientation, can associate with the happenings in the show. Also, dramas without males' chauvinistic nature create a uniquely comfortable mood, which even the straight audience may feel refreshing. Gaining a wide range of supporters and fans beyond the lesbian community must be a big factor of the show's success, which made it possible for the series to continue to Season Two.

Speaking of the show's success, one cannot overlook its artistic merits, which are extraordinary as a TV show's. Many incidents are interwoven into one compelling story; a lovable ensemble cast that consists of a variety of personas engages in acting; and the director of photography Robert Aschmann takes full advantage of his skills and creativity in amazing long takes, aggressive crane shots, and illuminative lightings. There is inconsistency among episodes on writing, directing, and editing due to the fact that several different artists have worked on each episode; this drawback may be inevitable for a TV series. Among writers and directors, Rose Troche, the legendary director of Go Fish, writes believable dialogues and directs intimate scenes with crafts, while Lenka Svab stands out among editors, dazzling and mesmerizing the viewers with a deliberate disorientation. Some writers make homage to historic filmmakers such as Godard, Cassavetes, and Soderbergh by having the characters refer to them; this is a tiny detail but certainly amuses film fans.