The L Word
The L Word is a television drama series that aired on Showtime in the US from 2004 to 2009. The series follows the lives of a group of lesbian and bisexual women who live in West Hollywood, California.[1][2] The premise originated with Ilene Chaiken, Michele Abbott and Kathy Greenberg; Chaiken is credited as the primary creator of the series and also served as its executive producer.
The L Word
- Ilene Chaiken
- Michele Abbott
- Kathy Greenberg
"The L Word" performed by Betty (seasons 2–6)
Elizabeth Ziff
- United States
- Canada
English
6
71 (list of episodes)
- Ilene Chaiken
- Rose Lam
- Steve Golin
- Larry Kennar
- Rose Lam
- Kim Steer
- Elizabeth Ziff
- Angela Robinson
- Elizabeth Hunter
- A.M. Homes
50 minutes
- Coast Mountain Films
- Posse (Season 1-2)
- Little Chicken Inc (Season 3-6)
- MGM Television (Pilot)
- Showtime Networks
January 18, 2004 –
March 8, 2009
The L Word featured television's first ensemble cast of lesbian and bisexual female characters,[3][4] and its portrayal of lesbianism was groundbreaking at the time.[2][5][6][7] One of the series' pioneering hallmarks was its explicit depiction of lesbian sex from the female gaze,[8] at a time when lesbian sex was "virtually invisible elsewhere on television."[9] It was also the first television series written and directed by predominantly queer women.[10]
The L Word franchise led to the spin-off reality show The Real L Word (2010–2012) as well as the documentary film L Word Mississippi: Hate the Sin (2014), both of which aired on Showtime. A sequel television series, The L Word: Generation Q, debuted in December 2019, and a spin-off, The L Word: New York, is in development.
Production[edit]
The L Word was co-created by Ilene Chaiken, Michele Abbott, and Kathy Greenberg; Chaiken served as the primary creator and executive director of the series, as well as a writer and director.[11] Steve Golin and Larry Kennar served as additional executive producers, while Guinevere Turner, Susan Miller, Cherien Dabis, and Rose Troche were among the series' writers.
The series premiered on Showtime on January 18, 2004 and ran for a total of six seasons, airing its finale on March 8, 2009. The L Word was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia at Coast Mountain Films Studio, as well as on location in Los Angeles, California.
Related media[edit]
The Farm[edit]
In July 2008, Showtime CEO Matthew Blank announced that the network would shoot a pilot for The Farm, an L Word spin-off series based on a pitch from L Word series creator Ilene Chaiken. Set in a women's prison, the series was slated to star Famke Janssen, Melissa Leo, Laurie Metcalf, and Leisha Hailey, the lattermost of whom would reprise her role as Alice Pieszecki. The pilot was shot in December 2008.[42] In April 2009, Showtime declined to pick up The Farm for a full series order.[43]
