TCA: The Ladies Of 'The L Word' Come Out To Talk Final Season
The cast of “The L Word” were the ladies of the hour (actually, only for a half hour) during the show’s presentation at the Television Critics Association press tour Wednesday. Going into its sixth and final season, executive producer, writer and director Ilene Chaiken and several cast members, including Jennifer Beals, gave insights into the series, the fans and the upcoming season.
Showtime has promoted the new season by teasing the storyline of Jenny’s murder mystery. How did Chalken decide which character to kill off?
Chaiken: The trouble that Jenny got into over the years and the fact that she just provoked everyone… She is the character people love to hate and provoked rage, and it made it interesting to tell that story.
Would the outcome of the murder mystery play into the potential spinoff? (See Related: Showtime’s Bob Greenblatt Reveals Details on ‘L Word’ Spin-off)
Chaiken: It doesn’t lead into it directly. The two stand alone and separately. Should the spinoff move forward to series, then yes it will.
Will the murder mystery change the tone of the plot?
Chaiken: It’s not a dominant storyline. This season is about lives and characters and relationships. The tone hasn’t changed. [It’s still a] drama with some humor about life and love and career. The so-called murder mystery storyline will finally put a few things into place….We wanted to devote the last eight episodes to telling stories about these characters we know and love.
Guest stars in season six?
Lucy Lawless, Elizabeth Berkley
When did “The L Word” hit its stride?
Chaiken: We hit our stride in our sixth season. Hopefully we’ll go out on a high.
Jennifer Beals: With each actor you have a pride from a certain season. I was most proud of my work in the second season because I was given so many challenges. The sixth season I really like a lot where we’re trying to adopt a baby.
Pam Grier: We had great, superb guest stars, actors who came on our show to assist us. Every episode was an arc within arc, and the entire season was a wonderful arc. Out of it was so much information that we could continue exploring.
Favorite fan encounters
Beals told a story that literally moved her to tears about a 16 year-old girl who recently came out and told her the show helped save her life when she had contemplated suicide. “[It’s great to] give people any kind of encouragement to be their most authentic self.” “I have a weird disease where I cry in front of large crowds,” she joked.
Katherine Moennig: “The great thing about the show is the loyal fan base. Even when they’re discouraged about the storyline, they still stick in there. It’s the most profound moment when you get a letter that says how a live has changed. That’s the power of television. [I’m] lucky enough to be on show that can deliver a strong message.”
T.C. commented:
I really enjoyed the show from season one triugh season six. I wished it had not been the last. As for the spin off well, i agree with suzan-Ohio prison would show the stereo type that people think lesbians are always going to jail or prison and they are all BAD ASSES and that is not true. I hope that in the spin off we see all the caracters not just oane or two. I love "THE L WORD" and everyone in the show.
Craze commented:
I love carmen on the show, when is she coming back????I like their tandem with shane...
m kerns commented:
I don't really care about the interogation tapes, I just want to say is I loved the show and I will miss it I will exspecially miss all the girls. so love ya you will be missed.
nora stewart commented:
i am a lebisan and i started to watch the l word last year and i wa hooked these women live normal lives and they face every challeged that it puts in front of you. these women are so hot and will always be missed love always nora
Mel commented:
The interrogation tapes are useless; it reveals intimate info rather than trying to figure out who killed Jenny. They're also degrading the characters: so far, Tina is an incest lesbian, Shane is an arsonist & Alice gets convicted of murder.
I bet anti-gay groups might like this series finale episode better than the gay friendly community that actually watched & supported this show.
sold commented:
I heard they are auctioning off all of the L-Word set and production stuff...clothing, furniture, accessories!!!
Check it out at ableauctions.ca! Get a piece of TV history!
Alainna commented:
es ist verdamt schade das man so wenig von den menschen an sich erfährt die sich hinter den rollen verbergen, zunindest hier für uns in deutschland
jedoch ich hoffe man sieht noch vieles mehr auser L-Word....
die auch hier alle in ihren bann gezogen hat
gruss aus deutschland K.
Alianna commented:
...Ich kann es kaum glauben...man liest mal etwas was nicht aus dem Jahr vor 2008 stammt.
Hier für unsereins in Deutschland ist es schwierig mit zu halten und ich finde es sehr schade, das man so wenig von dem Menschen erkennen darf die hinter dem Schauspieler steckt.
ich hoffe auch nach der L-Word Serie können wir noch viel sehen
Gruß aus Deutschland K.
Suzan-Ohio commented:
Prison… Please let us call the show La Stereotype Lesbians.
The world does not need any more negative images of us and god knows there is an abundance of them out there.
This week we saw on Grey’s Anatomy a Lesbian moment in the damn bathroom. Come on Hollywood we can be more creative then that!
Possible Story lines:
1. Why not has the spin-off be a Law and Order’ish show with every slice of Americana?
Tasha is going into the police force, with girl friend in the police custody.
2. Shane becomes strung-out and goes to rehab, cleans up and opens a new hair salon. Like Barbershop the movie Lesbian style
3. Alice gets out of jail and opens a bookstore next to Kits cafe
Better the chocolate meets LWord
4. Carmen comes back (SHE IS HOT) and is the DJ at Kits new night club (Hit).
Have new and upcoming GLBT groups perform. Lword meets Charmed
5. Back to the future meets LWord, Alice does 5 years, Tasha makes Lieutenant and the world like gays.
I came up with those ideas in 5 mins, I know the professional can do much better then Prison.
Harvey Milk would be ashamed of you!
Suzan
kim commented:
thanks