The L Word is an American television drama series created by Michele Abbot, Ilene Chaiken and Kathy Greenberg that portrays the lives of a group of lesbian and bisexual women and their friends, family and lovers in the trendy Los Angeles-area city of West Hollywood.
The series aired in the USA on Showtime from 18 January, 2004 to 8 March, 2009. There are 70 hour-long episodes in six seasons.
The L Word originally premiered in South Africa on M-Net on Thursday 21 October 2004, at 21h30. The first season aired on M-Net, after which the show moved to DStv's M-Net Series channel for the second season onwards. It began airing on Sony Entertainment Television (SET) on 31 December 2007.
See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates by channel.
Season 6 premiered on M-Net Series on Wednesday 8 July 2009, at 21h00. There are eight episodes in the sixth and final season.
Season 6 Repeats
Thursdays: 03h00, 09h00, 15h00
Synopsis
The L word revolves around the loves and lives of a group of women who get drawn into all kinds of sexy modern day intrigues in the City of Angels.
It all starts with Jenny Schecter, a gifted young fiction writer who has just graduated from the University of Chicago, arriving in Los Angeles to start her adult life.
She has a major literary award and one short story to her credit and at her side you’ll find her boyfriend, an anthropology student called Tim Haspel.
Tim resides in West Hollywood, next door to Bette Porter and Tina Kennard, two thirty-something professionals, who, after seven years together, are just beginning to navigate the choices and challenges that lesbians face when trying to start a family.
They are also struggling with the direction of their relationship and what the future holds for them.
Bette and Tina’s close network of friends include Shane McCuthcheon, a hairdresser and the resident heartthrob; Dana Fairbanks, a tennis pro not yet out of the closet; her bisexual pal, Alice Pieszecki; and Bette’s half sister Kit Porter, who is a musician and a recovering alcoholic.
As the series unfolds, Jenny’s self-image and future plans are rocked from the foundation when, at a party, hosted by Bette and Tina, Marina Lombard, a beautiful and compelling café owner, makes a pass at her in the bathroom.
Amid denial and confusion, Jenny starts to question her love for Tim and her attraction to Marina.
Meanwhile, Bette and Tina, stunned at how difficult it is to find a suitable sperm donor, attempt to seduce a handsome young artist on the night that Tina is about to ovulate. The seduction attempt fails, but the encounter is not without repercussions.
Seasons
Season 1 (13 episodes)
Channel: M-Net | Premiere: 21 Oct 2004 | Finale: 13 Jan 2005 | Thursdays, 21h30
Channel: SET | Premiere: 31 Dec 2007 | Finale: 21 Jan 2008 | Mondays, 22h00 (4-hour block)
Season 2 (13 episodes)
Channel: M-Net Series | Premiere: 11 Oct 2006 | Finale: 3 Jan 2007 | Wednesdays, 21h00
Channel: SET | Premiere: 30 Mar 2008 | Finale: 11 May 2008 | Sundays, 23h00 (double bill)
Season 3 (12 episodes)
Channel: M-Net Series | Premiere: 10 Jan 2007 | Finale: 28 Mar 2007 | Wednesdays, 21h00
Season 4 (12 episodes)
Channel: M-Net Series | Premiere: 4 Apr 2007 | Finale: 20 Jun 2007 | Wednesdays, 21h00
Season 5 (12 episodes)
Channel: M-Net Series | Premiere: 16 Apr 2008 | Finale: 2 Jul 2008 | Wednesdays, 21h00
Season 6 (8 episodes)
Channel: M-Net Series | Premiere: 8 Jul 2009 | Finale: 26 Aug 2009 | Wednesdays, 21h00