'L Word' is now a reality

by Michael Schneider, Mon., Aug. 31, 2009, 8:00pm PT

Showtime to revive show as reality series

Showtime is reviving "The L Word" -- but this time as a reality series.

Pay cabler has greenlit nine episodes of "The Real L Word: Los Angeles," from "L Word" creator Ilene Chaiken and reality producers Magical Elves ("Top Chef").

Show will follow six lesbians in Los Angeles as they go about their lives -- a lesbian answer to Bravo's "Real Housewives" franchise. Project is dependent on casting, the net said; if all goes as planned, "The Real L Word" would debut sometime next year.

"The L Word," which ran for six seasons on Showtime, wrapped up earlier this year. Series, which starred Jennifer Beals, Mia Kirshner and Laurel Holloman, among others, centered on a fictional group of women, both gay and straight, in Los Angeles.

"Even though we concluded our sixth season of 'The L Word' on Showtime this past March, I believe we are not nearly finished telling our 'L Word' stories," Chaiken said. "Showtime has yet again come forward to continue with us this mission to entertain and enlighten and bring more 'L' to the world."

Chaiken, who exec produced "L Word," will also EP "The Real L Word," along with Magical Elves' Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz.

"We love to tell authentic stories about complex characters and feel like this is an area that has yet to be explored in reality television," Lipsitz said.

"Real L Word" is the latest in a string of series orders for Showtime, which last week greenlit the Laura Linney starrer "The C Word." Cabler also has "Oliver Stone's Secret History of America" on tap.

"The Real L Word" is the second spinoff for Chaiken. The exec producer was behind the scripted spinoff "The Farm," which starred "The L Word's" Leisha Hailey. That project wasn't picked up to series, however.

Added Cutforth: "We're ready to take on the challenge of living up to the groundbreaking drama of the original 'L-Word'."