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In the last couple of decades, LGBTQ+ characters have become more and more common on television, though this history goes further back than you might think. As Shayna Maci Warner writes in "The Rainbow Age of Television," The first "expressly named gay character" appeared on the first episode of "N.Y.P.D." in 1967. Meanwhile, the first lesbian couple appeared on "The Bold Ones: The New Doctors" in 1972, though the first lesbian kiss on TV didn't occur until 1991 in an episode of "L.A. Law."

Queer representation has increased greatly since then, though GLAAD's 2023-2024 Where We Are On TV report indicates that there has been a decrease in LGBTQ+ characters in the last few years. Thankfully, many queer-centric shows from years past are available to stream (apart from the ones that have been pulled from streaming), meaning we still have a significant...

On January 18, 2004, Showtime made history with “The L Word”: a spaghetti-strapped melodrama about twiggy lesbians living against a golden-filtered backdrop of mid-aughts Los Angeles.

The stroke of entertainment genius from creator/executive producer Ilene Chaiken premiered that Sunday night in two parts, introducing a revolutionary cast of LGBTQ characters who would change the face and ritual of lesbian pop culture forever. From the moment Jenny (Mia Kirshner) laid eyes on Marina (Karina Lombard)…even before Bette (Jennifer Beals) and Tina (Laurel Holloman) tried to steal that dude’s sperm…or Shane (Katherine Moennig) showed up wearing that leather vest….countless TV-loving shes, theys, and gays saw themselves reflected in a fizzy fictional universe that was finally, mercifully grounded in a semi-authentic lesbian reality.

Fast forward to 2019; the reboot happened. Showtime’s “The L Word: Generation Q” served as both a revamp of the initial concept with new characters and...

In honor of honor Lesbian Visibility Week, the cast of "The L Word" headed to the White House on April 25 to speak to the press about issues affecting LGBTQ+ people. Stars Leisha Hailey, Jennifer Beals, and Kate Moennig - who play Alice, Bette, and Shane, respectively on the original series and the three-season reboot "The L Word: Generation Q" - were joined by original series creator Ilene Chaiken and the White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. The White House tweeted a stream of their appearance, and Chaiken and Hailey, who are both lesbians, urged queer people and their allies to speak up and continue to fight in the current political climate.

Jean-Pierre, who, Chaiken noted, is the first openly lesbian press secretary, said that "The L Word" and "Gen Q" are "two Showtime series that chronicle the friendship, the love, the challenges, and the triumphs of strong, funny, and resilient queer women.

The ratings for this Showtime series have always been low, and this time around appears to be no exception. Will there continue to be enough interest in The L Word: Generation Q to justify a fourth season, or could it be cancelled? Stay tuned. *Status Update Below.

A drama series, The L Word: Generation Q TV show is a sequel to The L Word series, which ran on the same channel from 2004-2009. This incarnation stars Jennifer Beals, Jordan Hull, Jacqueline Toboni, Rosanny Zayas, Arienne Mandi, Leo Sheng, Sepideh Moafi, Kate Moennig, Jamie Clayton, and Leisha Hailey. Season three guests include Kehlani and Fletcher, Margaret Cho, Joanna Cassidy, Joey Lauren Adams, Laurel Holloman, Jillian Mercado, Simon Longnight, Rosie O'Donnell, and Donald Faison. The current iteration follows the intermingled lives of Bette Porter (Beals), Shane McCutcheon (Moennig), Alice Pieszecki (Hailey), Dani Nùñez (Mandi), Micah Lee (Sheng),...

Showtime has cancelled The L Word: Generation Q, so there won't be a fourth season. However, the franchise may continue with a new series.

A drama series, The L Word: Generation Q TV show is a sequel to The L Word series, which ran on the same channel from 2004-2009. This incarnation was created by Kathy Greenberg, Michele Abbott, and original series creator Ilene Chaiken.  It stars Jennifer Beals, Jordan Hull, Jacqueline Toboni, Rosanny Zayas, Arienne Mandi, Leo Sheng, Sepideh Moafi, Kate Moennig, Jamie Clayton, and Leisha Hailey. Season three guests include Kehlani and Fletcher, Margaret Cho, Joanna Cassidy, Joey Lauren Adams, Laurel Holloman, Jillian Mercado, Simon Longnight, Rosie O'Donnell, and Donald Faison. The current iteration follows the intermingled lives of Bette Porter (Beals), Shane McCutcheon (Moennig), Alice Pieszecki (Hailey), Dani Nùñez (Mandi), Micah Lee (Sheng), Sarah...

Editor's note: The below contains spoilers for Season 3 of The L Word: Generation Q.The L Word’s initial conceit was to explore queer relationships through an ensemble drama, an endeavor the show did significantly well both over its original six-season run and currently in the final Season 3 of its reboot. The original series followed the relationships and friendships of a small, tightly-knit group of gay women living in L.A. The present-day iteration, The L Word: Generation Q, began in 2019, with “Q” referencing a new, younger group of queer characters introduced to the show. Several characters from the first series have popped up over its three seasons, including long-time couple Bette Porter (Jennifer Beals) and Tina Kennard (Laurel Holloman) and their friends Alice Pieszecki (Leisha Hailey) and Shane McCutcheon (Kate Moennig).

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Jennifer Beals is taking a step back — but not away — with her leading role as Bette Porter in The L Word: Generation Q.

During the Showtime series’ latest episode, which aired Sunday night, the actress behind the long-time L Word favorite chose love over ambition and agreed to go to Toronto with her ex-wife, and the love of her life, Tina Kennard (Laurel Holloman).

In a recent interview with Upi, the actress shared that it was a character decision driven by Bette’s evolution, which took place mostly offscreen following a time jump — and a retreat visit — in the season three premiere.

For the actress, it was also an opportunity to let her original L Word co-stars Leisha Haley and Katherine Moennig — along with the rest of Generation Q‘s ensemble — take a bigger role in the current series. “I am making space for other stories,...

In our Q&a series Last Call, we get down to the bottom of every last thing with some of our favorite celebs - from the last time they were starstruck to the last song they listened to. This week, Jordan Hull takes our call.

Jordan Hull knows you might be upset about the season three premiere of "The L Word: Generation Q," which aired on Showtime on Nov. 20. That's because her character, Angie, is dumped by her girlfriend, Jordi (Sophie Giannamore), mere hours after arriving at her freshman year of college. But Hull isn't that upset.

"In life, I don't anticipate any high school relationship being the one, and I hope for me that just never happens," she tells Popsugar. "I think with Angie and Jordi, it was cute, it was fun, but it definitely needed to be done." From Angie's perspective, she says, "Jordi can be difficult sometimes.

The drama of The L Word: Generation Q, Showtime’s reboot of the original, 2000s-era L Word, can be summed up by singer-songwriter Fletcher’s line in the just-released Season 3 trailer: “It’s the kind of sapphic chaos I live for.” In a press release, Showtime says Generation Q’s third season picks up right where the Season 2 cliffhanger left off — with Tina (returning L Word alum Laurel Holloman) asking Bette (Jennifer Beals) if she still loves her — and the season will “follow the cast of characters as they struggle with secrets, old scars and new flames on their search for ‘the one.’” “While [Bette and Tina] determine their future together, their daughter Angie (Jordan Hull) embraces her new freedom at college, finding love in all the wrong places,” the premium cable network adds. “At the bungalow, Finley (Jacqueline Toboni) returns from rehab and discovers news about Sophie (Rosanny Zayas) that threatens both her sobriety and their relationship.

Here is a wrap-up of all the news you need to know from Thursday, October 13, 2022.

Disney+ is rounding out the cast of its Percy Jackson and the Olympians series with three new additions.

Adam Copeland (WWE Hall of Famer), Jessica Parker Kennedy (The Flash), and Susan Cryer (Silicon Valley) have all joined the cast, according to Variety.

Copeland plays Ares, described as “handsome in a wicked way, and arrogant, despite not always being the sharpest tool in the shed.”

Parker Kennedy plays Medusa in a guest-starring capacity.

Medusa has been "wronged by the dogs" and loves a bitter life away from society, until travelers find her place.

Cryer is set to play Echidna, who is the Mother of Monsters.

"‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ tells the fantastical story of a 12-year-old modern demigod, Percy Jackson, who’s just coming to terms with his newfound divine powers when the sky god...

Margaret Cho, Joey Lauren Adams, Joanna Cassidy and Kehlani have been added to the cast of “The L Word: Generation Q” Season 3 as guest stars. Additionally, previous guest stars Rosie O’Donnell and Laurel Holloman return in their recurring roles as Carrie and Tina, respectively, and Jamie Clayton, who plays Tess, has been upped to series regular.

A sequel to “The L Word,” which ran on Showtime from 2004 to 2009, “The L Word: Generation Q” continues to follow the intermingled lives of Bette Porter (Jennifer Beals), Alice Pieszecki (Leisha Hailey), Shane McCutcheon (Moennig), Dani Nùñez (Arienne Mandi), Micah Lee (Leo Sheng), Finley (Jacqueline Toboni), Sophie Suarez (Rosanny Zayas), Gigi Ghorbani (Sepideh Moafi), Angie Porter-Kennard (Jordan Hull) and Tess as they experience love, heartbreak, sex, setbacks and success in L.A.

Cho will play herself as a guest host on the “Alice” talk show. Adams will play Taylor, a salt-of-the-earth, self-deprecating barista with a secret passion.

Margaret Cho, Joey Lauren Adams, and Joanna Cassidy are set to guest star on Showtime’s The L Word: Generation Q for Season 3.

In addition, Jamie Clayton has been upped to series regular returning as Tess, the bar manager at Dana’s who becomes intertwined with Shane (Katherine Moennig) in work and love. Previous guest stars Rosie O’Donnell and Laurel Holloman will also return to the roles of Carrie and Tina, respectively.

The series returns on November 20 at 8 p.m. Et/Pt and will drop new episodes every Sunday thereafter.

Cho will play herself as a guest host on the Alice talk show; Adams will play Taylor, a salt-of-the-earth, self-deprecating barista with a secret passion; Cassidy will play Patty, Tess’s mom and a former Las Vegas showgirl currently suffering from Ms and dementia.

“I’m so...

Margaret Cho will guest star in the upcoming third season of Showtime’s “The L Word: Generation Q,” along with Joey Lauren Adams (“Chasing Amy”), Emmy nominee Joanna Cassidy and previously announced Grammy-nominated singer Kehlani.

The series will premiere Nov. 18 on streaming and on-demand before making its on-air debut Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. Et/Pt.

The “Fire Island” star will play herself as a guest host on Alice’s (Leisha Hailey) eponymous late-night talk show. A five-time Grammy and Emmy nominated actor, musician, comedian and advocate, Cho recently appeared in TV series such as “The Flight Attendant,” “Hacks” and Netflix’s comedy special “Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration.” Her production company, Animal Family Productions, has multiple scripted shows in development for 2022 and beyond.

Also Read:

Showtime’s ‘Fellow Travelers’ Adds Jelani Alladin, Noah J. Ricketts and Linus Roache to Cast

Adams will portray Taylor, a salt-of-the-earth, self-deprecating barista with a secret passion.

The good word on The L Word: Generation Q is that the Showtime series has been renewed for a third season — four months after its sophomore finale aired.

The news comes on the heels of Showtime renewing freshman hit Yellowjackets, but pulling the plug on Black Monday and Work in Progress.

More from TVLineWe Need to Talk About Cosby Preview: W. Kamau Bell Says Showtime Docu Is Bigger Than Fallen Comic LegendBlack Monday and Work in Progress Both Cancelled at ShowtimeAmerican Rust Cancelled at Showtime

A follow-up to the Og 2004-09 L Word series, Generation Q’s second season followed...

The L Word: Generation Q will be back for another go-round. Showtime has renewed the sequel to the groundbreaking LGBTQ series for a 10-episode third season for premiere later this year.

Created by Ilene Chaiken, The L Word: Generation Q follows a group of LGBTQ friends in Los Angeles as they experience love, heartbreak, sex, setbacks and success. Jennifer Beals, Leisha Haily, Katherine Moennig, Arienne Mandi, Leo Sheng, Jacqueline Toboni, Rosanny Zayas, Sepideh Moafi and Jordan Hull star.

There will be lots of loose ends to tie up in Season 3. In Season 2, Bette (Beals) dealt with Tina (guest star Laurel Holloman) and Carrie’s (guest star Rosie O’Donnell) engagement, and daughter Angie’s (Hull) search for her birth father; Shane (Moennig) ramped up her business and her feelings for Tess (Jamie Clayton); and hot new author Alice (Hailey) wrestled with her own complicated feelings for her book editor. Meanwhile, a...

“The L Word: Generation Q” has been renewed for Season 3 at Showtime, Variety has learned.

The second season of the followup to “The L Word” aired between August and October 2021. Like the second season, the third will consist of 10 episodes. It is expected to air on Showtime later in 2022.

The series follows the intermingled lives of Bette Porter (Jennifer Beals), Alice Pieszecki (Leisha Hailey), Shane McCutcheon (Katherine Moennig), Dani Nùñez (Arienne Mandi), Micah Lee (Leo Sheng), Finley (Jacqueline Toboni), Sophie Suarez (Rosanny Zayas), Gigi Ghorbani (Sepideh Moafi), and Angie Porter-Kennard (Jordan Hull) as they experience love, heartbreak, sex, setbacks and success in L.A.

In season two, Bette dealt with Tina (guest star Laurel Holloman) and Carrie’s (guest star Rosie O’Donnell) engagement, and daughter Angie’s (Hull) search for her birth father; Shane (Moennig) ramped up her business and her feelings for Tess (Jamie Clayton); and hot new author...

The L Word: Generation Q will sees some new and familiar faces when the series returns to Showtime for season 2. Jordan Hull will make her L Word: Generation Q return as a series regular. Also set to appear in the second season as guest stars are Rose O’Donnell, Donald Faison and Griffin Dunne.

The sequel to the groundbreaking LGBTQ series, The L Word: Generation Q has started production in Los Angeles for season two and will return to Showtime in 2021. The second season will continue to follow the intermingled lives of original characters Bette (Jennifer Beals), Shane McCutcheon (Katherine Moennig), Alice Pieszecki (Leisha Hailey), Dani Nùñez (Arienne Mandi) and more as they experience love, heartbreak, setbacks and success in L.A.

Hull will return to The L Word: Generation Q cast as Angie, the daughter of Beals’ Bette Porter and Laurel Holloman’s Tina Kennard.

O’Donnell is set to guest star as Carrie,...

Spoiler Alert: This article includes details about Sunday night’s episode of The L Word: Generation Q.

We are a handful of episodes away from the season finale of The L Word: Generation Q, but in tonight’s episode appropriately titled “Loose Ends”, we see the ramifications of last week’s events. In particular, we see the Laurel Holloman reprise her role as Bette’s (Jennifer Beals) ex-wife Tina as she comes back at a very dire time as her mayoral campaign goes on a downward spiral. But before we get to this reunion, let’s catch up.

After a night of three-way fun, we see Alice (Leisha Hailey) attempt to navigate this newly formed thruple she is in with her girlfriend Nat (Stephanie Allynne) and her ex-wife Gigi (Sepideh Moafi) — and it is more complicated than she had hoped. Good ol’ earnest and well-meaning Finley (Jacqueline Toboni) continues to...

[This story contains spoilers from the Jan. 12 episode of Showtime's The L Word: Generation Q.]

Bette and Tina are back together again. Well, sorta.

Sunday's episode of Showtime's The L Word: Generation Q staged a reunion that was a decade in the making as Jennifer Beals and Laurel Holloman reunited onscreen, with the latter making a surprise guest appearance to reprise her role as Bette's ex-wife, Tina Kennard.

"It felt very surreal,” says Holloman, who retired from acting and has been thriving as a painter for much of the decade since the original series ...

1980: General Hospital's Tracy ignored Edward's plea for help.

1985: Bo & Hope were married on Days of our Lives.

1986: Days' Caroline told Bo that Victor Kiriakis was his father and Mary Beth Evans debuted as Kayla Brady. "History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1967: NBC daytime drama Another World was broadcast live for the final time.

1980: On General Hospital, Tracy (Jane Elliot) refused to help her father, Edward (David Lewis), when he had a heart attack.

1985: On Days of our Lives, Bo Brady (Peter Reckell...

1980: General Hospital's Tracy ignored Edward's plea for help.

1985: Bo & Hope were married on Days of our Lives. 1986:

Caroline told Bo that Victor Kiriakis was his father. 1986: Mary Beth

Evans debuted as Kayla Brady. "All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1967: NBC daytime drama Another World was broadcast live for the final time.

1980: On General Hospital, Tracy (Jane Elliot) refused to help her father, Edward...

Jane Lynch is a comedic force. But even her funniest onscreen performances are rooted in a commitment to the truth of human nature, a quality that carries over into her more recent dramatic work. The three-time Emmy winner has created indelible characters of all sorts -- most notably as Sue Sylvester on Glee -- over the course of nearly three decades in Hollywood. But perhaps none have loomed as large in the popular imagination as U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, whom the actress portrays in Discovery Channel’s latest scripted project, Manhunt: Unabomber.

The eight-episode anthology series, created by Andrew Sodroski, follows the FBI’s pursuit of Ted Kaczynski (Paul Bettany) and his ultimate capture based on breakthrough linguistic evidence assembled by agent Jim Fitzgerald (Sam Worthington). In just a few short scenes, Lynch embodies a key player in the true-crime drama, and perhaps the sole character as recognizable to the American public as the Unabomber...

The L Words is officially coming back. Deadline reports Showtime is developing a sequel to the landmark TV series.The drama premiered in 2004 and centered on a group of lesbians living in Los Angeles. The show ran for six seasons before ending in 2009. The cast included Jennifer Beals, Erin Daniels, Leisha Hailey, Laurel Holloman, Marlee Matlin, Eric Lively, Eric Mabius, and Pam Grier.Read More…...

Less than a decade after The L Word completed its original run in 2009, the groundbreaking Showtime series is staging a comeback in the form of a sequel – with a few familiar faces in the mix.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jennifer Beals (Bette), Kate Moennig (Shane) and Leisha Hailey (Alice), three of the series' original stars, will return for the revival project both in front of and behind the camera (all three will exec produce).

Series creator Ilene Chaiken will also lend a hand in the vision of the new series as an executive producer,...

Tags: Afternoon DelightRooney MaraThe HeatForbesEllen DeGeneresPortia de RossiEmma RobertsAmerican Horror Story: CovenIMDbLea Michele

Good afternoon everyone!

Happy birthday to Guinevere Turner, Joan Collins, Jewel, Lea DeLaria and Laurel Holloman!

Tony award winner Lea DeLaria posing with "Grey’s Anatomy" star Sara Ramirez

Photo by Bruce Glikas/Getty Images

Forbes has released its 2013 "World’s Most Powerful Women" list. Who ranked where? Spanx founder Sara Blakely came in at # 90 (she’s #1 on my list), Ellen DeGeneres placed at #51, Lady Gaga took #45, Angelina Jolie claimed the #37 spot and Hillary ‘My Dream Girl’ Clinton ranked at # 5.

Congratulations to DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi for making Forbes' 2013 "World’s Most Powerful Couples" list!

Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Speaking of Forbes, J Crew’s Creative Director Jenna Lyons and out New York politician Christine Quinn were featured in the magazine’s "10 Power Women In-The-Making: Women To Watch."

Glee’s Lea Michele...

Tags: Morning BrewMichelle ChameulFran LebowitzJenna LyonsAmber HeardBrittney GrinerIMDbKirsten VangsnessLaurel Holloman

Good morning!

Last night in New York, the annual Met Ball went down with the theme of "Punk: Chaos to Couture" and some of the best looks came from queer women. (Of course!)

Jenna Lyons

Amber Heard

Fran Lebowitz

The New Yorker has two moms on the cover of this week's issue. Gotta love it.

Kirsten Vangsness reportedly turned down an offer for another season of Criminal Minds because her male co-stars are getting paid more than she and her female castmates. Of course there's room for negotiation, but I can't imagine that show without Garcia. Give her what she's worth!

Laurel Holloman posed in front of one of her pieces at the opening of her exhibition "All The World Inside" last week.

Brittney Griner wrote a piece for The New York Times on why she came out and how...

Tags: Laurel HollomanartThe L WordIMDb

Laurel Holloman is best known to us as Tina Kennard or Randy Dean, which is why she's been pursuing her art career in Europe instead of the States. "It is very important because it has been easier for me," she told DigitalJournal.com. "I am now more known as a painter in Europe not as an actor, and that is what I care about. No one really asks me questions regarding the other art form."

From Twitter

Laurel's 16 large murals are part of a new show called "All The World Inside" at Palazzo Italia in Berlin, Germany and she will follow that up with exhibitions in Italy and London. After acting for 20 years, she made the transition to the art world and seems to have done so quite successfully. She said of her current work's themes:

I explore the how of life with “All The World Inside.

"L Word" star Laurel Holloman's divorce has gone the way of her lady-loving TV show -- Kaput -- because TMZ has learned, her divorce from her real-life husband has just been finalized.TMZ broke the story ... Laurel -- who played the sexy Tina Kennard on the show -- filed for divorce from her husband last year, citing irreconcilable differences. Laurel and her now ex-husband were married in 2002, and have two young daughters.Now, the divorce has officially been finalized,...

Hey, lesbians, Ilene Chaiken has something to tell you. Lean close, closer, a little bit closer. Ok, now brace yourself: She’s really sorry about that whole killing Dana thing, Ok?

The creator of The L Word and The Real L Word (also Barb Wire – we never forget, Ilene, never) said she regretted killing the beloved fictional tennis player and adorable coiner of the term “crispay,” Dana Fairbanks. MovieWeb.com has an exclusive clip from the reunion special on The L Word: The Complete Series DVD set, which features the cast listening to Chaiken talk about what she regrets. Have a listen for yourself.

There you have it. Couldn’t be clearer. The Chaiken has spoken:

The one thing that I most regret on the show is Dana’s death. The reaction was so passionate and the grief was so deeply felt – and to have be responsible for causing...

Maria Maggenti's 1995 film about teenage love is a romantic comedy of a different kind. Written in eight days and shot in 21, The Incredibly True Adventures of 2 Girls in Love is a standard lesbian rite-of-passage movie that is a favorite among many gay women, especially those who came of age in the mid-'90s.

So whatever happened to the women of The Incredibly True Adventures of 2 Girls in Love?

Laurel Holloman as baby dyke Randy Dean

After playing Tina Kennard on The L Word, Laurel appeared on an episode of Castle and in the teen series Gigantic. She's currently focused on painting and recently filed for divorce from her husband of nine years.

Nicole Ari Parker as budding lesbian Evie

Nicole has worked steadily in TV and film since appearing in The Incredibly True Adventures, including stints on Cosby, The System, Soul Food and The Deep End. Next up she's...

I have a confession to make: I picked up Jane Lynch's memoir, Happy Accidents, as soon as it hit bookstore shelves yesterday with the intention of scanning "the gay parts" to write an AfterEllen-specific review for today — but once I opened it up, I read every single word, from cover to cover, in one happily accidental sitting.

It's a memoir-eat-memoir world out there. Every day, a celebrity or politician (or a washed-up variation thereof) releases a tell-all biography. But engaging stories of lives well lived are a lot harder to come by. Lynch, however, starts at the beginning — the moment she was "born with an extra helping of angst" — and works all the way through to her 2010 Golden Globe win — "Please don't say Jane Lynch, please don't say Jane Lynch. But when they said 'Jane Lynch,' I thought, You're damn right, Jane Lynch!" — with such candor and...

Actress Laurel Holloman is to divorce her husband of nine years.

The L Word star wed architect Paul Machery in 2002 and the pair has two daughters - six-year-old Lola and adopted Nala.

Holloman, who separated from Machery last year, has now filed divorce papers at Los Angeles County Superior Court citing irreconcilable differences, reports TMZ.com.

She is requesting joint physical and legal custody of the children but is also reportedly asking a judge to block Machery from seeking spousal support.

How much do we love Jennifer Beals? From Bette Porter to Teresa Colvin, the tough superintendent of police out to expose corrupt cops on Fox’s upcoming drama The Chicago Code, the actress has a history of playing strong women we love. AfterEllen.com caught up with Beals during Fox’s Television Critics Association party to discuss lessons she learned from Bette, Teresa’s love life and why she felt the urge to sniff her male co-stars post-l Word.

AfterEllen.com: What did you get from your time on The L Word as Bette that you’re bringing to The Chicago Code’s Teresa?

Beals: They share a certain righteousness and they’re driven. Teresa is so much more physically in her body and so much less afraid of using her physicality than Bette. As much as I love Bette, Teresa could kick Bette’s ass any day of the week.

In our first annual Top 50 Lesbian and Bi Characters poll, we asked you to vote for your favorite characters from film, television, and internet shows.

You cast your votes, and now we have the results. Before we reveal the winners, let's take a look at some of the trends that emerged.

Almost all of the characters were from films and television shows that made their debut after the year 2000. A few of the exceptions include Kerry Weaver from ER, and the ass-kicking ladies from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

While most of the characters were from Us productions, a fair amount came from international shows, including our top two characters (from the UK show Skins).

Also notable was the fact that some of your favorite characters, the leads from Xena: Warrior Princess (which ran from 1995-2001) and Idgie Threadgood from the film Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), were never officially presented as lesbian or bisexual.

In 2009, the number of leading lesbian characters on primetime broadcast TV doubled — from one to two.

Out of the estimated 600 lead and supporting characters on network TV, seven of them of are lesbian or bisexual. And of those seven, five of them kissed women last year. And of those five, three of them made out during Sweeps.

Things looked bleak at the beginning of the year, but with the growing trend of lesbian brides getting gunned down or cheating on their wedding days, and the continued trend of bisexual characters only expressing their same-sex attraction during Sweeps, and the loss of Showtime's lesbian drama The L Word, we're ending the year on a downward spiral in terms of lesbian visibility.

Scripted Television: Broadcast

Primetime

The most surprising story in 2009 was the relationship between Callie Torres (played by Sara Ramirez) and Arizona Robbins (played by Jessica Capshaw) on Grey's Anatomy.

When...

Behind-the-scenes photos by actress Jennifer "Flashdance" Beals on the set of the Vancouver-lensed TV series The L Word have appeared as part of a photographic journal in the new L Word Final Season 6 DVD set. The Us/Canadian co-production for Showtime television portrayed the lives of a group of women, their friends, family and lovers in the trendy Los Angeles-area city of West Hollywood, California, airing from 2004 to March 2009. The show was created by executive producer Ilene "Barb Wire" Chaiken for producers Steve "Being John Malkovich" Golin and Larry "Barbershop" Kennar. Season 6 cast included Beals as 'Bette Porter', Leisha Hailey as 'Alice Pieszecki' (who went on to star in the spin-off pilot The Farm), Laurel Holloman as 'Tina Kennard', Mia Kirshner as 'Jenny Schecter', Katherine Moennig as 'Shane McCutcheon', Pam Grier as 'Kit Porter', Rachel Shelley as 'Helena Peabody' and Daniela Sea as 'Max Sweeney'. Click the images to enlarge...

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then how much is a picture by Jennifer Beals worth? Is thousand words plus a sippy cup? The actress released a preview of her new photography book as one of the extras in The L Word Season 6 DVD set.

The final season set came out yesterday and with it came a behind-the-scenes look at the series through Jennifer’s lens. She calls the images a “photographic journal” taken to help her preserve and remember the time she spend on the show, from rehearsals to dinners and photoshoots. She also saved her scripts, call sheets and other moments, some which will also make their way into the book.

Jennifer wrote in a prologue to the preview, “Mostly, I wanted to remember the joy, because no matter where the storylines went, we always managed to have fun.”

Some of the images have made the...

Who killed Jenny Schecter? A mere five months ago, that was the burning question on lesbian lips in living rooms and local bars from Los Angeles to Little Falls, New Jersey.

Mia Kirshner (Miss Conception, The Black Dahlia, 24) — the astonishing actor who played Jenny, and managed to find the humanity in a character known for uttering, "Adele, the appliqué on the back of your jeans was declared an abomination by the Geneva Convention," and other psychotic bon mots — is in fact a thoughtful woman who'd rather spend time with her friends than bask in the spotlight of Hollywood.

After a record six years as Showtime's longest running original series, The L Word finally ended in March, putting our love-to-hate relationship with Jenny Schecter to rest, not to mention relieving us of those annoying alliterations.

What many people don't know is, all that time, Mia was also focused on humanitarian issues,...

"The L Word" could be following the footsteps of other popular TV series like "Sex and the City", on getting a big screen treatment. AfterEllen.com reported that series creator, writer and executive producer Ilene Chaiken has opened up about the possibility of a feature project for the Showtime's drama series at the BlogHer conference over the weekend.

The screenwriter of "Barb Wire" mentioned plans for the movie version when asked about who killed Mia Kirshner's character, Jenny Schecter. On the question, Chaiken responded that she is in the process of scripting "The L Word" movie, and added that when the movie is made, the issue of who killed Jenny "will be addressed".

"Ilene: When we make 'The L Word' movie, we will say who killed Jenny," so wrote After Ellen's Trish Bendix on Chaiken's remark on her Twitter page which is dated Saturday, July 25. "Movie is in scripting process.

If you don’t watch Saving Grace, you probably think the show already has a lesbian character.

Or two.

But, alas, Holly Hunter’s Grace is very, very straight. She loves men and she loves sex with men. And she is not shy about doing what — and whom — she loves.

Thanks to AfterEllen.com reader indie, we know that a few women-loving women are going to show up on Grace (heh) in August. A casting call for an episode entitled “Looks Like A Lesbian Attack To Me” leaked last week and among the characters are three lesbians.

For “Mara,” the call is for a 26 to 32 year-old Caucasian with dark hair to play an Oklahoma police officer and lesbian. We’re not sure at first whether she’s a suspect in the episode’s murder or not, but she is hiding an abusive relationship with her live-in girlfriend. The girlfriend, “Gillian,...

Bravo TV just keeps getting gayer and gayer. If it's not reality programming geared toward gays, it's Kathy Griffin faking a coming out speech, or Laurel Holloman saying how nice it is to receive an award for sitting on Jennifer Beals' face.

Last night Bravo aired their annual A-List Awards, second in gay-friendliness only to the GLAAD Awards — and absolutely first in gay shenanigans.

Like, for example, the part where host Kathy Griffin announced that she is not only a friend to the gays, but also, herself, a gay.

What I need to do as an A-Lister is announce that I'm gay. So I am a lesbian. Yes, that's right: I am a lesbian. And, um, I've known since I was seven blah, blah, blah. So, anyway, I think the important thing is for me to be photographed kissing another woman.

And she did, sort of. Kathy propositioned the...

Last night, The L Word finished its six year run on Showtime. It was announced 12 months ago that the series was coming to an end so many viewers were expecting the series finale to be well-crafted and satisfying. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be what they got.

The L Word revolves around the loves and lives of a group of gay, bisexual, and transgender friends who live in Southern California. Over the years, the series has featured a large ensemble cast that includes Jennifer Beals, Leisha Hailey, Laurel Holloman, Mia Kirshner, Katherine Moennig, Pam Grier, Rachel Shelley, Daniela Sea, Erin Daniels, Marlee Matlin, Rose Rollins, Sarah Shahi, Dallas Roberts, Preston Cook, Lauren Lee Smith, Jon Wolfe Nelson, and Cybill Shepherd.

Debuting on January 18, 2004, L Word proved very successful for the pay-per-view channel. In 2007, Robert Greenblatt, Showtime's President of Entertainment, called it "a signature franchise for us and one of our most popular series.

Hey, is something happening this Sunday night? I feel like I keep forgetting an important event. No? Well then maybe that would be the perfect night to disassemble my television and see if I can put it back together again. You know, for kicks since nothing else is happening — oh, wait, that's right. The one and only hourlong dramatic series about lesbians is ending after six years. Sheesh. How could I forget? You'd think I bumped my head while diving into the deep end of a pool or something.

Yes, The L Word's swan song is nearly upon us. And like any good goodbye, there was a goodbye party. Earlier this week most of the cast — with a few notable exceptions — came out to commemorate six seasons of talking, laughing, loving, breathing, fighting and that rude word that rhymes with sucking.

Present and accounted for were series regulars Mia Kirshner,...

In a bid to give a proper goodbye to lesbian drama "The L Word" which has spanned for 6 seasons, Showtime held a farewell party at West Hollywood's Cafe La Boheme. The March 3 event was made in the package of a movie premiere, with the stars gracing the red carpet for photo sessions before going inside the venue.

Spotted in the crowd are the show's lead actresses such as Laurel Holloman, Katherine Moennig, Daniela Sea, Rose Rollins and Mia Kirshner as well as several supporting actors such as Marlee Matlin, Kate French, Janina Gavankar, Jon Wolfe Nelson, and Eric Roberts. Creator and show runner Ilene Chaiken is also present along with other guest stars.

Missing from the event are the other main cast, Jennifer Beals, Leisha Hailey, Pam Grier and Rachel Shelley.

The show will wrap it up on Sunday, March 8 with the episode "Last Word" which preview can be seen here.

Who wants some girls in tight dresses? Of course you do, you naughty minxes, of course you do. The new character and group promo shots for the lovely ladies of The L Word were released this week and they look like a literal interpretation of those damn Betty lyrics.

Yes, Shane in a dress. No, the universe no longer makes sense. Someone, hold me.

Also, that big honking “Fin” was not my poetic Photoshopping license. And speaking of Photoshop, the marketers got busy with their favorite program in the other shots as well. I mean, seriously, could they be more obvious by including both a pool and a sunset in this shot? Hey, Showtime, your metaphors are showing.

For their solo shots, the ladies largely give their interpretations on the little black dress.

Jennifer Beals

Hey, where is her other arm? Did Bette have a nasty encounter with the business...

Last year in our annual overview of the Year in Television, Malinda Lo wrote, “Though there is still plenty of room for improvement — particularly on broadcast TV — the low points of 2007 do not contradict the fact that lesbian/bi representation on TV this past year has increased and improved significantly.”

Clearly, a lot can change in a year.

Though 2008 comes to a close with word of possible new queer female characters on the horizon in the coming year, the prospects for lesbians and bisexual women on television over the last twelve months have been somewhat grim.

This has been particularly true for lesbians, whose numbers on scripted network television have now dwindled to zero.

While portrayals of lesbian characters on Grey’s Anatomy and Cashmere Mafia (both on ABC) showed initial promise, it wasn’t long before their storylines turned sour and came to a screeching halt, due to either...

Sneak peek to the final season of "The L Word" has been revealed by Showtime network through a behind-the-scenes video posted below. As can be seen on the short video, some of the series' stars like Rachel Shelley, Daniela Sea, Katherine Moennig, and Laurel Holloman, are giving their comments about the upcoming season six, including what will happen to the characters they play.

The behind-the-scenes video, which works as the promo for "The L Word" final season, also features few glimpses of scenes where the characters deal with their problems and situations. The series executive producer, Ilene Chaiken, also gives statement about the upcoming season which is believed to have shocking surprises.

"The L Word" is a drama series that portrays the lives of a group of lesbian, bisexual, and transgender along with their friends, family, and lovers in Los Angeles area city of West Hollywood, California. The six season...

Death. Accusations. Investigations. Prison. Yes, yes, that's all fine and good for the final season of The L Word. But we really want to know is how the women who long love lust actually look in the sixth season. Showtime released the first stills for the new season this week. After seeing them I've decided I don't care who they kill off as long as Jennifer Beals' arms get to live.

While I'll never fully understand some of the frilly, flouncy fashions the characters wears on the show, I always appreciate how the actresses pull them off. Let's take a sneak peek at what the new season has in store. We'll go alphabetically, so as not to play favorites.

Alice (Leisha Hailey): I had a momentary panic when I thought this was her new season 6 haircut. But it is just pulled back. False alarm, people, back to your stations.

Fans of Showtime's The L Word should start gearing up for the upcoming final season of series, which is set to join two other shows premiering in January. Tagged by Showtime as a “fab female triple-header,” January 18 will see the final episode of The L Word premiering, followed by the comedy United States of Tara and the second season of Secret Diary of a Call Girl.

We previously reported that The L Word will be spawning a spin-off, which Showtime CEO Matt Blank says will come from the “storyline at the end of The L Word, the final episode in the final season, [in which] there will be an open-ended component to it.”

"[Creator] Ilene [Chaiken] is going to carry that story along on the Internet, which we think is an interesting way to keep The L Word experience going," he explained. "Then if we decide to go ahead with the spinoff that storyline...

Logo likes The L Word.

The MTV Networks channel, which targets gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender audiences, has acquired the first five seasons of Showtime's lesbian drama series from CBS Television Distribution. The show, which centers on a group of friends living in Los Angeles, is set to premiere on the ad-supported network in summer 2008.

Logo said there also will be numerous online components at the channel's Web site AfterEllen.com, which already has been offering L Word reviews, commentary and show recaps following new episode premieres on Showtime.

"As one of the most celebrated and beloved LGBT series, 'The L Word' is a powerful addition to Logo's array of landmark LGBT entertainment," said Brian Graden, president of MTV Networks Music Group Entertainment and president of Logo.

Other lesbian-themed programming on Logo includes the original comedy "Exes & Ohs," which premieres Oct. 8, reality series Curl Girls and British prison drama Bad Girls along with online series "She Made Me Watch This!" which posts weekly at AfterEllen.com.

L Word, which premiered on Showtime in 2004, stars Jennifer Beals, Leisha Hailey, Laurel Holloman, Mia Kirshner, Katherine Moennig, Pam Grier, Rachel Shelly and Daniela Sea.