Real L Word To "Repackage" Itself As Doc About Lesbians In "Not So Easy" Areas, oh god

Posted byriese

on January 12, 2013

Well ladies, it looks like your second-favorite way to access Whitney Mixter's quadriceps, The Real L Word, probably isn't coming back for a fourth season. Instead, it will evolve into a "documentary."

At Showtime's TCA situation today, Showtime entertainment president David Nevins called The L Word "an important franchise" and said that they're looking into a way to exploit —I mean EXPLORE — "lesbian culture where it's 'not so easy.'" We should all thank our lucky stars that it's taken nine years for the franchise to realize where the genuinely compelling story is and send Ilene Chaiken out there with her camera to capture it.

In full, David Nevins delivered the following news:

"I want to keep the franchise going and want to change up the show. It's probably not going to continue in exactly the same form. I've been talking a lot with [executive producers] Dan [Cutforth], Jane [Lipsitz] and [creator] Ilene [Chaiken] about exploring L Word culture -- lesbian culture in places not New York, L.A. -- where the subculture is not so defined and it's not so easy. I think we're likely to make a documentary that will feel like a Real L Word documentary. We did the scripted show, we did the ensemble reality show and it's probably going to become a documentary this year."

This ambiguous situation has no definite form or structure, as Nevins noted it could possibly appear in one part or, alternately, two entire parts. Two parts! I assume each part would air on a different week, which could really spice things up. You'd have to wait an entire week between parts! So much could happen between those weeks. You could get a new car, or stub your toe, or hang cymbals from your earlobes. Furthermore, Nevins declared: "There's a few different ways we could do it. They're diving in doing research right now."

3b-crazysauce

The good news is, if there's no Season Four of The Real L Word, I'll be granted an additional 30 hours a week in June and July to devote to doing the kind of literary writing I actually care about! I'm sorry, much like the characters of The Real L Word, I can really only think about myself right now. AHAHAHAAHAH!!!!

[Yes, I'll recap the motherf*cking documentary, Intern Grace couldn't be more jazzed]

68 responses to “Real L Word To "Repackage" Itself As Doc About Lesbians In "Not So Easy" Areas, oh god”

fonseca (member)
January 12, 2013 at 9:30 pm Permalink Reply Report user

hello, inevitable exploitation of working class lesbians.

can’t wait.

Wow! 40
1. riese (member)
  January 12, 2013 at 9:32 pm Permalink Reply
  
  hello, inevitable ilene chaiken patting/caressing herself on the back for “sharing their stories”
  
  terrified
  
  Wow! 34
  1. Kate (member)
    January 12, 2013 at 9:36 pm Permalink Reply Report user
    
    hello making it all about their sex lives/relationships and not actually exploring class lines, intersectionality, race issues, cultural differences within queer communities, etc
    
    would prefer a dusty and romi biopic to the problematic shitshow we are about to witness
    
    Wow! 45
    1. riese (member)
      January 12, 2013 at 9:40 pm Permalink Reply
      
      now i have their christmas song stuck in my head again
      
      3
      1. Kate (member)
        January 12, 2013 at 9:44 pm Permalink Reply Report user
        
        when i say i am unironically their hugest ironic fan i am not shitting you
        
        romi if you are reading this right now AND I KNOW YOU ARE please send me an autographed copy of your album when it comes out as i am starting a shrine
        
        9
        
        Scorpiopixie
        January 12, 2013 at 10:44 pm Permalink
        
        Ack! I had juuuust managed to forget about Dusty and Romi and you brought their music back into my head. Sigh. Thanks.
        
        1
        
        Maria (member)
        January 16, 2013 at 9:51 am Permalink
        
        “music”
        
        0
        
        Maria (member)
        January 16, 2013 at 9:52 am Permalink
        
        can I change that to #”music”?
        
        0
    2. Anna (member)
      January 12, 2013 at 10:13 pm Permalink Reply Report user
      
      Am I the only one that read “dusty and romi biopic” and immediately thought that if IFC actually made this it would make a fantastic drinking game?
      
      4
    3. L
      January 13, 2013 at 10:40 am Permalink Reply
      
      Isn’t this every reality show ever, though?
      
      I mean I understand the desire and need for well done representation of marginalized communities but there seems to be little to no framework within this type of ‘reality television’ to implement that. Shows that follow young people and their various sexual and romantic escapades, gay or straight, tend to look like TRLW regardless. Don’t get me wrong, a docu-series spanning several seasons that explores the complexities of queer life through an intersectional feminist lens would be great, but would have very little support from television executives or mainstream audiences. Of course, the problem queer women have with this series seems to be an anxiety that people will view ‘all lesbians’ like this. But TRLW is just fitting in with other similar reality shows.
      
      2
Paper0Flowers (member)
January 12, 2013 at 9:47 pm Permalink Reply Report user

I could live off of your sarcasm, Riese.

xoxo <3

12
Trombonist (member)
January 12, 2013 at 10:03 pm Permalink Reply Report user

What’re they gonna call it, The Real Real L Word?

14
1. Sam (member)
  January 12, 2013 at 10:28 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  The realest?
  
  11
2. riese (member)
  January 12, 2013 at 10:32 pm Permalink Reply
  
  The Real L Word: For Real Though
  
  Wow! 46
  1. Erin (member)
    January 12, 2013 at 11:08 pm Permalink Reply Report user
    
    The Real L Word: Keepin’ It Real
    
    Truly a trendy name because they dropped the “g” like all those slangster lesbians in wild places like Cincinnati or wherever.
    
    5
    1. Trombonist (member)
      January 13, 2013 at 1:05 am Permalink Reply Report user
      
      The Real L Word: Most Of This Stuff Isn’t Actually Real
      
      5
      1. blueinthefaceangel (member)
        January 13, 2013 at 8:50 am Permalink Reply Report user
        
        The Real L word: We are really really really , doing this shit.
        
        5
        
        Emily (member)
        January 13, 2013 at 10:28 am Permalink
        
        The Real L Word: L’in
        
        2
3. Rose (member)
  January 12, 2013 at 10:38 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  This is really pathetic but I couldn’t help but think of this meme:
  
  http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/33292429.jpg
  
  15
4. Linnea (member)
  January 13, 2013 at 5:42 am Permalink Reply Report user
  
  The Really Real L Word: For Realsies this time…Really!
  
  4
Erin (member)
January 12, 2013 at 10:03 pm Permalink Reply Report user

I sometimes wonder if she has any clue at all what life is like for lesbian and queer ladies outside of WeHo and whatever the trendy places are in New York. I haven’t seen any sign that she does from anything she’s made.

2
Intern Grace (member)
January 12, 2013 at 10:07 pm Permalink Reply

OH GOOD.

Wow! 22
AnnaY
January 12, 2013 at 10:14 pm Permalink Reply

Oh neat, a series that actually attempts to address the intersection between things like race, economic class, and sexual orientation.

“Ilene Chaiken.”

Never mind.

Wow! 26
fitforafemme (member)
January 12, 2013 at 10:20 pm Permalink Reply Report user

The Real L Word: Here Comes Whitney Boo Boo. I can see it now.

Wow! 31
1. Erin
  January 12, 2013 at 11:05 pm Permalink Reply
  
  LOVE IT
  
  0
2. Emily (member)
  January 13, 2013 at 10:29 am Permalink Reply Report user
  
  Ain’t nothing wrong with being a lot gay. Everyone’s a lot gay.
  
  6
Caitlyn (member)
January 12, 2013 at 10:20 pm Permalink Reply Report user

No, no, no, no, no. This is a very bad idea, for so many reasons – ugh.

4
mo
January 12, 2013 at 10:28 pm Permalink Reply

oh my fuggin garsh! not so easy areas, so like, everywhere? god. how awful, who wants to see their own miserable existence replicated for a documentary. who is gonna watch that and frankly im a tad offended, as if they are saying, hey, we know your lives are difficult and unglamorous, and most lesbians are unpolished and unattractive….. i think this premise does more harm than good. kinda sounds like a pity party. shame on you ilene!

3
1. Caitlyn (member)
  January 12, 2013 at 10:33 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  RIGHT. And, I mean, documentaries are supposed to be factual, truth revealing, honest – but this is, just, just no, nope, not even accurate.
  
  0
dasha
January 12, 2013 at 10:31 pm Permalink Reply

This makes it sound like the real lesbians live in NYC and LA and the rest of us are backward hicks that don’t have a sense of community or what it’s like to be queer. Although many of us grow frustrated with the way the lesbian community has been portrayed in the L Word and the Real L Word, the possibility of there being a documentary about places where being a lesbian is not so easy doesn’t sound that appealing either. I really want this show to be good and feature real life for queer women (and God forbid women of color), but the description alone makes me want to do a huge eye roll, let alone give it a chance.

12
1. Erin (member)
  January 12, 2013 at 11:01 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  “This makes it sound like the real lesbians live in NYC and LA and the rest of us are backward hicks that don’t have a sense of community or what it’s like to be queer.”
  
  Ilene Chaiken is going to go out on a safari to witness the raw lesbian in its natural habitat. “What is this? Flannel? And those boots…they’re so….masculine. Interesting.” It’ll be like shark week, but with more cliches and no understanding of the true nature of a thing being reached.
  
  Wow! 33
  1. j
    January 13, 2013 at 12:01 pm Permalink Reply
    
    def read that as
    >> it’ll be like shark week, but with more clits
    
    7
    1. Trombonist (member)
      January 13, 2013 at 1:53 pm Permalink Reply Report user
      
      I’d watch that.
      
      3
Sam (member)
January 12, 2013 at 10:32 pm Permalink Reply Report user

I love the idea but of course know that it couldn’t possibly be well executed. Can we just make this ourselves? I have lived a very blessed life in terms of this: Grew up in the Bay Area, parents accepted my Gay brother and me, moved to New York and currently live in Chicago (home of the most active? straddler nation).

I’m curious how they will make the transition from “reality” to a documentary. I hope they understabd the difference!

4
Rachel (member)
January 12, 2013 at 10:33 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Well, fuck.

In fact,
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbfl0144P11qm185do1_500.gif

1
Rose (member)
January 12, 2013 at 10:35 pm Permalink Reply Report user

This has “hot mess” written all over it.

(I mean, I hope, it could also be “so exploitative it’s not even enjoyable in an ironic, mocking way” written all over it.)

3
stef (member)
January 12, 2013 at 10:51 pm Permalink Reply Report user

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR VERO THOUGH

18
Autostradoodle (member)
January 12, 2013 at 11:49 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Ilene, if I can’t masturbate to this documentary I’m going to be very disappointed in you.

18
1. Anna (member)
  January 13, 2013 at 1:42 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  SPIT TAKE!!!!
  
  2
Jennifer (member)
January 13, 2013 at 12:44 am Permalink Reply Report user

OMG!!! Can they do the ‘Simple L Life’ where too celesbians, let’s say Romi and ‘what’s her name again, the blond chick from New York but not the one with pink hair’ will go to a small town and meet with some farmer’s lesbian daughters and teach them how to design feather earrings, or how to make it to the music industry, and die their hair. With a complete Romi make over for the farmer girls and at the end they would have learnt so many superficial stuffs and our celesbians won’t have learn a thing abt countryside life. I would watch that show.

16
Peo
January 13, 2013 at 1:38 am Permalink Reply

With ‘research’ they must surely mean calling Westboro to see if they’ll picket fence some small town lesbian wedding on camera.

0
Miriam (member)
January 13, 2013 at 5:03 am Permalink Reply Report user

Maybe now they’ll start showing trans* women– oh, who am I kidding?

4
Holly
January 13, 2013 at 5:26 am Permalink Reply

Typical. You finally have lesbian couples that have made it – marriage, babies, commitment, and you want to pull the plug. You know that group called ” it gets better” dont you think it would make more sense to explore the amazement, strength and beauty in couples that are successful to give others hope? Youre cutting the legs out from underneath all your fans.
We KNOW the struggle! We know coming out is terrifying and finding the right girlfriend can be a never ending battle. Show us the beauty in the fight! Show us we can do this! Kiyomi is from my home down and no one here can believe what she has accomplished. Its giving the struggling people hope.
You are killing the baby you created.
Sincerely, angry lifer fan.

3
Lee
January 13, 2013 at 5:37 am Permalink Reply

A documentary? Oh pu-leez, I could hardly stand it as it was. The world is getting tough for a shallow lesbian like me. Not only do we have to endure the excessive pc attitude of the community but also not allowed all the guilty pleasures the unrepresented straight majority gets. Well, at least it being a doc and all, we’ll be aware of what to expect. Having traveled a lot, the only inclusive and realistic representation of every kind of straight person comes from The Discovery Channel. Not that it bothers them.

0
b
January 13, 2013 at 8:29 am Permalink Reply

SO many red flags, so many. there is no way this isn’t going to further alienate rural working class straight people from queer culture by being the most classist, condescending bullshit ever, while also insulting the queer women it focuses on by constructing a narrative about how provincial/unglamorous/abject their lives are. (right when a whole slew of queer historians and anthropologists have been producing fascinating work on how rich and interesting queer lives outside the urban gay mainstream have been in the past and continue to be, despite homophobia). Why is Chaiken in charge of the representation of queer women in mainstream american culture? why is it assumed that a woman who can make a compelling fictional tv program (because the L Word, while problematic in 1001 ways, was compelling) can also make good reality tv and, jesus christ this upsets me, a good DOCUMENTARY? And why is ryan murphy also so powerful? we have GOT to produce some better alternatives. autostraddle, please help!!

2
blueinthefaceangel (member)
January 13, 2013 at 8:53 am Permalink Reply Report user

My Fuck no meter has reach it’s full capacity and I can’t deal with this shit no more. IFC is trying so hard to be relevant and it’s just not going to happen.

5
Cat (member)
January 13, 2013 at 10:08 am Permalink Reply Report user

The only thing that would make this tolerable, and ironically funny, is if it was narrated by David Attenborough.

10
1. Kathryn (member)
  January 13, 2013 at 12:45 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  This is everything I never knew I wanted.
  
  3
2. turkish (member)
  January 13, 2013 at 1:28 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  I would prefer Werner Herzog.
  
  1
  1. Katja
    March 14, 2013 at 10:31 pm Permalink Reply
    
    Yes, I vote Werner Herzog!
    
    “When the lesbian was a lesbian, she walked with her arms swinging, wanted the brook to be a river, the river to be a torrent, …”
    
    0
3. kd15 (member)
  January 13, 2013 at 1:54 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  Planet Earth: Lesbians coming soon to Nat Geo and BBC/BBC America
  
  2
4. Jen (member)
  January 13, 2013 at 3:03 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  I vote for Ira Flatow and/or Ira Glass, please.
  
  1
L
January 13, 2013 at 10:42 am Permalink Reply

Aside from the fact that it most likely won’t be done well, what is wrong with the abstract concept itself? Isn’t the fact that TRLW was filmed in the ‘party scene’ LA and NYC one of the main criticisms of the show?

1
J
January 13, 2013 at 10:53 am Permalink Reply

The Real L Word: Fo’ Cereals edition.

2
Robert
January 13, 2013 at 12:56 pm Permalink Reply

I’m find with it. It was getting repetitive in some form of fashion. I have to agree with someone on a different board that Romi Klinger killed the franchise. My two cents.

1
A. (member)
January 13, 2013 at 1:29 pm Permalink Reply Report user

The only remotely awesome thing that has or ever will evolve from The Real L Word:

http://www.fillyfilms.com/video/the-real-l-word-xxx/

Also, Cori and Kacy.

0
kpee
January 13, 2013 at 2:31 pm Permalink Reply

i think it’s time for this horrifying spectacle to end. it is so clearly designed by and for the lesbian elite. i say we use this opportunity to overthrow the lesbian capitol.

2
HD
January 13, 2013 at 5:46 pm Permalink Reply

The Real L Word: Lez get Real

0
zeebooze
January 14, 2013 at 1:40 am Permalink Reply

Good concept bad ending.. like the l word, great series but the ending is bad. the spin-off?? a lot of talk but was never made.. The Real L Word, kinda getting interesting, a lot of beginnings, but suddenly they want to stop it. I hope the documentary can be better.. (I hope so!)

0
Bel
January 14, 2013 at 10:20 am Permalink Reply

Fuck you Ilene Chaiken. No. Not really. You wish.

0
Anonymous Gay Lady
January 14, 2013 at 12:44 pm Permalink Reply

test

0
Anonymous Gay Lady
January 14, 2013 at 1:01 pm Permalink Reply

1. A vote for a different type of project.
I concur with the voices of wanting more representation of non-marginalized lives of lesbians. Our lives can be and are full and satisfying – in many ways (in my experience) *because* we are gay and in gay relationships. While I understand the call to produce more true depictions of gay women who are living with particular challenges and hardships because they are gay, I myself (and would believe there are many like me) am hungry for story lines – fictitious, real, or loosely based on real lives – that are positive, satisfying, victorious…

2. “Lesbian in the gay marriage way, not in the porn way.” My biggest fear in this new project is that it will turn into some MTV-esque low-budget filming of gay women – who happen to be without any power or privilege – for the viewing pleasure of the proverbial ‘male gaze’: That rather than being an ernest (non-box-office-hit) ‘gay marriage’ type view of the lesbian experience, it will be a series of peeks into the bedrooms of these women. In addition to being degrading to the women participating in the project, it would be an enormous disservice to gay women in the US and globally. I truly hope the project yields something more substantive, respectful, and true (I add ‘true’ because although we have sex like the rest of the world, it is not the main driving factor or identifier for most gay women, I believe – just as when/how/how often one has sex is not a main identifier for most heterosexuals.)

3. Action! To those who produce TV and film (fledglings to senior experts), if you fall into the anti-Chaiken pool, please do us all a good deed by joining the race to be the *next* (better, improved in whatever way you think necessary) Ilene Chaiken and start writing/filming/networking/pitching!!! In this Comments section alone, it sounds like there is quite a strong demand for a new Queen of lesbian film/TV content…

1
1. Robert
  January 18, 2013 at 12:45 pm Permalink Reply
  
  Preach!!!
  
  0
occhick13714 (member)
January 21, 2013 at 7:58 am Permalink Reply Report user

Lol and I will watch this garbage because there are no other quality shows for Lesbians .__.

0
MUMadeline (member)
January 25, 2013 at 2:01 am Permalink Reply Report user

could they at least be a little more direct and honest with what they mean by “not so easy”? At least we all knew the The Real L Word was a joke and does a major diservice to the lesbian/queer/trans community (albeit a captivating and titillating show to watch). But not that they want to get serious with a documentary, things just got worse.

0
J. Castro
April 20, 2013 at 10:03 pm Permalink Reply

My wife and I actually love this series but after reading all of the comments I didn’t realize the lesbian community was offended by it. I’m a guy so I guess I wouldn’t really understand. Good show in my opinion though.

0
Mj
May 14, 2013 at 3:07 am Permalink Reply

My wife and I have watched this show from the beginning, I always knew this shit was bogus. We raise 3 children and work 2 shit jobs in Northern Kentucky. We own a Honda accord and I’ve never, ever, seen one similarity in this show to our lives. I hated myself for watching. That show does not depict the normal everyday life of lesbian reality. My wife and I do not party, we do not sleep around with our friends,we are trying to take the love we’ve shared, a build a decent, respectful, fucking family. If people want or need to know what the struggle is like, show something REAL!!!!

0
RachelO
May 25, 2013 at 11:40 pm Permalink Reply

Who wants to watch normal boring lives of people just doing normal things?!
TRLW was entertaining, it had some positive people in it and it was mainly Romi that was vile and fake.
What wrong with a little escapism? And ya know the lesbians that do live in LA and NYC or wherever that do party all the time and make loads of money and act a bit slutty…are no less real than the ones that want a family and live in a suburb in the arse end of nowhere – they are just more entertaining!!!
So for the love of all that is good Ileine….don’t pretend to be credible…. just continue making your slightly ridiculous shows about hot women who do silly things for my entertainment .
Thanks!

0