Feature image via The L Word‘s official Twitter
Today was Showtime Day at the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour, and you know what that means! Crying, laughing, loving, breathing, fighting, fucking, Gen Q teasing. Yes, Jennifer Beals and Leisha Hailey and Kate Moennig took to the stage with Ilene Chaiken, new showrunner Marja-Lewis Ryan, and some of the new cast of The L Word reboot to talk about what’s been going on with Bette and Alice and Shane lo these many years since they axe-murdered Jenny Schecter, and what to expect when they all move to Silver Lake.
The OG queens of #TheLWord are back for the reboot, "Generation Q," premiering on Showtime December 8. Stars @jenniferbeals, @Leisha_Hailey, & @katemoennig pull double duty as producers and mentors to the new cast members. @showtime #TCA19 pic.twitter.com/nnILJWprOP
— The TCA (@OfficialTCA) August 2, 2019
Harkening back to one of the greatest all-time The L Word episodes, “Layup,” during which an inexplicable and delightful game of “basketball” was “played,” Ryan used a sports metaphor to explain to reporters, “We have had long conversations about [lesbians and trans people] and we are very plugged into the conversations that are coming out of the divide. I strongly stand on the side of inclusivity. We don’t have enough teammates to play a full game if we’re not all on the team.”
I’m honestly not sure what that even means but if it means we’re having some kind of queer community trans woman draft, I CHOOSE JEN RICHARDS for my wife! Er, team. Teammate! I choose Jen Richards as my teammate in the sports battle of 2019! Is there making out in the sports battle of 2019? I don’t know! I am open to it! I want to be a good teammate!
What was I talking about?
Oh, right. Showtime’s hit television series Generation Q.
#TheLWord is back! Here’s what they have to say at #TCA19. pic.twitter.com/rsCb6UOyxy
— SHOWTIME (@Showtime) August 2, 2019
Jennifer Beals and Ilene Chaiken, noted texting buddies, were texting when the 2016 election results were coming in and that’s when they decided probably it was time to boot up the ol’ L Word again. “I think this (presidential) administration has given people permission to say really hateful things, and they are perpetrating hateful things,” beaks said. “We haven’t reached any kind of state of equality. The power of storytelling can help that issue.”
Chaiken added, “I finally worked up the nerve to call my dear friend Gary [Levine] and say, ‘What do you think? Should we bring The L Word back?”
Variety Senior Features Editor Danielle Turchiano has a Twitter thread covering the whole shebang.
I remain unconvinced that anyone involved in this show has observed the new age of queer TV being ushered in in the last ten years, but I am excited to find out if I’m wrong — which I will be doing on December 8th, when Generation Q airs its first episode. Happy Hanukkah! Merry Christmas!
Get ready! #TheLWord: Generation Q premieres December 8… and we've got first look photos! Only on #Showtime. #TCA19 pic.twitter.com/9Fzb1iqime
— The L Word (@SHO_TheLWord) August 2, 2019
