Showtime's 'The Real L Word' Likely to Return as Documentary

Showtime

After six seasons as a scripted series and three as a reality franchise, Showtime may turn The Real L Word into a documentary.

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Showtime entertainment president David Nevins, speaking to reporters Saturday following his executive session at the Television Critics Association's winter press tour, said the reality entry may have seen its last days.

"I want to keep the franchise going and want to change up the show, he said, calling The Real L Word "an important franchise." "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."

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The scripted series starred Jennifer Beals and ran for six seasons on the network, with Showtime nixing plans for a potential spinoff called The Farm that would have starred Leisha Hailey. The unscripted series followed a group of Los Angeles, and later New York, lesbians and addressed subjects including marriage, fidelity and dating.

"We did the scripted show, we did the ensemble reality show and it's probably going to become a documentary this year," Nevins said, noting that there could be a few different ways producers could go.

"It could be one part, could be two parts; there's a few different ways we could do it. They're diving in doing research right now," Nevins said.

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