Showtime?s new series, The L Word, puts lesbians front and center. For the first time on television lesbian lives will not be relegated to supporting roles. This show will revolve around the lives and loves of a group of Los Angeles women, most of them lesbian and bisexual.

Premiering January 18, 2004, The L Word will feature an all-star cast, including out lesbian Leisha Hailey, Jennifer Beals, Laurel Holloman, Mia Kirshner, Karina Lombard, Pam Grier, Katherine Moennig, Erin Daniels and Eric Mabius.

Lesbians are involved in all aspects of the show?s creation. Ilene Chaiken, the show?s creator has been with her partner for 20 years and has been pushing the show?s idea for years. Writers include Guinevere Turner and Rose Troche both who were involved in the Lesbian movie Go Fish.

The show centers around a long-time lesbian couple, Bette (Jennifer Beals) and Tina (Laurel Holloman) as they try to get pregnant. Their next-door neighbor Jenny (Mia Kirshner) is a fiction writer who recently moved to L.A. with her boyfriend Tim (Eric Mabius.) Jenny finds herself attracted to Marina (Karina Lombard), owner of the café the friends hang out in.

Other friends include lesbian heart-throb Shane (Katherine Moennig), closeted professional tennis player Dana (Erin Daniels), bisexual journalist Alice (Leisha Hailey) and Bette?s straight half-sister Kit (Pam Grier.)

So far reviews of the show have been good. Keep checking back to Lesbian Life for updates on this ground-breaking show.

Note: 2/10/04. Based on the success of the first few episodes, Showtime announced it has renewed The L Word for a second season.