PRODUCTION NOTES

 

Unresolved romances and a long-simmering film project finally bear fruit in the fifth season of THE L WORD®, returning January 2008 to SHOWTIME. Dreams come true and new life paths are forged for many of the show's beloved characters this year – but not without the The L Word's trademark provocative storylines, sizzling sexuality, and heart-rending emotion. The series stars Jennifer Beals, Leisha Hailey, Laurel Holloman, Mia Kirshner, Katherine Moennig, Daniela Sea, Rachel Shelley and Pam Grier. Season five's new guest stars include Kelly McGillis and Wallace Shawn, alongside returning special guest stars Cybill Shepherd, Marlee Matlin, Kristanna Loken, Jane Lynch and, returning to a role that earned the program acclaim and controversy, Rose Rollins as Tasha, an Iraq War veteran concealing her sexuality from the military.

Season five's major plot developments include a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" investigation of Tasha Williams (Rose Rollins), a closeted soldier whose moving romance last season with the out-and-proud Alice Pieszecki (Leisha Hailey)  earned the show an award from the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.

Series creator and executive producer Ilene Chaiken is proud of the attention her series is bringing to the lingering but still-unresolved issue of gay military service. "I hope Tasha's story will shed light on the military's untenable policy of institutionalized discrimination again gay men and lesbians who sacrifice to serve their county," Chaiken says. "Tasha's experience with 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' only skims the surface of the battles gay servicemembers face everyday. We're grateful to have had the opportunity to tell her story and hope that it sparks consensus, rather than controversy, on the need for policy reform."

Debuting as the tough veteran Colonel Gillian Davis, who is charged with prosecuting Tasha's case, is Kelly McGillis, star of such blockbuster motion pictures as Witness and Top Gun. McGillis brings grit and panache to a role that, like so many in The L Word, is less one-dimensional than it might be first assumed.

McGillis isn't the only exciting fifth season guest star. Chaiken reveals that, "In addition to Jane Lynch and Holland Taylor, we're delighted by the return of Cybill Shepherd and her real-life daughter, Clementine Ford, to play the mother-daughter duo of Phyllis and Molly Kroll." Molly, who insists that she is straight (in contrast to her recently out mother) proves an unexpectedly stalwart foil to legendary heart breaker Shane (Katherine Moennig). Chaiken hints, "As for Shane…let's just say she's back and better than ever, but also more self-aware and prepared to deal with the girl drama she invites.

"Also new to season five is the incredible Wallace Shawn as the wily financier of Jenny's movie," reveals Chaiken. When Jenny's undaunted persistence resurrects her autobiographical movie project Lez Girls with money from a hedge-fund billionaire (Shawn), the polarizing writer soon finds herself behind the camera directing the film, as well as wooing the hot new "It Girl" actress Nikki (Kate French) to star. "The production of Lez Girls is bringing a wealth of new talent to The L Word," says Chaiken, who also cites guest stars Malaya Rivera Drew, who plays Jenny's disturbingly devoted assistant Adele, and Patricia Velasquez as Begonia, a self-possessed actress appearing in Jenny's film. "We are having an absolute blast with Jenny this year as she takes on Hollywood with her movie and its 'fictional' account of the friends' lives," Chaiken laughs.

Another significant story line for season five is the arrival of Dawn Denbo (Elizabeth Keener) and her lover Cindi (Alicia Leigh Willis), a pair of Florida party-girl emigres who open a new establishment to rival longtime hangout The Planet, setting into motion a rivalry with The Planet's owner Kit (Pam Grier) that starts benignly but quickly turns bitter.

Then there are Bette and Tina, the former couple whose on-again, off-again romance remains, for many fans, the heart of The L Word. Despite Bette's continued serious involvement with artist and professor Jodi Lerner (Marlee Matlin), her feelings for Tina seem to be gradually simmering into "on-again" mode, and the feeling could be mutual. The characters' tortured passion will have viewers taking sides and glued to the screen.

When discussing the rollercoaster ride that is Bette and Tina, the executive producer chooses her words carefully. "I am certainly moved by how much the story of Bette and Tina resonates with viewers," Chaiken asserts. "I won't confirm or deny anything just yet but will say that everyone behind the show approached season five with a completely open mind. My personal hope is for Bette and Tina to find happiness, whether as friends and co-parents, or as a couple. We've seen them play both of those roles over the past four seasons and I believe they're ready for resolution. But you'll have to watch to find out which path they chose."

Chaiken has a few more twists and turns planned for the new season, but says that the return of The L Word's characters to the extended family vibe of the early years is the theme that really shapes the new episodes. "Some of our favorite scenes to write and shoot at The L Word have always been the big group scenes – those gatherings at The Planet, or get-togethers at Shane and Jenny's or one of our famous dinner parties," she relates. "If anything defines season five it's a return to the magical friendship among our ladies and the humor it brings to their lives and our stories. At the same time, our characters are growing up and their core relationships to each other and as a group are shifting. In season five, I wouldn't be surprised to see friendships take unexpected, dangerous, heartbreaking…or even romantic detours."

 

The L Word is one of Showtime's most popular series, generating a large and loyal audience, as well as critical praise for its provocative, sexy storylines, the engaging and nuanced performances of its principal cast, and its appeal to celebrated directors and guest stars. Premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. PT/ET with several multi-plays during the week and available on the ever-growing Showtime On Demand, the groundbreaking series follows a group of Los Angeles-based friends as they navigate careers, families, friendships, inner struggles and romantic entanglements. Since its debut in January 2004, The L Word has become part of American popular culture, spawning dedicated fan websites and blogs, and even branded products such as perfume, jewelry and books.

Ilene Chaiken executive produces The L Word through her production company Little Chicken Inc. The series was created by Chaiken and Kathy Greenberg & Michele Abbott, and is distributed internationally by MGM International Television Distribution, Inc.

 

EPISODE SYNOPSES

THE L WORD 501: "LGB TEASE"

Logline: The fifth season opens with Shane derailing plans to move in with Paige, then suffering the consequences, while Jenny returns from a Mexican vacation with a billionaire movie financier in tow, and Phyllis has sudden doubts about the exclusivity of her romance with Joyce.

Synopsis: As the fifth season opens, Helena's adjustment to prison life is not exactly a smooth one, while Bette and Tina sweat their way through the rigorous preschool admissions process for Angelica; a lonely Tina ponders the rigors of seeking a new relationship.

Not long after extolling the virtues of Joyce during Alice's podcast, Phyllis begins to have doubts about their relationship and wonders if she should explore other sexual and romantic options, even as Joyce plans a festive "coming out" party for her at The Planet.

Classically unable to avoid temptation, Shane hooks up with a sexy real estate agent, but is discovered in the act by Paige, who furiously puts an end to their relationship. But Shane hasn't heard the last of the scorned and humiliated single mom.

Jenny returns from Mexico with a much-abused assistant in tow and a creative bombshell: she is involved with the Greek hedge fund billionaire who is financing Tina's movie company, a development that puts Jenny's script "Lez Girls" back on the fast-track for production – with Jenny attached to direct. The only person happy to see Jenny back home, in the meantime, is Shane.

Her friends try to find a new lover for Tina, but her heart's just not in the dating game, and Shane's attempt to fly "wingman" for her at Phyllis's coming-out party works out as badly as anyone would have predicted. A spark between her and Bette blows out when Jodi returns home and resumes trying to break Bette of her type-A tendencies.

Two new entrepreneurs from Miami open "Shebar," a rival lesbian nighclub near The Planet, causing Kit to be concerned about the future of her business – a worry that Shane no longer has when WAX goes up in flames, the result of arson.

Instead of being deployed to Iraq as expected, Tasha shows up Alice's apartment for a charged reunion – but what is she doing home when her unit is on its way to the Middle East?

 

THE L WORD 502: "LOOK OUT, HERE THEY COME!"

Logline: Tina's obvious, lingering affection for Bette affects her dating prospects; Shane's last-minute gig styling hair at a wedding results in a comic series of erotic encounters; Tasha reveals her reason for not shipping out to Iraq: she's being investigated for "homosexual conduct."

Synopsis: Shane accepts a last-minute gig as a wedding hair stylist for the wealthy family of Jenny and Tina's producer William Halsey, and finds herself literally up to her ears in illicit sex with the bridesmaids – and even the mother of the bride. But she's soon dodging the clingiest of her lovers, advising the distraught, reluctant bride to go through with the ceremony, and fleeing for her life when her paramours figure out that she's been double and triple-timing them.

Meanwhile, Shane's friend speculate about the burning of WAX, which everyone attributes to Paige. And an attempt at a love connection ends in disappointment for Tina, who can't manage to disguise her lingering attraction to and love for Bette. When Bette shows up at The Planet with Jodi, her appearance puts an end to Tina's increasingly awkward first (and last) date.

Tasha's solicitation of legal advice from a colleague on base reveals the truth about why she wasn't deployed to Iraq – she's being investigated by the military for suspected homosexual conduct. And it's quickly clear that even old friends won't be willing to defend her. Alice struggles to accept Tasha's desire to remain in the service and lie about her true nature.

Adele, an eccentric new hipster patron of The Planet and a recent émigré from Florida, turns out to be Jenny's number one literary fan and quickly lands herself the job of the writer's new, disturbingly devoted assistant.

Determined to date other people and not make the same mistakes she did during her long and unhappy marriage, Phyllis breaks up with Joyce, who doesn’t take the news well.

When she is viciously attacked by a gang in the prison shower, Helena is rescued by her hulking, reticent cell mate Dusty, and the two are soon bonding over vintage movie stars – as well as Dusty's muscular physique.

 

THE L WORD 503: "LADY OF THE LAKE"

Logline: Shane swears off sex and reaps the health benefits with new energy and focus; Tina's dating woes finally improve; Max ponders a mutual same-sex attraction to Jodi's interpreter; The Planet is burglarized and Kit attacked after hours.

Synopsis: Her friends are skeptical when, in the wake of her recent drama at a wedding reception, Shane swears off sex and embraces a healthier lifestyle of exercise and meditation. Her new drive and mental agility are hard to deny, however.

Max ponders a same-sex attraction to Jodi's cute, gay interpreter Tom, who is clearly smitten. At first resistant, Max's resolve begins to crumble under Tom's affectionate attention.

Jodi's annual lakeside retreat with a group of close lifelong friends is a disaster thanks to an uptight and very boundary-conscious Bette, who gets a reprieve of sorts when Kit is robbed by thieves at The Planet – which is temporarily closed due to the incident.

Helena's mother finally turns up to bail her daughter out of jail, but the inmate's got a surprise for everyone: she wants to stay with her new cellmate and lover Dusty. When she's forcibly bailed out, Helena schemes to recover the millions she stole, spring Dusty out of jail, and disappear for good.

Tasha clashes with her longtime friend and colleague Beech, who is now assigned against his will to defend her against the military's claim of homosexual behavior. Despite the truth of the allegation, a distraught Tasha is determined to fight the case despite being forced to lie and preserve her cherished career.

After surfing the net for a date, Tina hooks up with a gorgeous, surgically enhanced doctor whose unexpected interest in art collecting soon has them bonding and more.

 

THE L WORD 504: "LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED"

Logline: Bette's jealousy over Tina's new girlfriend is the probable cause of a surprising moment; Jenny is courted for the lead in her movie by the latest Bond girl; the gang attends the opening of a new lesbian club competing with The Planet.

Synopsis: While enrolled in a self-defense class with Kit, the gang discusses plans to attend the opening of SheBar, a rival new lesbian club competing with The Planet, which is still temporarily closed. Bette hears for the first time that Tina is dating Brenda, an attractive heart surgeon.

Alice receives a menacing visit from a pair of condescending military investigators who bully their way into her apartment, searching for signs of her relationship with Tasha. Alice is left shaken and enraged, inspiring Tasha to confront her lackluster legal defender Beech, whose reluctance to get more involved than necessary begins to diminish.

Bette handles a complaint from a student who claims to have been traumatized by a work of violent performance art in Jodi's classroom, but Jodi dismisses the charge as overwrought. Meanwhile, she and Bette's romantic relationship is still strained in the wake of their truncated weekend getaway to the lake.

Disappointed to be turned down for the lead in "Lez Girls" by an A-list actress, Jenny nevertheless resists the studio's pressure to cast a talented unknown, upcoming "Bond girl" Niki Stevens – but she reconsiders when Niki seeks out Jenny at SheBar and reveals a little-known personal secret.

While a self-protection-minded Kit shops for a gun, Alice and Tasha attend a top-secret party thrown by Hollywood power player Barry Burd, whose hush-hush gatherings are safe havens for those in the closet to let their hair down.

After days without sexual gratification, Shane begins to show signs of mental, physical and emotional distress – but an encounter with the debutante party-girl owners of SheBar may provide the relief she needs.

Meanwhile, in a secluded side-room at SheBar, former couple Bette and Tina share an illicit kiss…

 

THE L WORD 505: "LOOKIN' AT YOU, KID"

Logline: Jenny throws a bash to introduce her friends to the actresses playing them in "Lez Girls," provoking both delight and distress; Bette and Tina try to deal with what is obviously a rekindled spark; Alice angrily outs a secretly gay sports star after he utters a homophobic slur, sparking a media firestorm.

Synopsis: Jenny rehearses her cast for "Lez Girls" and throws a wild bash to introduce her cast to their real-life counterparts, which results in delight for some (Shane – who is amused when the actress portraying her insists she's only "gay for pay"), consternation for others (Bette – who is disgusted that the actress playing her is not black) and bittersweet melancholy for one (Alice – who is shocked at the resemblance to Dana of the actress playing her late lover).

When a celebrity athlete uses a nasty homophobic slur in an ugly, publicly anti-gay statement, Alice uses evidence of his secret gay life to "out" him on her web site. When her post goes viral and results in a media firestorm, Alice is suddenly thrust into the spotlight as a gay rights advocate – but the attention and Alice's militant stance are too much for Tasha, who is still trying to fly under the military's radar. The incident causes the couple to break up.

The fallout over the violent performance art in Jodi's class worsens, with the Board of Trustees and Phyllis now dragged into the situation. Torn between trying to protect her lover/employee from herself, and recognizing her urge to intervene may be a result of type-A control issues, Bette needs advice and finds that Tina is the only one to whom she can turn.

The party-girl owners of SheBar continue to rip off all of Kit's innovative business ideas, including serving breakfast and a drive-through window – but their mutual attraction to Shane, who unsuccessfully attempts to remain neutral, threatens to derail a business partnership that is thus far proving quite lucrative.

Though the rest of the gang dismisses his suspicions, Max grows increasingly wary of Jenny's overly attentive new assistant Adele, and manages to prove that some of Adele's self-professed backstory is a blatant lie. Adele covers the discrepancy smoothly, and no one else seems to care – Tina even asks her to keep an eye on Jenny and secretly alert her to any developments about which the studio would be concerned.

Phyllis is stunned when Joyce uses their break-up as leverage in winning back her divorce case.

When Jenny and her star/protégé Niki hook up in a closet during the party, their love making is witnessed by none other than Adele, who takes a disturbing interest in the scene.

 

THE L WORD 506: "LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!"

Logline: The production of "Lez Girls" finally begins and director Jenny deals with all the usual headaches of filmmaking – including a recalcitrant star and lover, Niki; Bette and Tina struggle with their rekindled feelings; the owners of SheBar take their war against the gang to the next level.

Synopsis: Production finally gets underway on "Lez Girls," but Jenny struggles with location issues, an emotionally needy star, and a cast made up of several straight actresses experiencing great difficulty feigning erotic passion on camera with their female partners.

Working on the film as its hair designer, Shane is only to happen to lend a creative hand by demonstrating the proper techniques for a public display of lesbian sensuality with a willing and attractive actress.

Unable to control or suppress their desires any longer, Bette and Tina end up in each other's arms – only to suffer the guilt of infidelity when they realize how seriously Bette is betraying Jodi.

The latter doesn't make things easier when she nobly offers to resign from her professorship in order to take political heat off Bette in the wake of a student's controversial "feigned suicide" performance art. Phyllis is willing to accept Jodi's decision but Bette refuses to consider the possibility.

A wild house party is a raucous good time for Phyllis until her daughter arrives at an inopportune moment and witnesses her mother's uninhibited behavior, driving a wedge between them even as Phyllis's high-profile divorce from Leonard is still looming.

Shane receives a double-dose of the conniving, greedy, and slightly deranged scheming of SheBar owners Cindy and Dawn – so she's the first to suspect foul play when rats are discovered at The Planet and the restaurant is immediately shut down by the health department. A furious Kit knows it's time for the gloves to come off.

On the set of "Lez Girls," Adele's low-key but unsettling obsession with Jenny becomes more obvious when she mimics her idol's haircut (with a little help from Shane). Nevertheless, Adele saves the day when she spins the revelation of Jenny and Niki's sexual relationship in a positive direction.

CAST & CREW BIOS

 

ILENE CHAIKEN (Creator, Executive Producer) has exhibited extraordinary range and versatility throughout her film and television career as both a writer and producer. Defying all boundaries, Chaiken created the groundbreaking hit series “The L Word” in 2003, which brought lesbianism out of the closet and into homes nationally and internationally. The show follows the lives of a group of gay, bisexual, transgender, and straight friends struggling with career, family, friendship, and romance in Los Angeles. Debuting with stars such as Jennifer Beals and Pam Grier, the show has continued to draw an impressive cast, with additions such as Marlee Matlin, Cybill Shepherd, and Wallace Shawn. Chaiken made her directorial debut in season two and continues to direct the season finale each year.

Chaiken began her career as a producer and was an executive for Aaron Spelling Productions and Quincy Jones Productions before moving to the creative side. Other writing credits include Propaganda Pictures’ “Barb Wire” with Pamela Anderson, as well as the SHOWTIME Original Picture “Dirty Pictures,” which won a Golden Globe® Award for Best Television Movie in 2000.

Chaiken currently resides in Los Angeles with her two wonderful twin daughters.

JENNIFER BEALS (Bette Porter) began her career after graduation from high school when she auditioned for Flashdance, resulting in a role which earned her a Golden Globe® nomination, and an NAACP Image Award for Best Actress. In recent years, Beals has had starring roles in a myriad of films, including The Anniversary Party, Showtime’s The Twilight of the Golds, The Last Days of Disco, Roger Dodger, In the Soup, Four Rooms, Vampire’s Kiss, Doctor M., Caro Diario and The Madonna and the Dragon. Recent film credits include Catch That Girl, Runaway Jury, and the recently released The Grudge 2.

LAUREL HOLLOMAN (Tina Kennard) is a native of Chapel Hill, North Carolina and an alumna of Chicago’s Piven Theatre Workshop. For THE L WORD®, Holloman has garnered critical acclaim and received the 2005 Golden Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series. She began her career as a stage actress in New York, appearing in the Roundabout Theatre's “The Glass Menagerie.” Turning her attention to film, she played a tomboy as the lead in the teenage lesbian romance The Incredible True Adventures of Two Girls in Love. Holloman delighted audiences as the ever-curious younger sister to Julianne Moore and Noah Wyle in Bart Freundlich's critically-acclaimed feature The Myth of Fingerprints and as the lusty girlfriend to Mark Wahlberg in Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights. She also starred in Prefontaine as Jared Leto's girlfriend, in Tumbleweeds as Janet McTeer's feisty co-worker, and in Committed as Heather Graham's emotionally disturbed hospital roommate. Other film credits include Lush, Cherry, Loving Jezebel and the lead role in the WWII coming-of-age film, The Rising Place with Marc Webber and Frances Fisher. Holloman's performance in The Rising Place garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards at several prestigious film festivals around the world. Holloman starred in a recurring role as a tough and sexy vampire slayer on Joss Whedon's WB hit series Angel. Holloman currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter.

MIA KIRSHNER (Jenny Schecter) was recently seen as the title character in Brian De Palma’s The Black Dahlia for Universal Pictures with Scarlett Johansson and Josh Hartnett. Kirshner began her acting career at the age of 17, playing a clairvoyant dominatrix in Love and Human Remains, a performance that earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination for a Genie Award (Canada’s Oscar). In 1994, Kirshner starred in Atom Egoyan’s Exotica alongside Victor Garber, Bruce Greenwod and Sarah Polley. She co-starred with Kevin Bacon and Christian Slater in the Warner Bros. drama Murder in the First, and also appeared in the critically-acclaimed independent feature Party Monster with Macaulay Culkin and Chloe Sevigny. Kirshner is also known to television audiences for her role on the popular Fox series “24” where she portrayed a mysterious would-be presidential assassin. Kirshner was born in Toronto, Canada and studied English and Russian Literature at the prestigious McGill University. She resides in Los Angeles, California.

MARLEE MATLIN (Jodi Lerner) received worldwide critical acclaim for her film debut in Paramount Pictures' Children of a Lesser God, for which she received the Academy Award® for Best Actress. At 21, she became the youngest recipient, and only one of four actresses to receive the honor for her film debut. In addition, Matlin received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama. She followed with Walker, starring opposite Ed Harris, filmed in Nicaragua. While filming there, Matlin took time to visit both hearing and hearing impaired children, as she has continued to so throughout her travels both in the U.S. and abroad. Matlin has starred in numerous features, including, The Player, Hear No Evil, the AIDS drama It's My Party, and most recently, in the independent feature hit, What the Bleep Do We Know.

On TV, she made her debut starring opposite Lee Remick in CBS’ "Bridge to Silence," a film that marked her first speaking role. She went on to star in “Against Her Will: The Carrie Buck Story,” “Dead Silence,” “Freak City,” and “Where the Truth Lies.” She starred in her own NBC series "Reasonable Doubts," and the Emmy® Award-winning “Picket Fences” on CBS. Matlin was twice-nominated for both a Golden Globe Award as Best Actress and the People's Choice Award, and has been nominated for four Emmy® Awards for her guest turns on "Seinfeld,” "Picket Fences," “The Practice” and “Law and Order: SVU.” For seven years, Matlin guest starred on NBC’s award-winning drama, “The West Wing, ” and most recently executive produced “Eddie’s Million Dollar Cook Off” for the Disney Channel. She also guest hosted ABC’s blockbuster hit “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and guest starred on “Desperate Housewives,” and NBC’s “My Name is Earl.”

In 1992, Matlin was instrumental in getting legislation passed in Congress in support of closed captioning, and in 1994, was appointed by President Clinton to the Corporation for National Service. She was also honored in a Rose Garden ceremony as Chairperson of National Volunteer Week. She currently serves as national spokesperson for The American Red Cross and also serves on the boards of a number of charitable organizations including The Children Affected by AIDS Foundation and Easter Seals, as well as a number of others which primarily benefit children. In 2006, Simon and Schuster published the sequel to her children’s novel, "Deaf Child Crossing," entitled “Nobody’s Perfect,” and will publish a second sequel, “Leading Ladies” in 2007. She makes her home in the Los Angeles area with her husband, law enforcement officer Kevin Grandalski, and their four children.
  
Few women in the past three decades have lit up the American stage and screen like CYBILL SHEPHERD (Phyllis Kroll). From wholesome beauty queen to captivating cover girl; from heartbreaking movie star to one of television’s most beloved comediennes’ and from naïve sex kitten to liberated, political spokeswoman – Shepherd has imbued these roles with an indomitable spirit that has made her, at fifty, a female icon to an entire generation.  In her hilarious, gutsy, and insightful memoir, Cybill Disobedience: How I Survived Beauty Pageants, Elvis, Sex, Bruce Willis, Lies, Marriage, Motherhood, Hollywood, and the Irrepressible Urge to Say What I Think (Harper Collins), she tells her remarkable story as only she can – with humor, pathos, and in insatiable lust for life. 

Shepherd recently sold out a two-week run of her one woman show, “Cybill Disobedience…With Music” at the Soho Theatre in London. Prior to that. she finished lensing the thriller The Detective with Tom Berenger and Annabeth Gish. In 2003, she starred as the title character in “Martha Stewart, Inc.” for NBC. She also captivated audiences with her guest-starring roles on the two-part season final for “Eight Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter” on ABC in 2003, as well as on NBC’s “I’m With Her” in 2004. She also appeared in the feature film Marine Life in 2000, directed by Anne Wheeler and written by Robert Forsyth III and Lori Lansens. From 1995-1998, she starred as “Cybill Sheridan,” in the CBS sitcom “Cybill” where she played a forty-something actress trying to keep her career afloat in an industry that worships youth.  This groundbreaking show poked fun at topics such as plastic surgery, menopause, sex in your 40s, divorce and grandmother-hood. Serving as executive producer, she was also involved in the editing, casting and script development for the show.

Last year she hosted the one-hour television program “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus,” inspired by John Gray’s best-selling book by the same name. Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Shepherd won ‘Model of the Year’ in 1968 from Stewart Models, and appeared on the covers of Life, Vogue, Glamour and People, among others.  She made her film debut in 1971 in the highly acclaimed The Last Picture Show, which led to starring roles in The Heartbreak Kid, Taxi Driver,  Daisy Miller, Alice, Married to It, Once Upon a Crime, Texasville, and Chances Are. Shepherd’s theatre experience includes starring roles in “Shot in the Dark,” “The Seven Year Itch,” “Last of the Red Hot Lovers,” “Lunch Hour,” “Vanities,” and “Picnic.” 

For television, Shepherd has starred in the series “Yellow Rose,” “Moonlighting,” and has hosted the Emmy® and Golden Globe Awards.  In addition to winning four Golden Globe Awards for best actress in a television comedy, she won four People’s Choice Awards and was honored with Bruce Willis as “Woman and Man of the Year in Broadcasting” by the Hollywood Radio and Television Society.

Shepherd has appeared in numerous acclaimed television productions, including “Journey of the Heart,” “While Justice Sleeps,” “Baby Brokers,” “There Was A Little Boy,” “Stormy Weathers” (which she also executive produced) “Which Way Home for TNT,” the mini-series “The Long Hot Summer” and “Telling Secrets.” Additionally, Shepherd executive produced, co-wrote and starred in “Memphis,” based on Shelby Foote’s novel September, September. She started singing with her church choir at age eight, and began studying voice at sixteen.  She has performed sold- out concerts around the world blending rock, blues, ballad and standards, as well as her own compositions. She has recorded eleven albums, including “Cybill Getz Better” with Stan Getz, “Vanilla” with Phineas Newborn Jr., “Somewhere Down the Road” featuring a title cut with Peabo Bryson, “Cybill Does It To Cole Porter,” “At Long Last Love,” “Talk Memphis to Me,” “Songs from the Cybill Show,” and “Live at the Cinegrill” was released in 2001.  Her latest CD, “At Home With Cybill,” is available now on her website. Working with longtime collaborator and musical director Tom Adams, Shepherd delved deep into her jazz roots to unearth just over a dozen lively ballads and standards.

KATHERINE MOENNIG (Shane McCutcheon) recently appeared off Broadway in the play Guardians at the Culture Project in NYC opposite Lee Pace, directed by Jason Moore (Avenue Q). Recent feature films include Art School Confidential, The Shipping News, Love the Hard Way and Invitation to a Suicide. Her television credits include the series "Young Americans" and "Law & Order." On stage, she has appeared in "As You Like It," "Comedy of Art," "The Theory of Total Blame" and "Morning in the City" at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.

PAM GRIER (Kit Porter) began her acting career and achieved fame in the early 1970s when she starred in a series of iconic films including Coffy, Foxy Brown, and Sheba Baby. In the 1990s, she made an impact as the title character in Jackie Brown, which was written by Quenton Tarantino specifically for her, and was honored with Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and NAACP nominations. Grier's feature film credits include Holy Smoke, In Too Deep, Snow Day, the recent animation feature Scooby Doo III: The Curse of Cleopatra, for which she was the voice of “Cleopatra,” and Back in the Day starring Ving Rhames, Joe Morton and Ja Rule. On the small screen, Grier was nominated for a daytime Emmy® Award for her work in “Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child,” and appeared in the mini-series “James Patterson’s 1st to Die” and Showtime’s “Anne Rice’s The Feast of All Saints.” Grier is an animal rights activist supporting no-kill animal shelters across the country as well as the rehabilitation and rescue of horses for the Therapeutic Riding Program in Colorado.

LEISHA HAILEY (Alice Pieszecki) is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and has appeared on numerous television shows, including the hit series “Grey's Anatomy” and CBS's “CSI.” She also starred in the critically-acclaimed independent film “All Over Me.” Prior to her role in THE L WORD® her focus was on music. As a member of “The Murmurs,” she recorded three albums for MCA/Universal records. She started her own record label “Marfa Records,” which released its first recording in 2006. In addition, Hailey produced a documentary about teenagers raised by gay parents, “Raising Teens,” which aired on MTV’s “True Life” series and on Logo’s “Momentum” documentary series.

DANIELA SEA (Max Sweeney) broke into acting with John Cameron Mitchell’s critical smash “Shortbus.”  Her latest film, Jamie Babbit’s “Itty Bitty Titty Committee,” premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won the Jury Prize for Narrative Feature at this year’s SXSW Film Festival. Sea grew up on the shores of Malibu, surfing by age six and winning competitions by age thirteen. Before deciding to explore acting, Sea traveled extensively throughout Europe, culminating with an 18-month trek – walking and hitchhiking – from Poland to India.

RACHEL SHELLEY (Helena Peabody) hails from England, where she has worked in television, film and in the theater. Her performance in the Academy Award® nominated film Lagaan, for which she was nominated for a Zee Cine Award (Indian Oscar) for Best Supporting Actress, brought her to the attention of American audiences. Her additional feature film credits include Photographing Fairies and Seeing Other People. She was seen earlier this year in the indie feature Gray Matters opposite Heather Graham and Bridget Moynahan, as well as in a multi-episode arc on CBS’ The Ghost Whisperer. She makes her home in London.

ROSE ROLLINS (Tasha Williams) had a successful career as a model in New York working on numerous commercials and major advertising campaigns, before moving to Los Angeles to pursue her love of acting. The multi-award winning television series “The West Wing” launched Rollins’ career in front of the camera, playing the recurring role of ‘Susanne,’ the assistant to Allison Janney’s character ‘CJ Cregg.’ Since then, Rollins has appeared in numerous television series such as “Dr. Vegas” and “In Justice,” and can also be seen in the feature films, Mission: Impossible III, Something New, Undisputed, 13 Moons, and Jake and Lily.

ALICIA LEIGH WILLIS (Cindi), is best known for her role as Courtney Matthews on ABC’s “General Hospital,” which earned her two Daytime Emmy® nominations in 2002 and 2003. Her television credits include “7th Heaven,” “CSI: Miami” and “Chicken Soup for the Soul” as well as a recurring role on “Another World.” She can also be seen in the feature films How High, National Treasure 2, Anywhere but Here and Lost and Found.

ELIZABETH KEENER (Dawn) is best known for her television guest appearances on “Crossing Jordan,” “C.S.I.,” “Felicity,” and “Ellen.” Her feature film credits include Friends with Money, The Astronaut’s Wife, and Sheer Bliss.

KATE FRENCH (Nikki), appeared opposite Tatum O'Neal in the television series “Wicked, Wicked Games” as Brooke Crawford. She has since made various television guest appearances on The N’s “South of Nowhere” and “Beyond the Break,” and in the feature film Accepted.

KRISTANNA LOKEN (Paige) is soon to star in the title role of Sci-Fi Channel’s new superhero actioner, “Painkiller Jane,” which will premiere Spring 2007. Loken recently produced and starred in the independent film, Lime Salted Love.  Her Sci-Fi mini-series “Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King” premiered last spring to positive reviews. She last appeared as ‘Rayne’ in the feature film adaptation of the highly popular video game of the same name, BloodRayne. She recently completed filming Dungeon Siege: In The Name of the King alongside Burt Reynolds, Claire Forlani and Matthew Lillard. Loken is most recognized from starring opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger as the dangerously beautiful ‘TX’ (Terminatrix) in the highly-successful franchise film Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. She also starred in the feature film Kingdom in Twilight.

In television, she had recurring roles on the shows “Philly” for Stephen Bochco, “Law & Order,” and “Just Shoot Me.” She is best known for her work as ‘Sarah’ on the well-received Dick Wolf show “D.C.,” and to genre fans for her portrayal of ‘Taja’ in television’s “Mortal Kombat: Conquest” series. Loken was raised on an Organic Fruit Farm in upstate New York where she spent her time riding horses and studying dance. She currently resides in Los Angeles.

JANE LYNCH (Joyce Wischnia) is a seasoned actor who began her theatrical career at The Second City, Steppenwolf Theatre and in many church basements all over the greater Chicago area. On television, she’s been a series regular on ABC’s “MD’S,” and had recurring roles on Stephen Bochco’s series “Blind Justice,” as well as appearances in “Two And A Half Men,” “Arrested Development,” “According To Jim,” “Seventh Heaven,” “Felicity,” “Judging Amy” and “The West Wing.” She has guest starred on “Friends,” “Las Vegas,” “Monk,” “Dead Zone,” “Boston Public,” “The X Files,” “Titus,” “Arli$$,” “The Division,” “Popular” and “The Gilmore Girls.” Feature film credits include Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events with Meryl Streep; MGM’s Sleepover; Surviving Eden; The Californians opposite Noah Wyle; Christopher Guest’s A Mighty Wind,   Best In Show, and his latest, For Your Consideration; and Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator, playing Amelia Earhart. Her other film credits include Collateral Damage, What Planet Are You From? and The Fugitive.