The L Word fans can breathe that sigh of relief. Showtime has picked up the popular series for a fifth season.

On the heels of a year highlighted with industry recognition and critical acclaim for its award-winning original programming including WEEDS, DEXTER, and BROTHERHOOD, SHOWTIME has ordered a fifth season of its hit drama series THE L WORD, it was announced today by Robert Greenblatt, President of Entertainment, SHOWTIME Networks Inc. Twelve new episodes are set to begin production this summer and premiere on SHOWTIME sometime in early 2008. The series was recently nominated for the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series.

“THE L WORD is a signature franchise for us and one of our most popular series,” says Greenblatt. “This season’s guest star Cybill Shepherd and new series regular Marlee Matlin are indicative of the show’s great quality. With our launch of OurChart.com (a social networking site that grew directly out of THE L WORD), and the show’s growing popularity in Second Life, this series goes well beyond the boundaries of a mere television show. Since its launch in 2004, the zeitgeist has never been the same.”

I do have to wonder why only twelve episodes for such an awesome series though.

Looks like Tina is finally going to ride through with her feelings for Kate, despite being in a relationship with Henry, because she is going to call it quits with him! And Tasha has to tell Alice that she is going to back to Iraq.

in episode 11, Tina breaks up with Henry as she realizes she has the hots for film director Kate (Annabella Sciorra). And Tasha tells Alice she’s going back to Iraq.

It will be interesting to see how it all plays out for Tina.

Source

With both Cybill Shepherd and Marlee Matlin joining the cast of the L Word, Showtime has taken advantage of the opportunity by releasing a promo as a mini-featurette on both actresses. It has a few clips of the upcoming season as well, along with quotes from other cast and crew.

Watch now!

With the new season of The L Word starting up, it is worth remembering that the talented Marlee Matlin has signed onto Showtime’s The L Word in an eleven episode arc. She plays a deaf lesbian artist-in-residence, Jodi Lerner, who has the hots for Bette (Jennifer Beals).