Having mourned the demise of the ground-breaking lesbian drama 'The L Word', for many months, I eagerly anticipated Ilene Chaiken's latest project 'The Real L Word'. After watching the first episode I feel bitterly disappointed. The reality show centres around six lesbian women living and working in LA. Mikey is a promoter and organiser in the fashion industry who reminds me a little of Ab Fab's Edina Monsoon. In this first episode she is sent inexperienced catwalk models to her casting. She flares up, somewhat unnecessarily, at the agency who sent them; only to be told by her hapless intern (we'll call her Bubble) that she was the one who contacted the agency to arrange the casting.
Then we have Rose, allegedly the inspiration for 'The L Word's Papi character, a flighty real estate agent who has actually managed to keep a somewhat discontented girlfriend for seven months. Her philosophy is that if you ask enough women out one of them is bound to say yes.
Next is the long-term couple. Nikki is a Manager/Producer and Jill is a writer. Although marriage is unfortunately still not legal in the state of California they are planning a big event. I have to admit I switched off the moment they began talking about dresses as there are already a glut of reality wedding shows on TV that I avoid. Whitney, a special effects artist, is the 'Shane' of the bunch. She has trouble committing to one person but has been seeing a friend, Sara, for some time. Unlike Shane she comes across as extremely arrogant and unlikable.
Lastly, Tracy is a development executive whose mother isn't comfortable with her daughter's sexuality. She actually came across better than the other women and saved the show slightly for me.
The whole programme seemed very contrived, from the wrong model casting to Whitney bumping into someone she'd slept with, and the women are trying too hard to be interesting. The production itself is reality by numbers; from the first opening minutes of frank sexual discussion that are aimed to shock, to the bog standard music and camera monologues. It's a real shame because I can't imagine that many L Word fans will find this show remotely interesting and I personally found it an insult to my intelligence. Whereas the characters in 'The L Word' were complex and intelligent these women are vacuous and self-centered.
Watch this space for a review of episode two if I can bear it!
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