At Queerguru we like to think when it comes to spotting real queer talent we so know what we are doing, and this time we were really ahead of the game. In 2010 we presented the ROGER WALKER-DACK AWARD FOR EMERGING ARTIST to Marja-Lewis Ryan who wrote and starred in The Four Faced Liar which also won the HBO Audience Award for Best First Feature Film (Outfest).
Its safe to say that Ryan has more than ’emerged’ in the years since and is now the Showrunner for Showtimes The L Word Generation Q.
For those unsure what that title means we should explain its like Boss Lady or Head Girl, who Showtime have entrusted with this brand new take on one of the most successful TV series for the L in LGBTQ.
It’s been a decade since The L Word was last broadcast, so we are very excited to see what Ryan has in store for us when the new series bursts onto our screens on December 8th. We actually couldn’t wait so we tracked her down in L.A. to get some of the lowdon. Here’s what we learnt.
QG: It’s been 10 years since we last saw the L Word girls, so is this a sequel or a brand new follow on?
QG: What can we expect to see then?
MLR: You can expect to see where I think those three returning characters would be in ten years and a new round of characters that more closely look and sound like my friends/coworkers/contemporaries.
QG: What are the storylines we can see : more sex, more non-binary characters, more same sex marriages, more discussion on gender?
MLR: Definitely more sex. There are more non binary and trans actors/characters, more marriage sure! but I don’t talk much about the experience that my characters are having. I show it instead. When I wake up in the morning, I don’t make lesbian breakfast or queer-walk my dog. I just make breakfast and walk my dog. So my characters are doing the same.
QG: What are you most excited about?
MLR: I’m excited for queer folks to have a glossy, aspirational show that’s about friendship and our chosen family. In this show, we are our own heroes and worst enemies. Just like in real life.
QG: Why do you feel that the timing is right for this new series.
MLR: So much has changed and nothing has changed. I think queer identity has shifted and is more inclusive than ever but we are still fighting for the right to exist in this country. We need a show that speaks to this time.
QG: These are very political times for our community, so how much of that will we see.
MLR: Not much. Making the show is a political act. I don’t need to shove it down people’s throats. This is meant to be escapism at its finest. There are serious things that happen. Deeply current themes that I explore but it’s not overtly political. I want everyone to watch this show and meet some queer folks.
QG: If it’s more youth oriented or contemporary are you hoping to attract a younger audience and keep the original one too. ]
MLR: Yes. The dream is that everyone can watch this show. We have a cast that includes teenagers and 50-somethings and everyone in between. It’s a huge ensemble with someone for everyone to love.
QG: Will gay men want to watch this ….and if so why?
MLR: My dream is that gay men want to see it. We have gay men in the show this time as I want it to reflect more of real life, especially mine as there are lots of gay men in it. I wanted to represent our community as realistically as possible, and so not to have them in the show would have been such a wasted opportunity.
A lot of the stories such as monogamy, long term relationships, falling in love with your best friend etc are universal and not dependent at all on sexuality
QG: For the original show’s first season the NY Times said was “broadcast to critical acclaim and instant popularity” but by the end of the last season they had slammed it as “Sapphic Playboy fantasia” and used expressions such as lesbian bed death …… so do you think it will be tough to maintain a momentum in your new series to what can be an unforgiving and hyper-critical community
MLR: I know we do like to eat our own. I’m not normally happy about doing press, but the reason I am doing it this time is that I am very excited about the program. I also think is important for people to know it is me. Whenever people think who makes TV shows it feels like this untouchable machine, but that is really really not true.
This is me, and I have two producing partners and two producing writing partners . The five of us were out to dinner the other night and I was think that this time it really is just us, and all we want to do is make queer content for us and by us
I am totally into the idea of people hate watching, but I really want them to watch it (laughing ).
QG: So we can hate it and throw things at the screen?
MLR: TOTALLY! (laughing) You can yell at me on instagram and twitter : go for it. But know that I am a real person and that my real stories are on that screen, and all I am setting out to to do is truly entertain our community and nothing else more.
I think my big dreams are that a couple of people will feel less shame, other than that I just want to make a show that we all like.
QG: You have shot your first series which launches on December 8th after that what’s next.
MLR: We won’t get picked up until after the Show airs and the Network has seen that people actually watch it . If we get picked up for Season 2 we will know pretty quickly and I will go right into writer mode in January
QG: Can I ask you a personal question? When and why did the term showrunner enter our vocabulary …and whYy?
MLR: I really don’t know. I do know that Aaron Sorkin, Shonda Rhimes, and Ilene Chaiken were the first three names being attached to this term showrunner. Producers in television can mean almost anything : it can mean you are a writer, or a physical line producer. It can mean that you open the property , or a video executive …. almost anything
Partially the reason it came about was to distinguish the person who is ultimately responsible for all things from people who share my title. We have 7 other executive producers credited. We wanted to include some of the Original Cast in our Executive Producer Team and use them as resources as they are the ultimate holders of their characters. So I was able to bring them into the Writers Room and ask them questions and run ideas past them just to make sure their characters were being honored and served in ways that we think the audience will be really grateful for
https://www.sho.com/the-l-word-generation-q December 8th 2019
