We’ve come a long way from Jenny and Shane. It’s time for a new look at an old and favorite show. The Real L Word, a 9-episode reality show from The L Word creator Ilene Chaiken, follows six Los Angeles area lesbians, all with different storylines. At press time, three episodes will have aired since its premiere on June 20th, giving us plenty of time to form opinions on Showtime’s new reality show. While there is no word yet about a second season or if the show will travel to other cities, there is drama, flirting and way too much bad language (hey, this is cable, not PBS). There might scripted situations and others that are just as real as the clubs, bars and bedrooms near you.
With a very different cast from the original series and filmed through January–March of this year, I invite you to meet the cast of The Real L Word: the lesbian couple planning their wedding; the couple with an eight-month relationship, children and a dog; the single and outgoing girl with several relationships; the hot Latina trying hard to settle down; and the hot-but-not-afraid-to-show-her soft-side L.A. butch with a very sexy girlfriend.

>> NIKKI, 37
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Current town: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Rep/Manager/Producer; Jill’s fiancé
How did you hear about the show and what made you audition for it?
I was approached years ago after I had gotten some media attention from [The Oprah Winfrey Show] but it kind of never went anywhere and then a publicist said to me that [The Real L Word] was coming up again and that I should be in contact with the people who were going to produce it.
For those of us who missed it, can you fill us in the Oprah episode you are talking about?
It’s so funny. The media makes it like I came out on the show and that’s not the truth. They knew my story because I am very involved with GLAAD. The Oprah Winfrey Show had gotten in touch with GLAAD to find interesting stories and they thought that mine was one of them, so they asked me to appear on the show. I just retold my story. I was married and got divorced when I was 25.
Why do you think viewers will relate to you?
I think my life story is probably similar to other..