By Pam Cole

Several L Word cast members took on new projects in their off time last year. The shooting schedule allows them almost six months of time to pursue other projects. For example:

• Motherhood won't keep Jennifer Beals from making movies, it seems. Beals has joined the cast of Grudge 2 with Amber Tamblyn and Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Gellar starred in the original Grudge in 2004, which was a remake of a Japanese film by the same director entitled Ju-On: Grudge (2003), the fourth film in this Japanese horror series. Confused? Would you believe that Grudge 2 is a remake of the 2003 Japanese film, Ju-On: Grudge 2? Anyway. Beals has said that she is a huge Buffy fan, so this should be a real treat for her. The film is set for an Oct. 20, 2006 release.
  
  
• In addition to a nearly unrecognizable stint on CSI (can't tell you more than that, but it involved lots of makeup), Leisha Hailey took up the reins of producer for LOGO, the new LGBT network. (Thank God! They need so much new programming on that network!) Hailey executive produced Raising Teens with Samantha Kurtzman-Counter and Lara Spotts. The show, which is already airing on LOGO and MTV, features three teenagers who were raised by gay parents.
  
  
• Kate Moennig has managed to put two new films under her belt in her off season. Dead Girl's Diary (2005) is about Sara who likes picking up homeless men. One of the men leaves behind the diary of his dead girlfriend, which Sara's friend, Chloe (Moennig) finds. No release date yet.
  
  
• Moennig and Lauren Lee Smith both wound up in Art School Confidential (2006), which was co-produced by John Malkovich. The film has a lengthy star-studded cast including Malkovich, Steve Buscemi, and Angelica Huston. Art School Confidential premiered at this year's Sundance (although not in competition) and was described by one viewer on www.imdb.com as "painfully bad." (Well, the trailer was pretty darn funny.) The film will be released April 28, 2006.
  
  
• Sarah Shahi is shooting six episodes (try saying that three times really fast) of a new sitcom called Teachers. It's about--you guessed it--teachers. The show, which stars popular radio personality Phil Hendrie (ever hear of him?) will debut April 6, 2006 at 9:30 p.m. on NBC. Hendrie has said that he will continue to do his radio show. Let's hope Shahi keeps her day job on The L Word, too!