Season 3 of The L Word in Atlanta

Report by Pam Cole

Atlanta, GA-There were several pleasant surprises in the Season 3 premiere of The L Word held Thursday in Atlanta (besides the charming presence of creator/producer Ilene Chaiken and Pam Grier, that is). THE HRC-sponsored event took place at The Wet Bar, a much bigger venue than where previous L Word premieres were held in Atlanta, when hundreds of fans had to be turned away.

First, there was the opening: same Betty music. Hasn't changed. What was funny, though, was that the crowd started to sing along with the theme song. The opening sequence is almost identical to the Season 2 opening, with Mark being replaced by Moira. Otherwise, it's the same familiar animation, beginning with Bette's naked back.

Then, something very strange happened as I watched the show, squished in among a thousand or so of Atlanta's finest lesbians: I started to laugh. And so did everyone else. I laughed and laughed, even though I could hardly hear some of the dialog in the crowded room. Much of the premiere has already been revealed in spoilers and trailers on the Internet, so there were no story surprises. And even though Bette and Tina were bickering from their first scene, it was SO GOOD to see them together as happy parents, with that chubby little charmer, Angelica between them. God, it was good. In fact, the whole show was good-again.

Grier, who knows how to work a crowd, took to the stage before the actual screening and revved up the already rowdy group. She was joined onstage by Chaiken. It was clear from the outpouring that it was these two women the audience had really come to see. "I hope you think Season 3 is as good as we do!" yelled the soft-voiced Chaiken into the microphone. She and Grier then perched on bar stools in a far corner of the room to watch the show with the crowd. (They gleefully high-fived each other as the ending credits rolled.)

The Season 3 premiere greatly contrasted the second season premiere, in my opinion. While the Season 2 opener left me feeling disappointed (and glad that I had been turned away from the premiere's crowded venue), after the Season 3 premiere, I was exhilarated and hopeful about the coming season. If last night was any indication, I think L Word fans are in for something good this time.