Showtime has renewed the critically-acclaimed, groundbreaking lesbian drama The L Word for a sixth and final season, it was announced today by Robert Greenblatt, Showtime's President of Entertainment.

One of the network's longest running series, "The L Word" will culminate early next year in eight final episodes, marking the end of an era chronicling the lives of these iconic characters who have played a pivotal role in changing cultural perceptions of lesbians and the transgender community on and off screen.

Production will resume in early summer.