On today’s episode of the AfterEllen Podcast, we’re talking with Ilene Chaiken, the celesbian visionary who brought us The L Word. But that’s far from her only contribution to TV! She’s been showrunner, writer, executive producer, and director on a number of projects. Her work is behind The Handmaid’s Tale, Empire, and now, a spin-off in the Law and Order franchise.
We talk about this new series, Law and Order Organized Crime, what it was like producing a show during the pandemic that actually makes reference to current events, and our favorite, the lesbian commanding officer Sergeant Ayanna Bell, who plays alongside fan favorite Detective Elliot Stabler.
In this interview, I also try to wheedle L Word secrets out of Ilene, and I trust the lesbian community to process these crumbs as obsessively as is merited. You’re welcome!
