Showtime will air groundbreaking series “The L Word” for a sixth season and then put the lid on the popular drama, the network announced Monday.

The last eight episodes of the first-ever lesbian primetime drama, “The L Word,” will premiere in early 2009, Showtime announced Monday.

Robert Greenblatt, Showtime’s President of Entertainment, said production on the final eight episodes begins in early summer.

Past seasons of “The L Word,” created by Ilene Chaiken, who is also executive producer, consisted of 12-13 episodes but this time around, it was considered that eight episodes would suffice to end things nicely.

The series became the first lesbian primetime drama on television when it debuted in January 2004. It is one of the network’s longest running series and has been critically acclaimed, both for the acting and for its cultural impact.

Its cast includes or has included Jennifer Beals, Mia Kirshner, Laurel Holloman, Katherine Moennig, Leisha Hailey, Pam Grier, Marlee Matlin, Cybill Shepherd, Kristanna Loken and Annabella Sciorra.

The series focuses on the lives of a group of lesbian and bisexual friends who live in Los Angeles, as they try to balance family life, careers, friendships and romantic relationships.

“It has been a privilege to do this series and tell these stories and have these characters in my life and to share them with the show’s passionate fans,” Chaiken said in a statement. “I am thrilled that Showtime has given us this final opportunity to conclude this journey we have all taken together.”

Chaiken, who created the series with Kathy Greenberg and Michele Abbott, added that the show would live beyond the small screen, interactively.

“This is by no means the end of ‘The L Word,’” she said. “The brand and the social network community, OurChart.com, will continue to live and be a destination for lesbians everywhere and a lasting tribute to what ‘The L Word’ has accomplished.”

Chaiken also gave a nod to the series’ loyal audience and indicated that the final season would benefit from fan input, as it has before.

“The L Word” has received praise from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation as well as a GLAAD Award for Outstanding Drama Series.

“The title of the show became part of the lexicon, and the breadth and reach of the characters and storylines are a testament to the talent of Ilene Chaiken and her incredible cast,” Greenblatt said in a statement, adding that the network is “enormously proud of the legacy of ‘The L Word.’”

The Season 5 finale is set to air March 23.