8.3
/10
Bette Porter is a fictional character portrayed by Jennifer Beals in the TV series The L Word.
In the first episode they appeared in, titled Pilot (season 1), they were 40 years old.
They appear in all 70 aired episodes and have accumulated 37748 positive votes.
The character of Bette Porter is mainly associated with Tina Kennard, Jodi Lerner and Alice Pieszecki.

Bette Porter

by Jennifer Beals

character

Episodes70

  • 7.8
    /10

    Pilot
    episode S1.E1 january 2004
    Jenny moves to L.A. and meets her new lesbian neighbors.
  • 7.9
    /10

    Let's Do It
    episode S1.E2 january 2004
    Bette and Tina wait eagerly to see if Tina will get pregnant; Tim, unaware of her encounter with Jenny, invites Marina to a dinner party, while Kit tries to make amends with Bette.
  • 7.5
    /10

    Longing
    episode S1.E3 february 2004
    Bette takes a step to win her battle of wills with the chairman of the art gallery board; Jenny struggles with her feelings for Marina; Alice tries to regain her self-respect after a run-in with an ex; Dana finally gets a date with Lara.
  • 7.6
    /10

    Lies, Lies, Lies
    episode S1.E4 february 2004
    Bette greets Tina's pregnancy with delight despite problems at work; Jenny's affair with Marina threatens her relationship with Tim; Dana's paranoia about the possibility of being out continues; the problems of Alice's mother escalate.
  • 7.7
    /10

    Lawfully
    episode S1.E5 february 2004
    Tim discovers Jenny's affair with Marina - leading to a disastrous choice for the couple's shaky relationship; the reaction of Bette's father to Tina's pregnancy devastates Bette and leads Kit to confront him on her behalf.
  • 7.4
    /10

    Losing It
    episode S1.E6 february 2004
    Bette's commitment is tested, while Tina is harassed by the sperm donor's girlfriend; Tim and Jenny return home separately.
  • 7.6
    /10

    L'Ennui
    episode S1.E7 february 2004
    Rejection stings everyone as Tim pushes Jenny away, Marina's other lover is revealed, Dana runs from Lara and Kit is hurt when her son doesn't show up for their meeting.
  • 7.5
    /10

    Listen Up
    episode S1.E8 march 2004
    Identities are in question as Jenny tries to explain her situation to an old friend, Dana comes out to her conservative parents, and Bette considers her self-image.
  • 7.5
    /10

    Luck, Next Time
    episode S1.E9 march 2004
    Jenny is more confused and torn than ever between Marina and Tim; fame and all its complications find Shane; Kit rehearses for a hip hop music video.
  • 8
    /10

    Liberally
    episode S1.E10 march 2004
    Tina's grief is eased by volunteer work; Bette defends the gallery against a right-wing attack; Marina has a fight with Francesca.
  • 7.9
    /10

    Looking Back
    episode S1.E11 march 2004
    Bette hires an attractive contractor to set up for the gallery's new show; Tina, Jenny, Shane, Alice and Dana take an eventful trip to Palm Springs.
  • 7.6
    /10

    Locked Up
    episode S1.E12 april 2004
    Bette lands in jail thanks to a near-riot at the gallery; Marina contemplates life without Francesca as Tim and Jenny discuss divorce.
  • 8.2
    /10

    Limb From Limb
    episode S1.E13 april 2004
    Tina learns the truth about Candace; Dana loses a friend but gains a fiancee; Jenny finds herself in another romantic quandary involving Marina that pushes Tim further away.
  • 7.5
    /10

    Life, Loss, Leaving
    episode S2.E1 february 2005
    Tina rebuffs Bette's attempts at reconciliation while Jenny prepares for an emotional farewell with Tim.
  • 7.5
    /10

    Lap Dance
    episode S2.E2 february 2005
    Tina hires a famous lawyer to represent her in the split with Bette; Jenny has a serious heart-to-heart with Robin; Kit's purchase of The Planet is finalized.
  • 7.6
    /10

    Loneliest Number
    episode S2.E3 march 2005
    Kit preps The Planet for its grand reopening. Shane becomes Jenny's new roommate and Bette's emotional tailspin continues.
  • 7.5
    /10

    Lynch Pin
    episode S2.E4 march 2005
    Jenny and Shane search for a third roommate and choose Mark, a straight boy very intrigued by the lesbian lifestyle, while Kit becomes attracted to a motivational self-help guru.
  • 7.8
    /10

    Labyrinth
    episode S2.E5 march 2005
    Mark launches a new video project: taping Jenny and Shane; Bette and Tina's brief reunion is marred when Bette gets some bad professional news from Helena Peabody.
  • 7.5
    /10

    Lagrimas de Oro
    episode S2.E6 march 2005
    Tina moves out and considers her attraction to Helena; Alice gives Dana an ultimatum but Tonya has a shock in store. Jenny and Carmen bond, encouraged by Shane.
  • 7.4
    /10

    Luminous
    episode S2.E7 april 2005
    Alice and Dana tentatively begin dating, while Tina comes between Helena and her ex, Bette rejoins the singles scene, and Shane dulls her pain over Jenny and Carmen.
  • 7.4
    /10

    Loyal
    episode S2.E8 april 2005
    Bette and Tina agree to forge a new relationship; Jenny loses a chance to ghost-write a macho TV star's autobiography because she's gay; Shane goes to church.
  • 7.8
    /10

    Late, Later, Latent
    episode S2.E9 april 2005
    Alice's sex-toy request freaks out Dana; Jenny learns the truth about TV star Burr - and about Carmen's feelings for Shane; Bette and Tina have a brief encounter.
  • 7.9
    /10

    Land Ahoy
    episode S2.E10 april 2005
    A lesbian cruise in the Caribbean proves eventful for Dana, Alice, Shane, Jenny and Carmen, while Bette and Kit struggle to connect with their aging father Melvin during a visit.
  • 7.5
    /10

    Loud & Proud
    episode S2.E11 may 2005
    Against the backdrop of a gay-pride parade, shocking secrets are revealed about Dana's brother and Jenny's past, while Bette and Kit deal with their rapidly deteriorating father.
  • 7.6
    /10

    L-Chaim
    episode S2.E12 may 2005
    Bette moves her father, played by Emmy-nominated actor Ossie Davis, into her home for his final days, as Alice struggles with her jealousy over Dana's dinner with an ex, and Jenny confronts a repressed memory.
  • 7.6
    /10

    Lacuna
    episode S2.E13 may 2005
    Melvin's memorial service is attended by a surprise guest; Bette is fired by Franklin, then coaches Tina through what turns out to be an unexpectedly difficult labor and delivery; Jenny is in trouble and asks for help.
  • 8
    /10

    Labia Majora
    episode S3.E1 january 2006
    Bette and Tina try to rekindle their sexual groove after having a child; Helena purchases a movie studio; Jenny leaves the mid-west and heads back to L.A. with a new girlfriend in tow.
  • 7.7
    /10

    Lost Weekend
    episode S3.E2 january 2006
    Party promoter Billie Blaikie sets up shop at The Planet; Alice refuses to let Helena throw out a life-size cut-out of Dana; Jenny wants to be more than friends with Moira; Bette feels her life is out of her control.
  • 7.3
    /10

    Lobsters
    episode S3.E3 january 2006
    Shane goes to work at a cool new skate shop; Jenny introduces Moira to the girls; Kit befriends Bette and Tina's nanny, Angus; Alice continues her emotional tailspin over losing Dana; Tina goes to work for Helena.
  • 7.2
    /10

    Light My Fire
    episode S3.E4 january 2006
    Bette takes on Washington; Kit wonders if she has made the right choice by hiring Billie; Helena falls for a straight documentary filmmaker.
  • 7.8
    /10

    Lifeline
    episode S3.E5 february 2006
    Dana gets the results of her biopsy; Alice meets a lesbian "vampire;" Bette finds an open door into Tina's chat room; ex-flame Cherie drops into WAX - and Shane's chair; Jenny gets word a publisher is interested in her book about Moira/Max.
  • 7.7
    /10

    Lifesize
    episode S3.E6 february 2006
    Tina continues to struggle with her feelings for men; Kit gives in to Angus; the girls rush to the hospital to be by Dana's side; New York comes calling to Jenny; Moira finds a shortcut to getting male hormones.
  • 7.5
    /10

    Lone Star
    episode S3.E7 february 2006
    Jenny injects hormones into Moira; Dana undergoes chemotherapy; Shane and Carmen get matching tattoos; Alice frantically searches for her Dana cut-out; the B52's perform at The Planet; Kit fires Billie; Tina takes a step toward Josh.
  • 7.8
    /10

    Latecomer
    episode S3.E8 february 2006
    Moira informs everyone she is to be called Max; Kit gets a helping hand from Nona Hendryx; Helena takes Dana and the girls to a basketball game; Jenny gets busy trying to throw a party; Tina moves out of Bette's bed; Dana gets a new look.
  • 7.6
    /10

    Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way
    episode S3.E9 march 2006
    Dana's on the road to recovery; Carmen comes out to her family; Helena gets slapped with a lawsuit; Jenny attends a transsexual support group meeting to help her deal with Max; Bette continues her struggle to find inner peace.
  • 8.6
    /10

    Losing the Light
    episode S3.E10 march 2006
    When Dana takes a turn for the worse, Alice keeps vigil at her bedside; Carmen drops the unexpected on Shane; Bette finds inner peace elusive; Jenny introduces her ex-husband to Max; Tina settles in with Henry.
  • 8.1
    /10

    Last Dance
    episode S3.E11 march 2006
    Alice steals some of Dana's ashes; Bette thinks about fighting for sole custody of Angelica; Lara arrives home too late; Max finally lands a job - one for which Moira was rejected.
  • 8.1
    /10

    Left Hand of the Goddess
    episode S3.E12 march 2006
    Still grieving the loss of Dana, the girls plan for Shane and Carmen's wedding; Kit discovers she's pregnant; Bette considers her options for obtaining sole custody of Angelica; Jenny realizes the truth about Max.
  • 7.6
    /10

    Legend in the Making
    episode S4.E1 january 2007
    Bette kidnaps baby Angelica until a custody agreement can be brokered with Tina; Shane jilts Carmen at the altar and spirals out of control; Jenny is reunited with Marina; Helena's mother cuts her off.
  • 7.6
    /10

    Livin' La Vida Loca
    episode S4.E2 january 2007
    Bette adjusts to her new job in academia for a formidable new boss (Cybill Shepherd); Jenny's book receives a scathing review; Tina must fire Helena from the studio, leaving her nowhere to go but accept a roommate offer from Alice.
  • 7.6
    /10

    Lassoed
    episode S4.E3 january 2007
    Bette embarks on an ill-advised affair with a teaching assistant, and her boss Phyllis comes out; Jenny tries to dig up dirt on the journalist that panned her book; Tina throws a party; Shane gets Helena a job at WAX.
  • 8
    /10

    Layup
    episode S4.E4 january 2007
    Bette deals with an artist whose work is politically incendiary; Tina is rejected by her friends at a softball game and joins the opposing team.
  • 8
    /10

    Lez Girls
    episode S4.E5 february 2007
    The tryst between Bette and her TA threatens her new career; Alice breaks up with Phyllis after meeting her husband; Tina discovers Angus with her au pair Hazel; Jenny publishes a short story in "The New Yorker" that infuriates Alice.
  • 8.1
    /10

    Luck Be a Lady
    episode S4.E6 february 2007
    Bette enjoys a new romance even as she clashes with Tina over the baby's preschool and weathers the emotional fallout of Alice's split with Phyllis; Helena, Shane and Alice learn how to play poker.
  • 8.1
    /10

    Lesson Number One
    episode S4.E7 february 2007
    Jenny's short story about her friends sparks interest from Hollywood; Helena struggles to pay back her poker debt; Alice's new girlfriend Tasha experiences flashbacks to the war in Iraq; Bette and her new girlfriend console Phyllis.
  • 8.1
    /10

    Lexington and Concord
    episode S4.E8 february 2007
    Jenny's revenge on her critic backfires in front of her agents; Alice and Tasha disagree over the war in Iraq but find common ground romantically; Tina meets Bette's new girlfriend Jodi.
  • 7.9
    /10

    Lacy Lilting Lyrics
    episode S4.E9 march 2007
    Tina and Jenny have creative differences over the development of their movie; Alice and her friends console Phyllis's heartbroken husband; Bette and Jodi's relationship might go to the next level if Bette can curb her Type-A personality.
  • 7.6
    /10

    Little Boy Blue
    episode S4.E10 march 2007
    Kit binge-drinks over Angus's infidelity; Alice finds investors in her blog, but with strings attached that involve Jenny; Bette's control issues make an ugly appearance.
  • 7.7
    /10

    Literary License to Kill
    episode S4.E11 march 2007
    Jenny's serialized short stories hit home for Bette, who faces losing Jodi to an art center on the east coast; Iraq flashbacks haunt Alice's girlfriend Tasha, who is ordered by a commanding officer to hide her sexuality.
  • 8.1
    /10

    Long Time Coming
    episode S4.E12 march 2007
    Tina returns to lesbian life while Bette seeks her advice on wooing Jodi back; Shane's relationship with single-mom Paige gets serious; Tasha must return to Iraq; Phyllis pursues a divorce; Jenny may get fired from her own movie.
  • 7.7
    /10

    LGB Tease
    episode S5.E1 january 2008
    Shane derails plans to move in with Paige, then suffers the consequences; Jenny returns from vacation with a billionaire movie financier in tow; Phyllis has doubts about her romance with Joyce.
  • 7.8
    /10

    Look Out, Here They Come!
    episode S5.E2 january 2008
    Tina's obvious affection for Bette affects her dating prospects; Shane's last-minute gig styling hair at a wedding results in a series of erotic encounters; Tasha reveals her reason for not shipping out to Iraq.
  • 7.5
    /10

    Lady of the Lake
    episode S5.E3 january 2008
    Shane swears off sex and reaps the health benefits with new energy and focus; Tina's dating woes finally improve; Max ponders a mutual same-sex attraction to Jodi's interpreter; The Planet is burglarized and Kit attacked after hours.
  • 7.7
    /10

    Let's Get This Party Started
    episode S5.E4 january 2008
    Bette's jealousy over Tina's new girlfriend is the probable cause of a surprising moment; Jenny is courted for the lead in her movie by the latest It girl; the gang attends the opening of a new lesbian club competing with The Planet.
  • 8.1
    /10

    Lookin' at You, Kid
    episode S5.E5 february 2008
    Jenny throws a bash to introduce her friends to the actresses playing them in her movie; Bette and Tina try to deal with a rekindled spark; Alice outs a secretly gay sports star after he utters a homophobic slur.
  • 7.8
    /10

    Lights! Camera! Action!
    episode S5.E6 february 2008
    Production on "Lez Girls" finally begins as Jenny deals with a recalcitrant star; Bette and Tina struggle with their feelings; the owners of SheBar take their war against the gang to the next level.
  • 7.7
    /10

    Lesbians Gone Wild
    episode S5.E7 february 2008
    Clashes between actresses on the set of Jenny's movie segue into a night of lesbian Turkish oil wrestling and a visit from the cops; the hard-case colonel in charge of prosecuting Tasha's case arrives on base.
  • 7.8
    /10

    Lay Down the Law
    episode S5.E8 february 2008
    Niki's handlers force her to appear at her movie premiere with a male escort; Bette and Tina's anguish increases; Tasha's military review board hearing ends with a surprise.
  • 8.1
    /10

    Liquid Heat
    episode S5.E9 march 2008
    A heat wave causes temperatures to rise between Bette and Tina, who are trapped in an elevator by a power outage, and between Molly and Shane, whose attraction is discouraged by Phyllis; Jenny catches Nikki and Greg together.
  • 8
    /10

    Lifecycle
    episode S5.E10 march 2008
    A memorial breast cancer bike ride becomes the unlikely setting where Bette and Tina reveal their rekindled passion, Jenny and Nikki shoot a steamy video, Molly stalks Shane, and Alice and Tasha consider a big move.
  • 7.8
    /10

    Lunar Cycle
    episode S5.E11 march 2008
    Adele finally makes a power play and usurps Jenny as the director of "Lez Girls," while Bette finalizes her breakup with Jodi, and a distressed Kit loses financial control of The Planet to Dawn and Cindi.
  • 7.6
    /10

    Loyal and True
    episode S5.E12 march 2008
    Loyalty and betrayal walk hand-in-hand as Jenny is back-stabbed by a close friend, while Helena's restored heiress status means good fortune for her true friends.
  • 7.4
    /10

    Long Night's Journey Into Day
    episode S6.E1 january 2009
    A shocking revelation about the fate of a major character leads to a season-long series of flashbacks that will reveal the events leading up to a tragedy.
  • 7.5
    /10

    Least Likely
    episode S6.E2 january 2009
    Bette and Tina discuss plans for a new life together, but the reappearance of an old acquaintance of Bette's threatens their future; Tasha and Alice seek counseling for their compatibility issues; an old flame sends Helena reeling.
  • 7.7
    /10

    LMFAO
    episode S6.E3 february 2009
    The negative of Jenny's movie goes missing, while Shane's apologies to her are finally noticed; Jenny dismisses Alice's aspiration to write a screenplay; Phyllis shares a secret with Bette; Kit and Helena open a new nightclub.
  • 7.2
    /10

    Leaving Los Angeles
    episode S6.E4 february 2009
    Shane and Jenny are still melting over each other; Bette and Tina meet a potential birth mother; Max tries to deal with being pregnant; Alice and Tasha play matchmaker; and Kelly Wentworth (Elizabeth Berkley) may have what Bette needs.
  • 7.5
    /10

    Litmus Test
    episode S6.E5 february 2009
    Jenny writes another script that sells; Bette and Kelly go into business; Alice and Tasha have a third-wheel crush; the girls plot a sting operation to test Dylan; Jenny encroaches further on Shane.
  • 7.4
    /10

    Lactose Intolerant
    episode S6.E6 february 2009
    Jenny throws a baby shower for Max; Bette and Tina hit a roadblock in the adoption process; Bette goes solo to her gallery's opening night celebration; Shane is feeling boxed in by Jenny; Alice starts to feel like three is a crowd.
  • 7.9
    /10

    Last Couple Standing
    episode S6.E7 march 2009
    Rumors fly around a dance marathon that Alice and Tasha are having relationship trouble; someone plans a move to the Big Apple; Kit meets a real man; there's a no-show at the bus station.
  • 6.1
    /10

    Last Word
    episode S6.E8 march 2009
    What starts out as a celebration of friendship quickly ends in a web of betrayal and deceit; the girls find themselves being investigated about Jenny's untimely death by Sergeant Duffy.

Best moments10

  • 7.6
    /10
    72% of the votes

    L-Chaim
    episode S2.E12 may 2005
    Bette moves her father, played by Emmy-nominated actor Ossie Davis, into her home for his final days, as Alice struggles with her jealousy over Dana's dinner with an ex, and Jenny confronts a repressed memory.
  • 7.4
    /10
    70% of the votes

    Lactose Intolerant
    episode S6.E6 february 2009
    Jenny throws a baby shower for Max; Bette and Tina hit a roadblock in the adoption process; Bette goes solo to her gallery's opening night celebration; Shane is feeling boxed in by Jenny; Alice starts to feel like three is a crowd.
  • 7.9
    /10
    63% of the votes

    Looking Back
    episode S1.E11 march 2004
    Bette hires an attractive contractor to set up for the gallery's new show; Tina, Jenny, Shane, Alice and Dana take an eventful trip to Palm Springs.
  • 7.8
    /10
    62% of the votes

    Late, Later, Latent
    episode S2.E9 april 2005
    Alice's sex-toy request freaks out Dana; Jenny learns the truth about TV star Burr - and about Carmen's feelings for Shane; Bette and Tina have a brief encounter.
  • 8
    /10
    54% of the votes

    Lez Girls
    episode S4.E5 february 2007
    The tryst between Bette and her TA threatens her new career; Alice breaks up with Phyllis after meeting her husband; Tina discovers Angus with her au pair Hazel; Jenny publishes a short story in "The New Yorker" that infuriates Alice.
  • 7.8
    /10
    52% of the votes

    Lights! Camera! Action!
    episode S5.E6 february 2008
    Production on "Lez Girls" finally begins as Jenny deals with a recalcitrant star; Bette and Tina struggle with their feelings; the owners of SheBar take their war against the gang to the next level.
  • 7.9
    /10
    50% of the votes

    Last Couple Standing
    episode S6.E7 march 2009
    Rumors fly around a dance marathon that Alice and Tasha are having relationship trouble; someone plans a move to the Big Apple; Kit meets a real man; there's a no-show at the bus station.
  • 7.6
    /10
    49% of the votes

    Loneliest Number
    episode S2.E3 march 2005
    Kit preps The Planet for its grand reopening. Shane becomes Jenny's new roommate and Bette's emotional tailspin continues.
  • 7.4
    /10
    48% of the votes

    Luminous
    episode S2.E7 april 2005
    Alice and Dana tentatively begin dating, while Tina comes between Helena and her ex, Bette rejoins the singles scene, and Shane dulls her pain over Jenny and Carmen.
  • 7.5
    /10
    48% of the votes

    Longing
    episode S1.E3 february 2004
    Bette takes a step to win her battle of wills with the chairman of the art gallery board; Jenny struggles with her feelings for Marina; Alice tries to regain her self-respect after a run-in with an ex; Dana finally gets a date with Lara.

Votes per episode

season
  • Season 1
  • Season 2
  • Season 3
  • Season 4
  • Season 5
  • Season 6
Season 1
735
E1
686
E2
2K
E3
738
E4
399
E5
492
E6
564
E7
1.3K
E8
357
E9
1.2K
E10
1.9K
E11
340
E12
321
E13
Season 2
132
E1
273
E2
1.3K
E3
242
E4
281
E5
465
E6
1.2K
E7
784
E8
1.6K
E9
1.1K
E10
366
E11
1.7K
E12
548
E13
Season 3
172
E1
164
E2
202
E3
664
E4
92
E5
80
E6
51
E7
30
E8
125
E9
24
E10
49
E11
151
E12
Season 4
178
E1
171
E2
707
E3
322
E4
1.1K
E5
193
E6
201
E7
294
E8
104
E9
485
E10
496
E11
847
E12
Season 5
361
E1
114
E2
77
E3
746
E4
290
E5
962
E6
207
E7
75
E8
564
E9
149
E10
416
E11
131
E12
Season 6
871
E1
303
E2
436
E3
909
E4
86
E5
1.3K
E6
1K
E7
823
E8