Season 1 chart
of all relationships

From the first season of Showtime's "The L Word," a chart mapping the relationships of the character Alice has been a central motif, growing to take over an entire wall.

Starting Jan. 7 with the start of the fourth season of the lesbian-themed drama, the Chart is going live, both on the series and in the real world, taking the form of an ad-supported social networking site aimed at lesbians and their friends and families, reports The New York Times.

Users of OurChart.com can create personal profile pages and then, like Alice, link them into charts of their relationships, sexual or otherwise. The site, a joint venture with Showtime Networks, will start by using content from those involved with the show on screen and off, and ultimately let "the community take over," said Hilary Rosen, the site's president.

Matthew Blank, chairman and chief executive of Showtime Networks, said expectations of the first-ever TV show turned social network have not been spelled out, yet it was a natural brand extension since the audience "has a tremendous sense of community."