When the first season of The L Word debuted in 2004, it initially attracted close to a million viewers. In the second season, the ratings dropped to around half a million.

The third season debuted on January 8, 2005, and while Showtime has not released ratings information, Greenblatt indicated in his statement today that ratings were up sharply.

"Not only is the show -- and the title -- part of the pop culture," said Greenblatt, "but we've seen a ratings explosion in season three, the likes of which we would never have predicted. Clearly something has caught fire, and we want the fourth season in production as soon as possible."

Showtime elaborated further on the show's impact on pop culture, saying in the press release that "Since its debut in January 2004, The L Word has become one of the rare television series to transcend the medium to become part of American popular culture, spawning dedicated fan websites and blogs, along with ancillary products such as The L Word-branded perfume, jewelry and books."

No information has been announced yet about which cast members will be returning for the fourth season.

Visit our L Word section for more news, reviews, and episode recaps