The To-Die-For Cast of "Sordid Lives: The Series"

How did Shores manage to land such big names for such a modest project? Newton-John was a longtime friend, but most were reprising their roles from the movie, eager for a chance to play such over-the-top characters, often against type. After all, Hollywood isn’t known for writing juicy roles for women, especially women of a certain age.

“I just ask for things that I probably shouldn’t get,” Shores explains with a laugh. “I mean, come on, Rue McClanahan?” On a more serious note, he says, “I’ve found over the years that if you give actors really good material, they will many times take a pay cut for you.”

Olivia Newton-John (left) & Rue McClanahan

Sure enough, Bonnie Bedelia was attracted by the opportunity to play a comic role. “Not many people ask Bonnie to do comedy,” Shores says. “And so she just couldn’t believe that she was gonna get to play this outlandish, funny woman, and she was very flattered that I thought of her for the role. And she said, ‘I’ll do your movie if it doesn’t cost me money!’”

Bonnie Bedelia

Meanwhile, Shores says he wrote the role of Peggy, which is new to the series, specifically with McClanahan in mind.

“I had a list of one: Rue McClanahan,” he says. “I called her manager and I told her it was Logo, and she knew of Logo. I had already written all twelve episodes, and Rue read them in a day and said yes the next day. She couldn’t believe that there was a role where a 70-year old woman was having sex and in love! She said, ‘I never thought I was going to get to play a woman in love again.’”

“And I thought, well, this truly is gay heaven,” Shores says with a laugh.

Comedian Caroline Rhea replaced Delta Burke, who played the same role in the movie, but who had a scheduling problem when it came time to film the series.

“I was devastated that Delta wasn’t able to do it, but as soon as Caroline stepped on the stage and became Noleta, I never saw anybody else in that role,” Shores says. “She’s just so great.”

Caroline Rhea (left) & Beth Grant

Newton-John’s southern accent in the series is a surprising contrast to her familiar, and oft-imitated Australian accent.

“Because she’s musical, she’s a really good mimic,” Shores explains. “She worked really hard. What happened was Ann Walker, who plays LaVonda, tape-recorded all of her lines in a southern accent and then Olivia listened to them. Learned the accent that way. She did that for the movie and for the series.”

Next Page! Cat fight on the set? Rue McClanahan says maybe!