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

Given that there were so many big names involved, were there any conflicting egos on the set? In other press interviews, McClanahan has said yes. “Almost all the people are wonderful to work with,” she told the Gay & Lesbian Times. “There’s one person that isn’t awfully popular, but I won’t get into that right now. But most everyone is professional and cooperative. There aren’t any prima donnas. Well, except that one person.”

“That has gotten blown out of proportion in such a weird way,” Shores says. “There was one isolated incident with Rue McClanahan and one other actor.”

Rue McClanahan

As for the cameos by Cho, Cayne, and Kressley, Shores says he thought it would be an interesting gimmick to have familiar faces for some of the show’s many therapists.

“But I gotta tell you,” he says, “of all the people, I was little bit intimidated with Margaret Cho. She’s just such a gay icon and I’ve been such a big fan of hers for many years. But she stepped on the set and she’s real people and sweet and very directable and just really had a great experience.”

Meanwhile, because much of the plot revolves around Leslie Jordan’s idol-worship of Tammy Wynette, Shores thought to ask Wynette’s daughter to play Tammy in a dream sequence.

“When I talked to Georgette about playing her mom, I said, ‘Have you seen the movie?’” Shores says. “She said, ‘Have I seen the movie? My sisters and I watch it all the time! We love the movie because it always reminds us of how loyal Mom’s gay fans were, and are still.’ And so she didn’t hesitate at all.”

Leslie Jordan (left) & Georgette Jones
Unless otherwise noted, all photos courtesy Logo

But despite the presence of all these famous actresses, not to mention gay talent both behind and in front of the camera, the shoot wasn’t exclusively a gay and female-centered affair.

“The crew was real, real straight,” Shores says. “I made it real clear with our production company down there that I didn’t want any level of homophobia at all. And then we started shooting with Leslie Jordan and the crew fell in love with him. The day after Leslie left, all the straight boys on the crew were going, ‘I miss Brother Boy! I want Brother Boy!’”

In addition to directing big stars like Olivia Newton-John and Rue McClanahan, Shores was directing his husband, Dottley.

“It wasn’t hard at all,” Shores says. “We both have respect for each other as artists, and he really, really listens to me as a director. Not always in real life!”

Sordid Lives premieres on Logo on July 23rd.