The ever-fabulous Beth Grant talks co-starring with Sissy's hair

Last week the star-studded premiere of Sordid Lives: The Series took place in New York, and our pals over at NewNowNext were there to chat up some of the fabulous folks both in front of and behind the cameras in the new Logo series (Logo is our parent company), which premieres tomorrow night.

Cast newcomer Ted Detwiler talks to John Polly about his revealing television debut

Leslie Jordan somehow manages to flash his chest-pelt no fewer than three times in discussing the show's evolution, creator Del Shores spills the beans that Rue McClanahan's sex scene was too racy for cable, and ... well, I don't want to spoil everything, so check it out yourself, after the break!

We're excited to unveil a brand-spanking-new video blog, courtesy of our friends at Logo (which is also our parent company, of course). As you may have heard, Sordid Lives: The Series premieres next week on the gay net, and we've somehow talked series creator Del Shores and star Jason Dottley into doing a weekly vlog to give us the inside scoop on the episodes, showcase special guests and discuss all things home-fried, big-haired, and ... well, Southern.

In this intro, we meet Del and Jason (who are also husbands - yes, they can do that now in California!), who give us some background on the origins of the series and what folks can expect to see.

Check it out after the break, and be sure to visit logoonline.com each week for a new episode (they've decided to run the vlog there in the future, to fit in with all the other Sordid Lives content).

Rue McClanahan, Del Shores, Caroline Rhea, Olivia Newton-John, Leslie Jordan

The red carpet was laid out Tuesday night at the New World Stages in Manhattan for the world premiere of Sordid Lives: The Series, Logo's (AfterElton's parent company) latest offering. A prequel to the 2000 film and stage play of the same name, Sordid Lives premieres on Logo on July 23rd at 10pm EDT. The series takes a comedic look at the outrageous lives of a small town Texas family and, based on the two episodes shown, promises to be as outrageous as the film and play it’s based on.

Along with creator Del Shores (who wrote and directed the film and series), cast members Olivia Newton-John, Leslie Jordan, Rue McClanahan, Caroline Rhea, Bonnie Bedalia, Ann Walker, Jason Dottley and Beth Grant all took time before the event began to talk on the red carpet about being a part of Shore’s wacky Southern world. Newton-John, Jordan, Grant, Walker and Bedalia are among those who reprise their roles from the film. Rhea takes over for Delta Burke with the role of Noleta and David Steen takes over the role of GW Nethercott, which was played by Beau Bridges in the film.

Rue McClanahan, Caroline Rhea, Olivia Newton-John

Also on hand were actresses Bebe Neuwirth and Allison Janney, who both showed up to lend their support to the series as well as the event, which was benefiting The Trevor Project. Logo Executive Vice President Lisa Sherman and Vice President of Original Programming Dave Mace were also in attendance.

Rhea, who warmed up the audience with her comedy before introducing a showcase of talent that preceded the episode screenings, hosted the evening. Rhea first introduced Georgette Jones, the daughter of country music legends Tammy Wynette and George Jones, who sang two songs that are featured in the series. Miss Jones also makes a guest appearance in Sordid Lives: The Series as the ghost of her famous mother.

Newton-John

Wynette is an important part of the series, as she was the film, since Leslie Jordan’s character, Brother Boy, is obsessed with the singer and lives in a mental institution where he performs in drag as Wynette. Minus the Wynette makeup and wig, Jordan took to the stage and performed a rollicking skit from his one-man show, “My Trip Down the Pink Carpet.”

Rue McClanahan also dished about her sex scene in the series and a silent auction was held for items such as autographed Sordid Lives costumes, posters, script and signed DVD or the motion picture.

McClanahan

The series premieres next Wednesday on Logo.

If the words "Shoot her Wardell! Shoot her in the head!" mean something to you, I've got some very good news. First, the brand new (double-wide) trailer for Sordid Lives: The Series is up and running, and from the looks of things, the inspired insanity of the movie has transferred intact to the TV show. And second, LOGO (who owns this site, by the by) has announced that the soap will premiere on July 23rd.

Most of the original cast has returned, including Olivia Newton-John, Leslie Jordan, and Bonnie Bedelia. There are a couple of notable changes, though. Delta Burke was unable to reprise her role, so the character of Noleta is now being played by Caroline Rhea. Jason Dottley is now playing the character of Ty, the struggling gay actor, and in a genius casting decision, the character of the family matriach, Peggy (who was a corpse in the movie), is somehow alive and being played by Rue McClanahan. Guest stars in the first season include Margaret Cho, Carson Kressley, and Candis Cayne, which means this has the potential to rock a 10.0 on the gaymeter.

If you want to know more, visit LOGOonline for further details about the show.

Here's some great news: At long last, the in-development series based on Del Shores' fan-fave play and movie Sordid Lives is making its way to Logo in the summer fall of 2008. 

Official word is out that the series (currently filming in Louisiana) is screenbound and will star Bonnie Bedelia, Rue McClanahan, Olivia Newton-John, Caroline Rhea, and Beth Grant (OMG don't tell me that's the Sparkle Motion lady from Donnie Darko...). Out, Emmy-winning actor Leslie Jordan (pictured above) will reprise his film role as the institutionalized, Tammy-Wynette-channeling "Brother Boy", and Margaret Cho, Carson Kressley, Candis Cayne and Georgette Jones are also set to cameo amidst the 12-episode run.

The press release sums up the series thusly:

Sordid Lives’ twelve half-hour episodes are a humorous look at a dysfunctional family and the denizens of Winters, Texas, as well as an institutionalized brother (Jordan) who channels Tammy Wynette (Jones).  The series also chronicles the handsome young son of one of sisters (Bedelia) who is struggling with coming out to his Texas Republican Baptist family while pursuing an acting career in Los Angeles. 

Finally, some good news on the television front ... and even more, easily the most bizarre cast I've ever seen assembled for a television project (most of whom appeared in the 2000 film). This could either be brilliance or an absolute mess, but either way, we'll be watching ... and not just because Logo will make us. (Logo is the parent company of AfterElton.com.)

I've made no secret that I'm a big fan of Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World, the wickedly funny satire from Eating Out and Boy Culture director Q. Allan Brocka. Today, Logo (our parent company) announced that we can look forward to seeing more Rick & Steve, as the show will be returning for a second season in the summer of 2008. The second season will consist of eight episodes, two more than the first season.

Logo also announced two more gay-themed animation projects. One is Tinseltown, the Hollywood satire from the Jim Henson Company we told you about earlier. If you need more reason to get excited about Tinseltown, I just learned that it's co-written by Sordid Lives creator Del Shores.

We can also expect more of Small Talk, which was part of last week's Alien Boot Camp. The Small Talk short films all focus on two gay male friends who comment on the goings-on at the gym, steamroom or other locations.

You can already check out Small Talk at AlienBootCamp.com. A 12-minute pilot of Tinseltown will air on tomorrow night's Alien Boot Camp and will available to watch online the following Monday, November 5.

See that picture at the top? I'm up there dancing with Evan and Condi over the news of all this animated goodness.