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.

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.)