Sordid Lives: The Seriesis an Americancomedytelevision series created, written, and directed byDel Shores.It is prequel to his 2000 film,Sordid Lives.It is set in a small town of Texas and centers on the Ingram family, and starsBonnie Bedelia,Beth Grant,Rue McClanahan,Olivia Newton-John,Caroline Rhea,Leslie Jordan,along with most of the original cast of the film.
| Sordid Lives: The Series | |
|---|---|
 DVD poster | |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Created by | Del Shores |
| Showrunner | Del Shores |
| Written by | Del Shores |
| Directed by | Del Shores |
| Starring | |
| Theme music composer | |
| Opening theme | "Sordid Lives" |
| Composer | Joe Patrick Ward |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No.of seasons | 1 |
| No.of episodes | 12 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Cinematography | David Sanderson |
| Running time | 30 minutes (including commercials) |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Logo TV |
| Release | July 23– October 29, 2008 |
| Related | |
It premiered onLogo TVin the United States in July 2008 and ended its first and only season in October 2008.
Plot
editIn April 1998, family matriarch Peggy Ingram takes in the town bar singer Bitsy Mae Harling who has just been released from prison. Peggy's daughter LaVonda lives with Peggy's chain-smoking sister Sissy, while Peggy's good girl Latrelle maintains an image of seeming perfection. Latrelle's son Ty is an actor living in Los Angeles and struggling with several therapists to come to terms with his homosexuality.
Peggy's third child, Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram, is locked in a mental institution where he performs asTammy Wynette.He plots to escape while he attends therapy sessions with Dr. Eve who believes she cande-homosexualizehim. LaVonda's best friend Noleta lives in a trailer in Sissy's backyard with her husband G.W., a Vietnam veteran with two wooden legs. G.W. escapes regularly to the local bar in town amidst a small crowd of regulars including brothers Wardell and Odell, Bitsy Mae, and the bar's resident drunk Juanita.
Production
editDevelopment
editA few years afterSordid Lives(2000) was released,Del Shorespublished anonline novelcalledThe Sordid Saga,serving as a prequel to the film. He wrote 22 chapters (one per week) before stopping after being hired to write forQueer as Folk.WhenLogo TVlaunched in 2005, Shores' then-husbandJason Dottleysuggested he pitch the novel into a TV series.[1]
Casting
editMany of the film's cast returned, however there were some changes. Dottley replaced Kirk Geiger as Ty.[1]Originally,Caroline Rheasigned on for guest appearance as a therapist, but after reading the script she wanted a bigger role. After Delta Burke decided not to return, Rhea took over the role of Noleta.[2]
Rue McClanahansigned on as family matriarch Peggy. She said in an interview for the reason she accepted the role, "It was the funniest script I'd read sinceThe Golden Girls.The same way I knew inGolden GirlsI wanted to play Blanche, I knew I wanted to play Peggy. They're 180 degrees different, of course, except for one thing: They're both looking for love ". She said to have been paid more for one episode ofGolden Girlsthan for the whole 12 episodes ofSordid Lives.[3]
Filming
editPrincipal photographytook place on a low-budget in Shreveport, Louisiana, for 36 days between November 2007 and January 2008.[4][5][1]Shores stated the cast worked for less than their usual fees. To save time and since all episodes were written, Shores would "block-shot it, like a movie".[3]Leslie Jordanfilmed his scenes in six days.[3]
Cast
editMain
edit- Bonnie Bedeliaas Latrelle Williamson
- Beth Grantas Sissy Hickey
- Rue McClanahanas Peggy Ingram
- Olivia Newton-Johnas Bitsy Mae Harling
- Caroline Rheaas Noleta Nethercott
- Leslie Jordanas Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram
- Newell Alexander as Wardell 'Bubba' Owens
- Rosemary Alexander as Dr. Eve Bolinger
- David Cowgill as Odell Owens
- Jason Dottleyas Ty Williamson
- Sarah Hunley as Juanita Bartlett
- David Steenas G.W. Nethercott
- Ann Walker as LaVonda DuPree
Recurring
edit- Mitch Carter as Bumper
- Ted Detwiler as Jacob
- Mary Margaret Lewis as Ethel
- Sharron Alexis as Sara Kaufman
- T. Ashanti Mozelle as Vegas
- Robert Lewis Stephenson as Marc/Hunter
- Craig Taggart as Craig Stephen
- Allison Tolmanas Tink
- Katherine Bailessas nurse Waring
- Chris Pudlo as Conroy
- Joe Patrick Wardas Marshall
- Lorna Scott as Vera
- Emerson Collins as Max
- Tate Tayloras Richie
- Cassie Shea Watson as Saline
- Scott Presley as Roger
- Bob Downs as Reverend Barnes
- Sharon Garrison as Mrs. Barnes
- Susan Leslie as Jackie
- Liz Mikelas Maggie
Special guest stars
edit- Dale Dickeyas Glyndora
- Georgette JonesasTammy Wynette
- Bobbie Eakesas Daniella
- Margaret Choas therapist #17
- Carson Kressleyas therapist #18
- Candis Cayneas therapist #19
Episodes
edit| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Day Tammy Wynette Died, Part 1" | July 23, 2008 |
| 2 | "The Day Tammy Wynette Died, Part 2" | July 30, 2008 |
| 3 | "Pills, Poison & Penises" | August 6, 2008 |
| 4 | "Secrets and Lies" | August 13, 2008 |
| 5 | "The Fall and Rise of Brother Boy" | August 20, 2008 |
| 6 | "Call Waiting" | September 10, 2008 |
| 7 | "An Audacious Affair" | September 17, 2008 |
| 8 | "Guess Who's Coming to Bubba's" | September 24, 2008 |
| 9 | "Those Pesky Little Stalkers" | October 1, 2008 |
| 10 | "Desperately Seeking Ty" | October 8, 2008 |
| 11 | "Compromising Situations" | October 22, 2008 |
| 12 | "The Trip" | October 29, 2008 |
Release
editLogo TVairedSordid Lives: The Serieswith 12 episodes from July 22, 2008, to October 21, 2008.[3]Well Go USAreleased the complete series on DVD and Blu-ray in the United States on January 11, 2011.[6]
A second season was not ordered due to legalities with producers not paying out residuals to the artists. The crew would later be awarded $2.5 million in unpaid residuals and penalties.[7][8]
Reception
editMetacritic,which uses aweighted average,assigned the series a score of 65 out of 100, based on 6 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[9]
Barry Garron fromThe Hollywood Reportergave a positive review, "Sordid Livesplays out like a white trash daytime drama on steroids. In each episode, outrageous things happen to outrageous characters, often producing outrageous laughs ". He described it as"Mama's FamilymeetsWill and Grace".[10] [11]The Boston Globe's Matthew Gilbert wrote that the series "has a decidedly amateurish tone, with shoddy production values and acting that shows some seams. But the tone works in the show's favor".[12]
References
edit- ^abcSpindle, Les (November 5, 2019)."Sorting OutSordid Lives".Backstage.com.RetrievedJune 3,2024.
- ^Huguenin, Patrick (July 18, 2008)."Caroline Rhea messes with Texas in the uninhibitedSordid Lives".New York Daily News.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
- ^abcdMoore, Frazier(July 16, 2008)."Sordid LivesBack In Action ".CBS News.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
- ^"Daily Buzz".The Clarion-Ledger.November 14, 2007. p. 3D.RetrievedJune 8,2024– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^Kent, Alexandry (January 26, 2008)."Pace of local movie-making still brisk".The Times.p. 3A.RetrievedJune 8,2024– via Newspapers.com.
- ^"Sordid Lives: The SeriesDVD ".Blu-ray.com.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
- ^Shores, Del(September 30, 2014)."Del Shores Looks Back On Making Cult Gay ClassicSordid Lives".IndieWire.RetrievedJune 3,2024.
- ^McNary, Dave (August 27, 2010)."AFTRA rejectsSordidsettlement ".Variety.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
- ^"Sordid Lives: The Series:Season 1 ".Metacritic.Fandom, Inc.RetrievedJune 7,2024.
- ^Garron, Barry (July 21, 2008)."Sordid Lives: The Series".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedJune 3,2024.
- ^Lloyd, Robert (July 23, 2008)."Big Hair in Texas, sexual confusion in California".Los Angeles Times.p. E11.RetrievedJune 8,2024– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^Gilbert, Matthew (July 23, 2008)."Playing small-town Texas excess for campy laughs".The Boston Globe.Archived fromthe originalon March 14, 2010.RetrievedJune 8,2024.
