Sordid Lives - The Series

Sordid Lives: The Series is a prequel TV series to Del Shores’ hit play and feature film of the same name. Ty Williamson is a young actor and closeted gay man, who is not only struggling with his career, but his sexuality and his hilariously dysfunctional Texan family as well. There’s Ty’s grandmother Peggy, who is having an affair with her sister Sissy’s best friend’s husband; his emotionally crippled mother Latrelle, his uncle Brother Boy who is in a sanitarium and worships the late great Tammy Wynette, and his beloved and sassy Aunt LaVonda.

The show reminded me a lot of ‘Soap’, the great sitcom/soap opera spoof that aired on ABC for four seasons from 1977-81, in that it offers up hilarity for the majority of the time, but can also deliver a scene that’s heartfelt and often times bittersweet. Although Sordid Lives’ pill-popping Ingram clan is painted as way over the top, there is a lot here that we can all relate to in our own crazy families. The cast is simply brilliant and includes Rue McClanahan, Olivia Newton-John, Leslie Jordan, Caroline Rhea, Margaret Cho, Beth Grant and Peggy Walker. The music performed by Newton-John is also great and serves the series well.

My only complaint would be that the series often times feels like two different shows. For the majority of the series, the character of Ty (really the only sane member of his family) is in Los Angeles and the rest of the crazy cast of characters are back home in Texas. I found the Los Angeles scenes a lot less interesting than the wild goings-on back in Ty’s hometown. As a result, I believe some viewers may find the series a bit uneven. Also, the series ends with several unresolved cliffhangers (due to LOGO unwisely not renewing the series), though for the most part, it leads up to the events in the feature film, pretty well.

All 12 episodes of Sordid Lives: The Series arrives on a single Blu-ray disc with a good assortment of special features including: Deleted Scenes (45 min), two Olivia Newton-John performances (8 min), Bloopers (14 min) and music videos (9 min). Unfortunately, there are no audio commentaries included. Overall, the video & audio presentation is good, although the picture is a bit soft in places.

Fans of the original film and zany, over-the-top comedies will find a lot to love here. The show successfully mixes hilarity with warmth and heart and definitely puts the fun in dysfunctional! Recommended.

The series is way more funier then the movie and the movie was fantastic. I would recomend Sordid Lives to anyone with a sense of humor.
I only wish and hope Logo wakes up and does a season 2 of one of the best shows ever Sordid Lives!!!!

Love this funny hilarious side splitting show .. humor at it's very best. A prequel to his movie of the same name. Add this to your collection! Starring a fabulous cast featuring, Beth Grant, Rue McClanahan, Bonnie Bedelia, and the irrepressable Leslie Jordan of Will and Grace fame. Jason Dottley, Rosemary Alexander , Newell Alexander, Ann Walker Sarah Hunley, Olivia Newton John, Caroline Rhea,David Steen all make this series work! You will watch this over and over again. "Now if you would excuse me I have a show to do!"