ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: SinceSordid Lives, you also made a TV show with these characters.
Advancing it all the way to 2015, just made so much sense.
You touch on real issues in the movie.
Credit: Steven K. Johnson.; Beard Collins Shores
But Ive always gravitated organically to blending tones and usually get good reviews about that.
Thats what life is about.
The series has such a following, were you thinking of just giving fans what they want?
Beard Collins Shores
Lets take the character of Brother Boy.
You cant have Leslie Jordan not perform Tammy Wynette.
I added Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton and just had such a blast.
I knew the fans would love that.
So its a combo in writing.
I immerse myself into this world.
I loved Dick Clair and Jenna McMahonsMamas Family.
I like that tone but in that, but I didnt have to go to that well.
All I had to do was go to my mothers family.
I often say Im really not a writer, Im just a thief.
I just became an observer of behavior and dialogue.
I had that ability to remember verbatim things that they said.
That was truly my inspiration.
Do you think you would return toSordiddown the line?Never say never.
I did feel like in telling this story that it was the last chapter forSordid Livesand for theSordidcharacters.
We lost the amazing Sarah Hunley after we shot.
My actors, theyre getting up there…
I guess I could always doSordid Livesthe early days.
They were asking this question at a Q&A.
But I think its the end.
We need to move on to some other stories.
Gay rights have really progressed since the original film andQueer as Folk, which you wrote for.
Is representation better?I think so.
We dont really have that show anymore.Queer as Folkis gay gay gay gay gay.
I love that, that we dont have to have our own show.
Where would you fitSordidin terms of gay representation?Sordidis rather unique.
Thats why so many gay fans are comfortable to shareSordid Liveswith their families.
Its not really a gay story.
Its just much more a family story that happens to have gay members, which most people do.
[But] they saw people in that.
Suddenly it gave them the bravery to come out…
I cant think of any other show.
I guessModern Familyin a way if you have to.
There you have family members happen to be gay and the show is not really gay.
That could be a possibility.
Weve seen it in both mediums, but I do feel like TV paved the way.
I really feel thatQueer as Folkpreceded it all.
You suddenly had gay characters who werent just the clown.
They were actually people with relationships, with children, with problems, who actually have sex.
WithSordid, thats why: People genuinely care.
