If George Lucas can tell us the ending of his story before the beginning, then why can’t Del Shores? Shores wrote his play Sordid Lives in 1995 and turned it into a movie in 2000. Now, à la Star Wars, he’s back to tell us how it all started, in a new TV series premiering on LOGO that is a prequel to the play and the film.

The series provides the backstory for the members of an eccentric Texas family, including the institutionalized drag queen Brother Boy, a closeted gay grandson and various other zanies. According to Shores, his goal was to “take the characters...and explore their lives and worlds in a very soap-opera style.”

The result is a southern-fried comedy featuring return performances by many members of the original cast, including: Olivia Newton-John, who will perform five new songs; Beth Grant as the chain-smoking Sissy; and Bonnie Bedelia as the controlling, high-strung Latrelle. The show also stars Rue McClanahan (The Golden Girls), Caroline Rhea, Jason Dottley and Margaret Cho. Best of all, Leslie Jordan is set to guest star in several episodes, reprising his role as the easily confused Brother Boy, who channels Tammy Wynette (played by Wynette’s daughter, Georgette Jones).

The series makes its debut on LOGO on July 23, but Frameline32 gives you an early sneak preview of two hilarious episodes, along with a special appearance by Shores and members of his cast.