Episode 1: The Day Tammy Wynette Died (Part 1)

Last night was the best television has been in ages! The show starts off with a rather sexy lezzy looking Olivia Newton-John's character "Bitsie Mae" playing the theme song acoustic in a jail cell. After a title card (that is fabulous with it's hand-gun, valium, and nail polish!), an energetic and adorable Jason Dottley's "Ty" is in therapy with gay icon Margaret Cho. A family tree is exposed during therapy leading to the introduction of the first big haired beauty, the fierce Bonnie Bedelia returning to the role of Ty's mother "Latrelle". She can't find her mother, "Peggy", played by my favorite Golden Girl Rue McClanahan. We find Peggy waiting for Bitsie Mae at the jail, and she's telling Bitsy's story to an attentive but Spanish speaking Mexican ladie, "You don't speak English, do you?" Peggy concludes, "Well, I'm used to it. It's just like talking to my sister Sissy when she's glued to that television set." The family tree is exposed again and reveals Sparkle Motion magic lady Beth Grant who's back in Sissy's failed French twist. She's watching something on tv as an announcer interrupts the show to say that Tammy Wynette has died. She is concerned for her nephew "Brother Boy" who's locked up in a mental institution because he's a gay transvestite who thinks he's Tammy Wynette. Cut to bright red lips belonging to Will & Grace's Emmy winner Leslie Jordan who is practicing a drag rendition of Tammy Wynette's "I Don't Want to Play House". His sister, everyone's favorite aunt, "Lavonda" played by the brilliant, Lucile Ball in a trailer park-esque Ann Walker, is putting her face on in Sissy's bathroom as Sissy calls to her to "come quick! Tammy Wynette has died!".
The first part ends with the completion of Ty's therapy session with Margaret Cho. I must say that the new Ty (Jason Dottley) is perfectly cast. A perfect addition to this stellar cast! And he's mighty scrumptios to look at too!

When we return from commercial, Sissy is on the phone and Latrelle comes barging in like she always does, yelling "Sissy!" She tells Sissy and Lavonda that Peggy is missing and gets into her usual tissy with the two when she informs them of the new therapist who is going to try to dehomosexualize her brother, Brother Boy. As Latrelle wonders where her momma is, we cut to Peggy greeting a confused Bitsie Mae as she's released from jail. We find Ty on the street of West Hollywood as he readies to audition for Naked Boys Singing where he meets a gorgeous guy. I'm assuming we've just met "Ty's Love Interest #1", and I'm hoping I'm right! The first huge, gut-wrenching, pain-in-your-jaws laughing fit comes as this scene cuts to Sissy fixing a glass of iced tea and smoking a cigarette. Her ash falls into the glass and rather than fix a new one, she looks around and secretly swilrls the ash into the tea and giggles, then delivers it to Latrelle. God, I love Del Shores.
My favorite character from the movie, Brother Boy, is next up. He's still practing his Tammy routine when the mean security guard Bumper barges in and announces that his idol Tammy is dead "kicked the bucket". Brother Boy falls apart. Its hysterically sad.
When we return the big haired ladies are leaving Sissy's where they are spliting up to travel town and find their missing Mama! The second painful only-like-Del-Shores-can-do-it laughter comes as we see all three ladies popping valium in a musical sequence that reminds me of the first season of Desperate Housewives, only better.
Ty and his mom Latrelle share their first phone call, as does he and his aunt Lavonda. Ty's worried about auditioning for a gay play because it has nudity. Apparently at some point in Ty's life he was fat boy (as per the movie, series and play) and has been scarred by it since. Now he's beautifully fucked-up about it. Gay boys, can you relate? I can! Ann Walker lays out a classic banger after Ty says she's sweet, "No I'm not, I'm a bitch. Ask your mama!" Ann's portrayal of Lavonda is transcendent. You can't believe you're watching anyone act. She and Beth Grant (Sissy) both feel like they're in a reality show!
Sissy's neighbors G.W. Nethercott (played by Sordid newbie David Steen) and Noleta Nethercott (Delta Burke's replacement Caroline Rhea who honestly, I can't imagine Delta holding a candle to. Caroline is simply marvelous.) are having marital problems because GW wants to take off his prosthetic legs when he makes love to Nolette but it gives her the "hibbee jeebee's" -- and who could argue with her? Luckily, a package has arrived with a black nightie and what appears to be an unexpectedly big dildo. Noleta sits at home watching a soap and eating a very crunchy chicken leg dipped in mash potatoes.
She goes over to Sissy's house to talk with Lavonda who happens to not be at home. Noleta then spews to Sissy about her failing marriage and her dreams of killing her husband with a gun, "Bang! Bang! Bang!". Check mark gut-wrencher number 3!
The episode ends with Brother Boy deciding in a teary fit that like Judy Garland who had homosexuals world wide jump from windows when she died, Tammy Wynette deserved at least one, and it was going to be him! Unfortunately for Brother Boy, but s tely for us, he gets stuck in the bars... TO BE CONTINUED.

My Tivo didn't get the last 3 minutes and I was horrified. My ex had it on Comcast and his was fine so I ran over and watched it with her. We both are in Sordid heaven. I do wish that Logo would cease using those obnoxious blue balls. This is prime time A-list top notch TV, don't distract us with silly marketing gimmicks. We are on Logo to watch a show, not be innundated with ping pong sounds and expanding, flashing logos. Please be considerate of your viewers.

I can't wait for episode 2. Juanita's big return. I'm dying knowing that next week we can watch part 1 and part 2 back to back and get the entire pilot in all its glory.

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