Tuesday, October 25, 2022
ABC Holiday Specials 2022 Schedule; Remembering Sitcom Star Leslie Jordan of Hearts Afire, Will & Grace and Call Me Kat
ABC announced its holiday programming in anticipation of the most wonderful time of the year, which includes a lineup filled with merriment, beloved classics and uplifting new specials. Two dazzling specials featuring some of the biggest names in music will bring melodies in December: A Very Backstreet Christmas celebrates the holidays with The Backstreet Boys, and Finding Harmony is an uplifting story featuring EGOT winner John Legend and David Brown, founder of the Columbus-based Harmony Project in Ohio. Disney will kick off its 100th anniversary celebration during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023.
More highlights include Disney's new stop-motion holiday special, Mickey Saves Christmas; the return of CMA Country Christmas from Nashville; holiday-themed episodes of ABC's favorite comedies and game shows; and Wonderful World of Disney movies that families can enjoy, including a special airing of Home Alone on Christmas Eve and the broadcast premiere of Frozen II. ABC News is also set to air Love Actually: 20 Years Later - A Diane Sawyer/ABC News Special and The Year: 2022. A magical new season of The Great Christmas Light Fight also returns, along with news of a season 11 pickup for 2023. Additional movies, musicals and specials round out the holiday season on ABC - see the full lineup.
Emmy-winning actor, comedian, writer and singer Leslie Jordan, who starred as Lonnie Garr on Hearts Afire, as Beverley Leslie on Will & Grace and as Phil on Call Me Kat, has died. He died on October 24 after his car hit the side of a building at Cahuenga Boulevard and Romaine Street in Hollywood. He was believed to have experienced a medical episode that led to the crash. Mr. Jordan was 67.
Jordan's first sitcom starring role was as meddlesome mailman Truman Fipps on the short-lived 1989 CBS sitcom The People Next Door. The series also starred Jeffrey Jones, Mary Gross, Chance Quinn, Jaclyn Bernstein and Christina Pickles.
He played Emmet Lefebvre on the short-lived 1991 Fox sitcom Top of the Heap. Emmet Lefebre is the diminutive security guard at the Rolling Hills Country Club outside Chicago. The Married with Children spin-off also starred Joseph Bologna, Matt LeBlanc, Joey Lauren Adams and Rita Moreno.
Jordan starred as Lonnie Garr in 27 episodes of the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire from 1993 to 1995. Lonnie Garr is a big-talking but insecure printer at The Daily Beacon paper. The cast included John Ritter, Markie Post, Billy Bob Thornton, Justin Burnette (1992-1994), J. Skylar Testa (1994-1995), Clark Duke, Wendie Jo Sperber (1992-1993), Beth Broderick (1992-1993), George Gaynes (1992-1993), Edward Asner (1992-1993) and Conchata Ferrell (1993-1995).
He had a recurring role as Beverley Leslie in 17 episodes of the NBC sitcom Will & Grace from 2001 to 2006 and 2017 to 2020. Beverley Leslie is Karen Walker's (Megan Mullally) pretentious, sexually ambiguous rival. Jordan won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series at the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2006. The cast included Eric McCormack, Debra Messing and Sean Hayes.
Jordan starred as Sidney "Sid" Delacroix on the 2018-2019 Fox sitcom The Cool Kids. The series follows three male residents of the Shady Meadows Retirement Community who are forced to adapt to the arrival of a new, rebellious female occupant. It also starred David Alan Grier, Martin Mull and Vicki Lawrence.
He was starring as Phil on the Fox sitcom Call Me Kat, which is currently in its third season. Phil is a newly single gay man who works as the head baker at Kat's (Mayim Bialik) café. The cast includes Swoosie Kurtz, Kyla Pratt, Julian Grant, Cheyenne Jackson and Christopher Rivas.
Some of his sitcom guest appearances included Night Court, Annie McGuire, Murphy Brown, Newhart, Sugar and Spice, American Dreamer, Babes, Perfect Strangers, The New WKRP in Cincinnati, Getting By, Nurses, Coach, Weird Science, Wings, Arli$$, Ellen, Dharma & Greg, Caroline in the City, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Reba, George Lopez, Shake It Up, The Game, The Neighbors, Raising Hope, The Exes, Baby Daddy, K.C. Undercover and Life in Pieces.
Jordan starred as Asst. Public Defender Clifford Sizemore on the NBC police drama Reasonable Doubts from 1992 to 1993. He played Lemar Samuels on the 1992-1993 CBS police drama Bodies of Evidence. He played Dr. Benjamin Harris in two episodes of Ally McBeal and five episodes of Boston Public. In 2005, he played Bernard Ferrion in five episodes of Boston Legal. He had a recurring role as Jesse Jo in five episodes of Hidden Palms in 2007. He played several characters in recurring roles in the American Horror Story franchise.
Some of his drama guest appearances included The Fall Guy, The Wizard, Midnight Caller, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Charlie Grace, Star Trek: Voyager, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Pretender, Pacific Blue, Buddy Faro, Martial Law, Any Day Now, Nash Bridges, Monk, Ugly Betty, Privileged, Desperate Housewives and Fantasy Island (2021).
Mr. Jordan was a beloved actor, comedian and Instagram sensation. He made everything he appeared in much better. He was always a big scene stealer. We thank him for the many laughs and entertainment that he brought us. He will be greatly missed.
Share your memories on our Call Me Kat message board. View photos in our galleries.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, April 24
The Conners - "Manifesting, Marriage Testing and Cheeseballs" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
The Conners relish national cheeseball day as a family. Meanwhile, Harris falls behind in her work duties at the Lunch Box, and Darlene and Ben must figure out how to spend time together despite their two separate schedules.
Not Dead Yet - "Not the End Yet" / "Not a Ghost Yet" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Nell finds out that Duncan is selling the SoCal Independent, so she takes matters into her own hands to save her job when Lexi seems unwilling to help. Then, Nell navigates an unexpected incident that leaves the sale of the newspaper on hold.
Animal Control - "Skunks and Swans" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Frank and Shred take on an aggressive swan; Shred has a meet-cute with a mysterious woman; Emily makes a mistake that results in Victoria having very little time to prepare for her big exam; Patel gets his father to help Victoria cram for the test.
Family Guy - "A Stache From the Past" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Peter loses the Griffins' home in a reverse mortgage, he and Mayor West travel to confront the man advertising the scheme, Tom Selleck; Stewie and Brian open a booth at the flea market, leading to a rivalry with Bruce.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 22)
Wednesday, April 24
- Carol Burnett (Palm Royale/Mad About You/Mama's Family) - Watch Carol on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Nicole Richie (Great News) - Nicole is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Fred Armisen (Los Espookys/Forever/Final Space) - Fred sits in with The 8G Band on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) and Michaela Watkins (Dinner with the Parents/Search Party/The Unicorn/Casual/Trophy Wife) - Lisa and Michaela are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- John Early (Search Party) - John appears on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10:15pm on Bravo.
- Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family/The Class) - Jesse is a guest on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10:15pm on Bravo.
- Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G./The Carmichael Show) - E! News has an interview with Tiffany at 11pm on E!.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny guest co-hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Drew Barrymore (Santa Clarita Diet) - Drew will be on CBS Mornings some time between 7-9am.
- Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld) - Jerry talks about Unfrosted on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am and on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Mayan Lopez (Lopez vs Lopez) - Mayan talks about NBC's Lopez vs Lopez on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Carrie Preston (Crowded/Happyish/Emeril) - Carrie, a fan-favorite on The Good Wife, tells Sherri about her new show Elsbeth on Sheri, so check your local listings.
- Harry Hamlin (Movie Stars) - Harry has a cooking demo on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
New on DVD/Blu-ray
12/05 - Father Knows Best - The Complete Series
12/05 - The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/12 - The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Complete Series
12/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
12/12 - That Girl - The Complete Series
12/15 - Letterkenny - Season 11
12/19 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series
12/22 - Three's Company - The Official 40th Anniversary Collection (includes The Ropers and Three's a Crowd)
01/09 - South Park - Seasons 11-15 (Blu-ray)
01/16 - Ghosts (UK) - Season Five
02/13 - Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/27 - The Really Loud House - Season One
03/12 - Ghosts (UK) - The Complete Series
03/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
03/12 - Rick and Morty - Season 7 (Blu-ray Steelbook) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/03 - Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series (VEI)
04/08 - Check It Out! - The Complete Series (VEI)
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