Tuesday, October 25, 2022

ABC Holiday Specials 2022 Schedule; Remembering Sitcom Star Leslie Jordan of Hearts Afire, Will & Grace and Call Me Kat

ABC Holiday Programming 2022

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.


Leslie Jordan

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.

The People Next Door

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.

Hearts Afire - John Ritter and Leslie Jordan

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).

Will & Grace - Megan Mullally and Leslie Jordan

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.

The Cool Kids

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.

Call Me Kat

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

Thursday, April 24

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "TV Money" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Mandy tries to prove she’s financially responsible after Jim and Georgie call out her poor spending habits, and Connor’s new girlfriend needs a place to stay.

Ghosts - "I Know What You Did Thirty-Seven Summers Ago" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
When Sam and Jay host a fundraiser for the mayor to earn a favor for Jay’s restaurant, they learn of his bizarre connection to one of Woodstone’s ghosts. Odessa Adlon returns as Stephanie, the ghost who died on her prom night.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of April 21)

Thursday, April 24

  • Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Only Murders in the Building/High Fidelity/People of Earth/Selfie) - Catch Da'Vine on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Michael B. Jordan (The Assistants) - Michael appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Walton Goggins (The Righteous Gemstones/The Unicorn/Vice Principals) - Walton appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Sasheer Zamata (Home Economics/Woke/Robbie) and Greta Titelman (Fantasmas/Search Party/Los Espookys) - Sasheer and Greta are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Will Forte (The Four Seasons/HouseBroken/MacGruber/The Last Man on Earth/The Cleveland Show) - E! News has an interview with Will at 11pm on E!.
  • Tika Sumpter (mixed-ish/Final Space/The Game) - Tika sits down with the Tam Fam to talk about her new children's book I Got It From My Mama on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
  • Michael Urie (Shrinking/Krapopolis/Partners) - Michael swings by the studio on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones/Vice Principals/Partners) - Edi chats about The Righteous Gemstones on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Ernest Lee Thomas (Everybody Hates Chris/What's Happening!!/What's Happening Now!!) and Haywood Nelson (What's Happening!!/What's Happening Now!!) - Ernest and Haywood talk about the 49th Anniversary of What's Happening!! on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
  • Cheech Marin (Rob/The Golden Palace) and Tommy Chong (That '90s Show/That '70s Show) - Cheech and Tommy talk about Cheech & Chong's Last Movie on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
  • Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G./The Carmichael Show) - Tiffany co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Casey Wilson (The Righteous Gemstones/Black Monday/The Hotwives/Marry Me/Happy Endings) - Casey talks about The Great American Baking Show on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Michelle Buteau (Survival of the Thickest/Bless the Harts/Enlisted) - Michelle is telling Drew about her show Survival of the Thickest on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Dating expert Damona Hoffman is joining Drew and Valerie for a Q & A about first dates on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Morris Chestnut (Out All Night) - Morris tells Sherri about the new season of Watson on CBS, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two

11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

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04/20 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 21, 2025)
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04/17 - BET+ Orders Martin Spinoff Varnell Hill; It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Returns in July
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04/08 - Prime Video's New Comedy Overcompensating; Nine Perfect Strangers Returns on Hulu in May
04/07 - NBC Celebrates Joan Rivers with Special; Remembering Jay North of Dennis the Menace
04/06 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of April 7, 2025)
04/05 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Fox Renews Three Animated Series and Brings Back a Fourth for Four More Seasons; ABC Renews Shifting Gears
04/04 - ABC 2025-26 Season Renewals for Scripted Series; New Season of Phineas and Ferb Returns June 5
04/03 - Fox Renews Animated Hits for 4 Additional Seasons and American Dad! Returns; South Park Season 27 Premieres July 9
04/02 - Rick and Morty Season 8 Premieres May 25; Netflix's Tires Returns June 5
04/01 - Disney Renews Wizards Beyond Waverly Place for Season 2; Prime Video Details Final Season of The Summer I Turned Pretty
03/31 - Prime Video's Dance-World Comedy Étoile; Netflix's Tom Segura Dark Comedy Bad Thoughts
03/30 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of March 31, 2025)
03/29 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Netflix Gives Pilot Order to A Different World Sequel; Malcolm in the Middle Reboot Recasts Role of Dewey
03/28 - Pat Sajak's Final Spin on Wheel and Return of Jeopardy! Masters; Remembering George Foreman and Wings Hauser
03/27 - IFC Renews SisterS for Season 2; Netflix Orders Live-Action Scooby-Doo Series
03/26 - Hulu Spring 2025 Slate; The Making of The Americas Special Narrated by Tom Hanks on NBC
03/25 - Deli Boys Now Streaming All Episodes on Hulu; Heartland Season 18 on UP Faith & Family
03/24 - Peacock April Highlights Include Three's Company; Antenna TV's 50 Years on the Beat Barney Miller Anniversary Marathon