Call Me Kat: Leslie Jordan’s Last Episode Gets Airdate; Fox Comedy Enlists Vicki Lawrence to Play [Spoiler]
Call Me Kat fans will see the last of Phil when Fox airs the late Leslie Jordan‘s final episode on Thursday, Dec. 1 (at 9:30/8:30c).
Additionally, Deadline reports that Jordan’s former Cool Kids castmate, Emmy Award winner Vicki Lawrence, will appear in an upcoming episode as Phil’s mother Lurlene Crumpler. The “no-nonsense” Lurlene fills in as the cafe’s baker while her sweet-as-cherry-pie son is “on vacation.”
“We know the spirit of Phil will certainly be with her,” executive producer Jim Patterson tells Deadline. “It’s going to be fun to have that character doing some of the same in-jokes we did when Phil was there.
Lawrence is only slated to appear in one episode for now, but executive producer Jim Patterson implies that the door is left open for Lurlene’s return.
Jordan, 67, passed away on Oct. 24 in a car accident. A veteran TV performer dating back to the days of Night Court and Murphy Brown, Jordan may be best known as Beverly Leslie, arch nemesis of Megan Mullally’s Karen Walker on NBC’s Will & Grace. (The role earned Jordan an Emmy for Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 2006.) Jordan’s other notable TV roles include Hearts Afire, Boston Legal and American Horror Story.
At the time of his death, he was in production on the current third season of Call Me Kat, alongside Mayim Bialik, Cheyenne Jackson, Kyla Pratt, Julian Gant and Swoosie Kurtz. His second-to-last episode airs tonight, and sees Phil exhausted from partying every night with his new boyfriend Jalen (guest star John Griffin).
“The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan,” the actor’s spokesperson said in a statement at the time. “Not only was he a mega talent and joy to work with, but he provided an emotional sanctuary to the nation at one of its most difficult times. What he lacked in height he made up for in generosity and greatness as a son, brother, artist, comedian, partner and human being. Knowing that he has left the world at the height of both his professional and personal life is the only solace one can have today.”
This show has really improved a lot this season! Look forward to it every week. So sad about Leslie’s passing.
Actually, this season has been pretty bad.
The first season wasn’t that good, but it had enough that I kept watching. Leslie Jordan being a big reason for that. Season 2 had improved and was actually fairly enjoyable.
This season has just gone downhill as it goes on, and without Phil I don’t know if there will be any redeeming qualities left.
This news makes me very happy! I love this show 💕 What a great way to carry on Phil’s spirit.
This is great because I love Vicki Lawrence, but, are we supposed to believe she is older than Phil???? Couldn’t she have been a sister, or cousin, or young aunt??
Not her first turn playing a much older character.
Haven’t you ever watched Mama’s Family?
Well, she is 6 years older. They really should have thought cousin, as I do not think they look too alike to be siblings.
Possibly doing a Mama;s Family type thing seems pretty unoriginal.
It will be interesting to see how that handle Lawrence’s, as comparisons to Momma’s Family is inevitable.
Typo… Mama’s Family
Typo… It will be interesting to see how they handle her makeup.
So is this how the show are going to write Phil out? By sending him on permanent “vacation”?
A better way would be to have a bottle episode, in the Kat Cafe with all the cast sharing Phil’s last batch of muffins, sharing their memories of him but using their real life interactions with Leslie Jordan. Funny, heartwarming stories with no laugh track
BARNEY MILLER did something like that when Jack Soo died…they did a clip show and reminisces out of character (But in their character’s wardrobe) in the Squad room of the 1-2.
No killing off the character, they gave him this farewell, and kept his character’s name on the sign in-sign out duty board by the door for the rest of the series.
It depends on your perspective. I’m not sure if it’s better for the story to have Phil live out his days happy on an island somewhere (I assume with his new bf) or kill him off screen. I suspect they will just have him stay on the island. It’s very difficult to include the death of a beloved character in a comedy show, especially when it is due to the actor passing. In this case, I think it’s better to think of Phil enjoying his time on an island with his hot younger boyfriend. They could still do a remembrance episode since he would be gone, but they wouldn’t have to kill his character to do so IMO.
I love that Vicki is going to be on the show but how is she going to play Phil’s mother? Is she going to dress up like Thelma Harper?
No. The article said she would not be looking like Mama. I’m guessing she’ll just look like herself and part of the gag will be that she looks Phil’s age or younger.
He was such a scene steeler, Him and Vicki’s scenes together were magic as well. she will be a great addition.
Leslie was also on several episodes of “Designing Women” as Suzanne Sugarbaker’s former money manager who ran off with all her money. I don’t know why this is never mentioned in his credits…
Leslie Jordan was so kind, and such a wonderful actor. His comedic timing was bar none. I watch snippets of him on various shows and just laugh out loud…and then cry that he is gone far to soon.
It’s so hard to watch Kat now, knowing he’s gone.
I am so saddened by his death…what an amazing talent and human he was…I usually don’t pay much attention to actors but he just made me laugh and I thoroughly enjoyed his presence on tv. He will be missed.
I know this show is a comedy, but why not just have a funeral episode or acknowledge the real loss? “Cheers” decided to admit Coach was gone because they thought he would never just leave his friends at Cheers to move away and retire, same with Leslie.