Mayim Bialik teases another Leslie Jordan tribute after emotional 'Call me Kat' send-off for late actor
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Actor Leslie Jordan died in October 2022 at the age of 67 after he slammed his car into the side of a Los Angeles building. Author, actor, director, producer, and neuroscientist Mayim Bialik paid tribute and posted on her Instagram stories that the Circle Network is planning to telecast a star-studded, never-before-aired tribute to the late actor Leslie Jordan. On Saturday, April 29, the adored star's birthday, 'Reportin' for Duty: A Tribute to Leslie Jordan' will make its debut.
A one-of-a-kind collection of musical performances and storytelling moments from some of Jordan's closest friends from Nashville and Hollywood, the show was filmed in February at the Grand Ole Opry House. Additionally, each song and tale offers a glimpse into Jordan's profound life lessons and encounters, per TV Insider.
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Stars attending Leslie Jordan's tribute
Bialik shared the Leslie Jordan tribute post on her Instagram page with the caption: "Honored to be part of this amazing night paying tribute to the one and only Leslie Jordan. On Leslie’s heavenly birthday, tune in to @CircleAllAccess for ‘Reportin’ For Duty: A Tribute to Leslie Jordan,’ to celebrate his unique life with storytelling and performances. Watch on Saturday, April 29 at 10/9c pm on Circle Network, or live stream on Facebook or YouTube."
'Call Me Kat' executive producer Jim Parsons, Jordan's co-star Mayim Bialik, and his 'Will & Grace' co-star Max Greenfield all appear in the tribute, which was created by Door Knocker Media. Brothers Osborne, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Lukas Nelson, Maren Morris, Ryan Hurd, Tanya Tucker, and Eddie Vedder will all perform distinct musical tributes to Jordan. Vedder's rendition of 'The One Who Hideth Me' from Jordan's album 'Company's Comin' is one of the musical moments fans might anticipate.
"It’s an honor to be a part of this event, bringing together musicians and actors alike to celebrate such a unique and bright personality," musician Lukas Nelson said. "This was such a special evening and I’m so thankful the world will be able to celebrate Leslie alongside us with this incredible tribute. We miss you every day, Leslie."
"Leslie Jordan was such an iconic actor, comedian, musician, native Tennessean and member of our country music community," noted Drew Reifenberger, Circle Network's General Manager. "Seeing the raw emotion from everyone throughout this tribute really showcased the impact Leslie had on every single person he met. It’s an honor to be able to broadcast this special evening to Leslie’s fans nationwide."
Mayim Bialik was waiting for co-star Jordan when he died
The LA coroner at the time confirmed to The Post that Jordan died of sudden cardiac failure and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Bialik revealed on 'The Jennifer Hudson Show' that the entire 'Call Me Kat' crew had been waiting for Jordan to be at work that day when they learned of the tragic news.
"It was very, very, very complicated to have the whole crew there and the whole cast," said Bialik, 47, said to host Jennifer Hudson. "We were all at work and waiting for him to show up at work," she added. Given that it was one of the first shows to resume filming following the COVID-19 outbreak, Bialik compared the cast to a "family." Even after his death, the show suspended production.
"We were all very close, and people knew Leslie Jordan as Leslie Jordan, not necessarily just as the character he played on our show. He's been in people's lives, especially during COVID. He was in people's Instagram feeds," chuckled Bialik. "A lot of people really formed a real connection with him, and he loved that. He loved being approachable. He loved being loved." Hudson, 41, subsequently admitted, "He was a beautiful soul."
'How do we honor our friend while also honoring a grieving process?'
Leslie Jordan bid farewell to 'Call Me Kat' months after his death. According to Bialik, who both stars in the show and is an executive producer. The Fox sitcom addressed his absence in the tribute episode which aired on January 5 after the holiday break. The cast's primary concern, as noted by her, was to determine "how do we honor our friend while also honoring a grieving process that doesn’t end with two weeks off production?"
"He knew he was beloved," she claimed. "He was a fabulous, fabulous person. And the ability to both celebrate him and honor him in a way that we hope is respectful was really our goal."
Jordan portrayed Phil, a baker at the café run by Bialik's titular character, in 'Call Me Kat.' With 'Call Me Fancy Puffenstuff,' the eighth episode of the currently airing third season, Jordan made his final appearance on the series in December.
