It got Betty White on “Saturday Night Live.” Now a Facebook campaign is pushing for Leslie Jordan to win a spot on “Dancing With the Stars.”
Mr. Jordan is the Brainerd High School and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga alum who won an Emmy Award for his recurring role as cynical Beverley Leslie on “Will & Grace.”
The comedian is currently starring in a one-man, off-Broadway show based on his autobiography, “My Trip Down the Pink Carpet.”
When contacted by the Times Free Press this week, Mr. Jordan hadn’t seen the Facebook campaign, but was aware that some of his fans had planned to launch one.
“I’ve tried three times to get on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ and they keep turning me down. I mention that jokingly in the show. I say, ‘If I was y’all, I’d write a letter,’ and it always gets a big laugh.
“Well, these kids took me up on it. They said they were going to start a Facebook campaign,” explained the actor.
The social media site launched Monday, June 14. Overnight it logged 500 supporters. By Wednesday, that number had doubled to 1,000, with 500 more fans added by Thursday.
The comedian is serious about his desire to win a spot on ABC’s top-rated dance show.
“I’ve done all I can do sitcom-wise. I’ll always be the funny little guy coming in with a zinger. But no one ever sees me as able to carry a show,” he explained.
“I think that most people don’t even know my personality. They know me as the funny guy on ‘Will & Grace.’ The power of television is unbelievable. It would take me to a whole new level,” he said of the dancing opportunity.
Nina Jones Chapin, Mr. Jordan’s childhood friend, said Mr. Jordan has credible dance moves.
“From our days (in Woodmore) lip-syncing to the Supremes, Leslie truly has had good rhythm and a natural sense of movement progression,” she said. She added that DWTS’ Kym Johnson would be a good match as Mr. Jordan’s partner.
Mr. Jordan said that when his one-man show ends its run, he will take it to selected cities across the country for two-night dates.
His new goal is getting “My Trip Down the Pink Carpet” to London. Talks are under way for a 16-week run in England, and a theater has been selected.
He said he was heartened by visits from three large groups of Chattanoogans who traveled to New York City to see his show, but said he’s been disappointed that the theater hasn’t sold out every night.
“It’s a 170-seat theater, and I pull an average of 120 people a night. When I expressed my displeasure that we weren’t selling out every night, the producers were aghast,” he said. “They said that four off-Broadway shows have closed since I opened in April. They said we’re doing phenomenal.”
To join Mr. Jordan’s Facebook campaign, log onto facebook.com/LeslieJordanDWTS.