Thursday, November 27, 2008

Leslie Jordan, Ian Harvie & The Griddle


Monday night was a great night! Once again, I hit up The Ian Harvie Show at Largo in West Hollywood. This fiesta of gayness is a showcase for up-and-coming talent as well as established performers.

This time, my friend, singer/songwriter Dan Holguin was part of the show! He wowed the audience with his renditions of '80s classics "Cold Hearted," "Here Comes The Rain Again," and "I'll Stand By You." Then the lovely and talented Marcela Carmona joined Dan on vocals and piano for "Careless Whisper."

Host Ian Harvie kept us in stitches with tales of armpit turn-ons and how he'd hide it if he became pregnant (a la Thomas Beatie). Comic and actress Sarah Hyland entertained with crazy characters, including one who performed tongue pushups. (You had to be there.)

And if all that weren't enough, the incomparable Leslie Jordan was also on hand. You may know Leslie from countless TV shows, but his most memorable outrageous characters are Beverley Leslie (Karen Walker's wig-snatching nemesis on Will & Grace, for which he won an Emmy) and Brother Boy (the Tammy Wynette-obsessed loony bin patient from the film and series "Sordid Lives.")

Leslie is small in stature (4' 11"), but he's a comic giant with the gift of gab and the ability to make you pee your pants with laughter. He captivated the crowd, recounting tales from his memoir, "My Trip Down The Pink Carpet," which he's turned into a one-man show. He will perform the show December 4-21 at LA's Renberg Theatre. Go to thelesliejordan.com for info.

I had the chance to chat with Leslie and he graciously signed my book. However, he rejected my plain black pen, declaring in his signature southern drawl, "I have a pink Sharpie!"



He also proclaimed his love for The Griddle Cafe on Sunset (as well as the beautiful men who work there). I've enjoyed their gargantuan, tasty pancakes before, so I decided to venture over there the next morning. As I sat eating an Oreo-filled "Black Magic" pancake, I looked across the counter and sure enough, there was Leslie, having breakfast and reading his morning paper.

If you've missed any of Leslie's shenanigans as Brother Boy on Sordid Lives, or if you just want to relive all the scandal, you can catch a marathon of all 12 episodes this Saturday, November 29 at 12 Noon Eastern/9 am Pacific on LOGO.



The next installment of The Ian Harvie Show is a special one. On December 10, Ian will again be joined by Leslie Jordan as well as Margaret Cho, Ant, Alec Mapa and others to say No on H8! Proceeds will benefit Equality California.

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