Call Me Kat executive producers Jim Patterson and Maria Ferrari reveal Phil's fate on the show following the late Leslie Jordan's final appearance. Fronted by Big Bang Theory's Mayim Bialik, Call Me Kat is currently airing its third season on Fox. A standout character on the show has been Leslie Jordan's sweet-as-cherry-pie Phil, the Kat's Café head baker, who was adored by everyone. However, in October, a devastating tragedy struck as Jordan passed away in a car crash after suffering a medical condition while he was on his way to the Call Me Kat sets. Following Jordan's death, Call Me Kat paused production for a week as the cast members grappled with the unfortunate news, and earlier this month, the show broadcasted Jordan's final appearance as Phil.
In a new interview with Deadline, Patterson and Ferrari have revealed Phil's fate on Call Me Kat after his last appearance on the show in the wake of Leslie Jordan's passing. As both the EPs confirm, Call Me Kat will not see Phil dying in the near future. The character would no longer be on the show, yet, he will be assumed to be living happily after his departure from Kat's Café. Read what Patterson and Ferrari said below:
FERRARI: We felt, and the cast in particular felt strongly that even though Leslie isn’t with us anymore, they would like Phil to find his happy ending.
PATTERSON: Just for now we can say that on the show, Phil will live on forever and live his best and happiest life.
How Call Me Kat Will Fill The Void Created By Jordan's Phil
Last month, it was announced that Leslie Jordan's Phil would make his last Call Me Kat appearance in the December 1 episode of season 3, "Call Me Fancy Puffenstuff." The episode aired yesterday giving Phil a proper send-off. After introducing John Griffin as Phil's new boyfriend Jalen early on in season 3, all romantic turmoil between the couple was resolved. In the episode, Phil and Jalen confess their love for each other and share a kiss, giving audiences closure about Phil's love life. After the episode, Call Me Kat season 3 will address Jordan's absence by showing Phil off on vacation.
With Phil gone, Kat's Café will be left without a head baker. At least momentarily, the show has found a way around that problem, as it has enlisted Leslie Jordan's former Cool Kids co-star, Vicki Lawrence, to play Lurlene Crumpler, Phil's mother who will fill in for him for a single episode. Patterson and Ferrari have confirmed there are no plans for Lawrence to stick around, instead, they will keep introducing different characters across the remaining season 3 to see if they can find someone suitable to add as a regular for the show.
While the decision to not address Jordan's death on-screen could prove controversial among some fans, it's arguably the right choice for the show, as well as a thoughtful way to honor the legacy and memory of the incredible Jordan and his lovable character Phil. With Phil getting his happy ending, Call Me Kat will be able to keep Jordan's spirit alive, assuring fans that the late star is now in a better place both on and off-screen. However, Call Me Kat will ultimately need to make some cast changes to breathe fresh life into the show. Right now, season 4 has not been renewed, so it is a wise strategy to experiment with different characters and see what works. Then, if Call Me Kat season 4 does happen, the show can make its most successful season 3 guest star a regular. This will give fans the time they need to come to terms with Jordan's death and subsequently introduce them to a different perspective of the comedy on Call Me Kat - one that holds tightly on to everything Jordan has given to show, yet moves ahead with new stories one step at a time.
Source: Deadline