Area woman to take star turn on reality TV

'Kardashians' actor's visit with cancer patient to air June 23

6/4/2013
BY VANESSA McCRAY
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Scott Disick, left, and Josie Langsdorf, right, a Monclova Township woman with terminal cancer, cuts a cake with Disick's picture on it on January 15, 2013.
Scott Disick, left, and Josie Langsdorf, right, a Monclova Township woman with terminal cancer, cuts a cake with Disick's picture on it on January 15, 2013.

Hey, local reality TV viewers: A programming note for fans’ favorite guilty pleasure.

The outrageous, glamorous, humorous show Keeping up with the Kardashians takes a somber turn toward Toledo when an upcoming episode features an emotional encounter between one of the show’s stars and an area woman with terminal cancer.

Scott Disick’s visit with Josie Langsdorf of Monclova Township will be shown during a June 23 episode, according to E! network spokesman Christel Wheeler.

The show’s eighth season follows the tabloid-fixture Kardashian family on a vacation to Greece and tracks the much-hyped pregnancy of Kim Kardashian. But it’s Disick’s January visit to Ms. Langsdorf’s home that’s sure to generate the most local buzz. He traveled to Ohio after learning via Twitter of Ms. Langsdorf’s bucket list-wish to meet and have a drink with him.

True to reality TV form, he came with a camera and small film crew.

VIDEO: Vanessa McCray discusses Josie Langsdorf's appearance on Keeping up with the Kardashian's

Months later, on Sunday night, Ms. Langsdorf watched the Kardashian show’s new season premiere. She spotted herself in a promotional clip teasing the rest of the season. “We were very excited,” she said. “I think it will be an emotional episode.”

In the promo video, Disick is shown sitting on a couch in Ms. Langsdorf’s house, embracing her with a comforting hug. She’s wearing the Rolex watch he gave her.

“It made me happy to come here, and I’m not a sentimental guy, so don’t [beep] my image up,” he tells her.

Click on the video player below to see a promotion for Season 8 of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. At the 1 minute mark, and for four seconds, is a scene of Scott Disick, a character on the show, visiting Josie Langsdorf in her Monclova Township home.

The moment establishes a softer side for Disick, who found fans as the sometimes bad behaving but quick-with-a-quip partner of Kim’s sister Kourtney Kardashian.

“You never realize how lucky you are; you just take it for granted,” he says later.

Ms. Langsdorf invited friends and family over for the party with Disick, and the boisterous group cheered the reality TV star and spoke lovingly of her and her ability to enjoy life despite her illness. The nonsmoking mother of two was diagnosed with lung cancer in July, 2010, just days before her 38th birthday.

Meeting Disick is just one of the many things she’s crossed off her to-do list. Since then, she’s battled pain and fatigue but also attended concerts and gone on a trip to Florida.

Ms. Langsdorf has more plans to squeeze in this summer, among them taking her daughters to the Mall of America. And, of course, she’ll watch herself on television later this month.

An official with the show asked her about five weeks ago to sign a release so the footage could be used. She plans to have those closest to her over to watch the episode together.

Meanwhile, Ms. Langsdorf continues to hear from people who have been moved by her story and resilience.

“It’s remarkable to me, but it makes me happy,” she said. “That definitely touches my heart.”

Contact Vanessa McCray at: vmccray@theblade.com, 419-724-6065, or on Twitter @vanmccray.