Lee Jordan beats out actress Halle Berry for WEWS Morning Exchange co-host job

CLEVELAND - It was a talented pool of applicants who applied for “The Morning Exchange” co-host position at WEWS in 1987.

Lee Jordan, of course, was the final choice. But you might be amazed at who she had to compete against.

Actress Halle Berry, who was 21 years old at the time, had her resume submitted to the television station.

In a letter from her agent, Larry Rush of Social Consultants in Shaker Heights, Berry had been taking courses at area colleges. “Her major had been acting and communications. She loves this field.”

It also stated that she “had some experience working in front of the cameras.”

Rush hoped that Berry would be given the opportunity to compete for the position. “I sincerely believe she would be good for the show, which by the way is excellent, but also good for the ratings.”

Berry’s biography that was submitted with the letter said she was crowned Miss Teen Ohio on Sept. 2, 1984 and Miss Ohio in November 1985. She went on to be crowned the first runner up at the Miss U.S.A pageant in Miami in 1985 and was the fifth runner up at the Miss World pageant in London.

She was a graduate of Bedford High School and was residing in Oakwood Village.

Managers at WEWS never even tested Berry for the position. But instead went with the talent and experience that Jordan had from co-hosting “PM Magazine” in Columbus, Ohio for six years.

You can see the letter of recommendation and her biography in the images on the upper left.