Conan: ...Now he's in his third season of Law and Order, please Welcome Jesse L. Martin. Band plays L&O Theme (Cheers and applause)
Conan: Let's talk right away
Jesse: Happy New Year Y'all
Conan: Yeah they're happy. Let me ask you something. I'm fascinated, there's something that you do on your show...that sound effect, that dramatic sound effect that starts scenes. It's always like over black and it says DA's office...I think we have it (sound effect plays).
Jesse: Yeah that's it.
Conan: Yeah that thing. I wish I had that in my life.
Jesse: Do you?
Conan: Yeah, I would feel so much more important if I could literally say things like, like I'll have two scoops if fudge ripple (Sound effect)
Jesse: You should get somebody to make a little gadget you can carry around with a speaker on it.
Conan: Yeah that would make me even more pathetic(laughter) Can you imagine? I'd like to use your bathroom (SE) I think all of our lives would just seem more important and cool if we had sound effects like that.
Jesse: I think you're absolutely right.
Conan: Now help me out, do you ever get? I'm just curious if you ever get confused about which Law & Order you're on. Because there's, you gotta admit there's Law and Order, Law and Order SVU, then there's L&O Criminal Intent, there's like 4 other Law and Orders.
Jesse: Law and Order Children (laughter)
Conan: Law and Order Take a Bath. (more laughter)
Jesse: I don't get confused. I think alot of people get confused as to which one I'm on. I mean ain't that hard, there's only a couple of brown people on the show. All three of them, I mean.(joking)
Conan: Yeah
Jesse: And I'm not Ice Tea, you can tell that but people get a little confused.
Conan: Do people get confused over who you are, do you get mistaken for anybody.
Jesse: Oh certainly. A lot of people. I've gotten confused with Eriq La Salle you know.
Conan: From ER?
Jesse: Yeah fine actor, good lookin guy but it ain't me. I can't imagine why but they do. You're the doctor uh Eriq, Eriq Lasalle what's your name? I'm like Jesse. They're like you're hiding. No no no, you're incognito. I get it. I get it. I'm like no, I'm not Eriq La Salle.
Conan: You know my favorite one that I got, I got this about 2 years ago. Woman runs up to me on the street stops and grabs my arm, you're that guy from the Conan O'Brien Show.
Jesse: That's embarassing.
Conan: She's trying to get my name... you, you. Chip Whitley, you play Conan O' Brien (laughter). It's very strange, our pain.
Jesse: As if we have pain. come on.
Conan: Most people don't understand our pain (SE)
Jesse: laughs and claps
Conan: Now I read something in your bio that fascinated me. You get on TV, you have a steady job. And I think when you started on L&O which is a big gig--you still had roomates, you were living with other guys like splitting the rent.
Jesse: I was, actually I was.
Conan: Explain how this can happen.
Jesse: Well you know how actors are. First of all we're not sure how long you're gonna have a job, I mean when I was starting in television I was on Guiding Light, you guys know that show right? (audience applauds). They like that show, anyway the day my first episode of Guiding Light appeared or aired on the television I was waiting tables at a pizza restaurant downtown. Right pizza(pumps fist laughs). But one of the regular people comes over and was like, is that you on T.V? I'm like yeah yeah yeah that's you. Manager comes over, what's the matter with you? You're crazy, you're on TV you don't need to serve pizza. I was like dude. I'm scared I might not keep this job. I'm sticking with the pizza until a regular gig comes along.
Conan: See that there's nothing wrong with that, I think. So you stuck with roomates for awhile.
Jesse: Well not that long, it was like almost a year.
Conan: Did you kick them out or did you leave?
Jesse: No, well I left
Conan: That'd be great if you kicked them out. I'm on TV now. I want your stuff on the street tomorrow.
Jesse: No No, they're my friends. I wouldn't do that.
Conan: You're always on these People Magazine,sexiest guy list. I know because my publicist says look Conan, you're in there, and I look in there, we're always right next to each other. I'll get on one of those lists one day.
Jesse: laughs
Conan: I'm always on lists for something else, celebrities who should have someone shop for them. Uh that the list I'm always on.
Conan: You're always on these sexy list, this sexy that list does that make women sort of more forward with you.
Jesse: Yeah, I guess so, somebody says you were sexy so you are I guess. I think that's how it works. I'm not really sure. I try not to put a whole lot of weight on it cuz the minute you do that's when you get burnt. Some girl comes up to you."I saw you on the sexy list." Yeah, yeah that was me. What you think? (makes a face)
Conan: That's terible
Jesse: You know the girls on the street in New York City.
Conan: They don't treat me that way, (laughter)
Jesse: Well you don't go outside.
Conan: You actually have the right answer because I don't go outside. What's the most forward thing though that someone said to you?
Jesse: It's not said, it's did. Like some people feel... yeah. You know I'm like this is personal space, you can't touch it and they will. They've see you on TV, you were in my living room so I get to touch your...
Conan: I don't know if that's a problem.
Jesse: It's a problem when it hurts.
Conan: Well not always, sometimes a little discipline is called for, but maybe that's just my thing. All right, Law and Order is on Wednesday nights at 10 on NBC. Jesse thanks for coming back.
Jesse: Happy New Year Bro (shakes Conan's hand, gives peace sign to the audience).