Jesse singing "I'll Cover You"

ROSIE: Although I’m thrilled, our next guest currently stars on Law & Order. I will miss seeing him on Ally McBeal. Take a look at this clip from Ally
(clip) ROSIE: Exactly (she says in agreement with the clip) Please welcome Jesse L. Martin. Well, hi Jesse!!
JESSE: Hey, hey, hey
ROSIE: How are you?
JESSE: Doing good (he looks at her desk and picks up the program) Well, look at this! You got the Rent program
ROSIE: I got the Rent program
JESSE: (He points at the program in his hands) They’re all my friends
ROSIE: That’s you - right there she says pointing. There’s you, you’ve already been on the show when you sang with the cast - right?
JESSE: That’s right, right over there, not there, no right there (he points at different spots of the stage)
ROSIE: And I’m always happy when somebody starts on Broadway, makes a big splash on TV, so congratulations
JESSE: It’s hard to say I started on Broadway because that was hardly a start, I mean, I’d been doing it for years
ROSIE: Yeah, but for me though, it was the first time I saw you. What had you done before that?
JESSE: Did a lot of regional theater. Actually I had done two Broadway shows before that
ROSIE: Which ones?
JESSE: With Tony Randall. “The Government Inspector” and “Timon of Athens”
ROSIE: I saw the Government Inspector. That was with Lanie Kazan
JESSE:That’s right, I was in that
ROSIE: Yeah, I saw that
JESSE: That’s right, I was the only black dude there
ROSIE: I should have remembered, I didn’t remember You
JESSE: I had a lot of make up on, but I was still brown
ROSIE: Yeah, yeah. (Jesse laughs) I don’t recall you, but in Rent!, Rent you had a stand out role in that show
JESSE: Why, thank you
ROSIE: Yeah, and would you say that it really led to your...the work you’re doing now on Ally...or...
JESSE: It’s true, it’s true. Yeah, I would say so. I mean, a lot of people came to see it. I mean A LOT of people. I mean every celebrity in the world and a lot of, like general people, like general public. And mostly because of you (points finger on her desk) I mean you have been like a real champion to New York theater and you brought people in
ROSIE: I love Broadway, I gotta say “I love it”
JESSE: Cause you’ve been on Broadway!
ROSIE: Well, I was on Broadway, I mean I went to see it when I was a kid and I was so lucky to live in New York, to get to see all the shows (he sniffs her neck) Do you like it? (talking about the perfume)
JESSE: I love it!!!
ROSIE: What do you think
JESSE: OK, ok, is this the day scent?
ROSIE: Yes, I didn’t want to get you crazy with the Night. You spray and walk. Did you see, I never heard of such a thing. Do you spray and walk?
JESSE: No, I don’t do that (laughing)
ROSIE: No! what kind of cologne do you use? You smell nice (she sniffs his neck)
JESSE: Actually I use an oil. You can buy it on the street for like $5
ROSIE: Which one
JESSE: (he looks at the audience) It’s true, I do buy it on the street
ROSIE: That’s nice, is it Egyptian Musk?
JESSE: No, it’s Blue Nile
ROSIE: Blue Nile? I was in the right country. Now - Law & Order. I’m happy that you’re on the good one, not that other one - Special Crimes Division
JESSE: Awe! why do you say that
ROSIE: Listen, I enjoy the actors, like we need this show!
JESSE: Well, you know that, there’s a lot of stories there. I mean a lot of great stories there.
ROSIE: But that kid, you know...
JESSE: Well you know...You can take your remote and go “no”
ROSIE: Yeah I know, but I enjoy the actors, I really do. This is Law & Order, you’re on the original one
JESSE: Ah huh
ROSIE: And you replaced Benjamin
JESSE: That’s right!!!!
ROSIE: Now that was exciting wasn’t it?
JESSE: Oh my God, for me - yes (laugh) very exciting!
ROSIE: How did they..., they saw you in Ally McBeal I take it
JESSE: I guess so, I mean, I guess that’s how it happened. I had just sorta heard through the grape vine that they were looking for a replacement for Ben Bratt, he was leaving. I mean, every New York actor wants to be on Law & Order. Actually, probably every actor wants to be on Law & Order. But I know that every wants to be a guest star. And to be a regular character on the show, there’s nothing better. So I went to Dick Wolf and I pretty much begged you know, and he gave into me.
ROSIE: Yeah, and you’re with Jerry Orbach, who’s a great actor
JESSE: That’s right. The Man, don’t sleep, he is THE MAN
ROSIE: Yes and I saw him on Broadway as well - 42nd Street
JESSE: Ah huh
ROSIE: He’s a wonderful actor. You guys, like hang around and sing Broadway songs?
JESSE: We actually do
ROSIE: You do? Oh how I would love to be on the set for that
JESSE: We sing a lot. I mean the guy knows every song in the world. I mean he really knows every song. I can start a song and he can finish it. And we can’t do it vise versa because I can’t do every song he does
ROSIE: Really!, I know most every one of them
JESSE: You do?
ROSIE: Yeah, I’m like “Rain Man” in my brain. Oh we have a clip from Law & Order. Do you know which one this is?
JESSE: Uh, I think it has to do with a case where a guy killed his wife or had his wife killed. Um, who’s a judge. He hires someone to kill her. Um we’re trying to figure out exactly how to make the connection
ROSIE OK, take a look at Jesse L. Martin on Law & Order
(shows clip) ROSIE: That’s from tonight’s episode of Law & Order. I loved the one last week with the little girl and you had to interrogate the little girl...Oh Boy!
JESSE: I didn’t see it, but apparently it’s really kind of scary
ROSIE: It was scary, it was a very scary episode
JESSE: Did you think it was over the line?
ROSIE: Well, my Brother, who is a Lawyer, said that you aren’t allowed to interrogate a child without the Parents there
JESSE: But the Parent was there
ROSIE: In the room with you?
JESSE: No, She was...
ROSIE: No, behind the mirror, but she gave you permission
ROSIE: Yeah
JESSE: What do I know, I don’t have a law degree. It might shock some people but I don’t. We’re gonna take a break. We’re gonna come back and I’m gonna ask you - even though you asked me not to ask you. But it’s your first TV show and I adore your voice, if you might want to sing when we get back. Don’t feel pressured
{commercial}
ROSIE: Back with Jesse L. Martin who is now on Law & Order. Do you think you’ll ever go back to Ally McBeal?
JESSE: Um, well anything is possible. We haven’t really assessed our relationship, so hopefully, I mean I like being there
ROSIE: I loved the episode where you sang
JESSE: Yeah
ROSIE: That was good
JESSE: That was good, actually I got to sing twice
ROSIE: You did! And you have such a beautiful voice
JESSE: Ah, you’re sweet
ROSIE: Come on - you wanna sing for me now, Jesse - come on
[he sings part of I’ll cover you from Rent]
ROSIE: Jesse L. Martin of Law & Order, you are a delightful young man
JESSE: You’re sweet.

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