“THE VIEW”
JANUARY 31, 2000
(clip of Law & Order)
STAR: I don’t know about you, but on Wednesday nights I have the right to remain silent and baby, I always do. Law & Order is the “Rolls Royce” of Cop shows and when our next two guests read you your rights, everything you say can and will be used against you. Please welcome the stars of Law & Order - Jerry Orbach and Jesse L. Martin
BARBARA: For a start, I gotta do a little disclaiming, even though you and I have known each other for a long time (shakes Jesse’s hand) You’re in trouble. I’ve never seen your show on Wednesday nights and I never will because you are opposite 20/20 with Diane Sawyer, I mean, you know... JESSE: You mean you don’t have a VCR, can’t tape it huh?
BARBARA" It’s always the generosity of my heart and Bill Gates that has allowed our major competition...our VCR didn’t and Charlie Gibson
JERRY: We love you from a long time ago, but we hate Diane Sawyer too (laughter)
BARBARA: Oh, I’m so glad I brought this up!
JERRY: We look at the numbers the next day and saw who won, you know - we can’t help it
BARBARA: Let’s go on (looking at Jesse)
STAR: Actually you gotta believe my life every single Wednesday
JESSE: I know
STAR: UM
JESSE: I can’t believe you did it for real!
STAR: I use to be a Homicide Prosecutor. 6, well not as for 6 years as a Homicide Cop, but what did a real copy and a real DA think of you. I love the show. Barbara knows I do. I almost got fired because I said how much I love the show
JESSE: Really? ...Not true, that’s not true
STAR: That’s not true (joking)
MEREDITH: Yeah, didn’t they get in trouble with ...
STAR: with the real cops
JERRY: NYPD Blue did what I thought was a foolish thing. They had Fireman robbing a dead body. You know that’s not too smart. But I think our greatest compliment, the thing that I love the most, or I do anyway is when the cops, the New York cops come up and say “keep making us look good”. So...
JESSE: They really are complimentary. I get psyched when a Police Officer, like an undercover cop comes up to me the other day on the street. This guy walked up to me lookin’ real shady and I’m like, what’s up with this dude. You know, and he was kinda big. It was like I can’t beat him up or anything so he comes up and reaches in his pocket. So I’m like “what?!, what is he doing? So he pulls out a little badge and says “I think you’re doin’ great work man!”
MEREDITH: Jerry, I want to know what advise you gave to Jesse, cause you replaced Ben Bratt a year ago JESSE: Uh huh MEREDITH: And you replaced Paul Sorvino - what 7 years ago. So what advise did you give to the new kid?
JERRY: Stay out of my light! Nah, do you know that we live together and work for a minimum of 12 hours a day and sometimes 15-16, and it gets so silly that we can be at a dinner, at a banquet or something. And there’s a spot light from the balcony and if I’m sitting here and I notice my shadow is on your face, I’ll move. I feel like I’m on camera all the time
JESSE: Did you ever walk into a room and see if your mark is there?
BARBARA: Jerry is about to be inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame. The reason I know is because you are the most wonderful, musical comedy star for so many years. People don’t know this when you are on that, whatever that show is Wednesday nights and [looking at Jesse] you also sing and dance... right?
JESSE: Yeah
BARBARA: OK, what about doin’ ... can you do a soft shoe
JERRY: I did Theater for most of my life, starting with 3 Penny Opera, the Fantasticks’ and things like Promises- Promises, Chicago, 42nd Street. Jesse did Rent on Broadway. But see, there’s a problem. We have a major problem. If we try to sing together, it never works out. See, it goes like this. I’d be singing “Come on along and listen to...the lullaby of Broadway...[Jesse is ad-libbing along with Jerry but is singing different lyrics than Jerry makes a cut sign with his hands)
BARBARA: And you both dance
JESSE: We dance a little bit
JERRY No, he dances. I don’t dance
BARBARA: One step? Am I embarrassing you?
JESSE: A little bit. I’ll dance if you dance with me
(Jesse & Barbara do a two step. Jesse sings Tea for Two)
STAR: Barbara did a chest bounce, Jesse showed me his behind, everything is just good here today
BARBARA: Forget 20/20 Wednesday. Diane - forgive me
JERRY: We would have worn the tight pants if we knew it was going to come up
STAR: Wear tight pants baby (looking at Jesse)
JESSE: I will Darlin’
STAR: We have had a good time with these two men, just like you do on Wednesday nights. Our thanks to Jerry Orbach and Jesse L. Martin.




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