THE LATE, LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG KILBORN – TRANSCRIPT OF MARG’S INTERVIEW
May 19, 2004
Craig: Our first guest has been nominated for multiple Golden Globe, Emmy, and Screen Actor’s Guild Awards for her starring role on televisions’ number one program, ‘CSI.’
(clip from CSI is shown)
Craig: This is Marg Helgenberger!
Marg: Thank you!
Craig: What? What? What? (at the audience). You look great. You look…
Marg: Thank you.
Craig: That is a dress. You, yeah, yeah, yeah…
Marg: It’s actually a skirt and a top.
Craig: Oh, it’s a skirt and a top?
Marg: A skirt and a top.
Craig: Is it a real faux pas to say it’s a dress because…
Marg: No, no, no, no, not at all.
Craig: Because the beige matches the beige and you know that… (points at her upper body)
Marg: And the shoes too.
Craig: I don’t mean to be pointing. I’ll put my hands back over here.
Craig: Thanks for doing the show.
Marg: My pleasure.
Craig: Now you don’t have to be here. You don’t have to promote ‘CSI’ because it’s the number one show in the world. So you just, thanks for being here. That’s awfully nice of you to come by.
Marg: I love being here, Craig. I always have so much fun.
Craig: And also…
Marg: I loved your up front bit. That was so funny.
Craig: Bit?
Marg: Well, skit! What is it? What? I’m sorry.
Craig: No, it was a skit. I was acting like it was real for a moment. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Craig: It’s nice because normally you would be there at Carnegie Hall saying hi to everybody.
Marg: We did that, yeah, for the first three years, I think. We did that, yes.
Craig: And, by the way, I want to mention it before I forget, you also want to promote your husband is…
Marg: Oh yeah, sure. Yes. Yes!
Craig: Tell.
Marg: It’s a little movie called ‘Frankie and Johnny are Married’ which opens in L.A. at the end of this month, in New York in June and then hopefully nationwide.
Craig: It’s an Indie film
Marg: An Indie film.
Craig: What did he do?
Marg: It’s based on an actual play, ‘Frankie and Johnny and the Claire de Lune’ and this producer, Michael Pressman’s, experience of doing an equity production of that. And Alan plays a character in it.
Craig: So your husband’s an…
Marg: And Les Moonves has a cameo role
Craig: Oh my gosh. I was gonna say…
Marg: Yes. Playing himself (laughs).
Craig: So your husband is an actor?
Marg: My husband is an actor. Yes, my husband…
Craig: And he’s in the movie. Did he direct or produce it or just act in it?
Marg: He just acted in it, yes.
Craig: Okay, cool. We got that out of the way. Are you hurt?
Marg: Thank you.
Craig: Someone said you got injured.
Marg: Ahh, well, yes. I was in Nebraska for the weekend for my niece graduating from high school and I took a spill on a dirt bike so I have a few little scrapes and bruises.
Craig: Now does CBS freak out if you get hurt? Do they do that normally?
Marg: Ahh, they, well, ah, you know…I got lucky because the show’s over and I just shot a movie and that’s over, and I actually am going to Europe to do some press for the show. And so I avoided areas that are going to be seen.
Craig: Yeah
Marg: So that’s good.
Craig: So, is it, is it, is it , is it(rubs his thigh) just like a bruise somewhere right around here? (audience laughs)
Marg: Um, no, it’s not on my leg. It’s…there’s bruise, there’s a scrape here (points above right breast) and something here too (points at stomach). Yeah.
Craig: Okay. Okay. You look nice.
Marg: (laughs)
Craig: I’m just going to let my imagination run wild. You’ve got…this is what I’m thinking on the stomach. There’s a little tattoo there now. That’s what I’m…that’s the injury. She fell and she got a beautiful heart tattoo. That’s how I work (laughs).
Craig: Now you tape the show…
Marg: I’d show you but that would be sort of de-classe (sp?), wouldn’t it?
Craig: Uhhh…whatever. Yeah.
Marg: (laughs)
Craig: We’ll do it later. So you film the show? It’s on film, up in Vegas. And, are you…
Marg: I, well, yes. Yes, four times a year we shoot in Vegas. Yes, this particular episode you just showed a clip from, yes, was shot in Fremont Experience, that ‘wacky’ area (laughs). Have you ever been there?
Craig: No, I haven’t. What’s it like?
Marg: It’s just kooky. I mean, it’s just old, old Vegas – old casinos and a little downer and dirtier crowd in this…
Craig: I would enjoy that as opposed to the cookie cutters and the family-oriented…
Marg: You know what. I have to say there’s a lot…there’s something – if Vegas has any kind of culture (laughs), it’s that old stuff. Because we shot in the Neon Graveyard, which is all of the old signs from the ‘50s and ‘60s.
Craig: The Sands Motel, Sinatra, all that stuff…
Marg: Aladdin’s Lamp, The Silver Slipper, it’s like a big shoe – it’s fun, I mean all that kitschy stuff is really fun.
Craig: I heard that, you know, the time you spent in Vegas, when you have downtime, you spend a lot of time in your hotel room, but I also heard you spend time at the sports book and that you like to bet on sporting events.
Marg: I have bet on sporting events, yes. The Carolina Panthers – I’ve put in…
Craig: That’s your team!
Marg: That’s my team.
Craig: Right, right.
Marg: Exactly, yes.
Craig: And they did very well.
Marg: Yes. I was so close to winning $3,500. That was…
Craig: That’s good… (audience laughs)
Marg: I know it’s not a big jackpot.
Craig: No, it is.
Marg: Because I don’t really gamble. But I did this time.
Craig: You do have the number one show so maybe you could go up to $4,000 next time.
Marg: I know, I know, I know. I’d rather spend it on something that I can actually take home with me, I guess. I don’t know.
Craig: Why the Carolina Panthers exactly?
Marg: It’s not really a terribly interesting story, but it’s sort of touching. I was shooting a movie in Wilmington, North Carolina, when they became a team. And my son and husband came to visit. My son was five, four or five at that time, and they said, they made this pact that this was going to be our team. And so we’ve followed them ever since then.
Craig: And…
Marg: And this was, of course, their golden year. And it was just really magical.
Craig: And have you ever seen them play in person?
Marg: I have not, but they have.
Craig: Uh huh. (audience laughs)
Marg: Well, no, no wait! They play mostly on the East Coast.
Craig: I know, I know. I just wondered…
Marg: They played in Arizona, and Alan and Hughie saw them there.
Craig: And you apparently are in love, like a lot of other people, with the quarterback.
Marg: In love?! (laughs)
Craig: Well, like! You really enjoy him as a …
Marg: Yes I do. I think he’s …well, he’s fun to watch, but he’s … He’s Cajun, and he’s just got…He’s a true all-American boy!”
Craig: Jake Delhomme is his name.
Marg: Jake Delhomme!
Craig: Here’s a picture of Jake.
Marg: There he is! That deserves a whoop, definitely!
Craig: Well, we like to make people happy. This is what we have for you. Charlie Dayton, the Panthers’ publicity director, has invited you to any home game or away game this year, and he’s going to give you tickets – any game that fits into your schedule.
Marg: Awesome!
Craig: Isn’t that nice?
Marg: Yeah! I was wondering when they were going to call me.
Craig: And look what Jake Delhomme did… (pulls out signed jersey)
Marg: No way!!! Is that really his? He really signed it?
Craig: ‘To Marg Helgenberger.’ Look at that “Best Wishes” from Jake Delhomme.
Marg: Oh my God, this is so exciting!
Craig: I love doing that stuff. Surprising people.
Marg: How cool! (laughs)
Marg: Thank you! (kisses Craig)
Craig: You’re welcome, Marg.
Marg: Thank you.
Craig: Now when she comes back, this is all she’ll be wearing. Okay? (She laughs).
Marg: Did he actually…
Craig: He signed it.
Marg: I see that.
Craig: And he wore it. And it’s kind of sweaty, yeah.
Marg: I was wondering if he actually wore it. Wow, how cool is that?
Craig: Stay right there. 5 Questions when we come back with Marg Helgenberger.
(commercial break)
Craig: Look at that! (points at Marg wearing seemingly nothing but the football jersey). I’ve never seen a jersey (audience applauds). It all happened. We did a little change behind the desk during the break and it was great. (Marg laughs).
Craig: You look wonderful. And it fits. Stand up for just a second to show these kids… (Marg stands up and models the jersey).
Marg: I wonder if he really did wear it. It smells pretty clean.
Craig: It smells clean, huh?
Marg: Yeah, well maybe he washed it.
Craig: maybe he washed it. But it’s yours!
Marg: It’s mine now!
Craig: I want to ask you. Do people know …you’re up for these awards all the time, Emmys and all that kind of stuff. Do people know you got your start in soaps?
Marg: Uhhh, some people do.
Craig: Yeah. What was the soap?
Marg: It was called ‘Ryan’s Hope.’
Craig: Oh, that’s a famous one.
Marg: Is it?
Craig: Yeah, yeah.
Marg: It’s no longer on.
Craig: Yeah, I know.
Marg: It’s a goner.
Craig: Did you save all those tapes and all that kind of stuff?
Marg: Oh God! No! (laughs)
Craig: Is that a no?
Marg: That’s a no! Big 80’s hair..
Craig: God, I wish we had a clip.
Marg: and frumpy clothes…
Craig: I wish we had a clip of it.
Marg: You probably do and you’re going to haunt me with it.
(They show a clip from Ryan’s Hope)
Marg: (laughs) Where did you get that?
Craig: Huh?
Marg: Where did you get that?
Craig: It’s weird. Jake Delhomme sent it to us. He liked you in it. I don’t know where we got that. I have no idea, but it was good.
Marg: His own personal stash! (laughs)
Craig: All right, time for 5 Questions. Here we go. Geography…
Marg: Oh God.
Craig: You went to Northwestern University
Marg: Yes
Craig: which is a wonderful school. My dad always jokes that people go there but don’t graduate because it’s such a tough school. I won’t put you on the spot…
Marg: Oh. I did graduate.
Craig: That’s great. That’s not the answer to the question, but it’s great. How many schools are in the Big Ten?
Marg: Eleven
Craig: That’s correct. Eleven. They added Penn. Penn State.
Craig: You were in the movie ‘Bad Boys’ but not ‘Bad Boys 2.’ True or False? You never saw ‘Bad Boys 2.’
Marg: That’s true.
Craig: Yes, that is correct.
Marg: Wait! I saw some of it!
Craig: They don’t care. You got the question right.
Craig: If they have a fourth CSI, not that they’re going to, what city do I think it would take place in?
Marg: You think? Minnes…Minneapolis
Craig: That’s a great…okay, I’ll give you a second choice.
Marg: St. Paul?
Craig: No. I’ll give you a third choice. No, nothing to do with Minnesota. It’s a good instinct but nothing to do with Minnesota. It’s a major city.
Marg: Chicago.
Craig: Yeah, there ya go. Right there. Oh, rapid fire! I don’t know if you can do this. Put 10 seconds on the clock. Name four things important to women that men don’t care about at all. 10 seconds. Are you ready?
Marg: Yes!
Craig: Go!
Marg: Cosmetic products…facials
Craig: Sure
Marg: Listening…
Craig: You gotta go! You gotta go! Gotta go!
Marg: I know! I don’t know!
Craig: Listening…right. Listening as far as listening to stories, right? Yeah. You didn’t get four. That’s incorrect.
Marg: Sorry!
Craig: Look at these guys. They’re so into it.
Craig: And finally, using this whipped cream, okay? (audience cheers). Will you draw a body line of this guy Ted Jessup, one of our writers? Here on the floor? A line?
Marg: Around him?
Craig: Yeah.
Marg: Sure!
Craig: Now, he’s a big man. Go ahead and lay down, Ted. Don’t hurt yourself, Ted. (Marg take the cream and starts drawing the line around Ted).
Craig: Oh yeah. That’s going well. Yes! Right there!
Marg: That’s not bad!
Craig: Good job!
(Marg starts to spray cream between Ted’s legs)
Craig: Hey, Hey! Whoa, Hey! Watch it now! Watch that! Watch it!
Marg: I almost got it on your rug.
Craig: He’s so happy.
Craig: Okay. She did very well on four out of five. She also got a jersey. We saw a clip of her from ‘Ryan’s Hope. Tickets to the game. ‘Frankie and Johnny are Married,’ her husband’s movie, starts in a week.
Marg: You’ve got it all.
Craig: And then ‘CSI.’ Yeah, whoop de doo. 9:00, number one show on CBS, Thursdays night.
(Someone in the audience yells ‘I Love Marg!’)
Craig: It’s great to see you again. Marg Helgenberger!!!
*Note: I transcribed this interview myself and cannot guarantee that I got every single word that was said. I did my best though and spent hours doing it. Please do not repost elsewhere without allaboutmarg.com’s permission. Thanks!