the numbers.
>> Ooh.
>> That was a clip from "Law and
order: Organized crime."
We're sitting down with a little
vino with two stars of the hit
show.
>> Please welcome Christopher
meloni and Dylan Mcdermott.
>> We turned this into cafe
access over here, having a
little vino.
Where are you speaking to us
from?
That's a cool location.
>> Where are we, Chris?
>> Park avenue south in
wonderful Manhattan.
>> Nice.
>> Let's discuss this pairing.
What makes Dylan such a bad guy,
Christopher?
We love him as the villain.
Look him in the eyes and tell
us.
>> Dylan, I've wanted to say
this to you ever since I met
you.
It's your style.
It's your etiquette.
It's your je ne Sais quoi.
And you're a good-looking man.
>> I was going to go with the
leather jacket, but, okay, we'll
go with all that.
>> Great.
>> Hey, Christopher, how did it
feel bringing Elliott stabler
back?
I mean such a beloved character.
Was there a little bit of
pressure or just kind of
slipping on an old pair of shoes
again?
>> At the beginning, I must say
I was a little surprised at
myself that you had nothing to
do but fail because there was
such anticipation in the air.
So the most nerve-racking
process was the lead-up to it,
especially because we got pushed
back because of covid.
And then I couldn't believe I
was living the cliche.
It was like slipping on an old
suit, getting back on the
bicycle.
I just couldn't believe it.
You know what helped is the
first time I lived this role was
with Mariska hargitay on one of
their svu episodes.
That was the introduction to my
character.
I must say that that felt
beautiful and right and warm and
like coming home.
>> Dylan, were you always a fan
of this franchise?
Like were you a fan of stabler
and Benson and the whole love
thing there -- well, nut love
thing but their characters?
>> Oh, yes.
The whole world is infatuated
with those two.
Also growing up here in new
York, it's just a staple, you
know.
I think that the relationship --
I think the whole world wants
them eventually to be together.
Maybe that's another spin-off.
But I think we're all very
excited that the "Law & order"
franchise is working.
We have this great pairing on
Thursday nights, this two-hour
block that people are obsessed
with.
So it's nice just to be a part
of it.
>> It is.
I was at a hotel not too long
ago.
I put on a "Law & order"
episode, and then I was four
episodes in.
>> Ten hours later.
>> I'm like, my god, what time
is it?
It just kind of keeps you
bingeing without planning on it
there.
You got a lot of celeb fans too.
Cher recently tweeted about the
show and yourself, Chris.
And Mickey Rourke.
>> He scares me.
>> He did a long post about the
show.
What do you think about all the
love from your fellow colleagues
here?
>> A page long, yeah.
It was really magnificent.
>> These are -- if I can call
it, my peers or people I looked
up to or people I grew up with.
I mean it's really -- look, it's
most actors' fantasy of I just
want to be accepted into the
tribe.
I want to be recognized as
worthy of this art and this
community.
And, you know, when one of these
people who is legendary turns
around and goes, you're very
good, you're like, oh.
Here I am at a certain age.
It's Sally field.
You like me.
You really like me.
>> Dylan is the best villain,
but could we ever work Cher or
Mickey Rourke into that?
>> Absolutely.
I think they'd be great.
>> Right?
Really quick with the stabler
and Benson, and back me on this,
fellas.
You threw out an "I love you,"
stabler.
It was not coming back to you.
When you throw out the love
bomb, you want it reciprocated.
I don't know what happens next,
right?
It was a little crickets.
>> I agree with you.
I think it's about time the
girlfriend show her cards and
say "I love you".
>> Right.
>> Or at least if Dylan says it
to me.
>> You might get that in the
finale.
>> Twist and turns.
>> It's great.
>> Well, congratulations,
gentlemen, on the show.
Salut to you.
>> Looking good in their black.
>> Hope to see you in person
someday.
>> Love you, fellas.
"Law & order: Organized crime"
airs Thursday nights at 10:00 on
NBC.
>> Coming up, barbecue week
continues with a delicious twist