CBS’s Chen Talks to ‘Weeds’ Actress About Legalizing Pot

On Wednesday’s CBS "Early Show," co-host Julie Chen teased an interview with actress Elizabeth Perkins from Showtime’s ‘Weeds’: "We're going to see what she thinks about weed. Not the show, the plant." Later, Chen offered yet another tease: "You know her from 'Weeds' on Showtime. Elizabeth Perkins. We're going to find out if she thinks marijuana should be legal."

Later during the segment Chen eagerly asked the question: "Since it is 'Weeds' it seems like a natural question. As a person...as Elizabeth Perkins, do you believe marijuana should be legalized?" Predictably, Perkins replied: "Oh, yeah, absolutely...Alcohol is legal. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me why marijuana's not. It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me." Chen’s only response was to laugh and declare: "In the name of the show."

Chen followed up by referring to Perkins’ moralist anti-drug character on the show, Celia Hodes: "And Celia Hodes would say?," Perkins replied: "Oh, put them all in jail." Chen interjected: " I know...she's so self-righteous." Earlier in the segment, Chen explained that Perkins’ character on the show was an alcoholic "hypocrite." Perkins went on to explain that: "Well Celia's probably the only character on the show who's never smoked marijuana." Chen wondered: "Is she going to cave?" After Perkins said no, Chen pressed: "Oh, you never know, we still have a few episodes left-" At that point Perkins explained: "Never cave with marijuana because that's the 'evil drug,' according to her." Chen laughed.

Here is the full transcript of the exchange:

8:00AM TEASER:

JULIE CHEN: Also coming up this morning, we're going to talk with Elizabeth Perkins. You know her as one of the stars of the hit Showtime comedy 'Weeds.' We're going to see what she thinks about weed. Not the show, the plant.

MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: Oh.

CHEN: And maybe her character should take some anger management, you know, courses.

8:20AM TEASER:

CHEN: Look who's here. Elizabeth Perkins, also known as Celia Hodes. In a word, she is evil. We're going to find out why when we come right back.

8:31AM TEASER:

CHEN: Coming up this final half hour, talking to one of my favorite actresses of all time. You know her from 'Weeds' on Showtime. Elizabeth Perkins. We're going to find out if she thinks marijuana should be legal. Harry.

HARRY SMITH: That's a devilishly wickedly funny show.

DAVE PRICE: Brilliantly written.

CHEN: And her character, Celia Hodes, so good.

SMITH: So good, oh yeah.

8:41AM SEGMENT:

JULIE CHEN: This season of 'Weeds' it's darker and funnier. Elizabeth Perkins stars as Celia, the tough-talking 'friendemy' of a drug-dealing soccer mom played by Mary Louise Parker. Recently Celia was thrown behind bars, taking the rap for a pot growing operation that didn't belong to her.

[Clip of show 'Weeds']

CHEN: Joining us now is Elizabeth Perkins. Good morning. It's great to see you again.

ELIZABETH PERKINS: Good morning. It's great to see you, too.

CHEN: This is the fourth season of the show. Your role started out juicy but it got even juicier. What is it like for you as an actress. To sink your teeth into this character that is not all bad, you know, she is someone that we love to watch.

PERKINS: Well it's -- as an actress, you always want to play somebody who is ultimately, you know, really screwed up and evil and, you know, always sort of walking that really fine line and, you know, no holds barred. But what's great about it is that Jillian Cohan our creator has also infused her with -- with a vulnerability.

CHEN: Celia is many things, including, at times, a lush.

PERKINS: Yeah.

CHEN: Let's take a look at this funny clip.

[Clip of show 'Weeds']

PERKINS: Celia, doing it pro bono. Not asking for accolades. Drugs are wrong. And it feels so right to not do them. Just throw them away. I'm a crusader, you know?

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Could you move? You are blocking the goal.

[End of clip]

CHEN: And she's also kind of a hypocrite.

PERKINS: Oh, yeah.

CHEN: You know-

PERKINS: Do as I say, not as I do.

CHEN: Exactly.

PERKINS: Absolutely. Children should be seen and not heard. She's got all of that written on her, you know, on the little plaque in her kitchen.

CHEN: She has a temper.

PERKINS: Oh, yeah. She's out of control.

CHEN: Oh, do not make her -- do not wrong her.

PERKINS: No, she's married to a man she's not in love with. She's going to take it out on whoever happens to be standing in her way.

CHEN: Since it is 'Weeds' it seems like a natural question. As a person, not Celia Hodes, as Elizabeth Perkins, do you believe marijuana should be legalized?

PERKINS: Oh, yeah, absolutely.

CHEN: [Laughter] In the name of the show.

PERKINS: Alcohol is legal. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me why marijuana's not. It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

CHEN: And Celia Hodes would say?

PERKINS: Oh, put them all in jail.

CHEN: [Laughter] I know-

PERKINS: Put them all in jail.

CHEN: -she's so self-righteous.

PERKINS: Well Celia's probably the only character on the show who's never smoked marijuana.

CHEN: Is she going to cave?

PERKINS: No.

CHEN: Oh, you never know, we still have a few episodes left-

PERKINS: Never cave with marijuana because that's the 'evil drug,' according to her.

CHEN: [Laughter]