Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist (Willie Geist, Sunday TODAY)

On this week's episode, Willie sits down with one of the greatest athletes of all time, Stephen Curry. He is out with a new documentary called "Underrated" that charts his rise from skinny college kid to basketball legend who has revolutionized the game. 

In the 29 years since Jurassic Park debuted, Jeff Goldblum has taken on many roles, leaving his mark as a beloved character actor. In this week's "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist gets together with the multi-talented star to talk about returning the role of Dr. Ian Malcolm in this summer's blockbuster Jurassic World: Dominion, as well the jazz ensemble he leads on the side. 

The son of a Hollywood icon, Michael Douglas made a name for himself in the 1980s with a string of hit movies, from Wall Street and Fatal Attraction to Romancing the Stone. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with the Oscar winner to talk about his successful career, including the final season of his award-winning Netflix series The Kominsky Method. 

On this week's episode, Willie sits down with one of the brightest young stars in music, Kane Brown. They talk about his extraordinary rise from singing viral cover songs on social media to filling stadiums across the country and across the world.

Willie sits down with one of the biggest young stars in music, Kelsea Ballerini. They talk about her new album, "Patterns", and her upcoming gig as a coach on "The Voice." Ballerini also reflects on her choice to move to Nashville as a teenager to pursue country music.  

Willie sat down with 16-time Grammy winner, Alicia Keys, ahead of the opening of her Broadway musical, "Hell's Kitchen". They talk about inspirations from her own life that helped her create the acclaimed coming-of-age musical more than a decade in the making. 

Jared Leto is known for his fully-immersive transformations in movies, including Dallas Buyers Club, Suicide Squad and his latest film, The Little Things, which just earned him a Golden Globe nomination. In this week’s "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist talks to the actor about working on that movie alongside one of his heroes, Denzel Washington, and his other career as a rock star in the band 30 Seconds to Mars. 

Before he was an actor, Tony Shalhoub grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin as the ninth of ten kids. His father was a Lebanese immigrant who came to the United States in 1920. Now, Shalhoub is a four-time Emmy winner, a Golden Globe winner, and a Tony winner. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with Shalhoub to talk about the fourth season of the beloved hit series, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and his 30-year career starring in series like Wings and Monk.   

Willie Geist sits down with Colman Domingo, who is nominated for his first Oscar for his starring role in the acclaimed movie, "Rustin". This nod makes him the first Afro Latino to ever be nominated for Best Actor. (Original broadcast date January 21, 2024.)

Willie chats with Jon Bon Jovi about his new album, "Forever", which marks a victory in the fight to get his voice back. They also talk about his head-spinning rise from Jersey bar-singer to international superstar, and they even take a tour of his studio at his Jersey home. (Original broadcast date June 16, 2024)

If it feels like you haven't seen as much of Jessica Alba on screen in the last decade or so, that's because she's been busy growing a business. For more than a decade, "The Honest Company" she founded has been a pioneer for clean products for babies, beauty and the home. In this week's "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist gets together with the actor and entrepreneur to discuss how she found her confidence in Hollywood and the business world. (Original broadcast date: July 10, 2022)

Willie sits down with the legendary Carol Burnett. They talk about her life in comedy, and her scene-stealing role in the Apple TV+ series, "Palm Royale". (Original broadcast date March 31, 2024)

Brooke Shields has been in our lives since she was a child, appearing in movies and on television, on magazine covers, and in famous ads for blue jeans. In this week’s Sunday Sitdown, Willie Geist gets together with the star to talk about navigating her long, successful career from starring in commercials as a baby to hanging out at Studio 54 as a teenager to her latest project, the Netflix holiday movie A Castle for Christmas.

Willie sits down with Lisa Kudrow to talk about her starring role in the new Netflix series, "No Good Deed," alongside Ray Romano. She also reflects on her time starring in “Friends,” one of the most popular and enduring shows in the history of television.

If it feels like you haven't seen as much of Jessica Alba on screen in the last decade or so, that's because she's been busy growing a business. For 10 years now, "The Honest Company" she founded has been a pioneer for clean products for babies, beauty and the home. In this week's "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist gets together with the actor and entrepreneur to discuss how she found her confidence in Hollywood and the business world.

Willie sits down with Mariska Hargitay, also known as "Olivia Benson" on one of the longest running prime-time dramas in the history of television: "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit". They look back on 26 seasons, her electric chemistry with co-star Christopher Meloni, and how the show inspired her to create the Joyful Heart Foundation.  

A new era of American comedy began in 1975 with the premiere of Saturday Night Live and a young producer named Lorne Michaels calling the shots. Willie Geist gets together with the SNL creator and executive producer in famed Studio 8H to talk about the show’s legacy, and how they put on a live production in the middle of both a pandemic and a presidential election. (Original broadcast date October 18, 2020)

The 1988 cult-favorite film Dead Ringers left quite an impression on actress Rachel Weisz when she was a teenager – so much so that she is now starring in an updated, and no less riveting, version of the psychological thriller. In this week’s Sunday Sitdown, Willie gets together with the Academy Award winner to talk about playing identical twins in the new television series, the moment she won her Oscar, and the possibility of working on-screen with her husband, Daniel Craig. 

Before he became a larger-than-life hero of the Marvel cinematic universe, Chris Hemsworth was a young Australian soap opera star. When not wielding the hammer of Thor, the 39-year-old has starred in movies like The Huntsman, the Formula 1 driving film Rush, and, in a memorable turn to comedy, Ghostbusters. Now, the father of three who lives with his family far from Hollywood in Australia, is playing himself in a heart-stopping new series called Limitless. Chris and Willie Geist got together in New York for a Sunday Sitdown.

Willie sits down with Oscar-winning actress Renee Zellweger who opens up about what she likes about playing the relatable title character Bridget Jones in the beloved franchise — a role she stepped into when the first movie was released in 2001.They talk about her new film, “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy,”  her childhood growing up in Katy, Texas, and her road to the heights of Hollywood.

Willie chats with Jon Bon Jovi about his new album, "Forever", which marks a victory in the fight to get his voice back. They also talk about his head-spinning rise from Jersey bar-singer to international superstar, and they even take a tour of his studio at his Jersey home.

Willie sat down with the legendary Carol Burnett to talk about her new series "Palm Royale" on Apple TV+, and her rise from a difficult childhood to become one of the funniest and most influential people in American culture. (Original broadcast date March 31, 2024)

It’s been 8 years since Seth Meyers took the Late Night baton from his friend Jimmy Fallon, carrying on a legendary legacy started by David Letterman in 1982. Before taking over behind that desk, Meyers spent over a decade at Saturday Night Live, first as a cast member, then as Head Writer and host of “Weekend Update.” In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with the television host and comedian to talk about applying those writing skills to a new children’s book inspired by his three kids. 

Since starring together in The Three Amigos in 1986, Steve Martin and Martin Short have worked together on the blockbuster Father of the Bride movies, toured the country making relentless jokes at each other’s expense, and now they’re starring in a hilarious new series about three neighbors working together to solve a murder in their New York City apartment building. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown” Willie Geist gets together with the two comedy legends to talk about that series Only Murders in the Building and their 35 years of friendship. 

Willie Nelson is an American icon and music legend, winning 10 Grammy Awards over the course of his eight decades in the industry. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with the country singer to talk about 80 years of music, including his latest album “That’s Life,” a tribute to his friend Frank Sinatra. 

On this week's episode, Willie sat down with one of the greatest athletes of all time, Stephen Curry. He is out with a new documentary, "Underrated", that charts his rise from skinny college kid to basketball legend who has revolutionized the game. (Original broadcast date July 30, 2023) 

Tracy Morgan rose to the heights of comedy from the depths of poverty, growing up between Brooklyn and the Bronx. But in 2014, he nearly died in a horrific accident, when the van he was riding in was crushed by a speeding tractor trailer. Willie Geist sat down with the former Saturday Night Live star to talk about about that accident and how it changed him, his return to comedy and his hit show “The Last O.G.".  (Original broadcast date March 31, 2019)

In 2008, Lin-Manuel Miranda read Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton while on vacation and began envisioning something no one else could have seen – a hip-hop musical about America’s Founding Fathers. In this week’s Sunday Sitdown, Willie Geist gets together with the Tony, Emmy and Pulitzer-winning star to talk about creating the Broadway phenomenon Hamilton and his latest act as a film director. (Original broadcast date: November 21, 2021)

Already a Tony-nominated triple-threat on Broadway and a member of the original cast of Hamilton, Ariana DeBose has recently shot to Hollywood stardom with an electrifying performance as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. In this week’s Sunday Sitdown, Willie Geist gets together with the actress to talk about that role which has already earned her a Golden Globe award for Best Supporting Actress and an Academy Award nomination. 

In 1998, an aspiring stand-up comedian named Sebastian Maniscalco left his hometown of Chicago for Los Angeles. He took a job as a waiter at the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills, hoping he'd rub elbows with comedy big-shots while pouring their coffee. Today, he is one of the biggest shots in comedy, himself.  In Maniscalco's latest special, he takes his act to Las Vegas. Sebastian and Willie Geist got together in New York at one of the comedy clubs where he made his name.

Chris Stapleton sat down with Willie Geist in Nashville. The two discussed the country superstar’s latest album and his stunning Super Bowl rendition of "The National Anthem." Stapleton is an 8-time Grammy winner and 4-time 2024 Grammy nominee. (Original broadcast date October 29, 2023.)

On this week's episode, Willie sat down with 7-time Grammy winner, Kacey Musgraves. They got together at Electric Lady Studios to talk about the inspiration for her new album, her process writing those beautiful songs, and finding success while bucking convention in Nashville. 

Jim Gaffigan’s relatable, family-focused stand-up act has made him one of the biggest draws in comedy, with Forbes recently ranking him 3rd on the list of highest-earning comedians. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with Gaffigan for a conversation about his 30 years in the industry and a lesson in his newest quarantine hobby: cross-country skiing.

The 1998 film Shakespeare in Love won Gwyneth Paltrow an Academy Award for Best Actress and made her one of Hollywood's most sought-after stars. But fame began to take its toll. In 2008, she sent out the first Goop newsletter, a collection of recommendations for food, clothes and places to visit. Since then Goop has grown in to a successful, wide-ranging lifestyle brand. In this week's "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist gets together with the actress turned entrepreneur on New York's Long Island.

In the decade since signing with a modeling agency at 17 years old, Gigi Hadid has become one of the most famous faces on the planet. Memorable ad campaigns, countless magazine covers and runways around the world have made Gigi a global icon. Now she is realizing a dream of becoming a designer herself with the launch of her new clothing line Guest in Residence. In this week's "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist sits down with Gigi to talk about her latest venture and how she hopes it will disrupt fashion.

Willie Geist talks to Cynthia Erivo about the release of the highly anticipated Hollywood adaptation of the Broadway classic, "Wicked". Erivo shares her experience playing "Elphaba" opposite Ariana Grande's "Glinda", and she gets her first look at the "Wicked" Billboards in Times Square. 

On this week's episode, Willie sits down with 8-time Grammy winner, Chris Stapleton. They got together in Nashville to talk about his latest album, that stunning Super Bowl rendition of "The National Anthem", and he also gave a guided tour of the place where he makes his music. 

In many ways, Sharon Stone is the very picture of a movie star – bursting onto the scene with her unforgettable performance in Basic Instinct and earning an Oscar nomination for her role in Casino. But around that success there has been a great deal of struggle. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with Stone to talk about her journey from a small town in Pennsylvania to Hollywood’s A-List and her new book The Beauty of Living Twice about her near-death experience 20 years ago. 

The 1998 film Shakespeare in Love won Gwyneth Paltrow an Academy Award for Best Actress and made her one of Hollywood's most sought-after stars. But fame began to take its toll. In 2008, she sent out the first Goop newsletter, a collection of recommendations for food, clothes and places to visit. Since then, Goop has grown in to a successful, wide-ranging lifestyle brand. In this week's "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist gets together with the actress turned entrepreneur on New York's Long Island. (Original broadcast date July 24, 2022.)

It’s been 10 years since Seth Meyers took the Late Night baton from his friend Jimmy Fallon, carrying on a legendary legacy started by David Letterman in 1982. Before taking over behind that desk, Meyers spent over a decade at Saturday Night Live, first as a cast member, then as Head Writer and host of “Weekend Update.” Willie Geist gets together with the television host and comedian to talk about applying those writing skills to a children’s book inspired by his three kids, and more. (Original broadcast date March 20, 2022)

In the movie Blonde, Ana De Armas is in every scene playing the lead role of Marilyn Monroe. Director Andrew Dominik has been developing the fictionalized movie, based on a novel, for more than a decade. He cast De Armas as the lead seven years ago when he saw the actress in her first-ever English language film. In the time since, she caught the attention of wider audiences and critics especially with her performance in the popular 2019 movie Knives Out.In this week's "Sunday Sitdown" Willie Geist gets together with De Armas just before the premiere of her latest film to talk about what it took to play Monroe and the path that got her here. 

Academy Award-winning actor Kate Winslet joined Willie Geist to talk about her new role as a dictator losing her grip in "The Regime". She also spoke of how deeply her role in "Mare of Easttown" affected her emotionally, as well as navigating the disorienting whirlwind of life after starring in "Titanic". (Original broadcast date March 17, 2024.)

As a bonus for you, TODAY’s Al Roker is sharing a special preview of his brand-new original podcast, Cooking Up a Storm with Al Roker.

Join Al as he whips up a complete Thanksgiving feast with some of the very best chefs around – like Ina Garten and Marcus Samuelsson. Grab your apron as they spill the beans on family secrets to get you ready for the holidays. It’s a feast for the ears!

Listen now to Cooking Up a Storm with Al Roker:https://link.chtbl.com/cus_feed

Elizabeth Banks decided a long time ago she would control her own destiny in Hollywood. In her two decades on screen, Banks has earned three Emmy nominations, starred in the Hunger Games franchise and produced all three of the Pitch Perfect movies which together made more than 600 million dollars at the box office. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with Banks to talk about her podcast and new business venture into canned wine. 

Since starring together in The Three Amigos in 1986, Steve Martin and Martin Short have worked together on the blockbuster Father of the Bride movies, toured the country making relentless jokes at each other’s expense, and now they’re starring in a hilarious series about three neighbors working together to solve a murder in their New York City apartment building. Willie Geist sat down with the two comedy legends to talk about their series Only Murders in the Building and their friendship lasting more three decades. (Original broadcast date September 12, 2021)  

On this week's episode, Willie sits down with Larry David to talk about a life in comedy, the bittersweet end of his iconic series, "Curb Your Enthusiasm", and why he decided to cast Willie himself in an episode of the final season.

On this week's episode, Willie sits down with Jon Batiste. They get together to talk about his latest album, his six Grammy nominations, and his feature acting debut in "The Color Purple".

Mahershala Ali has established himself as one of Hollywood’s best and most respected actors, winning two Academy Awards for his work in Moonlight and Green Book and just last month earning a Golden Globe nomination for the movie Swan Song. In this week’s Sunday Sitdown, Willie Geist gets together with the actor to talk about his moving performance in that new film and his journey from Oakland, California to the top of the A-list. 

In 2017, Girls Trip the movie brought in a staggering $140 million at the box office. It was a star-making moment for Regina Hall, two decades in the making. She has played memorable roles in The Best Man, Scary Movie, Think Like A Man, and last year's Nine Perfect Strangers. Now she is starring in an acclaimed new movie Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul. in the same year she co-hosted those unforgettable Academy Awards. In this week's "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist sits down with the actress to talk about her latest role and the path that got her here.

Ed Sheeran is nominated for a fifth career Grammy Award this year for his latest hit “Bad Habits,” which introduced a sound that had his fans asking if it was really Ed Sheeran. In this week’s Sunday Sitdown, Willie Geist gets together with the pop superstar to talk about that new sound on his latest album, Equals, his new daughter who influenced the music, and his path from busking on the streets of London to the highest-grossing tour in the history of music. 

A comedian by trade, and a young writer at Saturday Night Live in the years of Chris Farley, Adam Sandler and Chris Rock, Bob Odenkirk made a dramatic career turn in 2009 when he landed a role on the hit series Breaking Bad and later earned his own spinoff show, Better Caul Saul. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to Odenkirk about a new memoir that documents that journey from SNL to dramatic actor all the way to action star. 

Bill Hader’s rise to stardom began behind the scenes on movies and TV sets, before he took an improv class and quickly made the leap to “Saturday Night Live.” In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the actor and comedian about what he calls his journey from "preschool to Harvard,” his Emmy-winning HBO series “Barry,” and his lifelong dream to meet the subject of his most famous impression: “Dateline” correspondent Keith Morrison.

Mark Ronson is the man behind many of the hit songs you hear on the radio, like Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk” and Lady Gaga’s “Shallow.” In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the Grammy Award-winning producer about the art of making those hits from the ground up, his latest solo album, and what it’s like to work with some of the biggest names in the music industry.

The world has been introduced over the last few years to the many talents of Cynthia Erivo. In 2020, the British singer and actress was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance of Harriet Tubman, after previously winning a Tony, a Grammy and an Emmy for her lead role as Celie in The Color Purple on Broadway. In this week’s Sunday Sitdown, Willie Geist gets together with the Erivo to talk about her successful career, including the release of her debut solo album and her new children’s book Remember to Dream, Ebere.

At this point, you've probably already seen "Avengers: Endgame," the highly-anticipated twenty-second installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In this week's Sunday Sitdown, Willie Geist talks to one of the stars of the film, Jeremy Renner, about his role as one of the six original Avengers, Hawkeye. They also talk about the evolution of his career, from Oscar-nominated leading man to new ventures in music and home remodeling.  

In this special episode of "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist sits down with his dad, Bill Geist, to talk about his new book "Lake of the Ozarks." It's a hilarious memoir nearly 40 years in the making about Bill's teenage summers working at his Uncle Ed's Arrowhead Lodge in Missouri. He talks about how the characters he encountered there shaped his sense of humor and led to a 31-year career covering unique stories for CBS. (Original broadcast date: May 8, 2019)

Edward Norton burst onto the scene in 1996 with his appearance in the movie "Primal Fear," for which he was nominated for an Oscar and won a Golden Globe. In this week's "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist talks to the actor about his incredible run of award-winning films since then, including "The People vs. Larry Flynt," "American History X" and "Fight Club." They also chat about his latest work, "Motherless Brooklyn," a film which Norton wrote, produced, directed and stars in. 

Samuel L. Jackson’s breakthrough in the cult classic “Pulp Fiction” came at the age of 45, after he had already lived a full life both professionally and personally. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the legendary actor about his prolific movie career since then and the road to becoming the most bankable star in Hollywood. He also opens up about his latest project – bringing the iconic role of “Shaft” back to the big screen. 

Over a three-decade career, Neil Patrick Harris’ talent and versatility have carried him across television, movies and Broadway, and made him Hollywood’s favorite awards show host. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the actor about that wide-ranging career, the latest book in his best-selling series and how his 8-year-old twins have changed his life. 

Viola Davis’ journey to the top of Hollywood’s A-list began on a former plantation in South Carolina, where she was born. She moved to Rhode Island at a young age and grew up poor, but found her way out through acting. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the actress about her extraordinary life and career,  as well as a new project that’s close to her heart - a documentary about the diabetes crisis in the United States.

Chip and Joanna Gaines have built something of an empire with their Magnolia lifestyle brand and sparked a renaissance in their hometown of Waco, Texas. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist travels to Waco to talk to the “Fixer Upper” stars about walking away from the show that made them famous, keeping life normal for their five children, and their latest projects – renovating a hotel and launching a television network. 

Jake Gyllenhaal’s role in the blockbuster hit “Spider-Man: Far From Home” was a first for the Oscar-nominated actor, who over the last twenty years has earned his place among Hollywood’s elite. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to Gyllenhaal about pivoting from that big-budget superhero film to his latest role in a critically-acclaimed new play on Broadway. The actor also opens up about growing up in Hollywood and the movie that he says changed his life forever. 

Tiffany Haddish has been on a whirlwind two-year run since her breakout role in the box office hit “Girls Trip." She's appeared in movies, television, commercials, her own stand-up comedy special and even a historic hosting gig at “Saturday Night Live.” In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with the actress to talk about her incredible journey from homelessness to Hollywood’s A-list, and her latest, more dramatic role in the new movie “The Kitchen.”

Four years ago, David Letterman signed off his show for the last time, after 33 years that revolutionized late-night television. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist chats with the iconic TV host about his relatively quiet lifestyle since leaving that role, the second season of his hit Netflix show "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction," and the state of comedy in today’s political climate. (Original broadcast date: May 19, 2019)

Orlando Bloom landed the role of Legolas in “The Lord of the Rings” just two days after graduating from drama school, and his career hasn’t slowed down since. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the actor about that journey full of epic fantasy roles, his latest Amazon show “Carnival Row,” and his recent engagement to pop star Katy Perry.

At just 26 years old, Ben Platt has already won a Tony, a Grammy and an Emmy award, all for his groundbreaking performance in the Broadway phenomenon “Dear Evan Hansen.” In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the actor about his journey from homemade musicals in his backyard to the bright lights of Broadway, to his latest starring role alongside Gwyneth Paltrow in the highly-anticipated new Netflix series “The Politician.” 

Willie sits down with Emmy and Golden Globe winning actress, Angela Bassett. They discuss her role as President of the United States in the new Netflix series, "Zero Day", starring alongside Robert Dinero. They also reflect on her decades-long career playing iconic roles such as Tina Turner in "What's Love Got to Do with It", and the Queen of Wakanda in the “Marvel” cinematic universe.

Keanu Reeves has been a Hollywood star for the past 30 years since "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" broke through the box office and put him on the map. He has made his name starring in big movies like "The Matrix," "Speed" and "Point Break." Through it all, Reeves has stayed grounded and kept his personal life private. In this week's "Sunday Sitdown" Willie Geist talks with the actor about his latest movie "John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum," his long career in Hollywood and everything in between. 

In this special episode of "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist sits down with his dad, Bill Geist, to talk about his new book "Lake of the Ozarks." It's a hilarious memoir nearly 40 years in the making about Bill's teenage summers working at his Uncle Ed's Arrowhead Lodge in Missouri. He talks about how the characters he encountered there shaped his sense of humor and led to a 31-year career covering unique stories for CBS. 

Rob Lowe was just 18 years old when Francis Ford Coppola cast him in the 1983 movie The Outsiders, and he quickly became a fixture of 1980’s Hollywood. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with Lowe to talk about the pitfalls that came with that early success and how it propelled a run of nearly 40 years on screen, including in his latest show 9-1-1: Lone Star.  

As a 25-time professional wrestling champion and WWE star, John Cena is known for his famous punishing move called the “attitude adjustment.” But he is also an actor, rap musician, best-selling author and granter of more than 600 wishes to children at the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and a role model to kids everywhere. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to Cena about his latest children’s book and how his life’s journey has been based on one motto: Never Give Up. 

You may be accustomed to seeing Olivia Wilde in front of the camera, but the Hollywood star has recently taken her talents behind the scenes. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist chats with the actress about her directorial debut in the hit new film “Booksmart,” her experience learning from some A-list directors, and the push to give more women similar opportunities behind the camera.

Viola Davis’ journey to the top of Hollywood’s A-list began on a former plantation in South Carolina, where she was born. She moved to Rhode Island at a young age and grew up poor, but found her way out through acting. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the actress about her extraordinary life and career, as well as a new project that’s close to her heart - a documentary about the diabetes crisis in the United States. (Original broadcast date: May 5, 2019)

Almost exactly four years ago, David Letterman signed off his show for the last time, after 33 years that revolutionized late-night television. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist chats with the iconic TV host about his relatively quiet lifestyle since leaving that role, the second season of his hit Netflix show "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction," and the state of comedy in today’s political climate.

Maggie Gyllenhaal has made a name for herself with Golden Globe-winning and Oscar-nominated performances in smaller-budget, often independent films like “Secretary" and “Crazy Heart.” In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with the actress to talk about that successful film career, as well as her dual role as actor and producer on the hit HBO series “The Deuce,” and her relationship with her little brother, Jake Gyllenhaal. 

Seth MacFarlane created “Family Guy” when he was just a 24-year-old animator, and the hit TV show is now heading into its 18th season. MacFarlane hasn’t written for the show in nearly a decade, though, as his ambitious portfolio has grown. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the star about his wide-ranging career, which includes hit film franchises, four Grammy nominations and a dramatic role in the new miniseries “The Loudest Voice” about the man who built Fox News.

With her breakout hit song “All I Wanna Do,” Sheryl Crow quickly went from talented backup singer to household name. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist travels to the musician’s Nashville home to talk about her journey from a tiny town in Missouri to the top of the music charts, and why she says her latest album “Threads” will be her last. 

Actor, rapper and comedian Awkwafina, whose given name is Nora Lum, has been on quite a ride over the last year with big roles in the box office hits “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Ocean’s 8.” In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the rising star about that whirlwind year as well as her latest, more dramatic performance in the new film “The Farewell.” 

It’s been more than 20 years since “Seinfeld” left the air as the #1 show on television. Since then, Jerry Seinfeld has continued the career of a stand-up comedian that started when he was just a 20-year-old from Long Island. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist chats with the comedy legend about that lengthy career, why he still loves the craft of writing jokes, and his latest residency at the Beacon Theater in New York City. (Original broadcast date: December 16, 2018)

Paul Rudd has won over fans for nearly 25 years as the likable, seemingly regular guy in Hollywood. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with the actor to talk about that nice guy reputation and his lengthy career, from his breakout role in “Clueless” to a string of Judd Apatow comedies to Marvel’s “Ant-Man,” and his new Netflix series “Living With Yourself” where we get a double dose of Paul Rudd.

Over a 35-year career in Hollywood, Woody Harrelson has remained Woody: the one-of-a-kind guy you want to hang out with. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with the legendary actor in Austin, Texas to talk about his long run in show business, from the early years on “Cheers” to big budget turns in “The Hunger Games” to his latest Netflix film “The Highwaymen,” and he opens up about his biggest influences along the way. 

In Jordan Peele’s highly-anticipated new horror film “Us,” Lupita Nyong’o plays both the hero and the monster. It’s a new genre for the 36-year-old actress who starred in last year’s cultural phenomenon “Black Panther” and won an Academy Award in 2014 for her performance in “12 Years a Slave.” In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to Nyong’o about her journey from Kenya to Yale Drama School to the Oscars stage, and the whirlwind 6 years she’s had since then. 

Tracy Morgan rose to the heights of comedy from the depths of poverty, growing up between Brooklyn and the Bronx. But five years ago, he nearly died in a horrific accident when the van he was riding in was crushed by a speeding tractor trailer. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the former Saturday Night Live star about that accident and how it changed him, his return to comedy, and the newest season of his hit show “The Last O.G." 

After a nearly 50-year run in Hollywood, Danny DeVito is the kind of star with generations of fans. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the actor and Oscar-nominee about that lengthy career, from his first big role in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” to “Taxi,” “Twins,” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” as well as his latest performance in the new live-action version of the Disney classic “Dumbo.” 

Even if you haven’t kept up with the HBO show “Game of Thrones” since its debut in 2011, there’s no avoiding the cultural phenomenon based on the books of George R.R. Martin. At the center of it all is the heroic Jon Snow, played by Kit Harington. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks with Harington about the show's highly anticipated final season and what it will be like to say goodbye to the series that launched his career, introduced him to his wife and changed his life forever. 

NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most dominant athletes in the history of sports. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with the basketball legend to talk about his success on and off the court, including his second act as a prolific businessman and analyst on “Inside the NBA.” 

Ina Garten is a beloved chef in part because she seems like one of us – she has no formal training and she taught herself how to make a great meal by experimenting with cookbooks. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist travels to the Hamptons for lunch with the television host and bestselling author to talk about her life before “The Barefoot Contessa,” her down-to-earth approach in the kitchen, and the release of her 11th cookbook “Cook Like a Pro.” (Original broadcast date: October 28, 2018)

Miranda Lambert is one of the biggest stars not just in country, but in all of music. In this week's "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist gets together with the Grammy-winning artist to talk about the roots of her Texas swagger, her new album "Wildcard," and its inspiration from her recent marriage to a New York City police officer.

Kerry Washington has a habit of playing strong women, from Anita Hill in the 2016 film "Confirmation" to her seven-season run as Olivia Pope on the hit show "Scandal." In this week's "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist talks to Washington about how starring in that show changed her life, her latest role in the Broadway play turned Netflix movie, "American Son," and why her parents didn't want her to become an actor.

Guy Fieri and his famous red Camaro have been a staple of the Food Network for over 15 years, as he built a vast collection of shows, products and restaurants around the world. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the star chef about building that empire and his fundraising efforts over the last year to feed frontline workers and help restaurant employees during the pandemic. 

In 1995, Emma Thompson took on the challenge of adapting Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility into a successful movie. She was rewarded with an Academy Award for her writing as well as a Best Actress nomination for her performance in that film, capping a run of five Oscar nominations and two wins in just four years. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with the British star to talk about cementing her place as one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors and her latest, most revealing role yet in the buzzed about film Good Luck to You, Leo Grande.

Lately, when you hear the name Idris Elba, it often comes in the context of speculation about whether he'll be the next James Bond. The actor says it's not happening, and at the moment he's busy playing John Luther, a British crime-solving hero with a slightly harder edge than Bond's. The 50-year-old Elba worked as a young man at the same Ford manufacturing plant where his father worked before moving to America to chase an acting dream that now has far exceeded anything he ever imagined. In this week's Sunday Sitdown, Willie and Idris got together in New York. (Original broadcast date March 12, 2023.)

Daniel Radcliffe was 11 years old when he answered a call to audition for a movie based on the wildly successful Harry Potter books. By the next year, he was the most famous 12-year-old on earth. That first movie made a billion dollars at the box office, setting off a worldwide craze that led to seven more films with Radcliffe starring as Harry. He came out the other side of that 10-year run intact, at just 22 years old, and with the freedom, earned from the success of Harry Potter, to take on only the projects that strike him, like his latest, playing Weird Al Yankovic. Willie Geist got together with the actor in New York City as Radcliffe prepares for his next role, starring in a Stephen Sondheim musical.

On this week's episode, Willie sits down with Irish singer-songwriter, Niall Horan. You might know him from his start with One Direction, but he's now continuing his solo success with his second album called, "The Show". 

Eddie Redmayne always knew he wanted a life on stage so he began acting lessons at age 10. By his early 20s, London theater had recognized him as an Outstanding Newcomer to the West End. Soon he made his way to Broadway and Hollywood. Now, the 40-year-old Redmayne is starring in  the chilling Netflix crime drama The Good Nurse  with Jessica Chastain, based on a little known, horrific, true story. In this week's "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist got together with the actor in New York. 

Willie looks back on his memorable interviews of the year. Growing up, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson bounced around the country as the son of barnstorming professional wrestler Rocky Johnson. He eventually got into the family business and became the biggest star in wrestling, before transitioning to Hollywood where he is now the highest-paid actor in the business. In this “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist gets together with Johnson to talk about that career move, the latest calls for him to run for president and his successful new tequila brand, Teremana.

It’s been more than 10 years since Seth Meyers took the Late Night baton from his friend Jimmy Fallon, carrying on a legendary legacy started by David Letterman in 1982. Before taking over behind that desk, Meyers spent over a decade at Saturday Night Live, first as a cast member, then as Head Writer and host of “Weekend Update.” Willie Geist got together with the television host and comedian to talk about applying those writing skills to a children’s book, inspired by his three kids, and more. (Original broadcast date March 20, 2022) 

On this week's episode, Willie sat down with his NBC neighbor, Jimmy Fallon. They got together as he celebrates his 10-year anniversary as host of "The Tonight Show" - reflecting on his long career in comedy, his years at SNL, and landing the biggest job in "Late Night". 

On this week's episode, Willie sat down with country music superstar, Kenny Chesney. They got together just ahead of his latest album dropping, and as he gears up for his next big tour performing at stadiums across the country. 

Jack Harlow has known his life's purpose since he was a 12-year-old sixth grader rhyming into a microphone from the video game Guitar Hero: He was going to be rapper. His first solo mixtape was a hot-seller in the halls of his Kentucky middle school. Now, the 24-year-old Grammy-nominated star is selling-out venues across the country and around the world. In this week's "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist gets together with the rapper in between his two Boston shows, where fans were packed shoulder-to-shoulder singing along to every word.