Willie Geist celebrated the first anniversary of his MSNBC show "Way Too Early" Tuesday. But in an interview with the Huffington Post, Geist revealed that he doesn't even like the mornings. Why, then, did he agree to host a show that has him waking up at 3 A.M. every day?
"I figured my life was already ruined, so if they gave me a little piece of real estate it was worth ruining it an hour earlier," he joked.
Speaking more seriously, Geist said that, if he didn't really enjoy his job--along with his other role as co-host of "Morning Joe," which airs just after "Way Too Early"--he would never, ever be awake as early as he is.
"We have the freedom to pick and say what we want and do what we want," he said. "And then on 'Morning Joe,' it's the ultimate wide-open conversation...I enjoy the shows so much, I'm so grateful that I have a job that's this much fun that it doesn't bother me."
Also, his upside-down schedule lines up pretty well with that of his two young children.
"I'm home at night for dinner, we run out to the park...all that stuff that a lot of dads miss," he said. "And frankly, I miss the morning, which can often be the worst time of the day. I'm hiding in my cubicle at MSNBC."
Watch a look back at the show's first year:
Geist said that he sees "Way Too Early," which airs at 5:30 every morning, as a one-stop shop, where viewers can get the full range of news.
"You get your heavy news...up top, and then as you cascade down through the show you get sports, weather, pop culture," he said.
Any audience watching a show at 5:30 A.M.--or 2:30, if they're on the West Coast--is going to be a fairly motley crew. Geist said he and his staff--he has just two people making the show with him--joke about who is tuning in at that hour. They suspect "substance abusers, shut ins, people who've been woken up by loud noises, or having night terrors," he said.
Actually, Geist said, he gets a lot of feedback from people just going to work and mothers with small children who are awake in the middle of the night, among other demographics.
Asked about his favorite moments from the show, Geist said nothing can top the first week, when a series of high-caliber guests managed to wake up and call in. Robert Gibbs was the first guest. Geist also talked to Maureen Dowd, Brian Williams and Bill Maher--who, he says, literally got out of the hot tub to chat.
But Geist's favorite guest from that week was the phone appearance by Donald Trump--if for no other reason than the fact that Trump got up that early.
"It's like Haley's Comet--you will never see that again," Geist said. "And here I am picturing him...is he in a Hanes V-neck and boxers with his hair messed up? Or does he sleep in a suit?"
None of those guests called in on Tuesday morning, when Geist celebrated the anniversary live in Times Square. However, Williams did send in a pre-taped message. So did "Today" co-hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb.
In the interview, Geist said that he finally thinks the show is reaching a wider audience. He noted that, in the past week, his show's website has been the third most popular of any cable news show, behind fellow MSNBC hosts Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow. This, he said, is where he wants the show to be: combining a niche audience in the early mornings and a wider Web audience later in the day.
"It's kind of started to happen in the way we envisioned it to be," Geist said.
Donald Trump interview:
Brian Williams sends his regards:
Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb congratulate Geist, who recently filled in for Kathie Lee during the fourth hour of the "Today" show:
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.