With nearly 2 million people, Manhattan can feel pretty freakin' massive. But, in actuality, it is one teeny, tiny island. Just ask Willie Geist.
Because, mere hours after filming his 300th (!!) episode of Sunday TODAY with Matt Damon, the TODAY veteran ran into his first ever Sunday Sitdown guest, Leslie Odom Jr. "It was a nice bit of poetry," Geist exclusively told E! News, reflecting back on when it all began. "I was just happy to get that first show on the air in April of 2016…at the height of Hamilton-mania."
Not that he ever doubted his approach to storytelling, which features hour-long interviews with stars that strive to spotlight the in depth, very real stories behind their success.
Nearly eight years in, "it means the idea for a new kind of TODAY show has resonated with our audience," he shared. "It means our amazing team of talented bookers, producers and editors has created something unique and good and compelling to our viewers."
And though he's sat down with Shonda Rhimes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ryan Reynolds and Mila Kunis (just to name drop a few), Geist is already dreaming up his guest list for the next 300 episodes.
"Just when I think I've been lucky enough to interview everyone on the wish list, I remember we haven't had Will Ferrell or Tina Fey or LeBron James or Jay-Z or Beyoncé or Taylor Swift or Jamie Foxx or many, many others on the show," the 48-year-old said. "There always is another big one out there."
Until the next big one lands on your screen, keep reading for a peek inside his most memorable interviews yet. And tune into Geist's 300th episode of Sunday TODAY on NBC July 16 at 8 a.m.
(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)