Willie Geist
Encyclopedia
William "Willie" Geist (born May 3, 1975) is host of MSNBC
's Way Too Early with Willie Geist
, a co-host of MSNBC
’s Morning Joe
and contributor to several NBC News
programs. Geist also hosts a satirical video blog on MSNBC.com called Zeitgeist
. Geist also is a frequent fill in for Matt Lauer
on the Today Show.
Geist is the author of the New York Times bestselling book American Freak Show, released on October 12, 2010, and of Loaded! Become a Millionaire Overnight and Lose 20 Pounds in 2 Weeks or Your Money Back!, a satire of the popular self-help genre, released on May 10, 2011.
, to author, columnist, and current CBS News
correspondent Bill Geist and social worker Jody Geist.
He attended Ridgewood High School
in Ridgewood, New Jersey
, where he was captain of the football and basketball teams. He later went on to graduate from Vanderbilt University
in Nashville, Tennessee
. While at Vanderbilt, he was an editor of the university’s official student newspaper, The Vanderbilt Hustler.
On May 24, 2003, Geist married his high-school sweetheart, Christina Sharkey, in Humacao, Puerto Rico
. The couple has a daughter, Lucie Joy Geist (b. June 14, 2007) and a son George William Geist (July 8, 2009).
Geist is the older brother of Libby Wildes, the Peabody Award
-winning documentary film producer (Crazy Love
, Black Magic, Ring of Fire), who is married to Kevin Wildes of ESPN, "Mr. Half Baked Ideas."
Geist is the great-grandson of Herbie Lewis, who captained the Detroit Red Wings to two Stanley Cups and is in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
, and The Masters.
In 2004, he became a writer and producer for I, Max
, a short-lived sports commentary show hosted by Max Kellerman
on Fox Sports Net
. He joined MSNBC
television in April 2005 as a senior producer of The Situation with Tucker Carlson
.
Geist began substituting as a co-host on MSNBC
's 6-9 a.m. morning time slot almost immediately after Don Imus
was fired in late April, 2007. Geist was named permanent co-host of Morning Joe
, along with Joe Scarborough
and Mika Brzezinski
in September, 2007. In late July, 2009, Geist began hosting his own 30-minute, 5:30–6 a.m. program Way Too Early with Willie Geist
. The show airs from 5:30-6 a.m. (immediately before Morning Joe
) on MSNBC. In 2010, Geist began substituting for Matt Lauer as host of the Today TV program and as the show's newsreader. Geist also has co-hosted the 3rd hour and 4th hours of Today.
declared Geist the "Best TV Sidekick Who Deserves His Own Show," writing, "Memo to MSNBC: Instead of "Countdown
" reruns at 10 p.m., give Willie a proper talk show—you might have a contempo Dick Cavett
on your hands." On December 28, 2009, Way Too Early with Willie Geist
was listed by The Daily Beast as one of "25 Ways To Get Smarter in 2010". The Daily Beast compared Geist's combination of news and humor to Jon Stewart
's on the Comedy Central
network and Rachel Maddow
's on the MSNBC
network, calling Way Too Early "2010's must-watch cable news show."
Willie Geist was also featured in the popular television show The Daily Show hosted by Jon Stewart on June 30th, 2011. His glare of disapproval has since become a meme.
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
's Way Too Early with Willie Geist
Way Too Early with Willie Geist
Way Too Early with Willie Geist is an American morning news show airing weekday mornings on MSNBC. It premiered on July 27, 2009, and is hosted by Willie Geist...
, a co-host of MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
’s Morning Joe
Morning Joe
Morning Joe is a weekday morning talk show on MSNBC, with Joe Scarborough discussing the news of the day in a panel format with co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Willie Geist. It was created as the replacement for Imus in the Morning, which was canceled in April 2007 after simulcasting on MSNBC since 1996...
and contributor to several NBC News
NBC News
NBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
programs. Geist also hosts a satirical video blog on MSNBC.com called Zeitgeist
Zeitgeist (blog)
Zeitgeist is a satirical video blog on msnbc.com, hosted by Willie Geist. The website attracts more than one million viewers monthly....
. Geist also is a frequent fill in for Matt Lauer
Matt Lauer
Matthew Todd "Matt" Lauer . is an American television journalist best known as the host of NBC's The Today Show since 1997. He was previously a news anchor in New York and a local talk-show host in Boston, Philadelphia, Providence and Richmond...
on the Today Show.
Geist is the author of the New York Times bestselling book American Freak Show, released on October 12, 2010, and of Loaded! Become a Millionaire Overnight and Lose 20 Pounds in 2 Weeks or Your Money Back!, a satire of the popular self-help genre, released on May 10, 2011.
Personal life
Geist was born in Evanston, IllinoisEvanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
, to author, columnist, and current CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
correspondent Bill Geist and social worker Jody Geist.
He attended Ridgewood High School
Ridgewood High School (New Jersey)
Ridgewood High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students from Ridgewood, in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Ridgewood Public Schools....
in Ridgewood, New Jersey
Ridgewood, New Jersey
Ridgewood is a village in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the village population was 24,958. Ridgewood is an affluent suburban bedroom community of New York City, located approximately northwest of Midtown Manhattan.The Village of Ridgewood was...
, where he was captain of the football and basketball teams. He later went on to graduate from Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. While at Vanderbilt, he was an editor of the university’s official student newspaper, The Vanderbilt Hustler.
On May 24, 2003, Geist married his high-school sweetheart, Christina Sharkey, in Humacao, Puerto Rico
Humacao, Puerto Rico
Humacao is a city in Puerto Rico located in the eastern coast of the island, north of Yabucoa; south of Naguabo; east of Las Piedras; and west of Vieques Passage. Humacao is spread over 10 wards and Humacao Pueblo...
. The couple has a daughter, Lucie Joy Geist (b. June 14, 2007) and a son George William Geist (July 8, 2009).
Geist is the older brother of Libby Wildes, the Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
-winning documentary film producer (Crazy Love
Crazy Love (2007 film)
Crazy Love is a 2007 American documentary film directed by Dan Klores and Fisher Stevens. The screenplay by Klores explores the troubled relationship between New York City attorney Burt Pugach and his considerably younger mistress Linda Riss, who was blinded and permanently scarred when thugs hired...
, Black Magic, Ring of Fire), who is married to Kevin Wildes of ESPN, "Mr. Half Baked Ideas."
Geist is the great-grandson of Herbie Lewis, who captained the Detroit Red Wings to two Stanley Cups and is in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Career
Geist began his career as an editor and producer for CNN Sports Illustrated and subsequently a field producer and reporter for CNN Sports, where he covered The Super Bowl, The NCAA Final FourFinal four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
, and The Masters.
In 2004, he became a writer and producer for I, Max
I, Max
I, Max was a sports commentary show featuring host Max Kellerman and Michael Holley that aired nightly on Fox Sports Net. The concept of the show involved Kellerman and his ego against the world, represented by Holley, broadcasting via satellite from Boston, with producer Bill Wolff, the former...
, a short-lived sports commentary show hosted by Max Kellerman
Max Kellerman
Max Kellerman is an American boxing commentator and sports talk radio host based in Los Angeles. He currently appears as a color commentator on HBO World Championship Boxing and HBO Boxing After Dark and as of January 3, 2011, is hosting a midday talk show on 710 ESPN radio in Los Angeles.Prior...
on Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
. He joined MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
television in April 2005 as a senior producer of The Situation with Tucker Carlson
Tucker (television program)
Tucker is an American television program on MSNBC that focused on politics, hosted by Tucker Carlson. The show aired from June 6, 2005–March 14, 2008....
.
Geist began substituting as a co-host on MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
's 6-9 a.m. morning time slot almost immediately after Don Imus
Don Imus
John Donald "Don" Imus, Jr. is an American radio host, humorist, philanthropist and writer. His nationally-syndicated talk show, Imus in the Morning, is broadcast throughout the United States by Citadel Media and relayed on television by the Fox Business Network.-Personal life:Imus was born in...
was fired in late April, 2007. Geist was named permanent co-host of Morning Joe
Morning Joe
Morning Joe is a weekday morning talk show on MSNBC, with Joe Scarborough discussing the news of the day in a panel format with co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Willie Geist. It was created as the replacement for Imus in the Morning, which was canceled in April 2007 after simulcasting on MSNBC since 1996...
, along with Joe Scarborough
Joe Scarborough
Charles Joseph "Joe" Scarborough is an American cable news and talk radio host, lawyer, author, and former politician. He is currently the host of Morning Joe on MSNBC, and previously hosted Scarborough Country on the same channel...
and Mika Brzezinski
Mika Brzezinski
Mika Emilie Leonia Brzezinski is an American television news journalist at MSNBC. Brzezinski is co-host of MSNBC's weekday morning program Morning Joe, where she provides regular commentary and reads the news headlines for the program...
in September, 2007. In late July, 2009, Geist began hosting his own 30-minute, 5:30–6 a.m. program Way Too Early with Willie Geist
Way Too Early with Willie Geist
Way Too Early with Willie Geist is an American morning news show airing weekday mornings on MSNBC. It premiered on July 27, 2009, and is hosted by Willie Geist...
. The show airs from 5:30-6 a.m. (immediately before Morning Joe
Morning Joe
Morning Joe is a weekday morning talk show on MSNBC, with Joe Scarborough discussing the news of the day in a panel format with co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Willie Geist. It was created as the replacement for Imus in the Morning, which was canceled in April 2007 after simulcasting on MSNBC since 1996...
) on MSNBC. In 2010, Geist began substituting for Matt Lauer as host of the Today TV program and as the show's newsreader. Geist also has co-hosted the 3rd hour and 4th hours of Today.
Hosting credits
- Way Too Early with Willie GeistWay Too Early with Willie GeistWay Too Early with Willie Geist is an American morning news show airing weekday mornings on MSNBC. It premiered on July 27, 2009, and is hosted by Willie Geist...
(2009–present) - Morning JoeMorning JoeMorning Joe is a weekday morning talk show on MSNBC, with Joe Scarborough discussing the news of the day in a panel format with co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Willie Geist. It was created as the replacement for Imus in the Morning, which was canceled in April 2007 after simulcasting on MSNBC since 1996...
(2007–present) - ZeitgeistZeitgeist (blog)Zeitgeist is a satirical video blog on msnbc.com, hosted by Willie Geist. The website attracts more than one million viewers monthly....
(2006–present) - Scarborough CountryScarborough CountryScarborough Country was an opinion/analysis show broadcast on MSNBC Monday - Thursday at 9 P.M. ET. It was hosted by former congressman Joe Scarborough....
(2006–2007) - TuckerTucker-People:First name *Tucker Carlson, former television host*Tucker Max, Internet personality, author*Tucker Martine, drummer and record producer*Tucker Smith, actor, dancer and singerSurname *Tucker *Albert W...
(formerly The Situation with Tucker Carlson) (2005–2008) - I, MaxI, MaxI, Max was a sports commentary show featuring host Max Kellerman and Michael Holley that aired nightly on Fox Sports Net. The concept of the show involved Kellerman and his ego against the world, represented by Holley, broadcasting via satellite from Boston, with producer Bill Wolff, the former...
, Writer/Producer (2004–2005)
Popular culture
In its "Best of NYC 2009" issue, The Village VoiceThe Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
declared Geist the "Best TV Sidekick Who Deserves His Own Show," writing, "Memo to MSNBC: Instead of "Countdown
Countdown
A countdown is a sequence of counting backward to indicate the seconds, days, or other time units remaining before an event occurs or a deadline expires. Typical events for which a countdown is used include the launch of a rocket or spacecraft, the detonation of a bomb, the start of a race, and the...
" reruns at 10 p.m., give Willie a proper talk show—you might have a contempo Dick Cavett
Dick Cavett
Richard Alva "Dick" Cavett is a former American television talk show host known for his conversational style and in-depth discussion of issues...
on your hands." On December 28, 2009, Way Too Early with Willie Geist
Way Too Early with Willie Geist
Way Too Early with Willie Geist is an American morning news show airing weekday mornings on MSNBC. It premiered on July 27, 2009, and is hosted by Willie Geist...
was listed by The Daily Beast as one of "25 Ways To Get Smarter in 2010". The Daily Beast compared Geist's combination of news and humor to Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart is an American political satirist, writer, television host, actor, media critic and stand-up comedian...
's on the Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
network and Rachel Maddow
Rachel Maddow
Rachel Anne Maddow is an American television host and political commentator. Maddow hosts a nightly television show, The Rachel Maddow Show, on MSNBC. Her syndicated talk radio program, The Rachel Maddow Show, aired on Air America Radio...
's on the MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
network, calling Way Too Early "2010's must-watch cable news show."
Willie Geist was also featured in the popular television show The Daily Show hosted by Jon Stewart on June 30th, 2011. His glare of disapproval has since become a meme.
External links
- Tucker official website at MSNBC
- Willie Geist biography at MSNBC
- Zeitgeist official website at MSNBC
- Zeitgeist Archive official website at MSNBC
- Morning Joe official website at MSNBC