>>> I JUST IMAGINE HER UP THERE
WORKING ON MY BEHALF.
MY DAUGHTER'S DOWN THERE, TRYING
TO BE AN ACTOR.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
I FEEL LIKE SHE'S THAT LITTLE
ANGEL ON MY SHOULDER AND POSSING
PEOPLE AROUND IN HEAVEN.
>> THEN THE LORD SHOWS A PICTURE
OF YOU HOLDING AN OSCAR --
>> SHE DID OKAY.
>> THAT IS OSCAR WINNER OCTAVIA
SPENCER TALKING ABOUT HER LATE
MOTHER IN OUR INTERVIEW ON MARCH
12th OF LAST YEAR.
WE DIDN'T KNOW IT AT THE TIME,
BUT THAT CONVERSATION WITH
OCTAVIA WOULD BE OUR LAST
FACE-TO-FACE "SUNDAY SIT-DOWN"
FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
THE WORLD SCREECHED TO A HALT
THE NEXT DAY, AND A YEAR OF
INTERVIEWS THAT BEGAN FOR US
WITH A DREAM-LIKE CONVERTIBLE
RIDE AROUND BEVERLY HILLS WITH
AL PACINO MOVED FOR MOST OF THE
LAST NINE MONTHS TO A ZOOM
COMPUTER SCREEN IN A ROOM ABOVE
MY GARAGE WITH OUR SUPERSTAR
GUESTS FLIPPING OPEN THEIR OWN
LAPTOPS AT HOME.
A SPECIAL LOOK BACK NOW AT A
YEAR OF "SUNDAY SIT-DOWNS."
>> DEEJAY KHALID.
>> WILLIE AND AL.
GO SEE IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.
>> MY KIDS LOVE A GOOD WILLIE
GEIST INTERVIEW.
THEY LOVE IT --
>> BIG "SUNDAY TODAY" FAN.
>> YEAH.
>> YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE TOUR,
INSTEAD YOU'RE DOING ZOOM CALLS
WITH ME.
>> THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY,
WILLIE.
>> IT MUST BE A SLOW DAY AT YOUR
HOUSE.
>> ARE WE GOING TO USE THIS
CAMERA, TOO?
I'M WEARING LIKE MY -- MY --
>> GOT YOUR SLIPPERS ON?
>> THIS YEAR HAS REALLY BLOWN.
♪
♪ WELL THE ROAD WAS LIKE A
WELCOME MAT ♪
>> I THINK MOST OF US THOUGHT
WE'RE DOWN FOR A COUPLE OF
WEEKS.
WE DIDN'T KNOW.
>> WE TRIED RESCHEDULING
INITIALLY, AND THEN WHEN THAT
DIDN'T WORK, WE SAID, WELL,
LET'S MOVE IT TO NEXT YEAR AND
HOPE FOR THE BEST.
>> WE HAD ABOUT THREE DAYS OF
BODY ACHES, BUT THE LASTING
EFFECT IS THE LOSS OF TASTE AND
SMELL.
>> ANY CABIN FEVER WHATSOEVER
FOR YOU?
>> NOT AS MUCH AS LIKE I WOULD
THINK I WOULD HAVE.
I MEAN, CHRIS AND I WERE TALKING
ABOUT IT.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN APART FOR, YOU
KNOW, EVEN A NIGHT, LIKE A
DINNER FOR SO LONG.
>> QUARANTINE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
ROSE.
>> THOSE FIRST FEW MONTHS MUST
HAVE TOUGH.
>> AROUND THE MIDDLE OF MAY, I
WAS CURLED UP IN A BALL IN BED
GOING, I CAN'T MAKE DINNER
ANYMORE, I CAN'T NOT SEE MY
FRIENDS.
♪
>> WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF
COMING BACK INTO THIS SPACE
UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES?
>> THE READ-THROUGHS WE'RE DOING
NOW STARTS THERE AND GOES ALL
THE WAY TO THERE WITH EVERYBODY
AT A TABLE SIX FEET APART, AND
IT'S AN HONEST ROOM, A MUCH
BIGGER HONEST ROOM.
>> I WANT TO BE GRATEFUL FOR
WHAT I HAVE, THAT'S TIME OFF.
>> STAYED HOME -- I NEVER
SHOWER.
I SHOWER ALL THE TIME.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I SAID THAT.
I'M A VERY CLEAN PERSON.
>> I'D SAY THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
FOR ME WAS HOME SCHOOLING.
>> AMEN.
>> IT WAS REALLY, REALLY HARD.
>> I KNOW WHEN THE PANDEMIC
CAME, THAT'S THE RICH -- THAT'S
THE WALL, THE ROADBLOCK.
NAH, NOT OVER HERE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT WALL AND
SAYING BOOM.
♪
>> I THINK WE'VE SEEN SO MANY
IMAGES OF BLACK PEOPLE IN
MOURNING AND OUTRAGED.
I FEEL LIKE IT'S AN ANTIDOTE TO
THAT.
THOUGH THIS ALBUM WASN'T WRITTEN
IN RESPONSE TO WHAT HAPPENED
JUST NOW, I THINK WE CAN ALL USE
A LIFT RIGHT NOW AND SOME LOVE
RIGHT NOW AND SOME JOY.
>> I DON'T WANT THEM HATING
PEOPLE THEY DISAGREE WITH.
>> THE WHOLE PLAY IS ABOUT A
BLACK MAN BEING BROUGHT UP ON
CHARGES THAT ARE FALSE.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S NOT
HAPPENING TODAY.
>> I'VE HAD THIS FLASHBACK WHERE
I REMEMBERED VIVIDLY, MY GOD, I
WAS 8 YEARS OLD WHEN THE AIDS
EPIDEMIC IN SOUTH AFRICA -- IT
WAS GOING THROUGH -- THE FIRST
REAL STRUGGLE SINCE HAVING
APARTHEID.
THAT COUNTRY ALMOST BROKE OUT
INTO A CIVIL WAR.
AND IT HELPED ME IN HAY A WEIRD
TO NAVIGATE LOHOW WE TOLD MY GIS
WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN A WAY THAT
WOULDN'T FREAK THEM OUT OR FEEL
APPROPRIATE BUT TRUTHFUL.
♪
>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE
GUIDING PHILOSOPHY OF THE SHOW?
>> I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE
MORE COMMONALITIES BETWEEN US
THAN THERE ARE DIFFERENCES.
AND SO THAT CONNECTION IS A HUGE
THING FOR OUR SHOW, AND HAVING
REPRESENTATION, INCLUSIVITY.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE
REALLY FOCUSED ON OVER THE LAST
YEARS THAT I'VE HAD MORE I GUESS
POWER IN THE SITUATION.
MAKING SURE THAT WOMEN ARE BEING
INTERVIEWED, PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE
IN THE ROOM, GETTING
OPPORTUNITIES.
>> WE'RE LEARNING ALL THE TIME,
I THINK.
WE'RE -- WE'VE GOT A LOT OF
CATCHING UP TO DO.
CHANGE DOESN'T COME EASY I THINK
FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
>> SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE A VOICE
AND A FACE AND A NAME LIKE YOURS
SAYING, HEY, THIS IS PART OF MY
LIFE.
>> I JUST REMEMBER SAYING IT
LIKE PUBLICLY, I SUFFER FROM
ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.
AND THEN LOOKING AROUND LIKE,
WHOA, I'M NOT ALONE.
HEY, YOU -- WHOA.
YOU KNOW?
>> COME ON, BRING IT IN THERE.
>> WHAT WAS THE MAGIC YOU FELT
WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED DOING
COMEDY WITH JORDAN?
>> I THINK PART OF IT WAS NOT
ONLY A SHARED KNOWLEDGE OF THE
ART, BUT ALSO SHARED EXPERIENCES
IN PEOPLE.
BOTH BEING BIRACIAL, BOTH BEING
RAISED BY SINGLE PARENTS, THE
UNIVERSE MADE THAT HAPPEN.
>> IT'S NOT PERSONAL, SALLY.
IT'S STRICTLY BUSINESS.
>> I GUESS I'M LUCKY, THAT'S
WHAT I THINK.
DEEP DOWN I THINK I'M LUCKY.
>> I'VE OFTEN SAID THAT I COUNT
MY BLESSINGS A LOT MORE OFTEN
THAN I COUNT MY MONEY.
>> I DON'T WANT TO SELL
ANYTHING, BUY ANYTHING, OR
PROCESS ANYTHING AS A CAREER.
>> IT'S WEIRD.
LIKE HAVING YOUR YEARBOOK
PICTURES ON CABLE ALL THE TIME.
♪
>> ON SHOW NIGHT, THIS IS THE
LUKE COMBS DRINK?
>> JACK AND DIET.
THAT'S IT --
>> NOT AS MANY CALORIES --
>> AS YOU CAN TELL, I'M INTO
FITNESS A LOT.
>> IF THE GUY WHO BUILT THE
VENUE COULD SEE ME ON THE STAGE,
HE WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT BUMMED
ABOUT IT.
AGE 4 I KNEW I WANTED TO BE A
NIGHTCLUB ENTERTAINER.
I WANTED TO BE LIKE RICKY
RIC
RICARDO, FROM "I LOVE LUCY."
THE TIME I WAS BORN, A SOLID 30
YEARS LATER --
>> THE MINUTE YOU GO TO
COMMERCIAL BREAK, AN ALL-OUT
SPRINT.
>> IT'S THE ONLY TIME I EVER
FEEL LIKE AN ATHLETE.
♪ FROM THIS MOMENT ♪
>> THAT GIRL THAT WAS DREAMING
ABOUT JUST GETTING OUT OF
POVERTY, IT MEANT THAT I COULD
LIVE LIKE THE AVERAGE PERSON.
>> IS IT A STRANGE THING, BEN, I
HAVE TO IMAGINE, THAT THE ENTIRE
COUNTRY IS SORT OF GRIEVING?
>> I HAVE TO SAY IT'S BEEN
REALLY HEARTWARMING TO SEE HOW
BELOVED BY PEOPLE HE WAS.
I KNOW THIS WOULD HAVE MADE HIM
FEEL GREAT.
YOU KNOW, THAT AS A KID FROM THE
LOWER EAST SIDE, GREW UP VERY
POOR, DURING THE DEPRESSION.
IT WAS HIS DREAM TO BE IN SHOW
BUSINESS.
>> I'M WRAPPING UP.
I'M SORRY.
I'M FREAKING OUT.
EVERY ACTOR PRACTICES THEIR
OSCAR SPEECH IN THE MIRROR.
DON'T LET THEM --
>> IS THAT TRUE?
>> YEAH.
>> THEY DENY IT.
I DID IT.
>> I'M OLAF --
>> HI.
>> YOU'RE CREEPY.
WHAT DO THEY THINK THAT THEIR
DAD IS OLAF?
>> THEY DON'T CARE.
FOR THEM IT'S A BRAGGING RIGHT.
>> YOU'RE A PEEK --
>> I WILL TO TIME FOR ANY TIME
FOR YOU, THAT DOESN'T SOUND
RIGHT, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
>> THIS MAY BE MY, WHAT DO YOU
CALL IT, SWAN SONG --
>> NO.
>> BUT I LOVE IT.
HOW DOES ANYTHING COMPARE TO
THIS?
♪ WHEN LIFE IS GOOD AGAIN ♪
>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO YOUR
FANS AND TO AMERICA NOW?
>> I THINK WE'VE BECOME SO
DIVIDED BECAUSE PEOPLE SEEM TO
LOVE TO HATE.
LORD KNOWS, I HOPE NEXT YEAR'S
BETTER THAN THIS ONE.
WE CAN'T SAVE THE WORLD, BUT WE
CAN SAVE THE WORLD WE'RE LIVING
IN.
MAYBE I'M DREAMING, BUT I DON'T
THINK SO.
>> THAT'S THE THING, IT'S LIKE
IT'S A CHOICE, BUT IN A WAY IT
ISN'T.
HOPEFULLY IT'S BEEN THE BEST FOR
IT.
>> YOU NEED TO TRY.
THE ONLY FAME EURO IS IF YOU
DON'T MAKE THE ATTEMPT.
YOU'VE GOT TO TRY.
>> IT'S A DARING THING TO DO,
BUT SOMETIMES YOU SHOULD JUST
SAY YOUR DREAMS OUT LOUD.
AND YOU NEVER KNOW, MAN, THEY
COULD JUST COME TRUE.
THEY COULD JUST COME TRUE.
♪
>> OUR THANKS TO ALL OF THOSE
STARS WHO TOOK THE TIME OUT TO
JUST SIT DOWN WITH ME OR TO LOG
IN, TO UNMUTE THEMSELVES, AND TO
HAVE THOSE GREAT CONVERSATIONS
FROM WHEREVER THEY COULD FIND A
QUIET SPOT.
>>> AND THE BIGGEST OF THANKS TO
OUR BOOKERS, PRODUCERS, AND
EDITORS WHO SHAPE OUR "SUNDAY
SIT-DOWNS" AND PUT THEM TOGETHER
SO BEAUTIFULLY, ESPECIALLY THIS
YEAR WHEN THEY HAD TO CROSS
THEIR FINGERS THAT A MOVIE
STAR'S WI-FI WOULD HOLD UP.
DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE
PODCAST TO HEAR THE FULL-LENGTH
VERSION OF ALL THOSE INTERVIEWS
AND OF THE BIG ONES AHEAD IN
2021.
YOU CAN FIND THAT