In what had to be a terribly awkward conversation, NBC’s new, permanent “Nightly News” anchor Lester Holt showed a generosity of spirit toward Brian Williams upon learning that he was getting his job. Like a red-headed stepchild, Williams has been relegated to MSNBC after being on suspension for telling tall tales about his career.
Holt, who will not be getting the managing editor title that Williams had, spoke with Williams on the day NBC announced that he’d be taking over his job.
“Without being specific because it was a private conversation, I’ll just say it was a great conversation for both of us,” Holt said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter‘s Marisa Guthrie. “And I think it’s fair to say that we both really wanted to have it because we essentially said the same thing; You’re my pal, you’re my friend and none of this gets between us.”
Holt was vacationing in Europe when news of the Charleston killings broke. He said he immediately searched online for flights to come cover it.
“I was 4,500 miles away [in Europe] and so I woke up and got to my computer, realized what was happening and the very first thing I did was go on the airline website and see if there was any possible way and there simply wasn’t,” he said. “If I had found out an hour earlier, it might have been possible. I needed time off, and timing was what it was.”
See the full interview here.