Exclusive: Meredith Vieira on Life, Loss, ‘25 Words or Less’ and Why She Picks Cape Cod Over the Hamptons

The 15-time Emmy Award-winning journalist and television host talks Season 8 of her hit game show, family, life after the loss of her husband of 38 years, Richard M. Cohen — and how she finds her footing at the beach

Fifteen-time Emmy Award-winning journalist and television host Meredith Vieira has been a familiar face on television for decades, moving between some of its biggest stages — from CBS News and “60 Minutes” to serving as the original moderator of “The View,” hosting “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” co-anchoring NBC’s “Today” and later fronting her own daytime talk show. Along the way, she has made some unexpected career moves — and has plenty to say about television then and now.

Host of ‘”25 Words or Less”

These days, Vieira is having a lot of fun with “25 Words or Less,” the fast-moving syndicated game show that kicked off its eighth season earlier this month. But when we sat down to talk, the conversation quickly moved beyond the game — to career choices, family, life after the loss of Richard, and what matters to her at this point in her life. And, because this is Spark Hamptons, we talked about the beach: Cape Cod, the Hamptons, old Montauk and where Vieira feels most at home.

Best Boss Ever

Meredith and I go back many years. I was her “Hot Topics” writer-producer at “The View,” and when she moved to NBC’s “Today,” she brought me with her as her producer. I also produced segments with Richard, including for one of his books, and spent time with them at their home on shoots. Over the years, a close working relationship became a friendship.

Speaking from my experience, I can say unequivocally that Meredith is the best person in media I have ever worked with. She is loved by her colleagues, and anyone I know who has worked with her feels lucky for the experience. Meredith is smart, giving, open, hilarious and warm. She cares about her work, wants to get it right and always prepares — she’d say “overprepares,” and I might have to agree. An outstanding journalist, television anchor and human being. Period.

Knowing her as a friend also means that what was supposed to be a 10-minute interview turned into more than an hour.

Here are highlights from our freewheeling conversation.

SPARK Interview: Meredith Vieira

‘25 Words or Less’ — Eight Seasons and Counting

ANGELA LAGRECA: Season 8 of “25 Words or Less.” Did you ever imagine when you started that you’d still be doing it eight seasons later?

MEREDITH VIEIRA: It’s mind-blowing, actually. When we started, you have no idea what’s going to happen. Then the second year, COVID struck and shows were being knocked off. We figured out a way to make it work so we could be remote in different places.

Oddly enough, COVID was a godsend for us because people discovered us. They were home and channel surfing. One woman said to me, “We were bored, we came by your show — better than nothing.”

I thought that was so funny. I’ll take that. I’m grateful for any eyeballs we could get. We did get a lot, and folks stayed.

I think it’s a good show.

AL: Why is it so much fun for you?

MV: I like games. I’ve done a game before with “Millionaire,” so I knew conceptually what I was getting into. But this was new and fun because the show had never been done before — taking a board game and turning it into a television version.

I like being on the ground floor of stuff. “The View,” my own show, “25 Words or Less” — that appealed to me.

We started in L.A. on the same studio lot where “I Love Lucy” was shot. It was all so nostalgic. I remember thinking, I’m really in Hollywood now. It was very exciting.

And I was happy to work with executive producers and co-creators Lisa Kudrow, Mary McCormack and Dan Bucatinsky, along with Stephen Brown, executive vice president of programming and development for FOX First Run.

AL: What is it about the game itself?

MV: It’s sort of a comedy show in disguise. There’s a lot of humor.

For me, it’s like going onstage every day with these comedians. They’re so smart, clever and quick on their feet. It’s enough for me just to keep up with them.

And it’s deceptively hard. You’re doing math, trying to figure out the best clues and the best assembly of words as clues, and you’re under a pressure clock.

We’ve built a team of celebrities we feel are really good — incredibly strong players. You want a good game.

Going Live

Earlier this year, “25 Words or Less” tested a four-week live syndication run, airing weekdays May 4-29 from Parlay Studios in Jersey City, with live broadcasts delivered to 18 stations in major U.S. markets.

AL: What did going live add?

MV: We did it as an experiment. Stephen was thinking, how are we going to survive and stand out in a very crowded television world? We thought his concept of going live would be exciting because the audience could play along, comment, ask questions and make money in real time.

Two days before we were going on, the show was a disaster. I thought, this isn’t going to work. Somehow we pulled it together, and it was fun. It’s more fast-paced. It’s much more exciting to do things live, and the audience feels that.

From News to Game Shows — and Never Looking Back

AL: You’ve done news, talk, “The View,” “Today,” “Millionaire,” your own show and now “25 Words.” You’ve never seemed afraid to switch lanes.

MV: I know. I look like somebody who can’t hold down a job.

I love the idea of switching things. At first, I saw it as a way to stay in the business. I can do news, I can do talk, I can do a game, I can do my own show. I wanted to be this person who could wear so many hats.

I like the challenge.

When I went to “Millionaire,” people would say, “Why would you do ‘Millionaire’?” And I thought, why wouldn’t I do that?

It’s such an elitist way of looking at things — that somehow you’re lowering yourself. I don’t think television is brain surgery. Sometimes people have an elevated notion of who they are.

I thought my work in game was just as significant as my work in news or talk in terms of bringing the best qualities I could bring to it. We used to laugh at “Today” because I would prepare just as much for a cooking segment as I would for an interview. Sometimes it’s harder to make a cooking segment special. You have to think about it.

That was one of the reasons I loved working with you. We would come up with angles. I loved that part.

AL: Would you ever go back to “The View”?

MV: They’ve asked me to guest co-host, and the last time they asked I couldn’t.

I think you keep all doors open, but it’s not something I think about. I don’t look back nostalgically at any of it.

I’m glad to have been there when I was there. I really enjoyed my experience with each of those shows. But I don’t think, “I wish I was doing that again.”

I left on my own from each of those shows except my own. I knew when the time was right to go. It wasn’t like I had unfinished business. I had done what I wanted to do.

Family, Work and Life Now

AL: What do you want to spend your time doing now?

MV: Frankly, right now I enjoy Cam and Darcy and another baby on the way.

Cam, 2, is the son of Vieira’s younger son, Gabe, and his wife, Ali. Vieira’s daughter, Lily, and her husband, Charlie, have a daughter, Darcy, who turns 1 on Oct. 30. Gabe and Ali are expecting their second son in January.

I’m loving the freedom I have to, on a whim, go see them.

For so long I couldn’t do any of that. My job was extremely demanding, and Richard and I had to deal with a lot of health issues. I’m kind of at a point where I want to take advantage of the time I can spend with them.

AL: Is work a good thing, after all the changes in your life?

MV: Work and family are great. Work is a real diversion. I work with a wonderful bunch of people. They really are a great group of people, and I enjoy seeing them immensely.

Someone asked me recently, “Wouldn’t you love to do everything remotely now?”

No. Not at all.

I need the vitality of a studio, the sense of creative people getting together and all the social things that come with it.

Family is everything. My kids have been so supportive, and I’m very grateful for the kind of grown-ups they are.

Life After Richard

AL: How are you doing after losing Richard?

MV: There are moments where I’m like, wow — I hate that term — I’m alone. I’m not really, but I am.

I have to shake that off. It’s a reality, but you don’t have to be that all the time. You have to force yourself to kind of get out there.

So I’m on my way to Paris this week — I was not going to do that. I thought, I have to start saying yes to something and enjoy it. And that’s sort of where I’m headed.

AL: You and Richard were together for 38 years. Do you ever get beyond the mourning part?

MV: I don’t think you’re ever out of it or get over it. You learn how to cope.

It’s a deep pain. There’s something about it that I can never be totally at peace with. I can’t quite believe it. But I’m OK.

AL: Do people say the wrong things?

MV: It’s funny, I went to a wedding in New York. It was a very wealthy crowd. I thought I looked good until I got there. People had on jewelry. I looked like I should be in the kitchen. They were so done up and so New York.

And this woman — I had no idea who she was — comes up to me and says, “So, are you ready to date? We have the perfect man for you. He’s in publishing. Wonderful guy.”

I felt like saying, “Who are you?”

I said, “Actually, no.” And she walked away.

This was around the holidays last year. It was less than a year after Richard had passed.

I just thought, wow, people are presumptuous. I don’t think she meant it badly. But no, I’m not ready. Thank you.

AL: Has it ever crossed your mind to date?

MV: I honestly don’t think about it. It’s not that I have Richard on a pedestal or that I would somehow be betraying him. He’d be the first person to say, “Live your life.”

I spent such a long time as a caregiver, I don’t want to take anyone on.

AL: Do you still talk to Richard?

MV: Every morning I walk by his desk and say, “Hi, Richard.”

My knee is getting bad, and I’ll say, “If this is you…” He had a bad knee. He was really blind. He had mobility issues. And I think, is he doing this to me? Are you up there kind of laughing, saying, “Now you know what it feels like to be blind”?

That’s a joke. I don’t really believe it. But it’s weird. I’m morphing.

AL: What would Richard say to you now?

MV: I know most of what he would say.

He never got very excited about stuff. He’d say, “Calm down.”

I tend to get very emotional. He never did that. When I get like that, I think of him.

He didn’t sweat the small stuff. The small things are irrelevant.

Finding Her Footing

AL: Where feels most like home to you now?

MV: Irvington, in Westchester, is my most comfortable place. It was our home, and it will always be home.

But I like going out to the beach. I really enjoy it.

The Cape is probably my happiest place. I love being here, too, because it was so important to Richard and his family and my kids. But I love being there.

The ocean, walking on a beach or on a trail — those are two things that make me very happy.

I was just in the city and thought, do I want to go back to the city? I don’t. I love the energy, but I’d rather be in nature.

Green and air and nature are really important.

Cape Cod vs. the Hamptons

AL: So why Cape Cod over the Hamptons?

MV: I don’t know the Hamptons that well. My first experience was when we did that interview in East Hampton, and I saw a Tiffany’s in town. I freaked out.

I remember thinking, I can’t do this. Everybody was dressed up. I thought I was going to a beach town. It was very different from New England.

I’m sure the beaches are gorgeous. But if you saw me in Wellfleet, I don’t think I could walk the street in the Hamptons in shorts or torn jeans, flip-flops, a T-shirt, my hair in a ponytail. On Cape Cod, nobody cares.

Wellfleet is so scruffy and the Hamptons are so manicured. That’s why I like it. It’s rough around the edges.

I was just at the dump and somebody thought I worked there.

Excuse me?

I do like being at the dump. I enjoy the people.

I am a dump person. That’s who I am. And I have to kind of acknowledge that.

AL: You do have some history with Long Island beaches.

MV: Even when I was young and had just moved to New York, we would go to Long Beach or Jones Beach with a group. You never went to the Hamptons. We couldn’t afford it.

I did love Gurney’s — that area. I loved Montauk. I thought that was very cool. I knew it before it became hip, when it was like a fishing village.

At the end of the day, I go toward gritty.

I know the fancy restaurants are great. It’s just not me. I don’t get dressed up.

What Matters Most

AL: When you think about legacy, what matters to you?

MV: I really want to be remembered for being a good person.

What am I doing at this point in my life to personify that? And what does that look like?

This is so crazy, but every day I find somebody — wherever it is, I run into people constantly — and I give them a compliment. I know that sounds so stupid, but I really feel like it’s a nice thing to do.

I try to be positive, to focus on goodness. I don’t get this world right now. I have children and grandchildren. It can be so scary.

So sometimes for me, being on a beach or a trail is a way to get some sort of grounding. You need something to convince yourself you’re here and it’s real — and it matters.

If You Watch

“25 Words or Less”

Season 8: Weekdays

New York: 1 p.m. on FOX 5 (WNYW)

Los Angeles: 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on FOX 11 (KTTV)

Streaming: Past seasons are available on Tubi and Pluto TV, with additional viewing options available on streaming platforms.

More information: 25words.com

Angela LaGreca

Editor, Co-Founder/Publisher

Angela LaGreca, Editor-in-chief and co-Founder/Publisher of Spark Hamptons, is a four-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, producer, writer and comedian/host. Her TV credits include NBC’s “Today,” ABC’s “The View,” and, most recently, the primetime cable news program “Cuomo” on NewsNation. On the East End, she was the Creative Director at LTV, VP Features/Events/Photo Editor at Dan’s Papers, and has performed at Guild Hall, Bay Street Theater and the WHBPAC. Her publishing career began at Modern Photography, where she was managing editor. LaGreca lives in Manhattan and East Hampton and can be reached at angelatvmedia@gmail.com and angela@sparkhamptons.com .