WARNING: This post may devastate you
Tuesday, January 27, 2009 You know when you hear a person's voice over the phone or on the radio and an image is formed in your head? And then you see the actual person and sometimes it falls together, not perfectly, but still okay, and then other times, the voice does not match the actual person so much that it stuns you for a moment? What about when it's someone whose voice you listen to almost every day and you really love her, and then you see what she looks like and it's so totally OFF that you feel as if your world has been ripped apart at the seams?
Oh my God, I feel the panic rising. Must suppress! Must suppress!
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Terry Gross of NPR's Fresh Air.
Holy FUCK. I am having an embolism over here. My Terry Gross has long blonde 80s-ish hair. She wears tweed blazers with elbow patches, and favors a slightly outdated equestrian-inspired look. My Terry Gross wears nude lipstick and contacts (incidentally, her name is spelled Terri). My Terry Gross is not fragile-looking, nor does she wear RED EARRINGS. Not that the Terry Gross pictured above is unattractive, it's just that she's...an imposter. It's the only explanation that I can live with.
I may very well delete this post later. Ask no questions, because I will deny everything.
Reader Comments (36)
hahahah. i absolutely love that you posted this. i actually already knew what terry gross looked like, so this was no shocker for me. BUT, i've gone onto npr.org to look up the pictures of the personalities... because i'm a HUGE nerd. some of them i was totally shocked and saddened. as the saying goes: "So & So has a face for radio."
I knew what she looked like as well. I checked out her book of interviews a while back. If I recall, she even said she was so small that she often bought jackets in the young boy's department. THAT was a shock. That would certainly limit your fashion options.
So you guys knew all along? And you didn't tell me? wtf?
On the other hand, I'm glad I'm not the only one who googles Terry Gross.
i did not know this and am as floored as you!
Is she married? Did she grow up with the name Gross? Oh the childhood teasing! If she's married...well that must be a great relationship. My friend went on a blind date with a guy whose last name was Schitter. She's a teacher. When she found out, that was the end of that. She just couldn't have her 2nd graders calling her Mrs.Schitter!
I love her voice though.
OMG!!! I'm with you, WTF Terry get with it and buy yourself some clothes that aren't circa 1981. I love Fresh Air, now I'm scared and I want to see my girls Nina Totenberg and Melissa Block. Should I google??
yikes! The vision I had of her is very similar to what yours was. Why can't people voices match their faces??? why!
HA! I had no idea either!
I know how you feel, though. I talk to a lot of the same people day to day at work, and most of them I have not met. When we finally meet in person, it is usually confusing because I think I already know what they look like. :)
On the other hand, David Sedaris looks a lot better in person than his voice might lead you to believe. So there's that.
I am so sorry... I thought you knew.
Terri
Maybe it is just me, but I think she is really cool. She is her own person- she couldn't LESS care what we think?! I love that about a person.
All I have to say is: I interned at NPR for a semester, the fall of 2000. I had already had my world shaken when I read a history of NPR that included many photos of the hosts, but....yeah. That happens a lot.
(BTW, as someone who grew up w/ only radio news, no tv, that semester was an incredibly nerdy dream come true, and I made my mother's LIFE when she came for a visit and watched ATC record.)
Oh, and to Sarah: I sat across from Nina Totenberg (at the time, at least, they nearly all sat in cubicles). She looks exactly right. Suits, because she goes to court all the time, and carefully coiffed older-lady blonde hair. She is also awesome.
I can't believe you said that.
I think it's hilarious that you posted this! I had the same reaction when I first saw her. I was all.."Man, she's got a face for radio". Too funny. I still think she's cool and everything. I'm just happy she's on the radio.
Glossy, I had to come back because I was just listening to NPR on my home and I decided that I'm headed straight to hell for my earlier comment. Oh well, it wouldn't be the first time.
And Katek I'm so excited that Nina is so rad. I always love her segments.
haha, you guys are the best. Katek, I am so jealous of your internship. Did you all discuss crap reality at the water cooler?
I am NOT looking up Nina Totenberg even though she looks exactly right. I'm very curious about Mara Lyason (sp?) and Joanne Silburner, but I've learned my lesson. Not looking them up either.
For the record, I love love love Terry Gross, no matter what she looks like. I just can't believe that voice comes from that body.
Shocked, totally shocked about Terri, yes that IS how I spelled her name. Nina is a blonde, I imagined a brunette with a sharp Anna Wintour shaped bob.
Now I have to go google Karl Castle because if he doesnt look exactly like Henry Kissinger I will have to go put my head in the oven.
I used to intern at WHYY, the station that produces Fresh Air. I I used to run into Terry in the bathroom like clockwork every day and was always a little taken aback. She doesn't look as you'd imagine, but she's totally nice!
SGM, I am impressed by how many of your bloggers listen to NPR. I think after trashing our brains with the RH series we need a little "fresh air"! Sorry, couldnt resist.
We love you. You are HILARIOUS!
Joy and Janet
moggit.com
I, I, I...speechless. The air just isn't as fresh...
I thought EVERYONE at NPR looked like that.
This is why I can never look up anyone who works in radio. I'm always, always disappointed. I'm sure Niel Konan {khonan?} looks totally different than my version.