# In which I am a silly, drive-by Fanboy for NPR's / Fresh Air's Terry Gross **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 4, 2018, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-am-a-silly-drive-by-fanboy-for-nprs-fresh-airs-terry-gross/811817 "2018-04-04T16:48:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-am-a-silly-drive-by-fanboy-for-nprs-fresh-airs-terry-gross/811817/1 "2018-04-04T16:48:25Z")
I’m in Philly for work. This morning, cabbing to the client, I noticed we were driving past the offices of WHYY. While WHYY does a few things in Philadelphia, to me, it is the home of Fresh Air, hosted by the legendary Terry Gross. I am looking at the building - there’s a small drive-in parking lot. And there, getting out of her car, is Terry Gross. Her look is so distinctive - Four-Foot-nothing, close-cropped grey hair, glasses and a face for radio ;). Without even thinking as traffic began moving, I rolled down my window and yelled “WE LOVE YOU TERRY!!!” I saw her head whip up, but didn’t get to see how it registered. But it registered, dammit!! 😉 I rolled up the window and looked around - the youngster consultants on my team, who had been discussing (still!) 'Nova’s NCAA win were looking at me like I had an arm growing out of my head ;). I briefly explained, unapologetically. It was Terry Gross. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-am-a-silly-drive-by-fanboy-for-nprs-fresh-airs-terry-gross/811817/2 "2018-04-05T23:08:12Z")
Since no one has commented on this thread, I just want to jump in and say, good on you, \*\* Wordman\*\*! I would have done the same thing! ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-am-a-silly-drive-by-fanboy-for-nprs-fresh-airs-terry-gross/811817/3 "2018-04-05T23:26:37Z")
First of all, well done, sir! Second, I never thought about what she looked like so I wiki’d her. And holy crap, she IS super short! Like, if you hadn’t have said she was short, I would’ve assumed Obama was on a step in this [picture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Gross#/media/File:Terry_Gross_at_White_House,_medal.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-am-a-silly-drive-by-fanboy-for-nprs-fresh-airs-terry-gross/811817/4 "2018-04-05T23:45:15Z")
Thanks, guys. I wear my nerd badge proudly. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-am-a-silly-drive-by-fanboy-for-nprs-fresh-airs-terry-gross/811817/5 "2018-04-06T20:19:17Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > First of all, well done, sir! > > Second, I never thought about what she looked like so I wiki’d her. And holy crap, she IS super short! Like, if you hadn’t have said she was short, I would’ve assumed Obama was on a step in this [picture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Gross#/media/File:Terry_Gross_at_White_House,_medal.jpg). How about this one: [x.com](https://twitter.com/wkamaubell/status/862721206805438465) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-am-a-silly-drive-by-fanboy-for-nprs-fresh-airs-terry-gross/811817/6 "2018-04-06T20:53:31Z")
I completely agree! She is the absolute Bomb. Think of all the people she has talked to over the years–holy crap! And OFTEN during an interview, the interviewee will say, “That’s a great question,” because she does ask really great questions. She is respectful, inquisitive, funny, charming, and knows when to be quiet so the other person will (probably) say a \*little \*bit more than s/he intended. PLUS she has a nice, normal, alto voice, pitched naturally low enough that she doesn’t have to resort to the terrible-horrible-awful affectation known as [“vocal fry”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocal_fry_register) (I’m lookin’ at you, Melissa Block)\> ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-i-am-a-silly-drive-by-fanboy-for-nprs-fresh-airs-terry-gross/811817/7 "2018-04-06T21:59:53Z")
Love it! (And I hope Terry did, too.) She genuinely is a national treasure. (ThelmaLou, you’re so right about vocal fry. I almost have to turn off the radio when there’s any news from France, as I know that Eleanor Beardsley will shortly be assaulting my ears…)