Tuesday, January 27, 2009

WARNING: This post may devastate you

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 She wears tweed blazers with elbow patches, and favors a slightly outdated equestrian-inspired look.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.

36 comments:

Regardez Moi said...

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."

KimT said...

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.

SGM said...

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.

Amy said...

i did not know this and am as floored as you!

Lindsay said...

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!

ZDub said...

I love her voice though.

Kelly said...

yikes! The vision I had of her is very similar to what yours was. Why can't people voices match their faces??? why!

Sarah's Fab Day said...

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??

Jessie said...

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. :)

mamacita said...

On the other hand, David Sedaris looks a lot better in person than his voice might lead you to believe. So there's that.

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry... I thought you knew.

Terri

Anonymous said...

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.

Anonymous said...

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.)

Anonymous said...

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.

Anonymous said...

I can't believe you said that.

Anonymous said...

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.

Sarah's Fab Day said...

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.

SGM said...

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.

Kara said...

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.

Anonymous said...

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!

Anonymous said...

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.

*moggit girls said...

We love you. You are HILARIOUS!

Joy and Janet
moggit.com

Tuesday Taylor said...

I, I, I...speechless. The air just isn't as fresh...

Anonymous said...

I thought EVERYONE at NPR looked like that.

Petit Elefant said...

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.

Anonymous said...

Damn you. Delete!

jen said...

I find out what she looks like a few years ago and was as rocked as you. Don't worry, honey. You'll get over the shock and from now on picture her in your brain looking like she does and still conducting the coolest interviews.

Now I kind of like that she's such a dork because all those "cool" people she interviews are in awe of her and I think THAT'S cool.

amber {daisy chain} said...

OMG. I am right there with you, I listed to her on "frrresh air" and picture someone completely different.

72 and sunny said...

oh i know. Someone gave me a whole book on NPR people, back in the 90s. the whole book is like this. page after page of image shattering photos. horrible.

Anonymous said...

MY vision: 50-55, gray hair, 25 lbs. over, smoker, kind of woman you want to have a stiff drink with and talk for hours.
I love that woman.

Richie Designs said...

I think there is a saying - something like...

A voice made for TV, A face made for radio

Pigtown*Design said...

i used to have karl kassel's voice on my home answering machine.

Neil Conan is married to Liane Hansen. Did ya know that?

Anonymous said...

I've walked through NPR headquarters. It's not for the faint of heart.

Anonymous said...

Hilarious! I always visualized an attractive middle-aged, professorish, long dark-haired Jewish New Yorker. dang- I was waaaaay off too. I love it.

Love + Marriage said...

OH my...I am with you. I pictured her the same as you except with longish brown hair (like anonymous above me). I am totally with you.

Anonymous said...

Ease up....terry is a wonderful on air personality and is far more well known than a blogger.....