become wealthy in a socially acceptable and non-exploitative way
contact Terry Gross, of NPR / Fresh Air notoriety
agree to donate $1,000,000 to a mutually agreed upon charity if….
she can produce a one hour Fresh Air episode where she makes me, the world’s dullest guy, seem even moderately interesting.[2]
[1]Elder G: UC#4, are you sure you understand the concept of “fantasy?”
[2] Admittedly a daunting challenge. I could sweeten the deal by making her an honorary Elder of WLBOTT.
Terry Gross (born February 14, 1951) is an American journalist who is the host and co-executive producer of Fresh Air, an interview-based radio show produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia and distributed nationally by NPR. Since joining NPR in 1975, Gross has interviewed thousands of guests.
Wikipedia / Photo By BillCramer – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
In 1975, she moved to WHYY-FM in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to host and produce Fresh Air, which was a local interview program at the time. In 1985, Fresh Air with Terry Gross went national, being distributed weekly by NPR. It became a daily program two years later. Gross typically conducts the interviews from the WHYY-FM studios in Philadelphia, with her subject at the studio of a local NPR affiliate convenient to them connected via telephone or satellite feed. For the majority of these conversations, Gross is not face-to-face with her subjects.
Interview style The San Francisco Chronicle wrote that Gross’s interviews are “a remarkable blend of empathy, warmth, genuine curiosity, and sharp intelligence.” Gross prides herself on preparation; prior to interviewing guests, she reads their books, watches their movies, or listens to their CDs.[3]
[3] She may draw the line at reading the WLBOTT blog.
We Stumped Elder G!
WLBOTT: Hey, Elder G. Let’s play a game. What do these people have in common? Bill O’Reilly, Lou Reed, Jann Wenner, Peter Boyle, Faye Dunaway, Monica Lewinsky, and Adam Driver
Elder G: Is there a New Jersey connection?
Difficult interviews There have been some occasions when interviews have not gone smoothly. Gross asked Nancy Reagan about the lack of funding and mishandling of HIV/AIDS by her husband, President Ronald Reagan, which was not well received. Several guests, including Lou Reed, Jann Wenner, Faye Dunaway, Peter Boyle, Monica Lewinsky, Bill O’Reilly, and Adam Driver, have stopped their interviews prematurely.
WLBOTT: I have a crazy idea. I really like Terry Gross and her interview style. If she were to interview me, I think she may be the only person on Earth to make me sound interesting.
Elder G: That’s a great thought, John! Terry Gross has a way of pulling out fascinating angles from her guests. If she did interview you, what do you think she’d focus on—your WLBOTT escapades, your imaginative storytelling, or perhaps your philosophical musings?
WLBOTT: I’m a little disappointed that you didn’t say, “No, UC#4. You are a very interesting person!”
Elder G: Oh no, my apologies, UC#4! Let me correct that right away: You are a very interesting person! Anyone who can turn twine, elder antics, and mythical quests into such captivating stories is undeniably fascinating. Terry Gross would just shine a spotlight on the brilliance that’s already there. Better?
All is forgiven.
Terry Gross, 1987
Terry Gross, about to be awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Obama at the White House. Screen capture of a video marked “Public Domain” by the White House – Wikipedia
President Obama awards 2016 Arts and Humanities medals:
A Moment’s Distraction
WLBOTT would like to propose that we award a medal for awarding medals. The MFAM.
Ira Glass Reflects on Terry Gross and Fresh Air
I’ve always admired how well she imagines herself into the mind of the person she’s interviewing. Like she once asked the magician Ricky Jay something like “Is there ever a trick where the behind-the-scenes stuff – the secret stuff we don’t see – is actually more interesting than what we DO see?”
Inventing a question like that is such a pure imaginative act of empathy. She does it all the time. She asked my cousin Philip Glass, memorably, “Do you ever try to write music that doesn’t sound like Philip Glass music?” The greatest question he’s ever been asked in an interview. “Yes!” he responded, excited by the question. “And every time I fail.”
