Ok, that's basically what I think too, but couldn't remember enough detail to make it stick. I heard her the other day and I thought, "this woman is kind of stupid." But no one is as bad as Juan Williams was. Worst. Listener. Ever. Misunderstood every second things someone said to him.
Who are the good interviewers? One of our local public radio people here is very good, but I can't think of a good national one.
Terry Gross's interview with Dave Chapelle is a radio classic. Chapelle's brilliance, charm, and generosity are thrown into sharp relief by Gross's sheer obtuseness.
I saw a whole new side of Chapelle in that interview. Based on Chapelle's TV show, I'd never have guessed that Chapelle was such a gracious and patient man. Brilliant, yes. Patient, no.
I think the reason Terry Gross is so loved (and make no mistake, she is loved) is that she will ask the dopey questions that we'd all like to ask but are too afraid to.
She has a great guest list, possibly better than she deserves. But, I wouldn't go as far as to say she's terrible. I remember a truly brilliant interview she did with Murray Perahia (sp?), the pianist noted for his performances of Mozart. I think she's at her best interviewing musicians and others in the music industry.
She also really impressed me when she was doing straight news right after September 11th. NPR kept me sane as I drove from Boston to Florida that week, and Terry's voice was one of the best to hear during those uncertain days.
There are worse radio voices, for instance Ira Glass and Sarah Vowell, both of whom I love to hear.
Now Charlie Rose, on the other hand... He always seems to be drunk or hung over, and talks past his guests. And Juan Williams - all he wants to do is advance the Republican agenda, regardless of what anyone else has to say. Grrr.
Charlie Rose is truly a terrible interviewer. He's like a babbling C-Span caller who rambles interminably until Brian Lamb finally cuts him off. Jon Stewart or Howard Stern (when he's not playing to the juveniles) are much better.
I very much like Gross when she's not out of her depth (e.g., talking to Sen. Clinton). I often hear her interviewees say, with what sounds like genuine surprise, That's a really good question. I like Rose when his guests are talking - and you'll never hear them say, That's a really good question.
Gladwell has written articles over the years that opened my eyes on some random subject. He does not however have the depth to produce four half-decent articles in the stretch of a few months following a book - his recent work in the New Yorker has been in fact nearly shoddy.
I had the same reaction when I read that Wolcott line.
Though the inside jacket of Blink leads off with the insipid phrase "Don't Think -- Blink!" which makes me want to gouge my eyes out.
That New Yorker article about the people who can read facial expressions is one of the most fascinating things I've ever read in any magazine. It's also featured in Blink, as Ogged made reference to above.
Such blasphemy here! I can't be the only one to have had a major crush on Terry since forever.
I think she does a great job of making people whom I wouldn't necessarily be interested in, interesting. There are costs to being such a generalist of course, but given that constraint, I think she does as good of a job as anyone I can think of.
Terry does not have radio enunciation! She says "wooder" for "water," in classic Pennsylvania fashion. And she often uses rising intonation for non-questions. Also other things. To me she comes across as pretty genuine and interesting. As for her dumb questions, I figure that's largely what her show is about. I go to Terry and to Malcolm Gladwell for different reasons from those for which I go to Professor Fancypants or to Ogged.
By the way, Worst Interviewer Ever has to go to Michael Krasny, on San Francisco's local NPR-station call-in show. Suckup.
Terri Gross is terrible. Even though she has great guests, I have to struggle to make it through a program.
Posted by FL | Link to this comment | 02-10-05 5:35 PM
Ok, that's basically what I think too, but couldn't remember enough detail to make it stick. I heard her the other day and I thought, "this woman is kind of stupid." But no one is as bad as Juan Williams was. Worst. Listener. Ever. Misunderstood every second things someone said to him.
Who are the good interviewers? One of our local public radio people here is very good, but I can't think of a good national one.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 02-10-05 5:41 PM
We have a good local guy here, too, Jim Engster. (Guessing on the spelling) I second Fontana's opinion of Terry Gross.
Ogged, have you read those books? I'm thinking of buying them. Opinion?
Posted by Michael | Link to this comment | 02-10-05 5:56 PM
I haven't read Blink; read most of Tipping Point. It's good, but I think both grew out of articles that are available for free at the link I posted.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 02-10-05 5:58 PM
Terry Gross's interview with Dave Chapelle is a radio classic. Chapelle's brilliance, charm, and generosity are thrown into sharp relief by Gross's sheer obtuseness.
I saw a whole new side of Chapelle in that interview. Based on Chapelle's TV show, I'd never have guessed that Chapelle was such a gracious and patient man. Brilliant, yes. Patient, no.
Posted by Lindsay Beyerstein | Link to this comment | 02-10-05 6:13 PM
Terri Gross blows. Absolutely terrible, and she has one of the worst cases of Radio Enunciation ever.
A certain Famous Portugueuse Author made a similar indictment of Gladwell in this awesome Metafilter thread.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 02-10-05 6:19 PM
The Chapelle interview.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 02-10-05 6:57 PM
I think the reason Terry Gross is so loved (and make no mistake, she is loved) is that she will ask the dopey questions that we'd all like to ask but are too afraid to.
She has a great guest list, possibly better than she deserves. But, I wouldn't go as far as to say she's terrible. I remember a truly brilliant interview she did with Murray Perahia (sp?), the pianist noted for his performances of Mozart. I think she's at her best interviewing musicians and others in the music industry.
She also really impressed me when she was doing straight news right after September 11th. NPR kept me sane as I drove from Boston to Florida that week, and Terry's voice was one of the best to hear during those uncertain days.
There are worse radio voices, for instance Ira Glass and Sarah Vowell, both of whom I love to hear.
Now Charlie Rose, on the other hand... He always seems to be drunk or hung over, and talks past his guests. And Juan Williams - all he wants to do is advance the Republican agenda, regardless of what anyone else has to say. Grrr.
I'll take Terry Gross over that crew anyday.
Posted by LarryB | Link to this comment | 02-10-05 9:39 PM
Charlie Rose is truly a terrible interviewer. He's like a babbling C-Span caller who rambles interminably until Brian Lamb finally cuts him off. Jon Stewart or Howard Stern (when he's not playing to the juveniles) are much better.
Posted by Kyle S | Link to this comment | 02-10-05 9:53 PM
I'm not a fan of Gross, but her interview with Gene Simmons a couple of years ago was really entertaining.
Posted by adb | Link to this comment | 02-10-05 10:47 PM
I very much like Gross when she's not out of her depth (e.g., talking to Sen. Clinton). I often hear her interviewees say, with what sounds like genuine surprise, That's a really good question. I like Rose when his guests are talking - and you'll never hear them say, That's a really good question.
Gladwell has written articles over the years that opened my eyes on some random subject. He does not however have the depth to produce four half-decent articles in the stretch of a few months following a book - his recent work in the New Yorker has been in fact nearly shoddy.
Posted by rilkefan | Link to this comment | 02-10-05 11:54 PM
I had the same reaction when I read that Wolcott line.
Though the inside jacket of Blink leads off with the insipid phrase "Don't Think -- Blink!" which makes me want to gouge my eyes out.
That New Yorker article about the people who can read facial expressions is one of the most fascinating things I've ever read in any magazine. It's also featured in Blink, as Ogged made reference to above.
Posted by Joe Drymala | Link to this comment | 02-11-05 9:50 AM
BTW, this thread reminds me of the "Academy of the Overrated" conversation in Manhattan.
Posted by Joe Drymala | Link to this comment | 02-11-05 10:06 AM
Terry Gross is generally very good. I don't know anyone who could do her job better. Charlie Rose is horrible.
Terry Gross does sometimes ask stupid questions, but sometimes the stupid questions get interesting answers.
Posted by joe o | Link to this comment | 02-11-05 11:04 AM
Such blasphemy here! I can't be the only one to have had a major crush on Terry since forever.
I think she does a great job of making people whom I wouldn't necessarily be interested in, interesting. There are costs to being such a generalist of course, but given that constraint, I think she does as good of a job as anyone I can think of.
And doody to you if you disagree!
Posted by rufus | Link to this comment | 02-11-05 3:14 PM
Terry does not have radio enunciation! She says "wooder" for "water," in classic Pennsylvania fashion. And she often uses rising intonation for non-questions. Also other things. To me she comes across as pretty genuine and interesting. As for her dumb questions, I figure that's largely what her show is about. I go to Terry and to Malcolm Gladwell for different reasons from those for which I go to Professor Fancypants or to Ogged.
By the way, Worst Interviewer Ever has to go to Michael Krasny, on San Francisco's local NPR-station call-in show. Suckup.
Posted by Bob | Link to this comment | 02-13-05 8:09 AM