Blogs and Stories
David Gergen, I'm Cheating On You
UPDATE: Long before David Gregory was named host of Meet the Press, The Daily Beast's Jessi Klein had her eye on him. Her post from last month is below.
I confess: David Gregory stole a little piece of my heart. It is, after all, election season—how could my eye not wander when there are so many fascinating and intelligent men wonking out on TV?
DISCLAIMER: Some of you may have read my post last month about my love for David Gergen. He is, and always will be, my No. 1. But a girl can look, can’t she? So yes, I have a crush on NBC’s chief white house correspondent, David Gregory. And yes, there will probably be other crushes. It is, after all, election season, and I don’t know how my eye could not wander when there are so many fascinating and intelligent men wonking out all across the TV dial. I’m only human.
Still, it’s fun to think of these two men in terms of the debate that rages ever passionately among us ladies: Who’s your favorite: Pitt or Clooney? I would posit that in this equation, the Gerg is the Cloon, while Gregory is more akin to Pitt. Like Clooney, Gergen posseses an old-school gravitas that Pitt/Gregory simply does not. Like Pitt, Gregory is in some ways the more obvious heartthrob. For my taste, this broadness of appeal is what takes away some of the crush’s special-ness. However, as with Pitt, I’m still capable of—how to put it?—appreciating what he has to offer.
Click Image To View Video
Like President Bush, I first crushed out on Gregory when he popped up in the White House pressroom, the unbeatable whack-a-mole of the administration’s nightmares. Bush affectionately called him Stretch, which is the most likable thing he's done in eight years. Aside from the PDA that spills over from the gay bars in my neighborhood, I've never seen a man more in love with another man. Not just regular love, but serious romantic comedy love, the chemistry of opposites that begins as antipathy and blossoms into enduring ardor. I believe Bush felt the same anticipatory excitement as I did whenever Gregory’s lanky folding ruler body would begin to unfurl. Admittedly, I was most likely a bit more turned on by the questions, but I believe we both melted a bit at Gregory's boyish, Curious George-like face, topped by that mop of gray hair glued down into a style I refer to as “Corporate Temp Warhol.”
Nothing makes my heart beat faster than his persistence in getting his questions answered—actually, his insistence on it. Ladies and gentlemen, this is my version of late night Cinemax.
I love that Gregory is fun, and I love even more that he's funny. And not just by reputation, but on record. YouTube is chockablock with Gregory good times. His vaguely stoned phone interview with Don Imus from India; his hilarious appearance on Leno where he does a spot-on Bush impression; and, most famously (and already known all too well by the other Gregory lovers) his very groovy, very public boogie down to Mary J. Blige on the Today show. My favorite nerdy white man totally feeling my favorite strong black woman? Two words: mega-swoon.
But the essence of Gregory’s hawt-ness lies back in the White House pressroom. Nothing makes my heart beat faster than his persistence in getting his questions answered—actually, his insistence on it. Watch the clip on YouTube of Gregory grilling Scott McClellan in the wake of Katrina. Ladies and gentlemen, this is my version of late night Cinemax.
In conclusion, for all of you out there dating some guy who isn’t showing up for you the way he should, I suggest phasing Lame-o out of your mind and instead placing Gregory at the center of your romantic fantasies. And then think: Don’t you want to be pursued with the same single-minded focus and passion with which Gregory pursues the truth?
Jessi Klein is a writer and comedian who has frequently appeared on Comedy Central, CNN, VH1, and the Today show. She is currently writing a screenplay for Universal Studios, as well as occasionally drawing animals for her best friend’s letterpress card company. She also likes to think she has value as a human being aside from her numerous credits in the entertainment industry.
The Right Dumps Carrie
Jacob Bernstein is a senior reporter at The Daily Beast. Previously, he was a features writer at WWD and W Magazine. He has also written for New York magazine, Paper, and The Huffington Post.
What's Joe's Problem?
Lloyd Grove is editor at large for The Daily Beast. He is also a frequent contributor to New York magazine and was a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio. He wrote a gossip column for the New York Daily News from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, he wrote the Reliable Source column for the Washington Post, where he spent 23 years covering politics, the media, and other subjects.
Geithner's Stock Plummeting
Jeff Madrick is a contributor to the New York Review of Books and a former economics columnist for the New York Times. He is editor of Challenge Magazine, visiting professor of humanities at Cooper Union, and senior fellow at the New School's Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis. He is the author of Taking America, The End of Affluence (Random House) and The Case for Big Government.
Moving Out of Cougar Town
Jessi Klein is a writer and comedian who has frequently appeared on Comedy Central, CNN, VH1, and the Today show. She also likes to think she has value as a human being aside from her numerous credits in the entertainment industry.
TV's Funniest Frenemies
Jessi Klein is a writer and comedian who has frequently appeared on Comedy Central, CNN, VH1, and the Today show. She also likes to think she has value as a human being aside from her numerous credits in the entertainment industry.
The World's Most Dangerous Comedian
Jessi Klein is a writer and comedian who has frequently appeared on Comedy Central, CNN, VH1, and the Today show. She also likes to think she has value as a human being aside from her numerous credits in the entertainment industry.
To each his or her own.
I'm sure there's somebody out there who likes mustard on their ice cream.
TexasVoodoo is clearly blind. I am right there with you, Jessi. I have panted for David Gregory for over a year now, much to the consternation of my friends.
Nobody likes mustard on their ice cream. That's just gross.
You have a crush on Gregory ?
What about a Matthews / Olbermann man sandwich for Obama ? I can't find anything wrong with Obama's acceptance speech, and I'm the smartest, most enlightened, most condescending Person In THE WORRRRLD !!!!
I'm getting giggly bumps up my leg. Oh ! Oh ! Oh ! Ohhhhh...Obama !!!
Jessi,
I agree with you about David Gergen and now Mr. Gregory. My question to you: How do you feel about Keith Olbermann? I think he's dreamy! ;)
I'm totally crazy about Paul Begala. He's incisively intelligent, a die hard democrat, and incredibly cute. Anyone have his e-mail address?! I want a date with him! (But I totally understand about Gergen-he's adorable.)
A crush on David Gregory? How many years did Gregory sit in the decorative Bush shark tank? Oh my, how feisty he was, as Bush brazenly dipped his hand in for the press feed...Give me a break. Was the Iraq pratfall, a sexy pirouette for Stretch? Your wondering eye is so typical of cheaters...How many actually trade up?
I'm so with you on David Gregory love, Jessi. Can our next crush be the sexily intense Rahm Emanuel? I'm so glad that this election season is almost over because I think I might O.D. on wonk love any minute now.
Oh no. Now David Gregory will be completely insufferable. He's always seemed overly self-congratulatory about his attractiveness to me. I'm sorry, but he's just not that hot. Stephen Colbert is the ultimate sex symbol for the intelligent woman over 40, and while it can't have escaped his notice that he drives the girls wild, he has the decency to be just a little bit uncomfortable about it. You got the feeling that he really wasn't completely happy about that brainy lap dance Jane Fonda gave him. But if David Brooks were available, he's the one I'd really go for. He's stealth hot.
David Gregory on my flat screen is as compelling as a piece of cardboard.
I heart Chuck Todd. His map speak makes me swoon.
I share your enthusiasm for David Gregory. His sense of humor seems rare among a preening press corps. But I think I admire him more than lust for him. At this time, my heart belongs to Stephen Colbert. He takes smart and funny up a notch. Muss up his hair a bit, give him groovy glasses and put him in tight jeans with a flannel shirt -- we're talking Stud Muffin. Be still my heart.
No one will ever replace my first news crush--Arthur Kent--aka "the Scud Stud".
Gergen and Gregory vs a dashing Canadian in safari garb? Not even close ;-)
David Gregory was fresh and funny back in the days when he was vying with Campbell Brown for the WH correspondent's spot. He'd call in on Imus and was very amusing. Then he started taking himself too seriously. Giving him the Meet the Press slot is putting him on an undeserved pedestal.
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
Gregory, I'm warning you don't go near her. She's a fickle tart and will be off to the next bloke in a fortnight's time!
(I heard she gave Gergen the metaphoric clap.)
I totally agree that he is adorable. I heart funny nerds. Good thing I already TIVO the show.
Thank you.
As a first time user, your comment has been submitted for review. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a day or two for your comment to be reviewed, depending on the time of week and the volume of comments we receive.
Please log in to leave comments.