Say hello to NBC Producer Andy Gross, who has been with the network since 1997. “Of course, I love it. It’s the greatest job in the world,” says Gross, a bit of a zany, caffeinated character who regularly pops up on MSNBC’s “Week Ahead” weekly video series with Domenico Montanaro. Before that, he worked at ABC for four years. Gross tells me that when he Googles himself “there’s this famous dude named Andrew Gross and he’s written a gazillion books and he’s a handsome guy” that isn’t him. He sighs. Gross grew up in the small town of Alton, Ill., which he swears is home to the world’s tallest man, Robert Wadlow. “He died in the 40s. He was almost like nine feet tall,” he says. Gross says he’s still engrossed in the news business. How come? “Because it’s fun and exciting and there’s something new everyday,” he says. “I honestly can’t see myself ever doing anything else, or I can’t see myself being hired by anyone else [laughter].”

If you were a carbonated beverage which would you be? Dr. Pepper. It’s spicy and dark, AND I could play a doctor on TV…”I’m sorry sir, but you are going to die.”

How often do you Google yourself? Once, and was crushed to find that a more famous Andrew Gross is a prolific author of best-sellers.

Who is your favorite working journalist? Tom Junod
of Esquire.

What’s the worst thing you’ve ever said to an editor (or vice versa)? I recently told somebody on our assignment desk what they could go do to themselves. It was gloriously cathartic.

Do you have a favorite word? Steak

Who would you rather have dinner with – First Lady Michelle Obama or Bestselling Author and former V.P. candidate Sarah Palin? Michelle Obama, she’s cool and you can tell she has a rockin’ sense of humor.

When did you last cry and why? I get choked up easily, but a good cry? When I was 17 and my dog Cookie died. I loved that little schnauzer and she loved me.

What word do you routinely misspell? jsut

What’s the name of your cell phone ring? Vibrate, and I call myself all the time.

What swear word do you use most often? Shit

What word or phrase do you overuse? “Work with me”

What TV show do you have to watch? Nightly News with Brian Williams!

Where do you shop most often for your clothes? Have you seen my clothes? I am not a slave to fashion.

Who do you prefer for daytime talk, Dr. Phil, Oprah, Tyra or the women of The View? Don’t watch any of them.

Pick one: Leno, Letterman or Conan? Can’t stay up that late.

If you were trapped on a deserted island, which public official would you want to be trapped with and why? Barack Obama, We’d be rescued quickly but while we were waiting, I could give him a hard time about the dinner date I had with his wife (see answer above.)

Who is your mentor? John Martin of ABC talked me into jumping from newspapers to TV and taught me the ropes.

What’s the best advice you ever received in the course of your career? Keep it tight, bright and right.

For more enGrossing reading material, read after the jump…

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If you’re a political star gazer, the FNC pre-party to the Radio & TV Correspondent’s Dinner was the place to be Wednesday night as famous faces filled the room adorned in spring. As guests poured in and the party reached comfortable capacity, partygoers were greeted by a giant red Fox News emblem on the wall. If they were talent, well-known or just plain glam, photographers on hand asked them to strike a pose and then directed them across a bridge created especially for the party.

Fox News President Roger Ailes and his wife (above), Elizabeth, were one such couple directed to walk slowly across the bridge. The flashbulbs went wild.

Ailes is no wall flower. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) immediately engaged. “How are you?” Issa asked. In chimed Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), one of a few Democratic lawmakers there: “He’s fair and balanced,” Cummings said, cracking himself and those in his midst up.

Ailes also laughed. He then explained to Issa, who had begun bashing conservative radio personality Rush Limbaugh, that Fox News is different. “We have a phone on the set,” he said. “Anyone can call and correct us on the set.”

Cummings said Ailes “has been really wonderful to us,” meaning the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). “We may have a situation where we disagree about things but it doesn’t mean we can’t socialize because that’s how I think you break through,” he said. “A lot of people will talk about each other but not to each other.”

Cummings said he has known “Roger” for years. When the congressman presided over the CBC, it was FNC that worked with the CBC to sponsor the presidential debates.

Meanwhile, in walked Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) alone. The senator briefly scanned the room, spoke to no one. Soon he sidled up to conservative radio personality Laura Ingraham who was decked out in an ice blue mermaid dress, sleeveless, with ruffles cascading to the floor.

“You look great, man” Ingraham told Specter, marveling at his appearance since the senator survived his cancer scare. “You’re a fighter.” Specter chatted comfortably with Ingraham for a long while. Later Specter’s wife, Joan, joined them.

FNC’s Jennifer Griffin was also there. In a sleek auburn bob wig, she explained that she, too, was recovering from cancer. The correspondent looked radiant and charmed the room of partygoers.

Roger Ailes with Valerie Jarrett. Photo courtesy of FNC.

Find out what Pay Czar Kenneth Feinberg calls his wife at parties and which journos and other V.I.P’s were there after the jump. Also, see more party pictures…

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