'Tonight Show' intern Mathews back in Dallas for Black Tie

With a brassy Ethel Merman-sharpness in his voice, Ross Mathews squeals, "Noooooooo!" when he hears that men are posting "You are hawt" messages on his MySpace page.

Even before he dropped 40 pounds on "Celebrity Fit Club," Ross "The Intern" has always been an adorable little cub - the snuggly kind you want to make out with and then show off to your mom and co-workers.

"I'm just going to deflect that compliment. But don't think for a second that I'm not going home and checking my MySpace page because that will make me feel wonderful," he says.

A few weeks ago, it was announced that Mathews would add some sparkle to Saturday's Black Tie Dinner, but this won't be Mathews' first time in Big D.

In 2003, "The Tonight Show" sent him to the American Airlines Center to follow the Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera tour, where the beautiful-and-dirty Aguilera serenaded him from the stage and let him squeeze her boobies. And last year, he came back to tell Jay Leno what fried PB&Js at the Texas State Fair taste like.

For this trip, Leno won't be sending a camera crew, but Mathews will be filming it - for his NBC.com "Talky Blog." Mathews lives in California, and last weekend, his hetero (and exceptionally cute) brother Eric visited from Washington, and the Mathews brothers attended a Prop 8 rally. His mom, who also lives in Washington, went to a local rally back home.

Mathews thinks marriage will be on everyone's mind at Saturday's dinner. And as a California taxpayer, he isn't giving in to frustration.

"I'm crazily optimistic about the whole thing. I'm a glass-half-full kind of guy. We lost that battle but we're going to win the war," he says. "I know we'll have the right to marry in my lifetime. I've never questioned it."

Mathews started his career as Ross "The Intern" in 2001. His first day on air coincided with his last day as a University of La Verne student trainee. While the "intern" nickname made him famous, he's now trying to get his last name recognized.

"I've wanted to be a talkshow host my whole life. But it's just not cool to be a 30-year-old intern," the 29-year-old says.

Mathews is one of the brightest "Tonight Show" personalities. But earlier this year, Leno's jokes seriously bombed while he interviewing Ryan Phillippe, asking the "Stop Loss" star to pretend "that the camera is your gay lover" and give "his gayest look."

Phillippe was offended and almost walked off stage, - and the Gay and Lesbain Alliance Against Defamation and many gay fans demanded an apology.

Many wondered what the Tonight Show's gayest personality thought.

"Oh, wow. Ummm," Mathews moans while thinking. "Let me say that Jay is one of the most supportive people I've met - ever. We never had a conversation about [the Phillippe interview]. But right after the California Supreme Court overturned the ruling about gay marriage, there was an event at [Los Angeles gay nightclub] The Abbey. And Jay showed up. He rode in on his motorcycle. I know he's very supportive of gay rights. And that's all I want to say about it.

"Wait," he continues. "Right now, the conversation [about gay rights] is heightened. I think people are ultra-aware, which I applaud. The conversation needs to be had now. I didn't take offense about how people reacted. But I know Jay, and I know how supportive and wonderful he is."

Since Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his run for governor on the "Tonight Show," Leno has been pegged a Republican, which he denies and says he doesn't issue political opinions.

But Mathews lets 'em rip - especially when finds out the George and Laura Bush are moving to Dallas after they leave the White House.

"I've spent the last eight years being angry at [Bush]. When he leaves the White House, he's going to have to go out and face the world with this legacy for what he's done. And now, I actually feel sorry for him," Mathews says. "You know they're going to need a decorator. I would so love for all the gay decorators in Dallas to band together and just do something atrocious. And have them tell Laura how fabulous it is - even though it's horrible.

"Do everything in different variations of plaid, just to screw up their house. The man has done enough to screw up our lives; let's mess with him for a bit. "

2008 Black Tie Dinner, Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. Sheraton Dallas, 400 N Olive St. Individual tickets, $300. 972.733.9200 ext. 7. Blacktie.org.