Have to hit the gas when cranking

Sometimes I have to hit my gas pedal to make the car start. It sounds like it wants to crank but wont until I hit my gas pedal. It is an automatic 98 chevy malibu. This past weekend while sitting at a stoplight my car's RPMs starting bouncing between 1 and 0 and then cut off. All the lights came on. Then I started it back up and it did it again but this time I threw it in park real quick and hit the gas. The hitting of my gas pedal didn't do anything, it still cut off. HELP!

It sounds like a sticking IAC (Idle Air Control) valve located in the throttle body. It adjusts the amount of air allowed into the engine at idle and part throttle.

What does a throttle body look like and how do I unstick it?