N.Y. anchor apologizes for on-air gaffe

By Paul J. Gough

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - A longtime New York TV anchor apologized to viewers Monday night after swearing during a live news promo on the NBC owned-and-operated station.

Sue Simmons, who has been working at WNBC since 1980, uttered the expletive during a news tease at about 10:25 p.m. She had been doing a tease about the cost of groceries when, off camera, she yelled, "What the f--- are you doing?"

Simmons and her on-air partner, Chuck Scarborough, didn't immediately address the issue in the 11 p.m. newscast, but Simmons later apologized.

"We need to acknowledge an unfortunate mistake that I made in one of the teases we bring to you before this program," Simmons said during the newscast. "While we were live just after 10 o'clock, I said a word that many people find offensive. I am truly sorry. It was a mistake on my part, and I sincerely apologize."

The target of and reason for the expletive was unclear.

WNBC received about 100 calls in the half-hour, some to complain, some to call attention to what happened and some who didn't mind. A spokeswoman declined comment about whether Simmons was disciplined for the event. The newswoman was at work Tuesday and expected to be on the air.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter