Sue Simmons F-Bomb Fallout, Day 2

WNBC anchor Sue Simmons's unexpected cursing during a Monday night promo continues to be watercooler gossip. The veteran news anchor appeared on yesterday's broadcasts, surprising some industry insiders who thought she might be suspended.

As for the reason why Simmons may have cursed on-air, various WNBC sources suggest the she and Chuck Scarborough thought the promo was being taped. So when Scarborough was looking at his computer monitor, not paying attention to reading the tease, Simmons let it rip. Here's how the NY Times explains what happened, without getting to use the word in question--not even calling it the "f-bomb" or "f---":

When they were cued, Ms. Simmons read her line: “At 11, paying more at the grocer, but getting less. We’ll tell you how to get the most.”

The station then cut to images for an upcoming story about a cruise ship, without any narrative from the two anchors.

At that point, Ms. Simmons says, basically, What are you doing?

But her question had two extra words.

The NY Post put Simmons on the front page, notes how she has a potty mouth and speaks to a former colleague who claims Simmons "likes the sauce." An employee at Gallagher's says, "I wouldn't say she gets sloshed - sloshed, that wouldn't be the right word. I would say she gets happy. She gets very happy."

Newsday's Verne Gay wonders what this means for Simmons's future, given that she's cultivated "a veritable portrait of amiability - mischievous, occasionally puckish, though early in her run, prone to on-air gaffes."

The Post has a quote from someone familiar with Simmons's plight: Arthur Chi'en, CW 11 reporter who was fired from WCBS 2 for swearing at two shock jock fans. He said, "I feel for her, as someone who has gone down that path."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on May 14, 2008 11:04 AM

Comments [rss]

abcohen

really who cares... atleast we didnt hear her pee (like a different station left on the mic last year)

I like Sue, she keeps it real!

sonyactivision

To anyone who dares mess with this woman, I say Fuck off, you fucking fucked-up Fuck!

Steven

Our society makes such a big deal when a curse word is heard on TV yet probably most of public uses it on a daily/weekly basis.

pazzia

how much do we not care that she swears? a huge part of the population swears. it isn't news.

Barbj8

Fucking A, Sue, you fucking rock, and fuck those fucking fuckers who don't fucking appreciate your fucking talent.

qwerty

Her street cred is through the roof now.

Kevin Walsh

I have yet to warm up to Simmons after 25 years.

I'm surprised the outburst was directed at Chuck-- listening to it, it sounds like it was directed at one of the underlings, gaffers, best boys, etc.

www.forgotten-ny.com

Tim N.

Cursing at work.

Fucking shocking.

Dave Hogarty

Just to head off any wrong-headed decisions by the people at WNBC, everyone knows that Sue has a few in her; no one cares that Sue throws a few f-bombs at Chuck when she's supposed to off the air--that's called being collegial; Sue is the best thing WNBC News has going for it. Lose her and you lose generations of entertained viewers.

Spear_Chucker

I called it yesterday. Her comment was directed at Chuck, but I believe it was in jest. I don't have a problem with her saying what she said, but she should've known better to allow it to get on the air.

rtd2101

You'd think she killed someone. Anybody who has a problem with what Simmons did needs to calm the fuck down.

robingee

I knew she hit the sauce! For years I thought she probably had a pitcher of margaritas under the news desk. Go Sue!

aveB4life

this is not as good as bill o'reilly's outburst on inside edition

Anna_Merkin

This story makes me smile. I love Sue Simmons. I'd take her on my side in a bar brawl any day. I'll bet she's fun to get sauced with. Please, don't let this part of NYC become as anodyne as the rest of the city is becoming.

mrguy

revwald- also makes me think of the mr. show "swear jar" sketch.

"Everytime one of the mr. show cast members curses, we put a nickel in the swear jar. The money goes to swears for cares, a charity devoted to helping poor children through swearing."

"So hopefully, Mr. show can make a little difference."

"uh-uh bob- a little FUCKING difference!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2CUzTy6t9E&feature=related

EricGewiz

What can we say - she's "4 NY!"

liulide

@Muscley Armed Paper Boy

We had to say "dickety" because the Kaiser had stolen our word for "twenty." I chased him down the road but gave up after dickety-six miles...

RevWaldo

Awhile back on Saturday Night Live, Cheri Oteri slipped and said the "s-word" during a skit. At the waving-good-night part she put a dollar in a swear jar, offered some "my bad"s and laughed off the whole thing. "4 New York" should have handled it this way instead of lawyering up and making Sue commit verbal hara-kiri for their audience.

mrguy

someone's gotta post it:

[Kyle]

No, he's talkin' about FUCK. You can't say FUCK in school, you

fuckin' fat ass.

[Mr Garrison]

KYLE!

[Cartman]

Why the fuck not?

[Mr Garrison]

ERIC!

[Stan]

Dude, you just said fuck again!

[Mr Garrison]

STANLEY!

[Kenny]

(muffled) fuck

[Mr Garrison]

KENNY!

[Cartman]

What's the big deal? It doesn't hurt anybody! Fuck, fuckity, fuck, fuck, fuck!

Sinchy

I think Chuck put his hand on Sue's inner thigh.

jaja007

That clip broke Letterman up last night. She is ny's Ron Burgandy.

palestine

hslaton --> http://www.adultswim.com/video/?episodeID=1db975ca0a0f50630c01ed09381cca9d

MFer

The fallout? Sue won't be able to work for any station in this country. Ever. Except in New York, of course. She'll be just fine. More power to her. And expect higher ratings. I likey.

Ethan

Such a...nice lady.

jenspellnogood

where's al sharpton when he's needed?

babyhitler

I don't mind the Fuck bomb but I find it appalling that she's used it in a context with Chuck! That's fucked up for a colleague that's been with you through the fire. I thought she was yelling at the teleprompter guy. If a bitch said that to me at my workplace, I'd answer her with a knuckle sandwich.

TimSPC

There's going to be a NEW YORKERS 4 SUE rally today at 5:30 for anyone that cares. We're meeting on 50th between 5th and 6th.

jaja007

Give her a break. Someone was stealing her pack of Kool Menthols and her bucket of Chicken.

Hence, te "What the fuck are you doing?"

ianmac47

Who the fuck cares?

Ethan

What the F@ç&, Chuck?

hslaton

P.S.—I think Pat Kiernan (of NY1) should come out in support of Sue Simmons by saying on-air, "Anyone that has a problem with Sue can go fuck themselves."

Coming from Pat, it'd make it all better.

Politburo

I generally don't complain, but an f-bomb is worth 2 posts? You don't have to cover things just because the Post considers it front-page material (plus, we all know the Post has an ulterior motive).

hslaton

I simply do not, and guess I won't ever, understand how and why full-grown adults can get all worked up about a word, and not even a particularly hateful word at that—it's a collection of letters, letters of the alphabet, that for some bizarre reason may not be uttered, even when objectively reporting on the saying of that word, leading to such grade-school bullshit as "the f-bomb" or "the f-word," like it's some sort of verbal neutron bomb that, if said, will cause the universe to explode inward on itself. I just don't get it.

Muscley Armed Paper Boy

It's not like she dropped the N-bomb or C-bomb. Is anyone really offended by the F-word? What year is this, 19-dickety-2?

And who cares if some kid heard it, this is NY. They learn profanity in the womb.