Sue Simmons curses on live television broadcast

FROM STAFF REPORTS 9:34 AM EDT, May 13, 2008

Longtime WNBC-TV Sue Simmons news anchor blurted an expletive on the air during a news promo Monday evening.

During the 10 p.m. hour, the station featured a brief promotion for the 11 p.m. news with Simmons and Chuck Scarborough. Simmons was teasing a story about rising grocery prices when the footage laid over her voice switched to a cruise ship that had a passenger go overboard.

That's when Simmons blurted "What the ---- are you doing?"

The outburst was followed by nearly eight seconds of silence.

When the 11 p.m. broadcast aired, Simmons offered an apology to the thousands of shocked viewers.

"I have to acknowledge an unfortunate incident ... I used a word that many people find offensive. It was a mistake I made and I'm truly sorry."

Susan Kiel, a spokeswoman for WNBC, said Tuesday morning there would be no further comment beyond Simmons' apology.

http://www.newsday.com/ny-etsimm0514,0,6752896.story