Sue Simmons of WNBC Drops the F-Bomb

Having watched WNBC local anchorwoman Sue Simmons on a few occasions during brief visits to New York, I have always been impressed by her on the air persona and professionalism. Ms. Simmons appears to very articulate, even soft-spoken and never rattled by the events she is reporting.

And so it was surprise to me (and I'm quite certain thousands of others) to hear Ms. Simmons after completing a teaser for an upcoming 11:00 PM news suddenly yell to some off camera person, "What The f*ck are you doing!" Within seconds the screen went blank as behind the scenes WNBC people scrambled to recover.

This wasn't the Sue Simmons most viewers had come to know and wasn't typical of the level of broadcast journalism WNBC holds so high.

WNBC was quick to put Ms. Simmons back on the air to make a brief apology. Opening the 11:00 PM News Hour Ms. Simmons did not elaborate on what caused the outburst (many of us are curious as to what could have caused such a reaction), but said only that earlier she has inadvertently used a word "that many people find offensive. It was a mistake I made and I'm truly sorry".

While Ms. Simmons' apology is no doubt sincere it was surprising that she referred to her word choice as 'a word many people find offensive'. Perhaps I have read too much into the apology, but it sounded very much like Ms. Simmons was "truly sorry" for getting caught using the word rather than for offending people.

This apology reminded me of a similar incident involving President Bush during his 2000 campaign for president. Bush, unaware that a microphone had been left open, referred to New York Times reporter Adam Clymer as a "major league a--hole"...to which Vice President Cheney added, "Big time!"

When Bush learned that his remark had been overheard and broadcasted, he quickly apologized saying he regretted that a private remark he had made to the Vice President made it onto the airwaves, and then the more telling apology, "I regret everybody heard what I said".....the implication being, but not what I said.

Some open mic incidents turn into family affairs such as the incident in August of 2006 when CNN anchor Kyra Phillips used a commercial break to visit the restroom, but failed to turn off her wireless mic which broadcast to the entire CNN audience her catty comments to a co-worker about her sister-in-law in whom she described as "a control freak."

Many publicly broadcast gaffes are violations of political correctness or indicative of racial insensitivity.

Who can forget Michael (Seinfeld's Kramer) Richards' racial outburst in response to African-American hecklers in the audience during his appearance at a local comedy club? In response to catcalls and heckling, Richards responded by repeatedly using the n-word to address those who mocked his comedy act.

Many will remember the comments of Jimmy 'The Greek" Snyder, a former gambling odds maker turned sports commentator, who in an attempt to explain why black athletes often outperformed white athletes in football. Snyder suggested the difference was years of breeding beginning with slave owners who would breed the strongest female with the strongest male. This resulted in a line of strong, muscular black men (who were better athletes).

Snyder was fired immediately for his insensitive remarks.

Years later Michael Irvin, a former star with the Dallas Cowboys appearing as a commentator on ESPN, was asked a similar question concerning how Tony Romo, the Dallas quarterback, could be such a remarkable athlete. Irvin (who is black) explained that Romo (who is white) owes his athletic ability to a distant female relative's romantic encounter with a slave. As Irvin put it, "Romo's great, great, great grandmother pulled one of the studs out of the barn."

While Irvin's remarks were remarkably similar to Jimmy the Greek's, he was never fired or taken off the air.

Perhaps the biggest all time gaffe over an open microphone is to be credited to President Ronald Reagan who in preparing for a televised speech to the nation at the height of the cold war (1984) provided a 'sound check" prior to the speech by jokingly saying, " My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you that I've signed legislation which will outlaw Russia forever. We will begin bombing in five minutes!" Regan did not realize the microphone was "live" and his remarks were broadcast to the world.

Which of the above is the more serious? Certainly, racial insensitivity is at the forefront today and whether insensitive remarks are made by an elderly white odds-maker named Jimmy the Greek or former outstanding black football star they are unacceptable.

Remarks made by politicians in response to those who are critical of them such as the remarks of President Bush concerning Adam Clymer, are always plentiful and make for colorful reading and pleasurable gossip.

My vote for the most serious open mike gaffe would have ride with Ronald Reagan who in spite of being the great communicator and a man of renown humor committed a very serious mistake in his choice of words as these could have resulted cataclysmic consequences.

The Great Communicator, however, pulled us through it.