When I awoke yesterday to the news, via Facebook, that NBC New York would not be renewing Sue Simmons’ contract, I literally felt knots forming in my stomach. And honestly, I was pretty much out-of-sorts for the rest of the day.
Let me just say this. I love Sue Simmons. She and Chuck Scarborough are an institution in New York, period. They’ve been on the air for over 30 years, together, and really, there’s no other reason to watch the news. It’s always been ‘Chuck & Sue’ and it should always be ‘Chuck & Sue.’ Oh, did I mention that the network renewed Chuck for three more years? Now, I can’t be mad at him for getting his coins, but the thought of Sue not being by his side truly hurts.
For as far back as I can remember, I’ve watched Channel 4 in New York, only because of Sue Simmons. When I moved to Maryland as a kid, I remember coming back to Queens to visit my grandmother, who was the original news junkie (yes, 5, 6 and 11pm!), and we’d always tune in. ‘Chuck and Sue’ were a staple. I mean, “Live at Five?” Come on! I could probably hum the theme song right now.
OK, I have a story, one which is as ridiculous as it is true.
During one of my summers of youth, I took a job in Pennsylvania. I’d been living back in New York for a while and although I was excited about my new gig, I was kind of bummed that I wouldn’t be spending the summer in the city. I know this sounds crazy, but once I got settled into my home-away-from-home, I was like, “Wait, I’m not watching this local news. I can’t believe that I won’t be able to watch ‘Chuck & Sue’ all summer!” I’m not kidding.
So, in typical Regina fashion, I embarked on my own, personal silent protest and decided that if I couldn’t watch “real news” (translation: news reported by ‘Chuck & Sue’), I wouldn’t watch any news. This was before CNN took over our lives, so taking a two-month news moratorium wasn’t as difficult as it sounds. I don’t even think I missed watching the news, honestly. For the record, when I’m in the midst of one of my silent protests, I am quite stubborn.
One day, I was in the check-out line at the grocery store and saw the cover of People magazine. Wait, is there some crazy dude named Jeffrey eating folks in the midwest? Seriously? Where the hell have I been? Oh, right, I’ve been on a news moratorium. I had really not watched the news for the whole summer and had no idea what the hell was going on in the world. That’s when I realized how ridiculous I’d been, but my actions were steeped in an honest place. In my heart, I was really just holding out until the end of the summer, when I could be reunited with ‘Chuck & Sue.’ I was, and am, fiercely loyal…even to my favorite news team.
Years later, a friend’s daughter landed an internship at NBC and had the good fortune of interacting with Sue. How amazing! I remember asking my friend a barrage of questions – “Can I go to the office with your daughter one day? You think she can get me an autographed picture?” Needless to say, folks fell out laughing when they realized that I was very serious. I never did get that autograph.
When I was in New York for Christmas last year, I turned to Channel 4 at 11pm every night and every night, I was deflated because Sue wasn’t on. Chuck wasn’t there either. I was like, “OK, I’m here, where are my people?” I was so disappointed. After a week of ‘fill-ins,’ I finally had to accept that ‘Chuck & Sue’ weren’t clocking in. Maybe they were on holiday, too, which they’re certainly entitled to, but I was really looking forward to seeing them. Bottom line is, I know that I’m home when they’re in the newsroom.
I hear that Sue’s time is up at the station in June, which is heartbreaking. I’ve been planning on making a trip to the N-Y soon, so best believe I will be landing at JFK before she signs off. I still can’t believe it. Sue Simmons is New York and even though I now live 3,000 miles away, I will miss her, just as I miss Ray’s Pizza, corner Chinese and running to the bodega every morning for a pint of Tropicana Orange (no pulp!) and a copy of the Daily News, which always has the best horoscopes!
All that said, I salute you, Sue. You did your thing!