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WNBC ANCHOR DENIES BEING DRUNK ON AIR: Sue Simmons says she hasn't tasted between live broadcasts since at least 1993.
*News anchor Sue Simmons of New York's WNBC/Channel 4, who was caught shouting the F-word during a live tease Monday night, is rejecting reports in the New York Post that her expletive was fueled by an alcohol problem.
On Wednesday, The Post interviewed several staffers who said they weren't surprised that Simmons blurted out "What the f**k you doing?" because she's known to get her drink on between the 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts.
"Sue Simmons likes the sauce and she can be cranky about it," a former WNBC employee told The Post. "She was sometimes a little tipsy [on the air] to the point where colleagues would take notice."
Witnesses told The Post that Simmons hits Midtown watering holes like Gallagher's steakhouse and Jean Georges after anchoring Channel 4's 5 p.m. newscast. "I wouldn't say she gets sloshed - sloshed, that wouldn't be the right word," a Gallagher's employee said, gesturing to the back booths where Simmons typically takes her between-show breaks. "I would say she gets happy. She gets very happy."
An employee at Jean Georges at Columbus Circle said Simmons has drinks with her meals after the 5 p.m. shift - and then heads back to work for the 11 p.m. cycle.
"She's been here and she's had drinks with her dinner," a Jean Georges employee said. "She's had a cocktail or two, yes, between shows, with dinner."
"Not one word of it is true," Simmons told The Post via e-mail. "I haven't had an alcoholic drink between shows for at least 15 years or more." She added, "I understand more now why many people don't trust the media."
Simmons said she relaxed her language during the tease Monday night because she thought it was being taped and not going out on live airwaves.
"I got caught on air dropping the F-bomb. I thought we were taping a spot . . . turns out it was very live," Simmons said.
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