Don Pardo, the legendary NBC staff announcer, has been the Saturday Night Live voice for every season except one, since its debut in 1975.

So when Pardo, who turned 95 on February 22, is absent from the show, it’s news. He missed the February 16 broadcast, and the next live show, this past weekend.

TMZ reports that Pardo recently suffered a broken hip. The entertainment site says he’s recovering and “doing just fine.”

In an apparent attempt to keep Pardo’s injury hidden, his trademark opening credits were done by someone else in a poor version of a Pardo impression.

NBC has stayed quiet about Pardo’s condition and status with the show. FishbowlNY also attempted to reach Pardo directly.

Beginning two seasons ago, Pardo retired to Arizona, pre-recording the SNL work from his home studio.

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And so at 11:35 last night, New York’s all-time great anchor team ceased to exist. “Chuck and Sue” became a test pattern of TV history.

Sue Simmons concluded a 32-year run at WNBC, sitting next to her “TV husband” Chuck Scarborough for a final time.

It was a moment inevitable for three months, since the New York Post broke the story that Simmons would not be offered a new contract.

In analyzing the Simmons farewell, praise is given to the station for devoting the closing 15 minutes to everything Sue.

Sprinkled in before commercial breaks, earlier in the newscast, were taped tributes from late night host Jimmy Fallon, who pointed out that his show originates from WNBC’s former home– studio 6B. In front his studio audience, Fallon showed a miniature version of a vintage Chuck and Sue photo displayed on the wall outside the studio.

Jay Leno also had brief, kind words for his NBC Universal colleague 3,000 miles away.

Back live at 30 Rock, the most touching moment of the night went to sports anchor Bruce Beck, who switched his schedule to work the special occasion, saying, “Thirty-two years, 32 roses. I love you dear,” as he handed her the bouquet and they shared a kiss.

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It’s a run for the ages. Sue Simmons closes the book on her storied 32 years as WNBC anchor. She’ll sit alongside her legendary partner Chuck Scarborough one final time tonight for the 11 o’clock newscast.

Throughout the day, WNBC is proud to point out that it’s featuring clips from Simmons’ illustrious past.

However there is, arguably, a bigger story.

While the station is planning one day of on-air tributes, beyond that there is not much more than a “no comment.” Actually, let’s call it what it is–a gag order.

Management is showing perfunctory fan fare, but when no current colleagues, especially one half of the famed anchor team, are permitted to speak about such a presence in New York, we’re left to scratch our heads.

In a terse statement, a WNBC spokesperson said, “Chuck is not available for interview.”

Even more shocking is that GM Michael Jack would not offer a comment as the face of WNBC.

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Today on the menu Steve and I talk about yesterday’s NYT‘s cuts, how to use HuffPo to become a “death of newspaper” blogger, and why my bracket situation is not getting any better.

Also, what we learned this week. Steve’s unsure whether he’s acquired any specific quarter-century wisdom beyond the fact Jack Cafferty thinks Obama’s drop in presser viewership is a non-issue. Everything I learned comes from these two amazing, highly recommended articles, which I read while not gazing at my computer screen. You can listen to all the past podcasts at BlogTalkRadio.com/mediabistro and call in at 646-929-0321.

Today on the menu we skipped our morning dose of caffeine and had a chat with straight-talking Jack Cafferty of CNN’s Cafferty Files instead. Cafferty, who has a new book coming out titled “Now or Never: Getting Down to the Business of Saving Our American Dream,” had plenty to say about Obama, and the press, and his lack of love for the “collection of morons” who were previously running the government. Cafferty says he loves that the Obama’s have put a heartbeat back in the White House but that it is far, far to early to be passing judgment on Obama’s presidency, despite the fact this sort of impatience is not just a characteristic of the press:

That’s convenient for everybody to say, ‘Oh it’s the media,’…But the fact of the matter is the American public is an impatient group of people and always has been.”

In case you are wondering, Cafferty does not Twitter, nor does he fill out brackets, though he has an interesting tale about a co-worker who does! You can listen to all the past podcasts at BlogTalkRadio.com/mediabistro and call in at 646-929-0321.

Nicole, Paris, Lindsay

With the L.A. media mired in Lindsay Loha-steria — and the national media, apart from Jack Cafferty, tolerating it — we thought we’d eat the last remaining table scraps of this story: who wore their mugshot better? Lindsay? Paris? Nicole? Let the mindless voting begin!

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