It’s hard to keep a good anchor down. Sue Simmons left WNBC Friday after 32 years in the anchor seat next to Chuck Scarborough. As we reported Monday, Shiba Russell, with Channel 4 since February 2011, assumes the 11 p.m.  co-anchoring duties.

But not so fast. As sister site TVSpy notes, the graphic at the start of last night’s broadcast had Simmons instead of Russell.

While it’s probably just a technical glitch, Monday night was a touch more surreal. Observant watchers, especially TVSpy, noticed Scarborough wearing virtually the ensemble for Simmons’ farewell as he did for Russell’s first official night at 11 p.m. One way to forge a seemingless transition, the Dean of Local News Anchors wore what appears to have been the same tie and pocket square.

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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Here’s a look at what FishbowlNY stories made the most buzz this week.

1. YES Network’s Michael Kay (left) Goes to Blows on Twitter with College Student, June 7
2. Longtime Mets Announcers Howie Rose and Gary Cohen Bask in Franchise’s First No-Hitter, June 2
3. Sue Simmons Final Day at WNBC is June 15, June 4
4. Roger Ailes Cancels Paper Subscription Out of Spite, June 1
5. Gawker Changes Commenting System (Again), Commenters Go Crazy (Again), June 4
6. Jonah Lehrer Departs Wired for The New Yorker, June 5

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The countdown is on until Sue Simmons leaves one of the most popular anchor teams ever to grace New York televisions.

Simmons’ 32-year career at WNBC/Channel 4 concludes Friday, June 15 during the 11 p.m. newscast opposite her longtime on-air partner, Chuck Scarborough, FishbowlNY has learned.

As we reported in March, Simmons, 69, was not offered a new contract. The station has not named a successor.

Simmons, on vacation this week, returns next week for her WNBC swan song and expected sendoff.

Despite some on-air missteps, glorified by YouTube, Simmons is a New York institution, winning four Emmy Awards since joining Channel 4 in 1980. Although best known for her work alongside Scarborough, Simmons also is remembered for her long stint anchoring Live at Five, which featured a mix of news and interviews.

Sue Simmons is leaving WNBC/Channel 4 next month. Therefore, time is running for her to make on-air bloopers. But fear not, Simmons found time for a new faux pas last night.

Immediately following Smash, as the 11 p.m. newscast opened, Simmons, apparently, unaware of the working mics, was caught saying,” Well, it took a bad hop. It hit me in my breast.”

This was heard as the Channel 4 logo flashed across the screen. Making it even worse for the broadcast giant, the scene quickly shifted to video from Sunday’s deadly car accident at the Bronx Zoo.

Co-anchor Chuck Scarborough, in effect, scolded his longtime partner, simply saying, “Are we on?”

Simmons quieted down, as Scarborough transitioned into the serious news of the night.

It’s a bittersweet anniversary for Chuck Scarborough, who marks an incredible 38 years at WNBC March 25. Earlier this month, his on-air “better half,” Sue Simmons was canned by Channel 4 after 32 years. Her contract wasn’t renewed, but Scarborough’s was for additional three years. That means if he finishes out his new pact, Scarborough will be with WNBC until he’s 71.

Scarborough has dozens of Emmy Awards to his credit, and fittingly he and Simmons are charter members of the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.

Scarborough has been the face of the station through various set redesigns and rebrandings. In those halcyon days of the 1970s, he helmed the NewsCenter 4 look, bringing the feel of Star Trek’s Enterprise to 30 Rock. (See below for a Scarborough news update from 1979.)

By the 1980s, it was time for the more subdued News 4 New York, while in the 1990s it was NewsChannel 4. In 2008, WNBC returned to News 4 New York with new graphics.

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WNBC is set for live coverage of the 251st annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Channel 4 has four hours of parade festivities Saturday, as participants travel along Fifth Avenue to 86th Street.

This year’s hosts include Tommy Smyth, ESPN’s renowned soccer analyst and commentator, Treasa Smyth, host of Ireland Calls and Chris Cahill, executive director/Institute of American Irish Studies at Pace University, and New York Live‘s Jane Hanson.  Tom Llamas, who co-anchors the noon and 5 p.m. newscasts, will interview dignitaries along the parade route.

Serving as Grand Marshal for this year’s parade is Francis X. Comerford, chief revenue officer and president of commercial operations for the NBC Owned Television Stations.

WNBC will stream the parade live , and it will also be available on mobile devices at nbcnewyork.com.

With the state of broadcasting linked to state of the economy, cost-cutting of talent is commonplace. So it’s nice to see a good, old-fashioned retirement!

Don Gould did that Sunday, in walking away from his weekend morning sportscasting role on WINS for the next phase of his career in South Florida. 

It was earlier this year that Sid Rosenberg, while living in Miami, was dismissed from his weekday morning sports duties on WINS. That coupled with Gould’s move south would indicate WINS and Total Traffic (formerly Shadow/Metro) management’s preference to keep its entire staff in one location.

Nevertheless, Gould, who turned the official retirement age of 65 Sunday, says the hours were wearing thin.

His WINS stint started in 2006, after Gould met with then-executive editor Mark Mason. Even though the talent was paid by Shadow/Metro, Mason cast a big “shadow” over the hiring process.  While breaking bread at a diner, Gould, although flattered, told the longtime radio programmer that it may not be the right match.

“I don’t do sports the way everybody else does sports,” Gould recalls.

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Here’s a look at what FishbowlNY stories made the most buzz this week.

1. NY1′s Pat Kiernan (left) Auditions for Dream Job, Co-Hosting Live, March 6
2. Sue Simmons Out at WNBC After More Than Three Decades, March 7
3. Nick Cannon, Former NOW Morning Host, Battling Autoimmune Disease, March 5
4. O, The Oprah Magazine Has No Love for Stedman, March 8
5. WNYW’s Julie Chang Handicaps American Idol, March 7
6. Veteran Sports Anchor Len Berman Resurfaces at Channel 5, March 2

Keep up-to-date with the latest FishbowlNY news. Click here to sign-up for the FishbowlNY daily newsletter, bringing you our articles each afternoon directly to your inbox.