For 32 years, Sue Simmons has been teamed with Chuck Scarborough, forging an on-air partnership for the ages at WNBC/Channel 4. But that’s apparently going to be history in a matter of months. The New York Post’s Cindy Adams reports that the 68-year-old Simmons’ contract is not being renewed and she learned about the career-altering news last week.

Adams, who has remained friends with Simmons since she was a contributor on Live at Five in the 1980s, says this was entirely NBC’s decision, adding that Simmons, a four-time Emmy winner would have gladly re-upped.

Scarborough, whose contract also expires in June, got a new three-year package as the station’s lead anchor. That will keep him busy until he’s 71.

In January, Simmons returned to the air after missing two months from back surgery. However, she was greeted with the 11 p.m. newscast only, opposite Scarborough. Gone was the 6 p.m. that Scarborough still flies solo.

At the time, a station spokesperson told FishbowlNY that it was Simmons’ decision to gradually ease herself back into the flow. But Adams says Simmons was “bounced” from the 6 p.m. Read more

First, we had the poll showing Chuck Scarborough and Sue Simmons were the all-time number one anchor team in your hearts. Now,  it’s time to choose the best radio team in New York City. Whether in news (several tandems from Newsradio 880), sports (Mike and the Mad Dog), or morning teams (Dr. Dre´ and Ed Lover; Scott and Todd) 

As always, you can add any additional selections below. The poll closes Thursday at 6 p.m. We’ll have the results on Friday.

FishbowlNY readers rallied behind our poll for the All-Time Anchor Team. No doubt it brought a flood of memories from a bygone era.

Rolland Smith, for example, was the only personality selected for working with three different co-anchors during his 17 years at WCBS/Channel 2: Jim Jensen, Dave Marash, and Michele Marsh.

Here’s the Top 5 countdown of your picks for New York’s All-Time Anchor Team.

5. Rolland Smith and Jim Jensen — 4 percent of the vote. (1975 to 1987)

4. Smith and Michele Marsh — 7 percent (1979 to 1987)

3. Jim Watkins and Kaity Tong — 9 percent (1998 to 2010)

2. Roger Grimsby and Bill Beutel — 26 percent (1970 to 1986)

and at number 1….was there really any surprise?

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As we get ready to usher in 2012, let’s take one more look at the biggest broadcasting stories that FishbowlNY covered in 2011.

In January, Scott Clark closes out a brilliant career at WABC, retiring after nearly a quarter-century at Channel 7.

Maurice DuBois makes his debut as WCBS/Channel 2 lead anchor when he is promoted to nights opposite Kristine Johnson. Chris Wragge shifts his energy to The Early Show, but that wasn’t the last we would hear from him.

Also as 2011 began, veteran radio talk host Curtis Sliwa adds an afternoon shift to his Apple/WNYM duties.

In February, among the notable events, WNBC/Channel 4 welcomes home Shiba Russell from Boston. She was named weekend anchor with David Ushery. Russell fueled speculation that she was Sue Simmons’ “heir apparent,” as the main (if not exclusive) fill-in for the legendary anchor, who started at Channel 4 in 1980.

On the radio, Craig Allen, a veteran in his own right, agrees to a three-year extension as WCBS 880’s chief meteorologist. Two months later, Allen marked 30 years at the station.

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It’s that time of the year—time for buying Christmas trees, and subsequently decorating them with all the trimmings. Our Jewish friends are digging out the menorahs, and making sure they have enough candles.

But it’s also the season for countless awards. FishbowlNY is no exception, as we present our 2^nd annual Barmash Awards, honoring the local TV news scene here in New York.

As the title indicates, there is no committee making these decisions—just one co-editor.

While our intention isn’t to specifically balance the award winners, it does show the enormous talent we have to choose from across the dial.

Best Newscast (morning)

The chemistry works perfectly between WABC/Channel 7 veterans Lori Stokes and Ken Rosato. Stokes, though, brings that special connection to morning viewers. Stokes has a warm and friendly demeanor as she virtually “wakes” up people each day. Bill Evans is one of the best TV meteorogists, only falling short in the overall category to a colleague.

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It’s another week with Jersey Shore taking hold of the top prime time spot in New York. The popular MTV reality show, now in its fourth season, had an estimated 1.1 million viewers and a 5.3 rating, according to the Nielsen Company.

While the Jersey Shore gang was hanging out in Italy, Hurricane Irene was bearing down on the Jersey Shore.

Every local TV station went non-stop throughout the weekend with storm coverage.

WNBC/Channel 4, had the highest rating (tied for second) among its competitors. A large reason for that can be attributed to three words–Chuck and Sue.

The long-running anchor team of Chuck Scarborough and Sue Simmons (more than 30 years) was at the helm for coverage Saturday night (596,000/3.0).

WABC/Channel 7, with veteran Bill Ritter and Sade Baderinwa, took fifth place (568,000/2.8) for the Saturday evening 4-segment of Irene.

WNYW/Channel 5, although not on the survey for Saturday coverage, did crack the Top 10 for its regular Ernie Anastos/Dari Alexander 10 p.m. newscast on Thursday (480,000/2.4) and Friday (510,000/2.5) as preparations got underway.

WCBS/Channel 2 anchored by Maurice DuBois and Kristine Johnson, landed at number 16 (405,000/2.0) for a one-hour portion Saturday night (9-10 p.m.)

More from the Top 10 after the jump

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As Hurricane Irene churned in the Atlantic with a bulls-eye at New York City’s back, TV stations went into non-stop coverage throughout the weekend.

The category-one storm made her first landfall early Saturday morning in Cape Lookout, North Carolina as stations began their wall-to-wall mode.

Accentuating the serious nature of the story, virtually every anchor was on the air.

WNYW’s Dari Alexander was one of the few anchors not seen during the weekend coverage. She was last seen by viewers on Friday night. Her 10 p.m. colleague Ernie Anastos (above, center) made his first appearance at 3 p.m. Sunday with co-anchor Christina Park, as the storm weakened significantly.

But Channel 5 did have its Good Day team, Rosanna Scotto and Greg Kelly, in place. However, much of Scotto’s screen time during the weekend was with WNYW’s newest member–Steve Lacy, and not her “TV husband” Kelly.

Kelly and Scotto were together Saturday, helping provide of the special moments.

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The tragedy of 9/11, which of course started in the morning, was one of those rare breaking news stories when nighttime anchors were pressed into action.

One by one, the highest of high-profile anchors were on the air at the height of the disaster.

We begin our special Fishbowl series 9/11: New York Remembers by reexamining the 9/11 attacks with the Holy Trinity of New York anchors: Ernie Anastos, WNYW/Channel 5 (then with WCBS/Channel 2), Bill Ritter, WABC/Channel 7, and Chuck Scarborough, WNBC/Channel 4.

Bill Ritter, who lives in Manhattan, had the easiest trek to WABC’s Upper West Side studios. He got a call from his producer after the first plane struck the north tower at the World Trade Center. Even before knowing the full extent, Ritter was making his way to WABC.

Thanks to a short commute, Ritter (above, with Diana Williams during WABC’s 9/11 coverage) was on the air just after 10 a.m.—meaning he was describing to viewers as the second tower imploded.

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WNBC/Channel 4, which previously decided to bring back its 5 p.m. newscast, has named its anchor team. 

Shiba Russell (right), a weekend co-anchor with David Ushery, joins Tom Llamas for the new one-hour newscast, beginning September 12th.

“A new, one hour newscast at 5 p.m. will offer viewers a compelling choice for local news,” said Susan Sullivan, WNBC, Vice President of News. ”The selection as anchors of Shiba Russell and Tom Llamas, two award-winning journalists, is essential to ensuring the effective delivery of the critical local news and information that is so vital to our viewers.”

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Carol Jenkins was a top-notch broadcast journalist for several decades in New York. She is most remembered for her nearly quarter-century at WNBC as an anchor and reporter.

Since leaving the business a decade ago, Jenkins wrote a book and started formulating a second one.

“I thought I was going to have this grand producing career,” Jenkins admits. “My timing wasn’t [good]. I started trying to do documentaries just as reality television [took off].”

But her pet project was being a founding president of the Women’s Media Center.

Always an advocate for more women in newsrooms, Jenkins had the perfect forum for her cause.

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