exclaiming, "The fuck are you doing?" It was later revealed that her remark was directed at distracted co-anchor Chuck Scarborough. She later apologized on-air for her inappropriate language. The incident has been mocked in several sketches on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman. The clip was later featured in a 2021 episode of HBO's Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Simmons has stated that she was normally notified proactively when the show was broadcasting live, because she had a reputation for being caught on the air during candid moments. On that particular occasion, she had not been notified, and she uttered the profanity while attempting to get the attention of Scarborough, who was preoccupied with his computer. Back surgery In November and December 2010, Simmons was away from her job while she underwent back surgery. On January 3, 2011, she returned to work. However, when she returned from surgery she was no longer a part of the 6 p.m. newscast and only co-anchored the 11 p.m. newscast. Acting Sue Simmons made her acting debut as herself in the fourteenth season premiere episode of the NBC legal drama, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Simmons went on to guest star as herself on NBC comedy series 30 Rock. She has also appeared in other television series and films in the role of a newscaster, including: The First Wives Club (1996), Exiled: A Law & Order Movie (1998) and Elementary (2012). References External links 1942 births American television reporters and correspondents Television anchors from Baltimore Living people Television anchors from New York City Television anchors from Washington, D.C. American women television journalists Julia Richman Education Complex alumni 21st-century American women