TV Anchor's Flub Turns into Catch Phrase

(AP)  A veteran New York City news anchor flubs a line and an obscene catch phrase goes viral on the Internet.

Ernie Anastos of Fox affiliate WNYW was bantering with the weatherman Wednesday night when he cheerfully dropped an F-bomb on the air. What he likely intended to say was, "Keep plucking that chicken."

Anastos didn't appear to recognize the error, though co-anchor Dari Alexander's eyes bugged out after he said it.

Just before the flub, Anastos told weatherman Nick Gregory, "It takes a tough man to make a tender forecast," a play on an old chicken commercial.

Videos of the mistake circulated widely online Thursday, as the phrase took on a life of its own.

Fox isn't laughing, though. The vice president and general manager of WNYW, Lew Leone, said he's "disappointed" in Anastos' comment and the anchor will apologize on the air Thursday evening.

Anastos, an Emmy-winning anchor, has been a mainstay on New York's evening news for more than three decades.

Another longtime New York anchor, Sue Simmons, last year inadvertently cursed as she did a teaser for WNBC's newscast and the wrong footage was being shown.

[rf35]

Didn't South Park do an episode about that?

[rmonroe401]

yea, plucked, sureeee

[gerryrigger]

Foxnews, it's alright. He was referring to a hen. No go fox your selves.

[texanforlogi]

Of course it was a mistake.

And I laughed so hard I shot coffee out my nose! Isn't life hilarious!

[antoniof123]

LOL.........

Too funny!!!!!!!!


:)

[tunaatlast]

come on, get over it. he made mistake, when I look at him he seems to be human. that is the nature of humans to make mistakes.

[bubbadubba]

The phrase the guy used refers to the right wingers who worship people like Limbaugh, Hannity, and Beck and other chicken hawks.

[why_ma_raner]

This is the best promotion for this newscast Fox could get! The only reason the Fox execs are saying how disappointed they are is to bring more attention to this. You know how many people are going to start watching this guy every night to see if he screws up again? He probably did it on purpose. His ratings will go through the roof. Now all he needs to do is have a breakdown on the air. "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!". Where else but Fox?

[orinfagel]

There was a time when that "F" word was common in language and it meant to plant...as in plant seeds.

[MalloryDavis]

And these big EXEC Guys probably say THAT WORD several times a day. So he made a mistake....BIG EFFING DEAL!!!!!