On Friday, WNBC marked the end of an era: after 32 years, Sue Simmons anchored her final newscast at the station. On Monday, as Shiba Russell assumed Simmons’s longtime spot next to Chuck Scarborough, it was business as usual, right down to Scarborough’s tie and pocket square.
WNBC made no mention of the anchor change during Russell’s first 11 p.m. newscast Monday. And, in what was either a wardrobe oversight or a crafty way to smooth the transition from Simmons to Russell, Scarborough appeared to be wearing the exact same outfit, down to the bright pink pocket square, on Monday night as he did Friday.
According to sources, station management had wanted Simmons to participate in an on-air passing of the baton, but that never happened. Instead, during her final newscast, Simmons made it clear that she didn’t want to leave.
Here’s video of Russell’s 11 o’clock debut…