It's open season on WNBC anchor Sue Simmons, though it's not like she didn't bring it upon herself.

The Times goes pretty easy on her, rounding up New Yorkers' reactions to her "What the fuck are you doing?" line, while ducking around what she actually said. (Family paper and all.) [NYT] There's also the official excuse, which was that Simmons was talking to co-anchor Chuck Scarborough in "mock derision," since he was looking at his computer screen and not paying attention during the live promo spot.

And then there's the Post's take, which involves alcohol.

Salty Sue Simmons, who shocked Channel 4 viewers with a four-letter tirade, is famous for her liquid dinners between broadcasts, potty mouth and zany behavior, former co-workers told The Post yesterday. [...]

"Sue Simmons likes the sauce and she can be cranky about it," a former WNBC employee told The Post. "She was sometimes a little tipsy [on the air] to the point where colleagues would take notice."

Simmons anchors Channel 4's 5 p.m. newscast, and then has time to pass until 11 p.m.

Those hours are regularly spent at Midtown watering holes like Gallagher's steakhouse and Jean Georges, witnesses said.

"I wouldn't say she gets sloshed - sloshed, that wouldn't be the right word," a Gallagher's employee said, gesturing to the back booths where Simmons typically takes her between-show breaks.

"I would say she gets happy. She gets very happy." [NYP]