News Anchor Latest to Make On-Air Blunder

N.Y. Fox anchor Ernie Anastos drops the F-bomb on live TV, and apologizes.

ByABC News
September 17, 2009, 5:05 PM

Sept. 18, 2009— -- Oops!

We've all had an "oops" moment in which we've put our foot in our mouth or said the wrong thing. When you're on television, that moment gets magnified, and if it goes viral, well, the moment could last forever.

On Wednesday night, New York Fox 5 news anchor Ernie Anastos became the latest TV personality to see his "oops" moment memorialized. During the 10 p.m. newscast, while bantering with weathercaster Nick Gregory, Anastos dropped the F-bomb.

Their exchange went something like this:

"I guess it takes a tough man to make a tender forecast," Anastos said to Gregory.

"I guess that's me," a bewildered Gregory replied.

Both men shared a chuckle, then the 66-year-old anchorman shocked his colleagues and the audience at home when he said, "Keep f***ing that chicken."

Stunned co-anchor Dari Alexander grimaced straight into the camera before going to commercial.

Exactly what Anastos meant was not clear, but Thursday afternoon Fox 5 issued a statement to ABCNews.com: "We are disappointed with Ernie's comment on the air last night. He will apologize for his use of inappropriate language tonight during 'Fox 5 News at 10 p.m.'"

Halfway through Thursday night's newscast, Anastos, once again sitting between Alexander and Gregory, turned to the camera and said: "I misspoke during last night's newscast. I apologize to anyone who might have been offended."

Apparently, the legendary co-anchor has had his share of on-air blunders. Once, he mispronounced the station's own Web site as "myFoxNY.c**k."

ABCNews.com has pulled together some other memorable television blunders from the past year:

Comedian D-lister Kathy Griffin was naughty on New Year's 2009 during a live broadcast on CNN with Anderson Cooper.

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Stunned co-anchor Dari Alexander grimaced straight into the camera before going to commercial.

Exactly what Anastos meant was not clear, but Thursday afternoon Fox 5 issued a statement to ABCNews.com: \"We are disappointed with Ernie's comment on the air last night. He will apologize for his use of inappropriate language tonight during 'Fox 5 News at 10 p.m.'\"

Halfway through Thursday night's newscast, Anastos, once again sitting between Alexander and Gregory, turned to the camera and said: \"I misspoke during last night's newscast. I apologize to anyone who might have been offended.\"

Apparently, the legendary co-anchor has had his share of on-air blunders. Once, he mispronounced the station's own Web site as \"myFoxNY.c**k.\"

ABCNews.com has pulled together some other memorable television blunders from the past year:

Comedian D-lister Kathy Griffin was naughty on New Year's 2009 during a live broadcast on CNN with Anderson Cooper.

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