New York Anchorman Ernie Anastos: “Keep f*cking that chicken”

By Jessica Madison on September 17th, 2009

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Last night longtime Channel 5 New York news anchor, Ernie Anastos, brought a little added excitement to the set after a short exchange with weatherman Nick Gregory in which Anastos said, “Keep fucking that chicken.” Confused? Well, the full story doesn’t help much more I’m afraid, but here it goes all the same.

The setup:
Directly after Fox’s Glee, it’s the WNYW’s ten o’clock news – broadcasting throughout the entire New York metro area. Nick Gregory has just finished his weather report.

The exchange:
Ernie Anastos: “I guess it takes a tough man to make a tender forecast.”
Nick Gregory (sheepishly): “I guess that’s me.”
(laughter)
Ernie Anastos: “Keep fucking that chicken.”
Co-Anchor Dari Alexander: *bug-eyed-uhh-what?-face*

And SCENE

The broadcast continued with no further mention of the incident and that was that. Well, that is until the clip made its way to YouTube and Facebook, then becoming viral this morning. Now it’s everywhere. Most commentators are describing the scene as a “bizarre nonsequitur”, but I don’t know if I buy that. You don’t just say, “Keep fucking that chicken,” for no reason do you? I think there’s a deeper story here.

What do you think?