FOX 5'S APPLEGATE BLOWS HER COOL

July 28, 2006 -- 'GOOD Day New York" anchor Jodi Applegate had an on-air
meltdown yesterday when a pair of Internet pranksters simulated an
unexpected power-tool mishap on the live show.
Casey and Van Neistat, film-maker brothers, were supposed to be
demonstrating how to steal a bicycle. Instead, they pulled a fast one on
Applegate when Casey made it appear as if his brother had slashed his
throat with an electric grinder.

Applegate did not see the humor in it and immediately cut the pair off
the air.

"I'm apologizing that got out over the air at all," a fuming Applegate
said from behind her anchor desk upon returning from a commercial break.

"We just wanted to spice up an otherwise boring newscast," one of the
jokers, Casey Neistat, told The Post yesterday.

Neistat, 25, and his older brother, Van, 31, caught the attention of
"GDNY" producers with their video about how easy it is to steal a bike in
New York City.

The Neistats, clad in white lab coats, were invited to demonstrate one of
the methods on the show yesterday in front of Fox 5's Upper East Side
studio.

As Applegate watched on the sidewalk nearby, Van began to saw through the
chain with an electric grinder, while Casey offered analysis. What
Applegate missed was that Casey was hiding packs of ketchup in his fist.

When he leaned in close to the grinder, Casey suddenly shrieked as if he
was injured and popped the ketchup packs, smearing the red sauce across
his throat before collapsing on the sidewalk screaming.

Seconds later, he was on his feet laughing, "We were just kidding," but
Applegate was already yelling at them as the camera panned around the
scene wildly.

"No!" Applegate shouted. "We were trying to do a serious thing here, and
this is not funny.

"Do not - do not be upset," she told viewers.

Applegate's protracted, angry reaction to what appeared to be a silly
stunt struck many as being out of proportion.

A Ch. 5 spokesman said that Applegate's tirade was the anchor simply
"doing her job" and that the station was not going to "tolerate that kind
of behavior."