New York — David Letterman has milked plenty of sex scandals for laughs. But it remains to be seen whether the CBS comic’s admission Thursday that he had sexual liaisons with female employees while he was involved with his now-wife, the mother of his five-year-old son, will fade away with a few late-night punch lines.
While Letterman focused on his role as the victim of a would-be extortionist who demanded $2 million to keep the details of his affairs secret, the episode sparked impassioned discussion Friday about sex in the workplace and hypocrisy.
After years of mocking other public figures for their sexual indiscretions, Letterman, 62, is now facing scrutiny for behavior that is verboten in many workplaces. Conservative critics, in particular, expressed disgust with the comedian, whose frequent potshots at former GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin — including a crude joke he made in June about one of her daughters — have infuriated many on the right.
“There is irony here,” commentator Michelle Malkin said on the Fox News morning show “Fox & Friends.” “It’s hard not to have a smidge of schadenfreude for somebody who’s shown contempt for women in public, in his monologues continuously and repeatedly, especially over the campaign, and how he’s treated Sarah Palin and her family.”
Effect on ratings
The episode comes as Letterman is enjoying newfound momentum in the late night television ratings race. With Conan O’Brien now hosting NBC’s “Tonight Show,” the CBS comic surged past his rival during the first week of the season, attracting an average of 5 million total viewers, up 28 percent compared with the same period last year. “Tonight Show” plunged 49 percent, to 2.4 million viewers. Preliminary ratings for Thursday’s show were up 22 percent over his average for the year.
Analysts said they don’t expect the revelations about his personal behavior to prompt many viewers to abandon him.
“Dave’s true audience is cynical,” said Kathy Sharpe, chief executive of the New York-based marketing company Sharpe Partners. “They may be a little disappointed, like, ‘Dave, how can you be so dumb?’ ... But they’ll still watch.”
In fact, by confronting the matter himself on the air, Letterman may have largely contained the damage, said John Rash, a TV programming analyst for the Minneapolis-based ad company Campbell Mithun.
“It makes him an even more compelling character,” he said. “Despite the circumstances, it actually humanizes him, which is different than his often-icy image.”
Extortion attempt
Indeed, most of the focus Friday remained on bizarre actions by the alleged extortionist, Robert Joel Halderman, a veteran producer at the CBS newsmagazine “48 Hours Mystery,” who left Letterman a letter and a proposed screenplay in the back seat of his car early the morning of Sept. 9, threatening to write a movie exposing the comic’s affairs. After attempting to cash a fake check for $2 million given to him by Letterman’s attorney, Halderman was arrested Thursday afternoon outside the CBS News offices on West 57th Street. He pleaded not guilty Friday to one count of attempted grand larceny in the first degree, a crime punishable by up to 5 to 15 years in prison. He has been suspended from CBS.
Public admission
Still, many were taken aback by the casual tone Letterman used to describe his sexual relationships with female employees. While saying that he felt “menaced” by Halderman during an extraordinary 10-minute-long segment on Thursday’s show, the comic did not express any contrition for cheating on his wife, Regina Lasko, who he dated for 23 years before their marriage in March.
“I have had sex with women who worked on this show,” he told the audience matter-of-factly. “And would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Perhaps it would. Especially for the women.”
Erin Matson, action vice president for the National Organization for Women, called Letterman’s jocularity offensive.
“That plays into same old sex stereotypes that men can do whatever but women should be ashamed of their sexuality,” she said. “We’re just disgusted that all these Hollywood men think they can do whatever they want.”
A spokesman for Worldwide Pants, Letterman’s production company, said the company’s sexual harassment policy does not prohibit sexual relationships between managers and employees.
“We have a written policy in our employee manual that covers harassment,” the spokesman said in a statement. “It is circulated to every employee every year. Dave is not in violation of our policy, and no one has ever raised a complaint against him.”
The spokesman declined to comment on how many women Letterman was involved with or the time span of the relationships.
Letterman may not have offered a politician’s apology for his behavior, but he handled the matter right out of a political playbook, said Dan Schnur, director of University of Southern California’s Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics and a veteran political strategist. “By bringing up the information himself rather than letting it come out from other sources and being forced to react to it, he did a lot to protect himself.”
Comments
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LogicMan (anonymous) says…
"CBS comic’s admission Thursday that he had sexual liaisons with female employees"
In most any other large corporation wouldn't this be grounds for termination? And massive legal liabilities for the parent company?
smitty (anonymous) says…
The women don't seem to be complaining.
bondmen (anonymous) says…
Looks like Sara Palin's daughter is going to get the last laugh,i.e., the best laugh.
I've heard Letterman's dilemma termed 'putting your meat where you get your potatoes' or 'getting caught with your pecker in the payroll'. Are there any better ones out there?
smitty (anonymous) says…
duhhh...The women are not complaining and they are adults.
Stephanie Birkitt has been identified as a former lover and one of the women involved in the David Letterman extortion plot. A source tells People there is another former staffer who was a lover as well.
Birkitt, Letterman's former assistant who has made several appearances on the "Late Show," lived with alleged blackmailer Robert "Joe" Halderman, who allegedly "was in possession of Birkitt's diary, correspondence and photos -- which he says incriminated Letterman,"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10...
Aside from being incredibly funny and personable he is generous, kind, and is great fun to play catch with. I really couldn't ask for a more fun work environment. Dave is truly the greatest boss I could ever have.
Liberty275 (anonymous) says…
I wonder if the employees his was liasoning got a little something extra in their patcheck every week?
As Mel Brooks noted on several occasions in at least one movie, "its good to be the king".
rbwaa (anonymous) says…
Take a chill pill Tom, you're going to give yourself a heart attack over these minuscule issues.
tomatogrower (anonymous) says…
This is the difference between conservatives and liberals, and why liberal talk radio fails. Conservatives like to get their opinions from and are obsessed with entertainers. Why is this even news? I'll bet FOX is all over it, ignoring the earthquakes, economy, and other real news.
jaywalker (anonymous) says…
This just in: humans have flaws. I know, I know. I'm shocked too.
toe (anonymous) says…
Letterman has another strange habit. Most people rate girls from 1 to 10. Letterman rates them from A to Z.
flicker (anonymous) says…
Don't you guys know it's acceptable for "cheating" in today's world (on your girlfriend in this case)?!? Clinton said so!.
tomatogrower (Anonymous) says…
"I'll bet FOX is all over it, ignoring the earthquakes, economy, and other real news".
___________________________________
Yep, another sheep.
smitty (anonymous) says…
For tomboy...
"Is being an idiot like being high all the time?"-Janeane Garafolo
pace (anonymous) says…
Real news, Single rich guy is abstinent. Real news top executive caught for blackmail. Real news, someone takes responsibility for own actions, no excuses offered.
Gootsie (anonymous) says…
I felt so bad for his wife when the announcement drew laughter. How awful for her.
beerguy (anonymous) says…
The guy could of made good money writing and selling a book instead of trying to use extortion, what an idiot.
beatrice (anonymous) says…
Tom, now any entertainer who isn't actually an elected or wanna-be elected Republican official is a representative for "progressives"?
I wonder how the many-times married, many times divorced, many times cheater Rush Limbaugh is reporting on this story? I wonder how people justify trying to crucify Letterman here when they voted for John "the cheater" McCain for president? What do Republicans consider to be the statute of limitations on adultery?
As far as Palin's daughter getting the last laugh, that would only be true were she not to have gotten knocked up when under age and living under the same roof of her "abstinence only sex education" mother. No matter what Letterman does, the Palin home will always be a beacon of light for why abstinence only does not work.
puddleglum (anonymous) says…
pecker in the payroll!
thanks for the weekend laughter.
i'll never forget that one.
you know, as many politicians and celebrities who cheat on their spouses as there are, are the faithful men out there (that's me, you know) becoming more desirable with women? or do they care?
just wondering.
Sigmund (anonymous) says…
Besides being older than most of his staff's creapy grandfathers who use to molest them, and working for a company that hires interns to sleep with their bosses, Dave's "Dumb Guy" routine just isn't funny anymore and his audience is so retarded they don't get it isn't a act anymore. The real reason Letterman didn't pay the $2,000,000, that is almost a half years worth of Viagra. Hopefully CBS pulls the plug on this aging hipster before he is caught wearing raincoats and exposing himself to school kids on playgrounds.
sinkorswim (anonymous) says…
Doesn't seem any of the women are speaking out and/or upset by this...at least not that I've heard so far. Who's to say Letterman's wife didn't already know about his relationships with the others? Maybe why they hadn't gotten married sooner? I think Dave and whatever women he was with are adults and capable of making decisions for themselves. I think the 48 Hours producer sounds like a jealous whack-job looking for some easy cash. Sounds like the producer is a doofus who flushed his career down the toilet. My main question is why was he reading her diary???
As for workplace romance, I think it happens often! I met my husband at work and we became involved while we were both employed by the same place. He was an assistant manager and I was a "regular" worker. Not drama, never felt coerced, no harrassment, etc. In fact, I'm pretty sure I encouraged him! :-)
somebodynew (anonymous) says…
sinkorswim - what a refreshing honest post. Now, before everyone unloads on me, I have no tolerance for superiors who manipulate their employess for anything (doesn't have to be sex), but it is good to hear that sometimes that is NOT the case and sometimes the women/men seek it out and will admit it.
Sigmund (anonymous) says…
sinkorswim (Anonymous) says… "Doesn't seem any of the women are speaking out and/or upset by this…at least not that I've heard so far. Who's to say Letterman's wife didn't already know about his relationships with the others?"
His "wife" Regina used to be his "staffer" (wink, wink, nod, nod) and the two women who have come forward in less than "48 Hours" were both interns and/or staffers. How many interns/staffers settled before the lawsuits were filed and agreed not to go public? How many are embarrassed they slept with "Creepy Dave" because they felt it was expected and they needed their jobs? How many more young interns were passed over or fired because they wouldn't put out? This isn't about Lecherous Letterman having an affair with an equal, it is about a pattern of being sexually involved subordinate employees.
sinkorswim (anonymous) says…
Sigmund -
You could very well be right! I don't know David Letterman or any of the women who are involved, I'm just wondering if we should jump to the conclusion that he was exercising power over unwilling subordinates. If he was, he's completely in the wrong. On the other hand, have you ever heard of people (men and women) who throw themselves at celebrities, politicians, etc., in an attempt to get close to them? Just trying to consider the situation from various perspectives.
In the meantime, still kind of creeped out by the diary-reading producer too... Maybe some trust and/or jealousy issues?
beatrice (anonymous) says…
Sigmund, while you might find Letterman creepy, others may not. Heck, I've read where people write of how sexy John McCain is, and all I can think is, "That albino raisin?" To each her own, as it were. Creepy or not, since nobody had filed any claims of sexual harassment against him prior to this, it is wrong to jump to that conclusion. Not saying he is a great guy, just that not being a great guy isn't always against the law.
Further, how upset were you when Bill O'Reilly had actual sexual harassment charges brought up against him? I don't recall your outrage then. In that case, O'Reilly and Fox News settled out of court. I suspect I also know which side of the Clarence Thomas / Anita Hill debacle you were on.
Is it just sexual harassment you don't like, or is it Letterman? I'm thinking he recently made a joke about Sarah Palin and her clan, so he is now on your list of "really bad people." As I told Ronda in a related story, it appears that you are letting your feelings about the person cloud your judgment of the situation.
Sigmund (anonymous) says…
Letterman has never been romantically/sexually linked to anyone expect to Merrill Markoe, Stephanie Birkittt, Regina Lasko, and Holly Hester all former writers, staffers, and interns. I always wondered what secrets Regina Lasko-Letterman had on Dave that he finally broke down and married her on March 19, 2009, besides Harry Joseph his 6 year old son. I'm not saying Regina is a homely woman, but I heard that Kennel Club Monthly refused to print her picture and that even Michael Vick felt sorry for her.
http://nextbigtrends.com/hot-today/re...
Sigmund (anonymous) says…
beatrice (Anonymous) says… "Sigmund, Further, how upset were you when Bill O'Reilly had actual sexual harassment charges brought up against him?"
Not to defend anyone, least of all Bill O'Reilly, or put too fine a point on it, but O'Reilly sued Mackris for extortion claiming that Mackris had threatened to charge him for sexual harassment unless he paid her more than $60 million. Neither claimed having sex with the other and since then no other women have come forward. But if your point is Bill O'Reilly is creepy, agreed. Bill leads Dave in amount $60 million vs. $2 million, but Dave leads Bill in numbers, 4 to 1. I'll give Bill one point even though he has never admitted the harassment.
beatrice (anonymous) says…
Sigmund: "I always wondered what secrets Regina Lasko-Letterman had on Dave that he finally broke down and married her on March 19, 2009, besides Harry Joseph his 6 year old son. I'm not saying Regina is a homely woman, but I heard that Kennel Club Monthly refused to print her picture and that even Michael Vick felt sorry for her."
Weak, and childish.
Sigmund (anonymous) says…
beatrice (Anonymous) says… "Weak, and childish."
You would have loved my "Top Ten Reasons To Become a Late Night Intern." It was very, very strong material, and real classy just like Dave.
bondmen (anonymous) says…
Late Night monologue, Jimmy Fallon said, “There’s a new book out called Why Women Have Sex that has a list of the 237 reasons why women have sex, and Letterman knows the top ten.”
Bill Maher said, “I’ve never had sex with members of my staff — the guests, yes, of course, but not the staff.” He also said, “Hey, next to Roman Polanski and Mackenzie Phillips’ dad, I think Dave looks pretty good.”
Jay Leno didn’t waste any time taking advantage of the David Letterman controversy. His first joke last night? “If you came here tonight for sex with a talk-show host, you’re in the wrong studio.”
“I have never had sexual relations with any of my staff,” Leno said — and then a drummer in his band stalked offstage, feigning anger, as though he was a wronged lover. Bandleader Kevin Eubanks played along: “Jay, you’re messin’ around on me?”
Switching to the Letterman’s extortionist, Leno said, “This guy was a producer for 48 Hours. It coulda been worse; at least he wasn’t a producer for ‘To Catch a Predator.’”
Arianna Huffington was determined to squeeze in a jokey comment: “If you’re going to be have sex with people who work for you, you have to be David Letterman.”
Conan O’Brien refrained from any Dave remarks, but that genial loose-cannon Drew Carey, Conan’s first guest, came out and said merrily, “Man, I would hate to be on opposite Letterman tonight with all that sex stuff.” “No comment,” said Conan quietly.