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Palin May Give Letterman an Accidental Boost

Is Palin to Letterman what Hugh Grant was to Leno?

By Amelia Atlas,  Newser User

Posted Jun 14, 2009 9:33 AM CDT
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(Newser) – David Letterman's recent skirmish with Sarah Palin might be just what the late night host needs, reports the AP. Just as a repentant Hugh Grant, post-prostitution bust, launched Jay Leno into the ratings stratosphere in 1995, so might the Palin flap put Letterman back on top. And her timing is impeccable—all eyes turned toward Dave as new rival Conan O'Brien entered his crucial second week.

Palin has refused invitations to appear on the show in the wake of Letterman's joke about her daughter getting "knocked up" by Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez, but the AP thinks the fallout will likely help Letterman pull more viewers than Tonight for the first time since 2005. But though one experts cedes the advantage to Conan—"By and large, late-night comedy is a young wise-guy's business," he says—there's nothing like a good old fashioned feud to boost the oldster.

In this photo released by CBS, actress Julia Roberts laughs as she holds host David Letterman's hand on the set of the Late Show with David Letterman, Tuesday, June 9, 2009 in New York.
In this photo released by CBS, actress Julia Roberts laughs as she holds host David Letterman's hand on the set of the "Late Show with David Letterman," Tuesday, June 9, 2009 in New York.   (AP Photo/CBS, John Paul Filo)
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin arrives at a Republican congressional fundraiser, with husband Todd Palin, Monday, June 8, 2009, in Washington.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin arrives at a Republican congressional fundraiser, with husband Todd Palin, Monday, June 8, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
In this Feb. 11, 2009 file photo, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin listens to a question during a news conference, in Juneau, Alaska.
In this Feb. 11, 2009 file photo, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin listens to a question during a news conference, in Juneau, Alaska.   (AP Photo/Chris Miller, File)
In this image originally provided by CBS, David Letterman appears on the Late Show with David Letterman, in this Oct. 8, 2007, file photo, in New York.
In this image originally provided by CBS, David Letterman appears on the "Late Show with David Letterman," in this Oct. 8, 2007, file photo, in New York.   (AP Photo/John Paul Filo, CBS, File)
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David Letterman responds to the question of whether his jokes about Palin's daughter were out-of-line.   (youtube.com)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
lindamae
Jun 15, 2009 4:30 AM CDT
Wow! I can't believe all of you are into having sex with 14 year old girls. Letterman mentioned A-Rod and Spitzer (who dated child prostitutes?) in his jokes. All politicians have their children with them during a campaign. I saw pictures of Obama's girls all the time. Palin is not to blame. Also, it is nice that you are so against Bristol's pregnancy. I take it you were all virgins on your wedding nights. The hypocrisy is overwhelming. Go to your own personal porno site if you really think Letterman was justified in hurting a child in order to make a few jabs at her mother. He's smeared Palin 95 times since her first speech. He's terrified of her experience and popularity. If you visit the Alaska state web site, you can learn a little about what she really stands for. Or, you can remain ignorant and keep drooling over the little girls. Do you think Obama's 12 year old should be joked about sexually as well? Don't say Letterman didn't know - he and his staff are paid too much not to. Letterman is in NY and so were the Palins. He knew they were at the game. Willow looks more like a 12 year old than 14. Perhaps that is what turns you all on. Yetch. Gross. Hope you have no kids, nieces or granddaughters.
drlarrymitchell
Jun 14, 2009 7:10 AM CDT
Sarah Palin is mad again, because the world knows that she is both the joke and the punchline, and she is too pig-ignorant to accept as much and kindly go away. She lives in her own little world where nothing matters but her, and she's mad because David Letterman made a few jokes at her expense, and some of that comedic jizz spilled over onto her lovely daughter. You know, the lovely daughter no one in America knew about until Palin herself shoved her down our throats. No, not that one- the OTHER daughter. You know. Whats-her-face. Trick? Trogg? Trip-Trap? Oh, it will come to me. Sarah Palin is a media whore. She is a demonstrably ignorant bumblefuck hillbilly, and she paraded her kids on the political stage during the campaign and put her unmarried, pregnant teenage daughter out there to be gawked at and commented on. So now what the hell is her problem when someone makes a comment? Dave has always been a smart-ass and makes fun of everything with a tongue in cheek sort of humor, so she needs to get over herself. That mama bear act ain't working! She won't go on Letterman because she couldn't handle his quick wit and snarky comments. She wouldn't be a very good guest anyway because she doesn't have a high enough IQ to give Dave any sort of snappy reparte. Palin dragged baby Trig, the one with Down's syndrome, all over the stage during the campaign, as if he were some rag doll. I have no respect at all for that woman. If what I've said offends you...Maybe you NEED to be offended. :
dolcevita
Jun 14, 2009 6:40 AM CDT
Just another example of the lack of humor, judgment, and perspective this "governor" exhibits. Palin is a tacky manipulator. Vote her out of office! She who points the finger at others is trying to hide what she herself is responsible for.

Letterman joke went too far: Levi
Us Weekly

 
Hugh Grant • Jay Leno • late night talk show • Conan O'Brien • David Letterman • Sarah Palin

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