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At First Blush, Fans Forgive Dave

Scandal-tainted David Letterman rules in ratings and with devotees

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 2, 2009 10:31 AM CDT

(Newser) – David Letterman’s fans—at least the handful surveyed by the Daily News—agree: All is forgiven. In fact, his extortionist is the one who should be ashamed of himself. “We love Letterman no matter what he does. He brings us joy,” said a would-be audience member outside the Ed Sullivan Theater. Another sums up the sentiment with a shrug and a smile: "Everybody's doing it."

Letterman "looks younger in my eyes," says a third. "He's got some mojo now.”

  • Guess that answers the question Gawker blogger Andrew Belonsky poses: “Considering Letterman has long used affairs as punchlines, should we run him out of town?”
  • The scandal broke on what was already a landmark day for Letterman: Thanks to guest appearances by presidents Obama and Clinton, ratings for the Late Show were ahead of the Tonight Show's in the key 18-to-49 demographic for the first time in 4 years, Variety reports.
  • Letterman's accused extortionist was shelling out quite a bit for child support, according to court documents obtained by TMZ. Robert "Joe" Halderman was required to pay his ex-wife nearly $6,000 a month after their 2004 divorce.

President Barack Obama is pictured with host David Letterman during a break at a taping of CBS The Late Show with David Letterman, Monday, Sept. 21, 2009, at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York.
President Barack Obama is pictured with host David Letterman during a break at a taping of CBS The Late Show with David Letterman, Monday, Sept. 21, 2009, at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
In this Sept. 18, 2005 file photo Late night talk show host David Letterman makes a surprise appearance at the Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.
In this Sept. 18, 2005 file photo Late night talk show host David Letterman makes a surprise appearance at the Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, 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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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 28 comments
prowlerzee
Oct 3, 2009 8:29 AM CDT
vissequ, at least you name it for what it is. And he gave them monetary perks as well. I wonder what the colleagues think of the woman who got her law degree on Dave's dime? I'm sure there are Letterman staff who watched this sexual favoritism going on who are smirking their facial muscles sore these days!
prowlerzee
Oct 3, 2009 8:25 AM CDT
How sad is it that this super basic fact has to be explained to the young dimwits who feel compelled to repeat the same ignorant blather about how it's no one's "business" what Gutterman does in his private life. Screwing subordinates at work is not a "private life." DUH.
prowlerzee
Oct 3, 2009 8:22 AM CDT
Actually, wrong. BONG. It's very much his bosses' business that Gutterman was screwing subordinates. They should fire him.

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