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

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At First Blush, Fans Forgive Dave — 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)

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.

(More David Letterman stories.)

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