Letterman Scandal Is Ratings Gold

Birkitt penned series of 'Dear Dave' letters, plus more on extortion

(NEWSER) - It’s only a matter of time before Stephanie Birkitt’s “trashy” love letters to David Letterman become public. Sadly, “we’re not talking crazy sexual escapades,” a source tells the New York Daily News. “It’s her musings about them. It’s trash.” More on the Letterman fiasco:

• Sure, the situation is unpleasant, but CBS must be happy at the ratings bump Letterman’s late-night confessionals are causing. Monday’s show saw a 36% increase in viewers over the week prior, Reuters reports.

(NEWSER) - After months of promoting Jay Leno's move to 10pm, NBC may shake up its prime-time schedule again, moving its late local news to 10 and Leno to 10:30, the network's onetime programming head speculates. Garth Ancier, now chief of BBC America, shared his speculation with critics at the summer press tour this week in Los Angeles, Washington Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes reports. More»

Plus: Late Show host did not violate company guidelines with affairs

(NEWSER) - Nope, the David Letterman extortion story didn’t lose momentum over the weekend. From fans to fellow talk show hosts, everyone’s still talking:

• “If we are now holding late-night talk-show hosts to the same moral accountability as we hold politicians or clergymen, I'm out,” said Letterman follow-up—and underling—Craig Ferguson on last night’s Late Late Show, calling his boss “the king of late-night television.”

Late Show host still glad he pushed back against alleged extortionist

(NEWSER) - David Letterman wasn’t planning to talk anymore about his extortion scandal, “but it seems like people want to talk about it,” he said on last night’s Late Show. After apologizing to the staff for subjecting them to “hounding” from reporters, he made it clear that, “No, I’m not having sex with these women. Those episodes are in the past.” He then moved on to his wife, who “has been horribly hurt by my behavior.” More»

Scandal-tainted David Letterman rules in ratings and with devotees

(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." More»