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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: Late Show

Late Show stories: 34 news summaries

1 - 20 of 34 Stories | 1 2 Next >>

SURPRISE, SURPRISE

 Letterman Scandal 
 Is Ratings Gold 

That and Leno's exit make erstwhile underdog late night winner

(Newser) - David Letterman’s scandalous admission of intraoffice sex and his role in a blackmail scheme appear to have titillated audiences. CBS’ Late Show is up 13% in total viewership for the season over last year. Sure, Dave is off 8% in the adults 18-to-49 demographic, but that’s nothing... More »

BEHIND THE SCENES

 Blackmailer Read 
 Letterman All Wrong  

He's notoriously private, but don't cross him

(Newser) - When Robert Halderman asked David Letterman for $2 million, he probably assumed the notoriously private Letterman would pay him off to avoid public embarrassment. But "all Dave cares about is his career," a source tells New York in a lengthy look at the host and the scandal.... More »

NELL SCOVELL

 Ex-Staffer: 
 
Letterman 
 Environment 
 'Demeaning' 

But not just because of sexual politics: It's time to hire female writers

(Newser) - Nell Scovell walked away from her dream job on Late Night with David Letterman thanks to the "hostile work environment" created by high-level male staffers having sex with their female employees. She writes about her experience in Vanity Fair—not to name names, but to point out... More »

WATCH THE VIDEO

 Fey on 
 Virginity: 
 'Couldn't 
 Give It Away' 


'Just good, Christian values,' comic tells Letterman. 'Or, being homely'

(Newser) - Tina Fey was a virgin until age 24—“couldn’t give it away,” she told David Letterman last night, as the two discussed a tabloid list of celebrities who stayed virgins until, as Fey put it, “they were really old.” Responding to Letterman, who called... More »

MORE ABOUT:
entertainment Tina Fey celebrity late night talk show David Letterman Adriana Lima virginity Late Show

 Letterman Pans 
 Palin Memoir 
 —in Advance 

Hint: Dave would rather do pretty much anything than read Sarah's book

(Newser) - Whatever you do, don’t buy David Letterman a copy of Going Rogue for Christmas. As part of his ongoing feud with Sarah Palin, Letterman unveiled a new ongoing Late Show segment: “Things More Fun Than Reading the Sarah Palin Memoir.” The Huffington Post compiles a... More »

MORE ABOUT:
entertainment celebrity late night talk show David Letterman Sarah Palin Late Show Going Rogue

 Letterman 
 Brought Galpal 
 on Family 
 Vacations 

Stephanie Birkitt was in Caribbean with Letterman, wife Regina Lasko, son

(Newser) - Add one more item to the list of things Regina Lasko has against hubby David Letterman. The Late Show host brought galpal Stephanie Birkitt along on vacations with Lasko and son Harry, sources tell the New York Post. Other friends and coworkers were also invited along; one of... More »

 Halderman: Dave 
 Bedded '6 or 7' 
 Staffers 

Plus, Letterman's wife Regina Lasko forced him into second apology

(Newser) - Stephanie Birkitt is getting the most attention, but she's not be the only staffer David Letterman seduced—not by a long shot, says accused extortionist Robert Halderman. Halderman puts the figure at “six or seven,” a friend tells the New York Daily News. “He would fly... More »

LETTERMAN ROUNDUP

 Halderman 'Enraged' 
 Over 'Passionate Embrace' 

Alleged extortionist spotted Letterman and Birkitt as recently as August

(Newser) - David Letterman’s accused extortionist, Robert “Joe” Halderman, is “a great human being “ but “he's positioned as a bad guy,” says friend and former co-worker Dr. Bob Arnot. “No one’s standing up for Joe,” he continues—so, certainly, Halderman must be glad... More »

 Grandma: Birkitt 
 Never Had Sex 
 With Letterman 

Stephanie Birkitt's grandmother is no fan of Halderman, but seems to like Dave

(Newser) - Stephanie Birkitt, David Letterman’s galpal, may not be commenting on the extortion scandal—but her 90-year-old grandma is. Birkitt and Letterman “joked and kidded around,” but “they were just good friends,” she tells the New York Post. “She worked for Dave for 11... More »

LETTERMAN ROUNDUP

 Just Wait: 'Trashy' 
 Letterman Letters 
 Are Coming 

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 »

Maureen Dowd



 C'mon, Dave 
 Letterman Is 
 No Bill Clinton 

And he's no Clarence Thomas, either. He didn't harass—or lie.

(Newser) - These days you can't drink and smoke in the office like the ad execs on Mad Men, but when it comes to affairs with young women, working men are still living in the 1960s, writes Maureen Dowd. David Letterman is only the latest boss to fall for the interns and... More »

 Galpal Cheated 
 on Halderman With Dave 

Stephanie Birkitt was still seeing Letterman until last fall, sources say

(Newser) - The story of David Letterman’s twisted love triangle with alleged extortionist Robert Halderman continues to unfold. Former Late Show staffer Stephanie Birkitt was still sleeping with Letterman even after moving in with Halderman—and as late as last fall Birkitt and Letterman went hiking together, sources tell the... More »

REACTION ROUNDUP



 Letterman Gets 
 Mostly Raves for 
 Handling Scandal 

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
... More »

VIDEO

 Letterman 
 Apologizes 
 to Wife, Staff 
 —and Palin 

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... More »

VIDEO

 Letterman 'Manipulating' 
 Audience: Halderman Lawyer 

Robert Halderman's attorney also wonders why Letterman would pay by check

(Newser) - David Letterman is “a master at manipulating audiences,” and he’s not telling the whole story of the alleged extortion plot by Robert Halderman, says Halderman’s attorney. Gerald Shargel did the talk-show circuit this morning, E! reports, and he pointed out to Today that, “in... More »

 
  Extortion Try 
 Just Latest 
 Weirdness 
 in Dave's Life 

Letterman's extortion plot follows earlier stalkers, would-be kidnapper

(Newser) - David Letterman’s extortion drama is just the latest in a long line of bizarre happenings. A look back:
  • 1993: Margaret Ray, who stole Letterman’s Porsche in the 1980s and called herself “Mrs. David Letterman,” broke into his home at least seven
... More »

Letterman Paid for Assistant's Degree: Rumor

Host said to keep three to five young women
on staff at all times

(Newser) - David Letterman can be a great boss for certain special employees. In the case of Stephanie Birkitt, who once dated alleged blackmailer Robert Halderman, Letterman paid her way through college, Gawker reports, citing “the scuttlebutt on the set.” Birkitt was Letterman’s top assistant—the host employed at... More »

LETTERMAN ROUNDUP


 At First 
 Blush, Fans 
 Forgive Dave 

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... More »

 Extortionist Dated 
 Letterman Staffer 
 Who Had Affair 

'48 Hours' producer slept around, former father-in-law says

(Newser) - When David Letterman shocked last night's audience with his tale of blackmail—or as the New York Post calls it, sextortion—he left out the names of everyone else involved, but details are beginning to emerge. The man arrested in the case was Robert Joel Halderman, 57, an Emmy-winning producer... More »

updated

 Letterman Reveals 
 Extortion Attempt 
 Over Office Sex  

After grand jury testimony, late-night host says con man wanted $2M,

(Newser) - In a highly unusual moment during the taping of last night’s Late Show, David Letterman confessed to his studio audience that he had had sexual flings with female staffers on the show, and that they had become the basis for a $2 million extortion attempt by a CBS news... More »

1 - 20 of 34 Stories | 1 2 Next >>