David Letterman Victim of Extortion Plot

[snopes]

Late-night U.S. television talk-show host David Letterman said he was the victim of a $2 million extortion plot related to sexual affairs he had with members of his staff.

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/...extortion.html

[AnglRdr]

He attracts some crazies, doesn't he?

I'm glad he talked about it on the show, as it pretty much diluted the monetary value of the story.

But, Dave, dude...

[Fowlplay]

I was flipping channels and ran accross this right as he began going into the story. For a moment I thought it was a bit, but it soon became clear it wasn't. Awkward, but smart play on his part. I'd like to say I'm surprised, but rich, powerful, entertainers who philander are hardly notable anymore. I'm sure he has plenty of willing and interested potential suitors at any given time and to paraphrase Chris Rock, most men can't run faster than NFBSK that is chasing them!

I don't watch him as much as I did when I was younger because he has gotten preach and whiny on political issues on his show and I liked it much better when he was just goofy.

[PatYoung]

He is getting a lot of criticism for using his audience last night by making the surprise announcement to them. We really don't know the details at all, but since they could include employment law violations and adultery, many people have said that it was inappropriate to use the audience to provide laughter and applause for a story that they did not know was coming.

Pretty classless from a person I generally like.

[videoguy]

I'm still try to figure out why the audience applauded after Dave said this...
"The creepy stuff was that I have had sex with women who work for me on this show. My response to that is yes, I have."

Also, what kind of extortionist takes a $2 mil check?

[candy from strangers]

Originally Posted by PatYoung

Pretty classless from a person I generally like.

But did you like him for his class? The only experience I have personally watching him admittedly biased me against him because he was mocking someone I like, but the general impression I have of him* apart from that never included the adjective "classy."


*from the media as well as my mother, who's been a fan of Letterman my entire life.

[Jenn]

Originally Posted by videoguy

Also, what kind of extortionist takes a $2 mil check?

An incompetent one.

[blucanary]

Didn't his wife work on the show before?

[A Turtle Named Mack]

Originally Posted by PatYoung

He is getting a lot of criticism for using his audience last night by making the surprise announcement to them. We really don't know the details at all, but since they could include employment law violations and adultery, many people have said that it was inappropriate to use the audience to provide laughter and applause for a story that they did not know was coming.

Pretty classless from a person I generally like.

He should probably have prefaced it by saying that it was not a 'bit' and that he was making an on-air confession to set the record straight his own way and take his lumps straight out.

I think the applause and laughter were a combination of people not knowing whether it was a bit or not, appreciation of his open acknowledgment (well, once he got caught on it), and a desire to show general support for him as an entertainer. Of course, one would expect the audience at his own show to be people generally on his side.

[AnglRdr]

Man accused in David Letterman extortion is indicted

Robert Joel Halderman, a producer for the CBS documentary show "48 Hours," appeared at Letterman's Manhattan home on September 9 to deliver a one-page screenplay outlining the affairs, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau told reporters.

http://www.reuters.com/article/telev...5910GR20091002