 Late Show character/Staffer Stephanie Birkitt lived with alleged extorsionist |
David Letterman reveals $2M extortion plot; CBS News producer busted in scheme to reveal sex secrets — I find this story fascinating since the girl above, used to play a dead-pan staffer, usually wearing a high school men’s letter jacket while helping Dave give things out to the audience. She always creeped me out and seemed awkward in her onscreen role. I actually expected her name to come up in the discussion. It did in the Daily News report. I’m guessing she was the source of the Letterman deep info.
A top CBS News producer was busted Thursday for trying to shake down David Letterman – threatening to expose the late-night funnyman’s affairs with several female staffers in a movie and book.
The “Late Show” host revealed the stunning plot on last night’s show in an extraordinary confession to viewers – and admitted he had indeed slept with several women who work at the show.
“I’m glad you folks are here tonight, and I’m glad you folks are in such a pleasant mood, because I have a story I’d like to tell you and the home viewers as well,” he said, appearing to set up a comedy bit.
He went on to explain that a man identified by police as Robert Halderman, a 51-year-old Emmy Award-winning producer, found out that he was sleeping with several staff members.
Halderman allegedly threatened to expose the 62-year-old Letterman, who married his girlfriend, Regina Lasko, of 23 years in March, unless he forked over a staggering $2 million.
Letterman once said “I cannot sing, dance or act; what else would I be but a talk show host.” Well now we know what else he’s good at.
Stephanie?!?
Say it ain’t so . . .
Geez for a guy with a heart condition he sure does get around….
A guy with money and fame sleeps around a lot? Boring. Next story?
John, what’s with your sentence structure today? Your comments on the story read as incomplete thoughts!
Top marks for Letterman for coming out and saying “ya, I slept with some people who work here” ….
So the story is that Letterman is a victim as opposed to what by legal definition is sexual harrassment?
Where are the feminists? Oh wait he’s with them, literally.
So the story is how Letterman is a victim as opposed to what by legal definitions is sexual harassment? Where are the feminists? Oh wait, he’s with them…literally.
I wonder how many men in the same circumstances have paid the extortion? It appears none of the women made a beef about it and “probably” that is because it was consensual/hopeful on their part?
Politicians/Religionists all seem to lie in the same circumstances. I wonder why about that as well. So much of our moral leadership comes from comedians these days.
Personally, I don’t care who is screwing who==just don’t lie about it, don’t allow yourself to be blackmailed about it. It took Clinton from Hero to Bum.
Maybe he should have stayed with NBC…
I’m amused that when looking at this post, there’s an ad for Leno on the left.
Oh please, his jokes about Palin got so used up he had to come up with something new or his show was going to go the way of Lenno, ewwww.
What really happened is he paid this guy 700 billion to make this story up for ratings, book deals, etc.
Am I the only one who’s figured out how these money machines work yet?
#12–Cha Cheng==so, do you rate sex so low on your list of motivating issues for rich and powerful men that it completely falls off your list?
Well, the rest of us still have our balls. While you are down there, look around for your brains as well, I think they have leaked out over time.
……………and the number one reason not to have sex with David Letterman. He’ll go on the air and call the event creepy.
Glad he exposed the extortionist. These are private matters and shameful to profit from others misadventures in life.
However, the GOP would gladly trash a person’s personal sexual misconduct for fun.
So which is worse, the extortionist who is willing to trash a persons life for profit, or the person willing to trash a person life for pleasure?
#9, Joe,
No, the story is about an extortion attempt on David Letterman. Extortion is a criminal offense, consensual sex isn’t.
David is a late night host of a talk show. He never presented himself as virtuous. This cannot be said about politicians. Clinton, Craig, Spitzer…
Letterman turned vicious some time ago and takes pleasure in humiliating others for the sake of ratings and personal gratification.
I suppose there is some justice when it finally comes back around, but in his world extra-marital affairs are usually resume enhancers.
Not to worry shallow Letterman fans. He’ll be back ridiculing and demeaning others just so you can feel better about your own flaws and shortcomings in no time.
I think he sleeps with terrorists.
sort of puts his comments about Palin and her daughter in perspective. What is the term for a “male slut”?
#20
Stud!
IANAL but it seems, unless a quid pro quo is established, that the consensual sex between Dave Letterman and his staffers is not a legal issue. Extortion is a different matter, as Robert Halderman is about to find out.
If you are being blackmailed, the best defense is to publicly announce that you are being blackmailed about. The problem is you usually don’t want that information to get out.
#16 Ralph said – No, the story is about an extortion attempt on David Letterman. Extortion is a criminal offense, consensual sex isn’t.
I guess he didn’t do anything wrong than, if it wasn’t criminal. After all, that’s what passes for morality these days – just don’t break the law.
This is the problem with the way life works.
The only people who can achieve fame or elected office, achieve it, because in large part, they are narcissists.
Pretty flawed narcissists, generally.
And then we act all surprised and indignant when they engage in sexual compulsions and/or act on their own selfish instincts.
It’s built into the system. Anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional.
OMFG. Stephanie Birkitt ? I had a crush on back when I used to watch the Late Show!
#25- whether what Letterman did offends your morality isn’t pertinent if you’re looking for a criminal case.
If you’re bemoaning ‘morality these days’ as a contrast to some mythical past- this story is an old, old one.
To correct my original post- should be ‘unless a quid pro quo or coercion is established’.
It wasn’t Stephanie, can’t you motherfuckers read? It says she was roommates with the costly little whore.
/praying that stupidity becomes painful
It says he “slept” with them. He must be tired working late at his age.
This reads like a Larry Sanders show script. That was a funny show.
the “extortionist” should be jailed for stupidity. Why would you even THINK that leaving a note saying “I know what you did, blah blah blah” would garner anything more than a public humiliation and an arrest. This is a classic example of stupidity. Letterman — given his age, gender, and what he does for a LIVING — probably JUMPED at the chance to a.) brag, b.) get people talking about him as a STUD, c.)get all this press.
Like he’d be ashamed of boinking a few staffers. He’s a COMEDIAN. HELLO? Not exactly the definition of uptight morality. First and foremost he is a COMEDIAN, not a “talk show host” (even if he’s done that for a while). Comics are comics. They don’t do it unless they have a mean streak, have a basic dislike of people, and have no qualms about pushing the envelope. They’re not morally rigid people.
I’ll never forget the comment by one stand-up comic, outside of a comedy club (he’d just kissed some chummy, blond, big boobed fan goodnight after they’d emerged from the wash-room stall together). He watched her walk away, and she wasn’t even out of ear shot when he commented, “gotta go wash off my dick and get home to the wife”. No one blinked. It was as IF he was commenting about the weather.
That’s comics for ya.
Joe the 48 hours dude, should wise up!