Letterman Misses His Show as His Girlfriend Goes Into Labor

tbo ^ | 11/4/03 | AP

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

NEW YORK (AP) - David Letterman had a good excuse for missing work: His girlfriend was in labor with their first child. Bandleader Paul Shaffer filled in for Letterman as host of the "Late Show" Monday night. He told the audience: "If you're feeling that there's something wrong with this picture - you're seeing me - because Dave is at the hospital waiting for his baby to be delivered!"

There was no immediate word on where Letterman, a Connecticut resident, and girlfriend Regina Lasko were, said Tom Keaney, spokesman for Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants.

The talk show host was looking forward to being a first-time dad - but admitted he had some trepidation.

"Here I am, 56, and by all rights it shouldn't be happening," he said on his show in September. "But, there's nothing we can do about it now. And I'm terribly excited about this. I'm scared silly about this."

Letterman spokesman Steven Rubenstein did not immediately return a call Tuesday morning seeking word on the baby.

[You Dirty Rats]

A bachelor dad -- how "stylish".

[Semper Paratus]

Did the viewers notice him missing?

[mlmr]

Doesn't he care enough about the baby to marry its mother?

[TheBigB]

I saw it last night and Paul was actually pretty funny. :-) One of his lines was, "We think...We THINK...this means that Dave's not gay." He also did the Top Ten list as "TT Things I Can Say Since Dave's Not Here"...#1 was "I prefer Leno."

[Fierce Allegiance]

That oughta fly like a lead balloon when dave gets back, although I suspect dave would deal with it better than the producers.

[Bogey78O]

Oh that's rich.

[AppyPappy]

David got him a trophy!

[tallhappy]

But, there's nothing we can do about it now.

Backhanded pro-life comment I wouldn't expect from him.

[clee1]

"I prefer Leno."

That probably wasn't a joke.

[TheBigB]

I'm betting Dave was able to look over the list and comments before airing. Very quickly, anyway. I don't think ANYTHING happens there without his knowing about it.

[dead]

I heard Schaffer's monologue on Howard Stern today. The other funny thing he said was - "Dave's in the hospital waiting for the birth of his baby! It's great news, since nobody even knew if Dave was getting laid."

[woofie]

Letterman will get more consevative now

[isthisnickcool]

Actually, he may have married her according to rumors*.

The only known picture of Letterman and Lasko*.

* Please note that I don't care a hoot about any of this but present this information for those that might.

[cajungirl]

I long for the good old days when the headlines said "Man's Wife in labor" and when if one's mistress went into labor it was cause for panic just in case the baby looked like the father thus blowing his cover.

[rintense]

I especially liked the, 'But, there's nothing we can do about it now.' phrase.

[Tacis]

Is Letterman still on? Where is he, on one of those off brand cable channels?

[chiefqc]

Perhaps his concern is centered around his bank account and the possibility of a divorce.

I mean you have to set your priorities correctly.

[freedomcrusader]

I watch Letterman every night at 10pm on Trio.

[mlmr]

I mean you have to set your priorities correctly.


I am. An attractive pre-nup works for me. Am I shallow or what??