Posted on 10/03/2009 7:39:57 AM PDT by jessduntno
Letterman is target of the kind of jokes he tells By DAVID BAUDER (AP) – 1 hour ago
NEW YORK — Late-night hosts didn't waste a moment poking fun at the troubles of one of their own, after a CBS newsman was charged with trying to blackmail David Letterman for $2 million in a plot that forced the late-night comic to acknowledge having sex with some of the women who have worked for him.
The bizarre case has created a messy legal and professional problem for one of CBS' most valuable personalities. Commentators and bloggers quickly accused Letterman of hypocrisy because he has made a career of mocking politicians mercilessly, often for their sexual transgressions.
Robert J. "Joe" Halderman, a producer for the true-crime show "48 Hours Mystery," pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan court to one count of attempted first-degree grand larceny, punishable by five to 15 years in prison. Prosecutors said Halderman, who was released after posting $200,000 bail, was desperate and deep in debt.
Jay Leno, Letterman's longtime late-night rival, kicked off his monologue Friday on NBC: "If you came here tonight for sex with a talk show host, you've got the wrong studio."
On NBC's "Late Night," Jimmy Fallon also worked it into his monologue: "There's a new book out called "Why Women Have Sex" that says there are 237 reasons why women have sex. And folks, Letterman knows the top 10."
It remains to be seen whether Letterman will suffer long-term damage just as his career appears to be peaking. Letterman has taken over as the king of late-night in the ratings this summer, and last week he beat NBC's "Tonight" show host Conan O'Brien for the first time among young viewers.
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I don’t think any less of Letterman personally over his confession, mainly because I couldn’t think less of Letterman.
If any of those late night “comedians” need help writing any jokes about Letterman I’m sure Sarah Palin might be able to lend a hand.
I’m glad Conan got a promotion. Don’t agree with his politics, but glad he got the promotion.
I hope she has more class than that.
I don’t think David Letterman is a CBS employee. I think CBS has a contract with Letterman’s production company Worldwide Pants. So the Letterman staffers are employees of Worldwide Pants, not CBS.
"Ah shore didn't"
‘Bush’s fault’
I always thought this was a classic case of sexual harassment. Why is Dave getting a pass? Why aren't the feminists all over this. In the military he'd be administratively discharged and in private industry he'd be fired.
They said that “Speedy” Letterman got his nickname from growing up near the Indianapolis Speedway, but actually it came from having sex during the commercial break.
As we know, all companies have established sexual harassment policies. All employees and management are expected to follow the policies, and those who don't can find themselves the target of huge lawsuits and termination from employment.
Some of the things that come out of these lawsuits are allegations that a person submitted because of fear of loss of employment, or hoped to get a promotion. Other allegations have been made that people were NOT promoted because they refused to submit to the harassment. Then there is the possibility that the spouse of someone who engages in workplace sexual activities might sue for alienation of affection or might engage in a violent confrontation with someone at the workplace. The downside to sexual harassment, either as a willing or unwilling participant can be explosive.
If executives at CBS knew what was going on, but did nothing, they are in the chain of command which often gets sued when things blow up. If they didn't know, but have now been made aware of what was going on, they are obligated to enforce the policies of their own company.
All very sticky isn't it?
Dave is not a CBS employee. He and his staffers work are employed by Worldwide Pants, not CBS.
While it’s true, Bubba did not get fired, he DID lose his license to practice and was impeached...in other words, there was SOME retribution...Letterman appears to be walking away from this.
Letterman is not a CBS employee.
“All very sticky isn’t it? “
I guess it is...sticky? Paging Dr. Freud....
CBS must be fun place to work. Stars sleeping with staff, managers black-mailing their co-workers, Ownership trying to sweep it under the rug.
These perverted, back-stabbing elites are like the characters from “I, Claudius.”
Why would anyone trust anything coming out of CBS?
LOL I love it! Did you draw that?
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