Will Letterman's Sex Affairs Hurt Him?

By Mike Hess Posted Oct 2nd 2009 11:46AM

With the stunning admission of an extortion plot against David Letterman thanks to sexual affairs he had with employees, the 'Late Show' host's reputation may be at stake. Letterman is adored by his fans for his pithy honesty, but will his affairs cause some to turn on him and his show? Experts weigh in after the jump.

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Letterman and His 'Late Show' Guests

David Letterman is seen here explaining the very serious situation involving an extortion attempt over his sexual affairs with employees.

CBS

David Letterman Snapshots

Actress / Television personality Kim Kardashian visits "Late Show With David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater on October 1, 2009 in New York City. Kim Kardashian, Woody Harrelson, Larry David And Olivia Wilde Visit "Late Show With David Letterman" - October 1, 2009 Ed Sullivan Theater New York, NY United States October 1, 2009 Photo by Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage.com To license this image (58532192), contact WireImage.com

Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage.com

Actress Olivia Wilde visits "Late Show With David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater on October 1, 2009 in New York City. Kim Kardashian, Woody Harrelson, Larry David And Olivia Wilde Visit "Late Show With David Letterman" - October 1, 2009 Ed Sullivan Theater New York, NY United States October 1, 2009 Photo by Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage.com To license this image (58532266), contact WireImage.com

Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage.com

This image rendered form video shows David Letterman as he tells his story during a taping of his late-night show Thursday Oct. 1, 2009 that he had sexual relationships with female employees and that someone tried to extort $2 million from him over the affairs, and CBS says an employee has been charged with attempted grand larceny in the case. (AP Photo/CBS)

** FILE ** In this image originally provided by CBS, David Letterman appears on the "Late Show with David Letterman," in this Oct. 8, 2007, file photo, in New York. Letterman acknowledged on his Thursday Oct. 1, 2009 show that he had sexual relationships with female employees and that someone tried to extort $2 million from him over the affairs. CBS says an employee has been charged with attempted grand larceny in the case. (AP Photo/John Paul Filo, CBS, File) ** MANDATORY CREDIT; NO SALES; NO ARCHIVE; NORTH AMERICA USE ONLY **

Woody Harrelson visits "Late Show with David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater on October 1, 2009 in New York City. Woody Harrelson Visits "Late Show With David Letterman" - October 1, 2009 Ed Sullivan Theater New York, NY United States October 1, 2009 Photo by Marcel Thomas/FilmMagic.com To license this image (58533297), contact FilmMagic.com

Marcel Thomas/FilmMagic.com

Kim Kardashian visits "Late Show with David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater on October 1, 2009 in New York City. Woody Harrelson Visits "Late Show With David Letterman" - October 1, 2009 Ed Sullivan Theater New York, NY United States October 1, 2009 Photo by Marcel Thomas/FilmMagic.com To license this image (58533214), contact FilmMagic.com

Marcel Thomas/FilmMagic.com

"Unless really ugly details come out on this story, I just don't see him losing viewers in the long run," AOL Television's Editor in Chief Scott Robson tells PopEater, adding that he'd "be surprised if he [Letterman] doesn't enjoy a bit of a ratings bump" from the interest in the story.

"He's always been open with his audience -- the stalker, the speeding tickets, the heart surgery, the threats to his son -- and this just continues that pattern. In many ways, it's a well-played pre-emptive strike on his part to get ahead of news that was bound to come out," Robson says.

In a PopEater poll in the initial news story about the breaking scandal, nearly three-quarters of more than 80,000 voters thought that Letterman was in no danger of losing his job because of the affairs.

"I think David Letterman will be fine," Showbiz 411 columnist Roger Friedman tells PopEater. "His personal life has always been an enigma. He is not watched for a warm and fuzzy style. He hasn't had the tag of family man in the past."
There have certainly been scandals, breakups and other personal issues for late night hosts in the past, but Letterman's admission breaks new ground when it comes to one of the most prominent hosts on TV confessing to infidelity. Still, some think Letterman's poise and attitude will make its passing even easier.

"There are other TV personalities who'd be harmed by this sort of thing. Not Dave. In six months there will be some reference to it on a top 10 list and everyone will chuckle," Friedman says.

Robson agrees, telling PopEater that Letterman has "seen other public figures brought down by scandals in the past, and sometimes that's as much because of the way they handle it as for the scandals themselves. No question he's learned from watching."

Matthew Greenberg, a television columnist for TrueSlant.com, says he "can't imagine he'll [Letterman] have much of anything to say about it on the air" in the near future, as it's an ongoing legal case. He doesn't see the scandal having much sticking power either, saying tube-addicted Americans will "find something else more sordid to obsess over."

Tags: Dave Letterman, DaveLetterman, david letterman, DavidLetterman, extortion, late night talk shows, LateNightTalkShows, sex, sexual affair, SexualAffair

Comments

(339)

Friday 02 October

By noneoyrbizness

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

he is NOT so over. You are the D-BAG. You closed minded idiot. You just have to throw your negative 2 cents in. I guess I should just finish here by saying, nobody gives an S what your opinion is. Althought I did respond, didn't I? Oh the irony.

By Reena

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I just wonder when these affairs took place...he has been with his wife for over 20 years now (including dating time) - did he do these things while he was with her?? I do think him coming out and admitting it, is better for him - but I just wonder how his wife feels. And I'm looking at this as if he was any man...please don't bash the man just because you don't like his views/politics - this is about a man having affairs - now, was it when he was single or in a committed relationship - that is the question.

By Shelley

I agree Reena. I feel really sorry for his wife having this thrown out in public like this.

Saturday 03 October

By brenda

Vote down Vote up Report this

Agreed, the poor wife. He needs to go. But there is a double standard, this will improve his image with some. Sad, sad.

By bereal

Dave dated producers, etc. He didn't go around hitting on interns. He wasn't married. What business is it of our's! He's a comedian not a person we elected to run our country. What a bunch of ignorant people!

By Laney

Okay, UPDATE: He was married to Michelle Cook from 1969 to 1978 and he then started his single life again until he started seeing Regina Lasko in 1986.

He had those affairs before he started his relationship Regina, JUST IN FROM CNN. A free single guy for 8 yrs when those affairs occurred. No big deal.

Unless of course, it wasn't between two consenting adults. And as awful as some think this is, I do not see David Letterman as a rapist. These women knew what they were doing, and I doubt if they felt threatened by their jobs. That was when people didn't think about sexual harassment much or made mountains out of mole hills. So from 1978 to 1986, he was doing what most single men do! _________________ Having a good old fling or two.

That's the latest: But, stay tune more may come out.

By Paula

Dave isn't married.............he was years ago ...but has not married the mother of his son yet!

By Debbie

He's been on the air for years. When he started he wasn't with his wife. But for the sake of an argument, let's say he did have these affairs while married. If his wife decides to stay with him, so be it. if you or I don't agree with that, do you honestly think that's going to matter to her? I'm sure she could care less what anyone thinks. It's her life, it's her choice. I still like Dave. I'm no angel either so therefore I'm not going to judge.

WRONG PAULA: Just read this under a biography.

Regina became David Letterman’s girlfriend in 1989 and moved in with him in 2001. The live in North Salem, New York. They married in March, 2009.

By John

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

This guy started out nice enough, but over the years he developed a dark and rude side. People who work for him say he has nothing but disdain for them. A real jerk. He is definitely not a nice person.

By Ken Siemers Sr.

What do you think about his nasty sexual comments about Sarah Palin's daughter now?

By RALPH

I AGREE JUST GOES TO SHOW HIS REAL CARACTER

By dotmac

What goes around comes around

By Justin99

It appears Letterman thinks he is somehow above the rest of us. He can make crude jokes about the Palen kids and he thinks thats ok, but I bet if anyone were to tell jokes about his kid or about him whoring around with his employees, then that would be way over the line. He's such a has been that keeps trying to stir things up so people wont forget he is on TV. What a waste of $40 million a year.

By susan

How can you even compare the 2..He is an adult man having sex with adult (over 18 years of age) women. From what I have read, these women were in their late 20's...Is teen sex the same as an unmarried man having sex with a younger adult women? If it was anyone else, you'd be slapping him on the back saying "Good Boy."...

Monday 05 October

By mike

i saw the show. he never made "nasty sexual comments about Palin's daughter." He was criticising the baseball player.

By BellaDonna

Can someone tell me how to get my resume to him???

By pat lynch

Why Belladonna.Everyone else knows your resume.Im sure he does too.

By mimi

me too!

By Zazu

Hey Bella Donna,

You can send your resume to DAVE LETTERMAN %CBS, New York, NY ------------- but please hurry ----- he may not be there for long ----- at least until one of those consentual affairs catch up with him for sexual harrassment.

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