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 HELLO DOLLY

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WHAT DO YOU EXPECT, HE IS PART OF HOLLYWOOD WHERE THE SEX AND DRUG PARTIES AND MURDERERS AND RAPISTS ARE OK. AND 99% ARE DIRTY LIBERIAL DEMOCRAPS NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO HIM AS HE IS A FRIEND OF NOBAMA WHO IS ANOTHER SLEEZE BAG. JUST LOOK AT THE PEOPLE HE HAS ON HIS SHOW. AND HE HAS THE NERVE TO TALK ABOUT SARAH PALINS DAUGHTER. NOW THE DIRT IS ON HIM AND IT WILL NEVER WASH OFF BUT HE DOES NOT CARE AS HE IS FRIENDS OF THE COMMIE OBAMA

By dowell

that's the stupidest thing i ever heard. you definitely don't want to start a debate with who has the moral highground, dems or repubs....you just don't.

By Greg

He's been so busy with his female employees, he forgot his first joke the other night. It was hanging out his pants when he walked on stage. How's it feel Dave???

By Arek Stefaniak

Time to retire for this old unfunny maniac

By Desert Paul

Letterman will survive with no problems since so little is expected of him, morally, ethically or intellectually. Hard to dissapoint under those conditions. But I would not be surprised if one or more of the girls did not file a law suit.

By Kel

Guess Letterman should clean up his own house before he starts defaming others!

By Jimmy

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The tragic thing was the audience behavior, who like subservient robots, were programmed and thought they had the need to laugh at any and every thing Mr. Letterman uttered without realizing he was "trying" to explain a serious issue. Therefore, acting as expected...loyal keepers sworn to uphold the duties and values of our "United States of Entertainment."

By Stopthehate

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

The whiners are only hating on Dave because he made a joke about Palin's knocked-up daughter. They never watched his show anyway because it's over their heads, so no loss to Dave. Whine, whine, whine - crybaby right wing. It was a freaking joke! He was a single guy and no women complained - more than can be said for cheating Reagan and Gingrich.

By joe

Hay it's New York, don't thay have a governor who omitted having sex with hookers and buying cocaine with campaign money and what happen to him.is'nt he running for reelection for governor again.

By Minky

Why this will not impact Letterman? Because only perverts and morons view his program. The rest of us could care less.

By twogolfcats

Yes Minkey- oh so true--Its indicative of the Decadence that TV and Hollywood has been doing to our young!!!! It also tell us MUCH about the "OWNERS and PRODUCERS" of CBS-- Nothing Matters BUT the "Bottom SHECKLE"

By robert

i have never looked at his show or listened to his mouth, that's why i'me not surprised to hear these things, maby now TV will get rid of him.

By Rob

Popeater... Who gives a damn about what others think or what some emotional based poll says? You forgot to mention WHAT HAPPENED? I'm not talking about just speculation or sensationalism either. What cause you and others to take these accusation so seriously?

By dale lamke

Letterman is just another liberal pig. When he made comments against Palin’s daughter a couple of months ago, his liberal friends had a big laugh. Obama was lucky he didn’t bring his daughters to the set two weeks ago. If he had, Letterman probably would of tried to have sex with them. Send the pig back to the barnyard.

By Catherine

WHY did Letterman think it was a good idea to subject his TV and studio audience to his little "story"? I thought he seemed rather pathetic at his humorous attempt at unfolding the details and explaining himself, and it was anything BUT funny. I don't care what he does in his private life. Why did we all have to be in on it?

By kiva

He is a brave and smart man. This kind of honesty has the capacity to really move people. He demonstrates that the would-be extortionists have no power over him. He freely admits to the sexual allegations without their intervention. Could you do the same in such a spotlight?

By RJM713

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That's right, such lucid and thoughtful insight.

And you wonder why this nation is the moral cesspool it is today?

By JumpnJak

I can't wait for the movie to come out! Who do you think will play the part of Dave? I wouldn't be surprised if they put up some casting call signs along the Appalachian Trail.

By Beautiful

When are you all going to realize men and sex go hand and glove no pun intended. These are adults as long as no one was physically harmed...Please. He did the correct thing to go to the police and confess publicly first before the media ran wild.

He who is without sin let him/her cast the first stone.

By Zazu

Evidently you never worked outside the home. Sex with a subordinate is not an equal playing field --- if you don't do it, you loose your job --------- get into the real world beautiful --- you must be a stay at home mom because you are sorely out of touch with reality

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