David Letterman Apologizes To His Wife: 'I Got My Work Cut Out for Me'

By PopEater Staff Posted Oct 5th 2009 08:52PM

Before the ratings for Monday night's show are even announced, David Letterman already has a boost ... from his studio audience. The crowd roared its approval for Letterman during Monday's taping. "Did your weekend just fly by," Letterman joked with the crowd in his monologue before tackling a serious apology for his wife, Regina Lasko.

"She has been horribly hurt by my behavior, and when something happens like that, if you hurt a person and it's your responsibility, you try to fix it," Letterman told the crowd about wife Regina Lasko during his monologue. "At that point, there's only two things that can happen: Either you're going to make some progress and get it fixed, or you're going to fall short and perhaps not get it fixed, so let me tell you folks, I got my work cut out for me."

As Letterman faced Monday's show, and the shows that will come after, it was clear that how he deals with his messy situation could prove to be a defining chapter in his long TV career. And, ironically, it could clinch his recent ratings victory in late-night TV.

His dilemma was Topic A on the show as he mixed wisecracks with contrition in a virtuoso balancing act. Noting the cool fall weather, he reported, "It's chilly outside my house; chilly INSIDE my house."

Then he cautioned the audience, "This is only Phase 1 of the scandal. Phase 2: Next week I go on 'Oprah' and sob."

A bit later, guest Steve Martin gave Letterman his kidding consolation: "It proves that you're a human being. And we weren't really that sure before."

Martin Short, making an unannounced appearance, playfully plopped himself in Martin's lap.

"You spend one more minute on his lap, you're gonna get blackmailed," Letterman quipped.

Monday's show was the first Letterman had taped since Thursday, when he disclosed that he had had sexual relationships with women who worked for him and said that he had been the victim of a $2 million blackmail threat.

During the hour, he also apologized to his staff, which, he said, had been subjected to "being browbeaten and humiliated" by reporters since his revelations.

"My thanks to the staff for, once again, putting up with something stupid I've gotten myself involved in," he said.

Letterman, 62, began dating Lasko in 1986, and they have a son, Harry, who was born in November 2003. All the affairs took place before Letterman's marriage, said Tom Keaney, spokesman for Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants.

Letterman arrived on stage Monday to applause and cheers from his studio audience. After drinking it in, he grinned sheepishly and inquired, with a mock stammer, "Did your, did your weekend just fly by?"

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All About Dave

This image rendered from video shows David Letterman on the "Late Show" Monday Oct. 5, 2009 days after revealing on air that he'd been sexually involved with women from his television program. During the show Letterman apologized to his wife and to his staff. (AP Photo/CBS)

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David Letterman Snapshots

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 05: "Late Show with David Letterman" audience members wait to enter the Ed Sullivan Theater on October 5, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 05: New vans park outside the "Late Show with David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater on October 5, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 05: Musician and actor Steve Martin visits the "Late Show with David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater on October 5, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Steve Martin

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 05: Actor Jon Hamm visits the "Late Show with David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater on October 5, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jon Hamm

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Actress Lea Michele visits "Late Show with David Letterman" at the Ed Sullivan Theater on October 5, 2009 in New York City. Steve Martin, Jon Hamm, Martin Short And Lea Michele Visit "Late Show With David Letterman" Ed Sullivan Theater New York, NY United States October 5, 2009 Photo by Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage.com To license this image (58565454), contact WireImage.com

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After pausing for the audience's sympathetic laughter, he went on: "I mean, I'll be honest with you folks - right now, I would give anything to be hiking on the Appalachian Trail."

"I got into the car this morning," he added, "and the navigation lady wasn't speaking to me. Ouch."

In a more somber display, Letterman voiced his mea culpas. Regarding his wife, he said that, "if you hurt a person and it's your responsibility, you try to fix it."

Letterman has offered no specifics about how many women he had sex with.

But the CBS producer accused of blackmailing Letterman used pages from a former assistant's diary that described an affair with the "Late Show" host, a law enforcement official said Monday. The ex-assistant, Stephanie Birkitt, went to live with CBS News producer Robert Halderman, who found her diary describing her relationship with Letterman and used it to help blackmail him, the law enforcement official said Monday on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing.

Halderman, a producer for the true-crime show "48 Hours Mystery," pleaded not guilty last week to extortion charges.

Tags: david letterman, DavidLetterman, late show with david letterman, LateShowWithDavidLetterman, regina lasko, ReginaLasko, stephanie birkitt, StephanieBirkitt

Comments

(903)

Tuesday 06 October

By Marion

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

You are full of hate so I stopped watching you. hateful people rarely have morals and you are an example of that. I'm sorry for your wife and little boy. What goes around comes around.

By Mitser Happ

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

This dud - and I do mean dud - is as ugly inside as he is outside. No, my opinion of him hasn't changed; I always thought he was a POS.

By Chris

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

YOU are full of hate. He is a comedian who has women throwing themselves at him and he had some affairs. Yeah, real hate-filled. How disgusting for you to post such a stupid comment. It is quite obvious that you are simply a conservative who identifies Letterman as "the guy who Sarah Palin hates". SHE is full of hate. Republicans base their agenda on who and what they hate. It is amazing that people like you, who base their whole lives on hating and discriminating can be unable to see the beam in your eye because you are so worried about the mote in someone else's.

By Kathy

How about applauding Mr. Letterman for being gracious enough to admit his wrongdoings to his wife publicly AND privatly? Dave could have easily afforded to pay the blackmail off and have his life be as smooth as silk; He didn't do that...He chose the path that would punish criminal behavior even though he has to pay the price of humiliation to himself and has publicly stated that he will do all he can to make things with his wife! Also, remember this happened before he married Regina...Therefore legally he not responsible, though he has to live with his conscience. I commend Dave and wish more men were albe to "fess up" rather than deny. Thank you Dave, you gave me faith in truth, which I thought I lost.

By Messa

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Wait a minute, if I'm reading this right, it says all the affairs happened BEFORE Letterman was married. Sorry, but that means in both the eyes of God AND the law, he was a single man and could do as he pleased. Yes, if he was dating and/or living with his soon to be wife, I can see her being pissed, but does it warrant all this?? Begging forgiveness on TV?? He was wrong, but technically, he was still in the clear....and, I'm a woman saying that.

By RedWagon1943

He who is without sin cast the first stone. I don't think any of us can judge another. In the first place he wasn't having the affairs after his marriage, it took place before he was married. I'm not condoning that but haven't we all made mistakes. Who are we to judge.

By Jeff

Get a grip, get a life, and get over your holier-than-thou artificial morality and attitude. Nobody cares what you think.

By Tom

Vote down Vote up Report this

Marion... what are you talking about? Letterman full of hate? Why? Is it because he doesn't share your opinion of the worst vice presidential candidate in history??? Or is it your uneducated opinion that his crass joke regarding Palin's daughter means he is a sexual predator?

By Franklen

Tuesday 06 October
By Mitser Happ: "This dud - and I do mean dud - is as ugly inside as he is outside. No, my opinion of him hasn't changed; I always thought he was a POS." -_-_-Where do you keep your "Man of the Year" citation? He's just another entertainer, and personally, I really don't care what their personal life consists of. How does Letterman's sex life affect anyone but himself and his own family? People pay too much attention to other peoples' business these days.

By James B. Johnson

None of your opinions matter to anyone. The only fact that matters is that noone cares what any of you have to say whatsoever. :) People do care what David Letterman says, however, and all of you who are spouting about how "David Letterman is so full of hate," or "a bad person" or any of those negative types of remarks, I would like to be the first person to tell all of you that you are jealous of his fame and fortune, and just because you aren't rich or famous doesnt mean that the mistakes you've made are any different. It just means you fail as a human being where Letterman succeeded. He isn't denying the truth, like you deny that you do not matter and your opinions do not matter. Just as my opinion doesn't matter.

By John

The "what goes around comes around" comment is true...now re-read your posting and see if there's any judgement coming around to you from people who don't KNOW you!

By mildred

dave was just doing what a man does. he was a free man and the ladies were willing. you would too if you had the chance.Stop throwing stones and being zealous.

By Gingah

The Bible states "The truth shall set you free", and another is "He who is without sin may cast the first stone". Who has hate here?

By Valerie5656

He is full of hate?? What the heck are you talking about? Who does he hate? How did he express it? You are really very ignorant.

By Fenderbass

Where does the "full of Hate" come in. I'm not supporting Letterman, but I don't see any hate there.

Monday 05 October

By DaTruth

This is nobody's business, he should have apologized in person, in private! If I were Letterman's wife I would be more pissed that he keeps airing the dirty laundry, just cause it was a court case does not make it a public matter. He is trying to win public sympathy but is heading in the wrong direction, go home and stay with your family, they are the people that you need to speak to now.

By prtyfdup

I agree!

By Lita

I think his apology should have been public. After all, he is a public person and the news of his indiscretion became public fodder. However, after this apology, he should simply move on. I think she would appreciate it.

By Cataholic

Geez, you guys are pretty rough.
I would imagine most of these "Entertainers" are sleeping with the help if they can. I'm not saying it's right but I imagine it happens all the time in that business just like any other business. I have no doubt that if you are maried to a Big Cheese in business that, that big cheese is screwing around. Power appears to make even the homeliest people attractive.
And... I don't know why his wife would be embarassed by what he did. She should be pissed off but she certainly shouldn't feel embarassed!!

By Sherry

It was not any bodies busness till the reporter got his nose in it, to make a buck. One way to stop some one from black mail , make it public, nothing to hide.

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