It's common knowledge that the comedy writing business is still a boys' club, but a woman's uphill climb in the writers' room is more steep than you might realize. A new article in Vanity Fair, written by former 'Letterman' staffer Nell Scovell, points out: "At this moment, there are more females serving on the United States Supreme Court than there are writing for 'Late Show with David Letterman,' 'The Jay Leno Show,' and 'The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.' Out of the 50 or so comedy writers working on these programs, exactly zero are women."
Though many have dismissed Letterman's conduct - namely, his admitted workplace affair with another former staffer - to be largely harmless on a professional level, Scovell remembers a sexually-charged environment further marred by discrimination and demeaning situations.
Scovell writes, "Was I aware of rumors that Dave was having sexual relationships with female staffers? Yes. Was I aware that other high-level male employees were having sexual relationships with female staffers? Yes. Did these female staffers have access to information and wield power disproportionate to their job titles? Yes. ... Did I believe these female staffers were benefiting professionally from their personal relationships? Yes. Did that make me feel demeaned? Completely. Did I say anything at the time? Sadly, no."
Scovell was the second female hired to write for David Letterman in his tenure as a late-night talk show host. The writer points out that, as of today, Letterman has employed only seven women in 27 years on the air - Scovell compares the 17 cumulative years of Letterman's female writing staff to a collective 378 years men have spent writing jokes for Dave.
Why speak up now, nearly two decades after leaving the show for pastures with fewer sexual politics? "People who have no knowledge of the situation are voicing opinions, so why not me?" Scovell writes.
She adds, "Letterman himself opened this up to a public discussion ... I'd like to pivot the discussion away from the bedroom and toward the writers' room, because it pains me that almost 20 years later, the situation for female writers in late-night-TV hasn't improved."
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)
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: 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: 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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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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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
Dont start talking after twenty years...Although it is humorous watching the sexual harassment pc libs flipping and flopping over what is and is not right in the work place
I, for one will not be watching Mr. Letterman. I also will be boycotting his sponsors. ESPN did the right thing, by firing their staff. The old boy mentality is prevalent and it's about time it was talked openly about. Harrasment in any form is abuse of power and should not be tollerated. For shame.
Yo check it out, I think that lettermen could be held liable if those girls decide to sue him his producers for sexual harassment; what, specially with his announcement that he indeed slept not with one, but with many women, that could have negative legal implications when his lawyer defends him. Anyways, I believe that the channel should of have told Mr. Letterman not to discuss it because of legal reasons, For God's sake, it is a freaking talk show, not his life talk show
I really like putting it on people who are really full of themself and Letterman and liberals are all over that. Interesting to me that Tina Fey and the liberal ladies have no problem trooping on Letterman's show to give him support when in fact he has been raping his female staffers for two decades and pressuring them into having sex. Oh, do tell me its OK because its consensual sex. I know that every 25 year old female admin asst was just lusting to have sex with a 60 year old buck toothed, skinny pervert...or lose her job if she didn't. I am sure that clubs are being wielded right now to keep others from speaking out in the best McCarthy style gang tactics...you will never work again if you speak out. But women, real women not fake liberal divas, fought for years to break the sex in the workplace pressure and they have had success in the courts where it is a legal fact now that bosses cannot have sex with subordinates. Well, except for Letterman or producers who can so long as they use their bully pulpits to parade the Obamas on the air..they can rape all of the women they want. Hey, David if you haven't you should nail Tina Fey, she is on board with it it appears. Or you can keep her off the air if her feet are not in the air.
Your wife must be so proud of you for standing up for all those women who keep their jobs and advance by being sexally available to thos 'animals' who have the power over them. Maybe after you have cleaned up the kitchen and put the kids to bed, you lady will allow you to think about having sex this week. Be careful, she may think you want to rape her.....
To TomW: I am not sorry for Stephanie because she is some poor little 25 year old. She is old enough to say no. when I was her age I was batting off powerful lust driven men in the office and I never gave in. She loved him enough to keep a diary...now she is living with another man with no hopes of getting a ring. IF you think 25 year olds are not mature enouhg to make intelligent decisions then you must be living in a box. Why do you think the age of consent is 18? Hello!
You sure are fixated on rape, a totally inappropriate word for what went on with David Letterman. You obviously use it to incite people, but your post is so ridiculously stupid that who in the world could even take you seriously? I would bet cold, hard cash that you're not some really sensitive guy who feels for women and is standing up for them;you're an opportunist who's trying toturn this into an anti-liberal, anti-Obama rant and threw in the word rape a few times to try to make people angry. What makes me angry is bozos like you who use that word in a situation like this; rape is a violent and horrendous act against women, and you should just shut your mouth.
Liberals, liberals, liberals! Is that the new "bad" word in America for people who`s opinions are different than yours? I am really beginning to dislike that word greatly...you conservative Wixxer!
Hmmm...TomW, it says to keep the comments classy. It seems those who are so anti-liberal are the least classy of our society. No matter what happens, it is the fault of liberalism. Too bad the lower classes in our society can't think for themselves - they rely on CONSERVATIVE talk show hosts who scream hate every day to fill their heads with "thoughts" and thus, enable them to attack everything and anything with which they have been told to disagree. What's worse: a late night talk show host having sex with employees (happens in ALL workplaces) or a radio talk show host who hopes the President fails and if his wife/daughter (or any female) is raped and gets pregnant would FORCE her to go through the pregnancy and raise the baby (without help, of course, because we don't want a welfare society, do we?). I'm sick of these anti-liberal comments - you people need to get some sort of mental health evaluation.
What about Senator Ensign and his affair with the wife of his "friend" whom he got a job for? What about David Vitter who used prostitutes? Tom W is clearly a pervert who has fantasies of being raped by Glen Beck
Where do you get your information? (i.e. "they have had success in the courts where it is a legal fact now that bosses cannot have sex with subordinates.) So. It's a legal fact. Can you cite that chapter and verse? ...I didn't think so. And don't forget this gem..."when in fact he has been raping his female staffers for two decades and pressuring them into having sex. Oh, do tell me its OK because its consensual sex." Here you go: It's OK because it's consensual sex. Was it wise? Nope. Look at the pain and embarrassment he caused. He opened himself up to extortion. Folks there are reasons why it's against company policy in most organizations to date subordinates. Letterman found out, and now Mr. Phillips at ESPN. Illegal? No. ...Still OK. Perhaps as a former comedy writer..you just weren't funny. Sorta like that female comedienne, Elayne Boosler. I always thought she was on so many programs simply because she was one of a very few female comedians. There aren't that many and they had to give at least one, a shot. Was this fair? Think about all the guys that were overlooked because Elayne had to be given her shot? Did I complain? Sadly...No.
...zero female writers on Letterman? Letterman has turned into an old (horny) grouch who hasn't been relevant, or worse "funny", in over fifteen years.
If I were a female writer, I would think about taking a hosting job at TGI Fridays before working on his writing staff.
You know how men aren't as sensitive as women? Well women aren't as funny as men. That is why there are few female comedy writers. Don't believe me? Just read some of the whining comments by females in response to this news story.
I guess all his comments about Palin and her family now makes sense. The man has zero respect for women and loves to demean them. He should be fired. He serves not purposes as a man only a male sl**.
I really got disgusted and fiqured Letterman was a liberal when he was always saying rotten stuff about Sarah Palin and rep. and she should have never gave him an apology He was and is a jerk as all liberals demean her. I even wrote to the show but never heard anything and figured they didn't do anything about it, cause he continue his asssin. I quit watching the show.
Comments
(101)Add a comment
Tuesday 27 October
By damien
Dont start talking after twenty years...Although it is humorous watching the sexual harassment pc libs flipping and flopping over what is and is not right in the work place
Reply
Tuesday 27 October
By Marielle
I, for one will not be watching Mr. Letterman. I also will be boycotting his sponsors. ESPN did the right thing, by firing their staff.
The old boy mentality is prevalent and it's about time it was talked openly about. Harrasment in any form is abuse of power and should not be tollerated. For shame.
Tuesday 27 October
By JV
Yo check it out, I think that lettermen could be held liable if those girls decide to sue him his producers for sexual harassment; what, specially with his announcement that he indeed slept not with one, but with many women, that could have negative legal implications when his lawyer defends him. Anyways, I believe that the channel should of have told Mr. Letterman not to discuss it because of legal reasons, For God's sake, it is a freaking talk show, not his life talk show
Tuesday 27 October
By jay
thank you, i completly agree
Tuesday 27 October
By TomW
I really like putting it on people who are really full of themself and Letterman and liberals are all over that. Interesting to me that Tina Fey and the liberal ladies have no problem trooping on Letterman's show to give him support when in fact he has been raping his female staffers for two decades and pressuring them into having sex. Oh, do tell me its OK because its consensual sex. I know that every 25 year old female admin asst was just lusting to have sex with a 60 year old buck toothed, skinny pervert...or lose her job if she didn't. I am sure that clubs are being wielded right now to keep others from speaking out in the best McCarthy style gang tactics...you will never work again if you speak out. But women, real women not fake liberal divas, fought for years to break the sex in the workplace pressure and they have had success in the courts where it is a legal fact now that bosses cannot have sex with subordinates. Well, except for Letterman or producers who can so long as they use their bully pulpits to parade the Obamas on the air..they can rape all of the women they want. Hey, David if you haven't you should nail Tina Fey, she is on board with it it appears. Or you can keep her off the air if her feet are not in the air.
Reply
Tuesday 27 October
By Don De
Your wife must be so proud of you for standing up for all those women who keep their jobs and advance by being sexally available to thos 'animals' who have the power over them.
Maybe after you have cleaned up the kitchen and put the kids to bed, you lady will allow you to think about having sex this week. Be careful, she may think you want to rape her.....
Tuesday 27 October
By Letterman is a jackass & Stephanie liked his money
To TomW: I am not sorry for Stephanie because she is some poor little 25 year old. She is old enough to say no. when I was her age I was batting off powerful lust driven men in the office and I never gave in. She loved him enough to keep a diary...now she is living with another man with no hopes of getting a ring. IF you think 25 year olds are not mature enouhg to make intelligent decisions then you must be living in a box. Why do you think the age of consent is 18? Hello!
Tuesday 27 October
By sherrala1
You sure are fixated on rape, a totally inappropriate word for what went on with David Letterman. You obviously use it to incite people, but your post is so ridiculously stupid that who in the world could even take you seriously? I would bet cold, hard cash that you're not some really sensitive guy who feels for women and is standing up for them;you're an opportunist who's trying toturn this into an anti-liberal, anti-Obama rant and threw in the word rape a few times to try to make people angry. What makes me angry is bozos like you who use that word in a situation like this; rape is a violent and horrendous act against women, and you should just shut your mouth.
Wednesday 28 October
By DawnD13
but we're not bitter, are we?
Tuesday 27 October
By amifishhead64
Liberals, liberals, liberals! Is that the new "bad" word in America for people who`s opinions are different than yours? I am really beginning to dislike that word greatly...you conservative Wixxer!
Tuesday 27 October
By xin
Hmmm...TomW, it says to keep the comments classy. It seems those who are so anti-liberal are the least classy of our society. No matter what happens, it is the fault of liberalism. Too bad the lower classes in our society can't think for themselves - they rely on CONSERVATIVE talk show hosts who scream hate every day to fill their heads with "thoughts" and thus, enable them to attack everything and anything with which they have been told to disagree. What's worse: a late night talk show host having sex with employees (happens in ALL workplaces) or a radio talk show host who hopes the President fails and if his wife/daughter (or any female) is raped and gets pregnant would FORCE her to go through the pregnancy and raise the baby (without help, of course, because we don't want a welfare society, do we?). I'm sick of these anti-liberal comments - you people need to get some sort of mental health evaluation.
Tuesday 27 October
By What about Republican cheaters
What about Senator Ensign and his affair with the wife of his "friend" whom he got a job for?
What about David Vitter who used prostitutes?
Tom W is clearly a pervert who has fantasies of being raped by Glen Beck
Tuesday 27 October
By phil
Where do you get your information? (i.e. "they have had success in the courts where it is a legal fact now that bosses cannot have sex with subordinates.) So. It's a legal fact. Can you cite that chapter and verse? ...I didn't think so.
And don't forget this gem..."when in fact he has been raping his female staffers for two decades and pressuring them into having sex. Oh, do tell me its OK because its consensual sex."
Here you go: It's OK because it's consensual sex. Was it wise? Nope. Look at the pain and embarrassment he caused. He opened himself up to extortion. Folks there are reasons why it's against company policy in most organizations to date subordinates. Letterman found out, and now Mr. Phillips at ESPN. Illegal? No. ...Still OK.
Perhaps as a former comedy writer..you just weren't funny. Sorta like that female comedienne, Elayne Boosler. I always thought she was on so many programs simply because she was one of a very few female comedians. There aren't that many and they had to give at least one, a shot. Was this fair? Think about all the guys that were overlooked because Elayne had to be given her shot? Did I complain? Sadly...No.
Tuesday 27 October
By John
...zero female writers on Letterman? Letterman has turned into an old (horny) grouch who hasn't been relevant, or worse "funny", in over fifteen years.
If I were a female writer, I would think about taking a hosting job at TGI Fridays before working on his writing staff.
Reply
Tuesday 27 October
By Bill
You know how men aren't as sensitive as women? Well women aren't as funny as men. That is why there are few female comedy writers. Don't believe me? Just read some of the whining comments by females in response to this news story.
Tuesday 27 October
By John
Next to the guys that twirl signs on street corners, your job just might be the most pathetic.
Reply
Tuesday 27 October
By nehu
I guess all his comments about Palin and her family now makes sense. The man has zero respect for women and loves to demean them. He should be fired. He serves not purposes as a man only a male sl**.
Reply
Tuesday 27 October
By jan
I really got disgusted and fiqured Letterman was a liberal when he was always saying rotten stuff about Sarah Palin and rep. and she should have never gave him an apology He was and is a jerk as all liberals demean her. I even wrote to the show but never heard anything and figured they didn't do anything about it, cause he continue his asssin. I quit watching the show.
Tuesday 27 October
By nick
did you ever consider your not funny?
Reply
Tuesday 27 October
By mobetta2009
Letterman is the lowest example of CRUD on American TV.
He is even lower than grubworm sh!T......
Reply