Viewer Reaction Split on Letterman News

(AP)  Will David Letterman's very public revelation of a new, very human flaw bring him closer to viewers, or will it cloud him in cliche showbiz debauchery?

That was the question many were debating Friday, the day after the CBS "Late Show" host revealed to his audience that he had sexual relationships with female employees and had been the victim of an extortion attempt to keep that information private.

Letterman unraveled the sordid story with humor, honesty and self-effacement. He may have endeared himself to some fans, but his likeability has been thrown into jeopardy. Reaction poured in Friday, including from other late-night hosts.

During a taping of NBC's "Late Night," Jimmy Fallon worked it into his monologue: "A new book called `Why Women Have Sex' says there are 237 reasons why women have sex and Letterman knows the top 10."

Friday night's "Late Show" was taped Thursday, as was Craig Ferguson's "Late Show." (Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" are dark on Fridays.)

That left Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel.

In the comments sections of YouTube videos of Letterman's confession, the dialogue was two-sided as some came to Letterman's defense, while others were critical. Similar lines were drawn on Twitter, where Letterman was one of the most tweeted-about subjects. He evoked both sympathy and disgust, as he did in comments posted in blogs and on social networks.

Watch Letterman's remarks
Photos: David Letterman

Referring to Thursday's studio audience, which laughed through parts of Letterman's somewhat comical telling of the story, New York Times columnist David Carr tweeted: "Aw, now Letterman is his own punchline. Yuck."

A running Internet joke seen on sites such as YouTube and Facebook involved a pun on the name of Letterman's production company, World Wide Pants Inc.

On YouTube, videos of different woman who have worked on-air at the "Late Show" were circulating. Most were of Stephanie Birkitt, the sometimes on-air assistant who lived in Norwalk, Conn., with the alleged extortionist, Robert J. "Joe" Halderman, a producer for the true-crime show "48 Hours."

For several years, Birkitt regularly appeared on the "Late Show," often aiding Letterman in his audience interactions. Videos of her cameos circulated widely as the Web sought glimpses of her.

Ben McConnell, a marketing expert and author, blogged that Letterman had gotten in front of the story "in this Twitter-driven world." He wrote: "Letterman has certainly neutralized far worse rumor-mongering that could have quickly spiraled, jeopardizing his reputation, maybe even his job."

Like many blogs, Gawker.com was trolling through "Late Show" archives to find evidence of hypocrisy in Letterman's various jokes about infidelity through the years. Gawker wrote that the 62-year-old host was "haunted by the ghosts of Monica Lewinsky jokes past" and linked to old videos and top 10 lists of the "Late Show."

Other sleuthing was going on, too, as those following the sordid story looked for information on the less famous players involved. Halderman's Facebook page (which features a photo of him lounging in an Adirondack chair) had its personal information deleted.

[uvcf23]

Ok. Done with Letterman. Not just this scandal but, all the ******** with this guy. Please! The old glasses, tie, white socks! He was old before he was old. Anyway, what desparate co-worker would WANT to be this this old/middle aged/young *******! Do we really care about a so called, "scandal" with this dude???? He wouldn't even reveal his girlfriend/wife with the public before all of this ****. What's wrong with her too?? What's the BFD?? He's no Jay or Conan or even Jimmy Fallon. Skip the apolozies, old man. Even my 80 year old father thinks you're too old!! Ha!!

[hahajokeonyou]

This is halarious! It's more fun reading the comments then it would be ever watching the Letterman show. He made easy big bucks doing non-funny jokes about people which were at some unfortunate situations.

Now for all those that think he is "honest" about his admissions, what honest man would wait to tell someone near and dear to him about his sneaky thrills he done ONLY after he is going to be exposed? Get him OFF the air!...get some real talent on!

Oh what about those that think that it's not our job to be judgemental....whenever one makes that comment about such is also judgemental, ...you want to be non-judgemental and it being not our job then stay OFF such comment boards. Do you get to understand your own words? "we are all human". boo hoo hoo what the heck is this about? "keep his family out of it"?? Does he spare the families of the ones he made jokes about? Leave it be, let karma bite him.

[vermont9]

Sexual harassment is when during but usually after the alleged affair, the woman is scared she will lose her job or is treated in a mean spirited way... creating a hostel work enviroment..has that happened here?

[Md392]

What do you want. The man had affairs while he was unmarried. At least he is HONEST and admits it. Don't pass judgement it's not your job. He's trying to get his life back, leave him alone. I'm sure he doesn't mind the jokes as long as they keep his family out of it. He's human!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[missheidi]

What a hypocrite! No wonder dirty old Dave was obsessed about talking about Palin's daughter being with an older man; he was getting his jollies, because he was doing the same thing.

[theyarealltaken]

hey all, i love dave. still love dave even tho 'gasp' he's had sex. although it's a bit dodgy having sex with staffers, he's just going to have to hunker down and take the investigation, criticism and jokes from his peers. but hey, dave can dish it out and i KNOW DAVE CAN TAKE it. this is going to be late night fodder for weeks! BRAVO to dave for going to the police and doing the right thing. he could have paid to keep this silent and faced worse consenquences later.

i support dave and will continue to watch him EVERY NIGHT. love you dave!!

[liselle3]

I don't get why this is any of our business... Who cares! Seems to me the only people who should care are Letterman's family. What a nosy nation!

[kphx]

Who cares. May be all the females in your family, if they ever go to work somewhere, should go and work exclusively for people like this creep letterman. It is none of anybody's business.

[runningralph]

Letterman's whole act is to show what outrageous fools everyone is and he just grins and points his finger. He has had dalliances with several women at CBS and even married one of them. My question is: has he ever had affairs with women that didn't work for him? I doubt it. That would take time, effort and money. Why do all that when he has outrageous fools working for him? That would be like buying a cow when milk is cheap.

[rocketjl]

I hear all the pro and con about your/their side of 'whatever'. I think 'they' are just people or 'he' would have said nothing on the air, knowing the girls would have their turn later.

Me, I want to know what 'Sara Palin' wants to say.

Good for the goose and gander, thing.

[baileyccc]

Letterman is bulletproof. Degrade Palin daughter, no problem for CBS; have sex with CBS employees, no problem for CBS. I think he could kill someone and it would be no problem for CBS. This clown needs to go. Posted by Baileyccc

[kphx]

I agree with you my friend. It just shows what is in a days work at CBS shops and the kind of workplace ethics they have. May be it is time to boycott CBS, both local and national ?, not just the creep letterman's show and his sponsors ???