Ex-Letterman Writer: Sexual Politics Ruled

Former Writer Says She Quit Talk Show Because of Alleged "Sexual Politics" and "Gender Inequality"

(AP)  A former writer for David Letterman said she quit his NBC talk show in part because of alleged sexual favoritism and a hostile work environment.

Nell Scovell, writing for Vanity Fair online Tuesday, said she had no intention of filing a lawsuit and wasn't seeking revenge.

"I wanted to shine a light on gender inequality in that particular workplace," Scovell, who went on to a successful Hollywood career, said in a telephone interview.

In the Vanity Fair article, Scovell said Letterman didn't "hit on her" during her roughly five-month stint with NBC's "Late Night with David Letterman" in 1990.

"Did he pay me enough extra attention that it was noted by another writer? Yes. Was I aware of rumors that Dave was having sexual relationships with female staffers? Yes," Scovell wrote.

Other high-level male employees were having sexual relationships with female staffers as well, she alleges, and the women gained professional benefits from those relationships.

"Did that make me feel demeaned? Completely. Did I say anything at the time? Sadly, no," wrote Scovell, whose credits include writing for the series "Coach" and "Monk" and creating "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch." She's also produced and directed.

Letterman, who moved to CBS in 1993 for "Late Show," has admitted to workplace affairs that led to an alleged blackmail plot.

Officials from Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants, Inc., declined to comment Tuesday on Scovell's article.

CBS News producer Robert J. "Joe" Halderman has pleaded not guilty to trying to extort $2 million from Letterman to keep some of the comedian's sexual affairs quiet.

Scovell wrote she doesn't intend to seek legal action. Instead, she said, she wants to call attention to the complete lack of women writers on all talk shows, whether hosted by Letterman or NBC's Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien.

"I don't want compensation. I don't want revenge. I don't want Dave to go down (oh, grow up, people). I just want Dave to hire some qualified female writers and then treat them with respect. And that goes for Jay and Conan, too," she wrote.

She quit Letterman's NBC show, Scovell wrote, because she saw "I was not going to thrive professionally in that workplace. And although there were various reasons for that, sexual politics did play a major part."

When Letterman asked why she was leaving the New York-based show, she says she considered telling him the truth but balked because his "rumored mistress" was within earshot. Instead, Scovell writes, she told him she missed Los Angeles.

"You're welcome back anytime," Scovell recalls Letterman telling her.

NBC is owned by General Electric Co.

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[lin1945-2009]

I think Scovell was strong to come forward. She freelances so future jobs are not at issue. She deserved better when she worked for Letterman. All the women that worked for him and DID NOT share his bed deserved better. Letterman has at least 20 years of being a scumbag. Bet his mother and two sisters are mighty proud of him. He has drug their family name through the mud. What a loser. Stephanie Birkitt is truly the Monica Lewinski of this decade. Maybe the name Monica Lewinski will go away and for ten-plus years it will be the Stephanie Birkitt mistress. Bet the Birkitt's are proud. What a gal!

[darwufche]

Scovell "heard" rumors. Yeah, that's a real good witness.
She came across as irate that she hadn't been "hit on" or promoted.
If she was so concerned about alleged situation, why walk away? Why whine now when it might have made a difference at the time?
Goes to show a totally disingenuous person.

[Zen-do]

This is not a office romance ? this is a sexual favoritism in the workplace. ? My boss is also having sex with more than one woman on his staff. When a married supervisor conducts longstanding, concurrent affairs with two female subordinates at work and grants them professional favors over more deserving candidates, does it constitute unlawful sexual harassment? Birkett is the kind of sleezy woman who "bed" them in order to "get ahead",she put other women in very difficult positions. I really enjoy my job but I just hate going there everyday. WE NEED HELP!

[aubfmet]

Who's Dave? Is he the guy that's not allowed on my TV anymore? Now how do I get him off my computer?

[voxpopulus]

Oh, come on. Five months in a workplace isn't long enough to figure anything out except your own ineptitude. She didn't get promoted in five months? Welcome to the real world.

[rwsmith29456]

The best advice should be 'don't get sexually involved in a work situation'.

[voxpopulus]

All my relationships, including my marriage, have been with co-workers. 60% of people have had workplace relationships. 50% of those end in marriage. You just have to know how to act like adults.

[jd2408]

I worked for a large corporation in the 70s and 80s and thats how some of the women became department heads. Sad to say the rest of us had to put up with them. Pretty doesn't always mean intelligent. This is nothing new.

[billpl-2009]

Well, one thing for sure


...she's a heck of a good writer

[bobnjersey]

["I wanted to shine a light on gender inequality in that particular workplace," Scovell, who went on to a successful Hollywood career, said in a telephone interview.

"Did he pay me enough extra attention that it was noted by another writer? Yes. Was I aware of rumors that Dave was having sexual relationships with female staffers? Yes," Scovell wrote.

"Did that make me feel demeaned? Completely. Did I say anything at the time? Sadly, no," wrote Scovell, whose credits include writing for the series "Coach" and "Monk" and creating "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch." She's also produced and directed. ]

there's gender inequality ... but she's a female and was hired by letterman ... as a writer?

it would be interesting to see what she was doing before her job there ... as in ... did he give her one of her first writing jobs ... which then allowed her to move onto other writing, producing, and directing opportunities. it would also be interesting to see what percentage of woman are on the letterman staff ... vs. other shows like his. i believe it will counter her claims.


how much did she get paid for her interview w/ Vanity Fair ... or was she just doing it 'for others'?

[missme4]

My guess is she will find it hard to get another job in show business. Do the ***** writers get promoted faster in comedy faster than the funny writers?

[spillover]

But I thought only Republicans were creeps.

[voxpopulus]

No. They're just the most hypocritical ones.