TV Week Editor BRENT FURDYK blogs about what’s going on in the wide world of television.
Letterman Extortion Shocker!
By Brent Furdyk, Editor, TV Week | Oct 2, 2009
When I tuned into Letterman last night, I certainly didn't expect to see him reveal he was at the center of a $2-million extortion plot brought on by a CBS news producer who had evidence of Dave's affair with a young staffer.
Here's what went down on "The Late Show" — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xPre-Wwz9I
Very weird stuff, especially the audience reaction, which was to laugh nervously throughout.
According to news reports, the extortionist is "48 Hours" producer Robert Halderman, who tried to shake down the talk-show host when he discovered the diary of his ex-girlfriend Stephanie Birkett, Letterman's assistant (who viewers may know as "Vicky" in numerous bits on the show), which discussed an affair that took place at some point before the birth of Letterman's son, Harry, but during the time he was involved with current wife Regina Lasko.
An ugly situation to be sure, but I think Dave handled it about as well as anybody could have. And it certainly was another memorable moment in TV history.
Comments
Bets on when this will
Bets on when this will become a Law & Order episode?
I can't wait!
Gap-toothed talk show host is the prime suspect when the guy trying to extort him is murdered, but in a stunning twist ending, the murderer is revealed to be a huge-chinned talk-show rival who's been taking a beating in the ratings. Kind of writes itself . . .
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