David Letterman shocked his audience on Thursday when he revealed he'd been the victim of an extortion scam.(CBS Photo)
Comedian David Letterman helped create a national discussion this week following his disclosure of an alleged extortion plot, a disclosure that also led to his admission of having had sex with female staff who work for him. While he was not married at the time (ironically lastyear he married a woman who once was a writer on his show, following their 23 year relationship) and no allegations have surfaced of sexual harrassment by Letterman, two issues, it seems to me, arise. The first relates to the manner in which Letterman revealed details of the plot itself.
Watch the clip embedded in the New York Daily News story: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/10/01/2009-10-01_david_letterman_reveals_extortion_plot_con_man_wanted_2m_for_sex_secrets.html
Is there anything in either Letterman's demeanor or the audience's reaction to his words that might suggest a subtext of gender bias toward those women with whom the comedian admits to having sexual relations? Do you feel Letterman handled what some might consider to be a serious subject using an appropriate tone? Of course, the second issue pertains less to the media and more to the workplace issue of whether it is ever appropriate for someone in a power position to have a relationship with a subordinate.
Finally, consider one of the articles you have to read for Tuesday titled "We're Gonna Make It After All," suggesting women have come a long way in media portrayals since the pivotal Mary Tyler Moore Show in the 1970's. Do media depictions of workplace romance like the one on the Letterman Show support that assertion or not?
The whole thing seemed like a joke. It seems that the audience just thought Letterman was being Letterman. I do think this is a serious issue, but I think Letterman did a good job of admitting the incident. He didn't hold some serious press conference. He didn't seem nervous. He didn't seem defeated. This doesn't mean that I agree with his method, but from an entertainment persepective...he certainly saved face.
ReplyDeleteThe women in this scenario seem more like objects. They don't have names. They don't have faces. In a way, I think that is good. Like Letterman said, if they want to come out about the incident they can. But these events really clash with the ideas portrayed in the article "We're Gonna Make It After All." Women still seem to be in the shadows. Who were these women? What kind of jobs did they have? For Letterman, they are part of a joke. They still seemed to be controlled by men in some way.
It seems to be that Mr. Letterman used his position of power to get women to sleep with him. Either way though there isn't much that can be said in this case. As they mention the women were all adults, he didn't rape them, it doesn't even appear from the article that he coerced them in any way.
ReplyDeleteIt just seems that he is a scuzzy guy who cheated on his wife. The number of people doesn't matter because if you cheated, you cheated and there is your moral issue.
As for the extortion issue, I mean this guy saw a way for some extra cash thinking David Letterman would care if people found out that he had cheated on his wife. I guess he didn't really care that much.
The Producer went to jail. I kind of see this as a case closed. I don't really think anyone will care in a couple weeks. The only issue I really have here is that the media is making David Letterman out to be such a victim. Yes, he was a victim of blackmail, but in reality we need not feel bad for him because he is the one who brought this all on himself.
It doesn't make it right for the guy who tried to blackmail him but if the allegations weren't true then I could see where the media would spin it this way. But they are true. Too bad there isn't any legal punishment for cheating on your spouse.
I actually just happened to turn Letterman on last Thursday and caught this as it happened. It was very surreal to have Letterman address a serious topic when he normally is very cavalier and casual.
ReplyDeleteLetterman attempted to make light of the situation, which I think is actually ok in this particular case. He is not on trial, and he is not interested in airing out his dirty laundry to all America.
He did the right thing by addressing it. He gave it the proper seriousness when he was making his statement. He's a character, though, and a witty guy, so he tried to add a little levity to something that had sucked the oxygen out of the room. His infidelity is something for his family to deal with, but he was culpable to accept the responsibility of the accusations that he had sexual relationships with women he worked with.
I believe he handled it well in the forum that he had. The conduct, though, is a different matter.
I am torn with the David Letterman case. On the one hand, he left the women involved nameless, which could lead people to believe that they were merely objects for his sexual desires and otherwise unimportant.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, from what we know now at least, all of the women were of legal age and consented to their relationships with Letterman, and I believe that they have the right to remain private in this case.
The women worked with Letterman, and it was known to anyone who watched his show that he was in a serious relationship with the mother of his child, so I do not see these women as victims.
His announcement on his show felt rather awkward, and I do not think the audience knew whether they should be laughing or if this was really a serious matter. I cannot imagine how embarrassing this must have been for his wife and family, but I am not surprised by his method of announcing his wrong-doings. (He uses the show to make light of many of his personal problems) Unfortunately for his family, Letterman is in the entertainment business and I do not think there is really any better way of announcing the situation- it would have gone public one way or another. I do commend him for taking responsibility for his actions and showing remorse, rather than making excuses or lies.
The thing that bothers me most about this story is that, like someone else mentioned, Letterman is being perceived as a victim. Yes, I think blackmailing is wrong and I definitely think that Joe Halderman should be punished for what he did, but Letterman was being a skeeze ball and the truth would have come out eventually anyway. That's what you get for cheating on your wife (or long term girlfriend in his case).
In regards to "We're Gonna Make it After All", I think that cases like this are a step backwards for women in the workplace. Many women work very hard to earn competitive positions at their companies or offices, however some women are still viewed as sexual objects and expected to use their looks and sexuality to get ahead.
Letterman took advantage of his position of power, and used it to gain these sexual relationships with his employees. Whether or not he talked them into it, it is still inappropriate for a person in power to have a relationship with people who work for him/her. By making the choice to have a sexual relationship with Letterman, the women also compromised their own work ethics, and I would not be surprised that some of the women thought the affair would help out their careers (because I doubt any of them were drawn to his good looks).
Sleeping with the help has been the go-to patriarchal exercising of power since forever. Letterman followed the pattern and took advantage of his power. However, there is a cross-pollination so to speak because one of the named women ascended to a featured spot on the show and appeared on tv. There is an exchange at work here.
ReplyDeleteHoward Stern chided Letterman today on his show, lambasting him for acting so unprofessionally. I totally agree.
As I am a fervent viewer of the show Mad Men, I am keenly aware of the sexual dynamics between men and women. Though Don stays away from mixing with the staff, his superiors certainly don't mind. Nor his juniors as well. That show takes place in the 1960's and although it comes off as a dusty antiquated piece, I believe that it has more in common with current themes than retro-obsessed ones. The Letterman ordeal shows that not much has changed.
Joe Haldeman is not in jail. He pleaded not guilty to the charge of extortion. Stephanie Birkitt was a fully accredited lawyer in the Connecticut bar.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Letterman made remarks in his usual snide and comedic tone, it seems (on face value) that this is a case of a broke, jilted lover and ex-producer, who should know better than to leave a paper trail. Birkitt did not file charges-even though she once lived with Haldeman. Birkitt knew of Letterman’s ongoing relationship with Regina, his wife and mother of his child. Birkitt was a consenting adult. Other staffers also knew.
Letterman is not the first, or last, to have a “casting” couch. He even had a room called “the bunker” above his office. It was also common knowledge to staff members, crew, and executives.
My perception of the Mary Tyler Moore article “We’re Gonna Make It After All,” there is still the invisible glass ceiling. Women in the broadcast industry still face many of the same dilemmas as before. The media depictions are scripted and false.
I think Letterman handled the situation the best he could. In regards to the "cheating," he made light of the situation, but I think that is because it's embarassing. He joked that it would be embarassing for the women as well, which I thought was funny. He addressed the issue in a joking manner but took it serious enough. I think it says a lot about him for talking about this on his show. I don't think he took advantage of the women he works with, I think it may have been the other way around. There are lots of women (and men) that will sleep with people in power or of a certain "celebrity" status for different reasons. Some do it to for bragging rights, others do it for advancements in their jobs. Obviously he made a mistake and he apologized. This stuff happens all the time!
ReplyDeleteLate night comedians use comedy to lighten scenarios and events that would otherwise not be funny. That is their job. As far as workplace romance goes, I think it should be okay if both people agree to not put personal before professional in the workplace. I think that Dave had the woman's ideals in mind when he spoke to his audience, and he didn't make it sound as if his side was any worse than the woman's. The fact of if she slept with Letterman to get ahead professionally, is a theory only that woman can be aware of. The public can judge, but they don't have all the facts to know if that was the situation. I believe guys and girls are capable of doing things to get ahead, and it all comes down to personal ethics and values, not gender.
ReplyDeleteLetterman made light of his scandal and involvement in an extortion plot, cracking jokes and what not, and I'm not surprised. I expect nothing less from a man who has made it his career to hosts a late night comedy show and then to make public a personal situation by way of comedic monologue.
ReplyDeleteHis audience knows him as a funny man and don't expect much in the way of serious dialogue. I would assume that he did not handle his confession to his wife in such a light-hearted manner or to the grand jury he appeared in front of.
I was baffled though by the tasteless response and applause by the audience though. No body cheered and applauded for Bill Clinton when he addressed to the nation that he dipped his pen in the company ink. In our society, we hold celebrities to a different moral standard than we do to public figures and even the average Joe.
Instead of holding them to a bench mark moral standard, seeing as how the are in a position to be role models, we give them a free pass to do "creepy things" and then we find the room in our hearts to welcome them back to our television sets, movie screens, magazines, etc.
Also,Halderman says Letterman and his attorneys aren't telling the whole story. Halderman's defense team points out that very rarely in history have extortionists ever asked or accepted a check for payment. His Lawyers claim that as a man who is an Emmy award wining journalist who has worked extensively with police, undercover investigations and wiretaps that Halderman would know better than to accept a check if he was extorting Letterman.
Halderman's lawyers claim that he offered to sell Letterman a screenplay treatment about his sexual exploits with staffers of the show. Letterman then told his lawyer who informed prosecutors.
I read about this on People.com last week. I feel like we need to give Letterman some credit. Although I don't agree with what he did, I feel like he handled himself well.
ReplyDeleteHe used his platform, his show, to discuss the case. He didn't have to do that. Letterman probably addressed these issues on his show because it was a dynamic he was used to, and probably felt that his audience needed to be aware of the situation, out of his mouth. Of course he made light of the situation, he's a funnyman. Late night talk shows are formatted to be that way.
I also think he was wise not to name all the women involved. For starters, it would make him (and them) look awful. But second, some of those women may want their privacy, and may not want to be involved. By giving those women an open invitation to speak about their affairs with him, he gave them the opportunity to decide their involvement. By giving them that option, Letterman isn't openly ruining anyones lives. We have to consider the ripple effect people! He isn't denying it happened. Also, he's protecting his marriage in some aspects by not delivering the laundry list that the blackmailer wanted. I also have a hard time believing that after a 23-year dating relationship his wife was unaware of the affairs.
As far as power goes, no one has come forward and said that Letterman forced them to have sex with him. This isn't a situation of rape, it's workplace romance and (lightly) whether or not the boss should sleep with his secretary in a sense. Birkett came forward, but she's involved in the extortion case.
Maybe Letterman needs some better values and workplace ethics. With as long as he has been on the air, the way the station is run has drastically changed. Either way, I'll reward Letterman for his honesty.
I forgot to give him credit about not mentioning any names of the women he has slept with. I thought that this gesture was respectful and not an attempt to place these women on the back-burner and out of the lime-light. I don't think that this situation is the type of fifteen minutes of fame someone would want, but apparently it is since a couple of women have already come forward. But, I don't think that it is a case of Letterman attempting to overshadow these women and avert all the publicity his way, I think that he was trying to be respectful and save face.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought is I went on a tour in NYC to a tv station where they showed how a show like the Lettermen show and others are broadcast. One thing that I remember is that there are microphones hanging above where the audience sits to amplify the sounds of clapping and and laughter. The also have prompters to tell you when to clap and cheer. They also shoot the show hours before it appears on TV so they have time to edit it.
ReplyDeleteI mention all this because I believe that the show framed this segment to make Dave look like a not so bad person and to lighten up the severity of the case.
I agree that at the beginning of hie story there may have been funny parts just because no one realizes that he is not serious. But as it continues on and you see he is not laughing, you can see that he is for real. I cant imagine all that laughter going on through the entire show. Especially from female viewers.
But the Letterman show has PR people who get paid to come up with ways to keep viewers. And according to the article we read 60 percent of viewers are women. If Letterman can come of sincere and remorseful he can keep his show.
But this issue is more complex than just gender because what Letterman did was not illegal and there is no cases of sexual harassment. But this is a moral and ethical situation which directly represents the type of person Letterman is, and he is allowed to live his life the way he wants within the rules.
Another issue is could someone of lesser class and celebrity get away with something like this? My answer is no. If someone at the Bay news 9 went around sleeping with women and the news got out, this man would not get the same treatment that Dave got. And I cant even imagine if this happened to a minority male.
I actually watched this live and had no idea what was going on. I thought it was a joke, as did I think most of the audience. It was serious, but at the same time, lighthearted. It wasn't an apology, it was simply a confession. Maybe Letterman thinks this whole thing is a joke.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's ever appropriate in the workplace for relationships, especially when it includes subordinates. Anyone else in this world would've been fired, yet since he's David Letterman, this whole issue is made out to be like he is the victim, and since someone tried (and failed) to blackmail him, poor Letterman shouldn't be prosecuted for inter-office relationships. That's ridiculous.
I think there is a bias toward women in this situation, because his whole attitude comes off as if it doesnt matter that HE had sex with the women. No big. It's not like he raped them. (sarcasm). I think he should've apologized for his actions instead of just confessing them.
As Letterman begins by saying "I have a little story to tell you...", it's already uncomfortable. Although the tension is as thick as potato soup, it doesn't seem like Letterman is taking this very seriously, nor is the audience. The continual laughter and applause from the audience as Letterman calls himself creepy and confesses to "having sex" with women he works with seems to hint a lot at a deeper issue. I understand that the forum Letterman is confessing some of these "terrible things he's done" is that of a funny, lighthearted, late night talk show, but I can't help but think about the double standard. I honestly believe that if a woman was sitting in Letterman's chair, talking about the terrible thing she's done with her fellow male employees, she would immediately be named a bad mother and wife, slut/whore, child abuser, etc. etc. etc...Instead of being applauded for her infidelity and "creepiness", she would become the bad "guy" and her career would most likely be over.
ReplyDeleteI think that the most disturbing element of this story is that David Letterman seems to believe that he is an innocent victim. It is true that he is a victim of an extortion plot, but there are also moral and ethical issues surrounding his behavior with his female employees.
ReplyDeleteHe jokingly said that he had to tell the grand jury about all the "creepy" things he's done. He does not take ownership of the fact that sleeping with his employees/subordinates is a total abuse of power. You can hear in his tone that he thinks what he has done is perfectly acceptable.
Letterman's behavior shows that he views women as second-class citizens. A self-respecting man should not engage in sexual relationships with employees who work under him. His argument that they are consenting adults is absolutely ludicrous; bosses (male and female) should not, under any circumstance, have sex with their employees. The power that Letterman has over his employees very likely influenced their willingness to "consent."
He joked around, saying that this situation is particularly embarrassing for the women. I believe it is incredibly sad that he shows no remorse for his behavior. This scenario shows that society still has a long way to go before men and women are treated the same in the workplace. I think this situation shows that women still feel like they need to use sex, not necessarily diligence, competence, creativity, experience or intelligence, to get ahead and succeed in their careers.
The Letterman situation is a step back from where the media has come since the "Mary Tyler Moore Show." The article rightly asserts that progress has been made; there are many women shown in strong and powerful careers on television. But the Letterman incidents show that even in 2009, women do not have equal footing in the workplace.
By the time I watched the clip of Letterman's confession, I knew it was serious and I didn't think it was funny at all. But in the moment, being there/watching it live, I might have laughed and not taken him seriously because that's what you do with David Letterman. I wonder if the women who were "involved" with him knew he was going to expose this whole thing. Not that it would matter because I'm sure they're adults who can make their own decisions.
ReplyDeleteOverall, however, I don't think Letterman is looked at in a bad light in this whole situation. He just made a mistake and owned up to it on national TV. The ridicule he'll receive for that is punishment enough, right? But for the women and they're image, I think most people would figure they did it for a promotion or gave into pressure from a superior. Either image is a negative one. I'm with Myra, there is no appropriate time for a workplace relationship. Someone needs to suck it up and transfer to a different department or get a different job altogether.
The way in which Letterman reveals the story is wrong all over the place. The way he talks about it, his tone, and the way he refers to the women he slept with, it just seems like it's all one big joke to him. To me, this whole situation is not surprising in the least. What is unfortunate though is that I once had respect for this man and the way he handled this situation seemed completely selfish. He doesn't care about the other women involved, personally I think he really wanted to protect himself and his job, and I'm hoping his family. In regards to whether or not it's ever appropriate for an authority figure like him to assert that power in a way that he did is very unacceptable. That doesn't mean it's not still happening today.
ReplyDelete(Hypothetically) ,I have to ask myself, was this story of Letterman's dirty laundry conspiracy just part of the show? I mean, Letterman has dealt with celebrity issues of this sort in the past but has never been the center of such controversary. Sex, scadal and the workplace sells news stories and for this, I could see someone like Letterman planting the plot for a story containing all three elements.
ReplyDeleteHowever, this little episode 'did' happen, so the story unfolds faint little details about the investigation, the randsom, the sexual affairs and the humiliation, all presented in a 'no big deal' kind of way, as Letterman always does. He does not seem to be an emotionally hype type of guy, so I am not shocked by the way he reacted or did not react.
As for sleeping with people in the workplace is concerned, it seems like Letterman is not convicted by his actions. He slept with a few collegues - big deal. But honestly, it is very wrong and having sexual affairs with collegues is unethical and in appropriate.
Yes, women have moved up to more professional job titles since the 'Mary Tyler Moore Show' - but even though job titles have changed the respect given to the women holding those 'higher up positions' in not equal to a mans.
I also want to add, as to be the devils advocate... There have been many movies about woman having sexual relationships with men in higher positions in order to raise their paycheck or get higher up in the corporate ladder. And even though this manipulating approach to power is not ethical, it is often portrayed as being cleaver and sexy. What if the woman Letterman slept with were using him to get a higher position or pay check? (I know either way the situation is wrong BUT some people dislike Letterman because of his lack of reaction to the sexual affairs at work. Maybe he is the victim..
ReplyDeleteAlso - sorry for missing class today. Not feeling to well...
From reuters.com:
ReplyDeleteDavid Letterman sex-blackmail saga earns ratings bonanza
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The David Letterman extortion affair and sex scandal is proving a late night ratings bonanza for TV network CBS.
Some 5.7 million people tuned in on Monday to hear Letterman apologize to his wife and staff for his on-air revelations last week about his sexual affairs and an alleged blackmail plot.
That was a 36 percent increase over the audience for the "Late Show with David Letterman" on Monday last week, and a 19 percent jump on the 2009-2010 season-to-date average for the talk show of 4.8 million viewers, CBS said on Tuesday.
Show business newspaper Daily Variety noted that Monday's Letterman ratings at 11:30 p.m. were higher than anything struggling NBC had on Monday in prime time, including its returning drama series "Heroes," new medical series "Trauma" and "The Jay Leno Show" at its new 10 p.m. slot which pulled in 4.3 million viewers.
Letterman told his audience on Monday that his wife Regina, with whom he has a 5-year-old son, had been "horribly hurt" by his behavior and that he was trying to patch things up.
On Thursday last week, Letterman stunned Americans when he said he was the target of a $2 million blackmail attempt, and then admitted having sexual affairs with women on his staff.
One day later a CBS news producer pleaded not guilty in connection with the alleged extortion. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Eric Walsh)
Mainstream advertisers will inevitably feel backlashes in many ways. They could feel pressure from ethnic groups over stereotyping in their own ads. Although it is not now, financial pressures created by diluting advertising income will eventually show up on spreadsheets and ratings will likely drop as a result of this.
ReplyDeleteThe “silent majority” may take the chairpersons to be invading a wholly hegemonous group and take it as an assault from outsiders.
Young women have been in the cross-hairs of advertisers for years. The similarity is that they are dealing with an audience that is extremely vulnerable. Young women drink alcohol and go to the “in” spots to be viewed as cool. The same is true with tobacco. Peer pressure is an outflow of mainstream and Latino advertisers, even if Anglo spokespeople or models are used.