Did We Really Miss It?: The Perverted TV Host Scandal

[JasonRox]

How did everyone not know?!

It was clear that he was perverted on his show. Whenever he had female guests, he would stare down at them all the time. The very reason why I never watched him in the first. Is everyone that oblivious?

My opinion of course stays the same regardless of this "scandal" that is going on.

For those of you who watched the show, did you really not notice?

 

[Chi Meson]

I used to watch Letterman when he was on NBC. I actually was a fan when he was the regular guest-host for Johnny Carson. By the time he left NBC, his humor (which I really enjoyed at the time) had run its course. It was around that time I no longer stayed up late.

But back then, no I never noticed such "lecherousness." I might have been oblivious, but I don't think so. Maybe he sort of became more so as he got richer and older. That often happens to people.

 

[Topher925]

The guy is over sixty and has a 5 year old child, what does that tell you?

Personally, I never liked the guy or his gay friend with the glasses that plays keyboard.

 

[hypatia]

What I find most shocking is that ANY one would want to have sex with him at all.

 

[arildno]

Ah, horrid old, rich man!

Virtuous, young female gold diggers have all been exploited, haven't they?

 

[Cyrus]

How did everyone not know?!

It was clear that he was perverted on his show. Whenever he had female guests, he would stare down at them all the time. The very reason why I never watched him in the first. Is everyone that oblivious?

My opinion of course stays the same regardless of this "scandal" that is going on.

For those of you who watched the show, did you really not notice?

<rolls me eyes at you>

 

[Moonbear]

Okay, I don't even know what this thread is about. Maybe it's because I don't watch Letterman. I really never liked his show; it always seemed pretty stupid/juvenile. I'm glad Leno is back on, and earlier now. I can't stand Conan either, so am running out of things to watch late at night when I can't sleep.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Ah, horrid old, rich man!

Virtuous, young female gold diggers have all been exploited, haven't they?

Here is another helpless victim.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LYV9AZNlFU

So the gist of this thread is that because someone appears to have committed a crime against Letterman, who so far only admits to having sex with women on his staff, one of whom he married, Letterman is a letch?

What's more, this is based on the opinion of someone who claims that he didn't watch the show?

At this point it sounds to me like Letterman took down a crook because he refused to be intimidated. Good for him!

 

[WhoWee]

I find it amazing that his ratings went through the roof on the West Coast.
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/10/0...s-conan-in-preliminary-thursday-results/29279

"David Letterman and CBS’s Late Show (1.2/6 rating/share for adults 18-49) bested Conan and Tonight Show (1.0/5) according to Nielsen’s 24 local markets with People Meters.

Conan narrowly prevailed with the younger 18-34 crowd though 0.7/4 vs. 0.6/3"

 

[rootX]

I don't see any problem with him having sex.

 

[Redbelly98]

I liked Letterman into the mid/late 90's, but then it got where if I did stay up that late I'd prefer to waste time surfing the web than watching TV.

 

[Cyrus]

The guy is over sixty and has a 5 year old child, what does that tell you?

Personally, I never liked the guy or his gay friend with the glasses that plays keyboard.

Tells me you don't know squat about him, but jump to conclusions.

 

[GeorginaS]

At this point it sounds to me like Letterman took down a crook because he refused to be intimidated. Good for him!

That's my understanding. Someone was blackmailing him, trying to extort money from him, and threatening to expose the fact that he'd had sex with some female members of his staff over the years. So he and his lawyer planned a sting in the form form of a fake payment and Letterman himself confessed to anything the person could have possibly exposed, and the person was arrested.

He was smart, did the right thing, had some balls and some courage, and stopped a crime against himself.

I'm trying to figure out what's to mock.

 

[DaveC426913]

I didn't know anything about this.

I've got to applaud him for his cahones.


I find this interesting:

"I have had sex with women who worked on this show," Letterman told the audience matter-of-factly. "And would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Perhaps it would. Especially for the women."

Erin Matson, action vice president for the National Organization for Women, called Letterman's jocularity offensive.

"That plays into same old sex stereotypes that men can do whatever but women should be ashamed of their sexuality," she said.

Ms. Matson seems to think that Mr. Letterman felt the women would be ashamed that they had sex.

She seems to completely miss the far more likely meaning that Mr. Letterman felt the women would be ashamed that they had sex with him.

Letterman was obviously being self-deprecatory for the humour value.

 

[Proton Soup]

I don't see any problem with him having sex.

me neither. whose business is it, anyway? it doesn't make him "lecherous", either.

 

[lisab]

She seems to completely miss the far more likely meaning that Mr. Letterman felt the women would be ashamed that they had sex with him.

Letterman was obviously being self-deprecatory for the humour value.

That's exactly how I heard it, too! But no one I know heard it this way...well, I don't care. It's much funnier the way we heard it, Dave.

 

[Cyrus]

I didn't know anything about this.

I've got to applaud him for his cahones.


I find this interesting:

"I have had sex with women who worked on this show," Letterman told the audience matter-of-factly. "And would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Perhaps it would. Especially for the women."

Erin Matson, action vice president for the National Organization for Women, called Letterman's jocularity offensive.

"That plays into same old sex stereotypes that men can do whatever but women should be ashamed of their sexuality," she said.

Ms. Matson seems to think that Mr. Letterman felt the women would be ashamed that they had sex.

She seems to completely miss the far more likely meaning that Mr. Letterman felt the women would be ashamed that they had sex with him.

Letterman was obviously being self-deprecatory for the humour value.

Does it really matter what Ms. Matson says or thinks? Who is she? I've never heard about her - why should I care?

 

[Danger]

That's exactly how I heard it, too!

Same here. I have nothing against him as a person, but I've never liked his humour. I only saw the 'confession' because it was on the news. Good on him for taking the blackmailer down.

 

[DaveC426913]

That's exactly how I heard it, too! But no one I know heard it this way...well, I don't care. It's much funnier the way we heard it, Dave.

This is the clincher. He is a comedian after all.

 

[DaveC426913]

The only thing I never liked about him was how much of a jealous control freak he is on air. He hates it when his guests get any limelight and will immediately steal it back.

I was really unimpressed with his handling of Kreskin. Kreskin is a has-been and we all know he's a trickster. So there was no harm in letting him have some dignity in showing his final trick. Kreskin asked. Letterman refused.

 

[drankin]

me neither. whose business is it, anyway? it doesn't make him "lecherous", either.

As far as who's business it is, he told his entire audience. Doesn't that make it everyones business now??

 

[DaveC426913]

Does it really matter what Ms. Matson says or thinks? Who is she? I've never heard about her - why should I care?

Besides, she's just a woman...

 

[WhoWee]

Besides, she's just a woman...

Dave - I just noticed this.

"And the sign said / Anybody caught trespassin' / Will be shot on sight.
So I jumped on the fence / And I yelled at the house / "Hey! What gives y* -=>BLAM<=-
*thud*
(Dude! Didn't you see the sign? Jeez!)"

 

[Cyrus]

Besides, she's just a woman...

...with an agenda.

 

[Moonbear]

That's exactly how I heard it, too! But no one I know heard it this way...well, I don't care. It's much funnier the way we heard it, Dave.

That's the first I heard of it (I have since at least caught some context of what this thread is about from the news, but haven't bothered reading much of it). I took it the same way...self-deprecating humor. Or, possibly they would be embarrassed having it revealed now that they had sex with him if they've moved on and weren't expecting their sexual relationships to become public news. Most people would be embarrassed at least a little if their sexual escapades were revealed to the public by their former sexual partner. As long as sex with his staff wasn't part of the conditions of their promotion, so what?

 

[DaveC426913]

Most people would be embarrassed at least a little if their sexual escapades were revealed to the public by their former sexual partner.

This is what Ms. Mattson seems to think he meant. Her complaint is then: "Why women more than men, David?"

 

[Chi Meson]

This is what Ms. Mattson seems to think he meant. Her complaint is then: "Why women more than men, David?"

It's clear what her complaint is, but it is also clear to anyone who:
a) saw the clip
b) has a sense of humor that isn't clouded by outrage
c) is familiar with Letterman's tendency toward self-depreciating comments

that the intent was to point out that it would be more embarrassing to the women because people would find out that they did it with David Letterman, and you know, ew!

It was a national confession, but it was still Letterman in front of an audience so he was going to say something funny. Whether or not it was actually funny is a different matter. The chiming-in of Ms. Mattson may be earnest due to (b), but honestly, it is a stretch to believe that Letterman intended to mean that women should be more embarrassed by workplace sex than men.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Something else that really has to be taken into consideration is that almost all men have sex with their staff.

 

[Proton Soup]

Something else that really has to be taken into consideration is that almost all men have sex with their staff.

how many men did you poll to reach that conclusion?

 

[bobquantum]

I wonder if its only the people in his staff that he has had sex with?

 

[lisab]

Something else that really has to be taken into consideration is that almost all men have sex with their staff.

Hmmm...I've worked for men nearly all my life (I had a female boss for about a year), and I've never had sex with any of my bosses.

Come to think of it, none of my female coworkers have ever told me they have, either.

OK, full disclosure regarding those two comments...yes I've been approached, i.e. bosses have wanted the relationship to become more than an employee-boss situation but thank goodness I've had the sense to run away from those situations. And since I'm in a male dominated field, I don't have a lot of female coworkers, so it's a very small sample size.

 

[GeorginaS]

Something else that really has to be taken into consideration is that almost all men have sex with their staff.

Are we being pun(ny)?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Are we being pun(ny)?

GeorginaS wins the golden peanut award!

Quick definitions (staff)

▸ noun: a strong rod or stick with a specialized utilitarian purpose [etc etc etc]

 

[edward]

Are we being pun(ny)?

Or a bit of double entendre. Ivan is sneaky that way

 

[lisab]

Ahahahaha...

 

[GeorginaS]

I adore golden peanuts.

 

[WhoWee]

Something else that really has to be taken into consideration is that almost all men have sex with their staff.

 

[GeorginaS]

Read the posts subsequent to the post that contains that line.

 

[techmologist]

I would have felt better about the whole thing if Letterman had gotten choked up, said how sorry he is for letting us all down...for letting himself down. All this while standing beside his spiritual adviser, Rod Parsley.

 

[JasonRox]

I didn't know anything about this.

I've got to applaud him for his cahones.


I find this interesting:

"I have had sex with women who worked on this show," Letterman told the audience matter-of-factly. "And would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Perhaps it would. Especially for the women."

Erin Matson, action vice president for the National Organization for Women, called Letterman's jocularity offensive.

"That plays into same old sex stereotypes that men can do whatever but women should be ashamed of their sexuality," she said.

Ms. Matson seems to think that Mr. Letterman felt the women would be ashamed that they had sex.

She seems to completely miss the far more likely meaning that Mr. Letterman felt the women would be ashamed that they had sex with him.

Letterman was obviously being self-deprecatory for the humour value.

Actually, I think you're missing the point and the National Organization for Women.

A man can have sex with an ugly girl and hardly be embarrased. The other way around is different. Regardless of which way you look at it, the comments he made were not necessary.

 

[JasonRox]

<rolls me eyes at you>

Hmmm... do not miss your comments at all.

 

[Chi Meson]

Actually, I think you're missing the point and the National Organization for Women.

A man can have sex with an ugly girl and hardly be embarrased. The other way around is different. Regardless of which way you look at it, the comments he made were not necessary.

One can argue whether or not anything he says is necessary.

NOW has plenty to be annoyed with concerning Mr. Letterman. I really can't say that this comment was his lamest joke nor his greatest sin.

 

[Cyrus]

Actually, I think you're missing the point and the National Organization for Women.

A man can have sex with an ugly girl and hardly be embarrased. The other way around is different. Regardless of which way you look at it, the comments he made were not necessary.

<rolls my eyes at you, again>

 

[DaveC426913]

Actually, I think you're missing the point and the National Organization for Women.

A man can have sex with an ugly girl and hardly be embarrased. The other way around is different. Regardless of which way you look at it, the comments he made were not necessary.

The point is, one of those ways is innocent, and it is more likely. We give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[GeorginaS]

The point is, one of those ways is innocent, and it is more likely. We give him the benefit of the doubt.

Yes, if you actually listen to his comment/joke in context, his meaning is more than clear. He's being self-deprecating. Witness his, “I know what you’re saying: ‘Oh, Dave had sex!’” comment. He took shots at himself the entire way.

Sometimes people look for offense.

And, for all of the dissecting of this so far, it doesn't sound as if any of it was coerced or power plays or anyone's jobs were contingent upon having sex with Letterman. It isn't always (particularly when you're dealing with celebrity situations) a circumstance where a woman is unwilling but feels she has no choice and is therefore being exploited. An exploitation situation would have me perturbed. I don't hear any signs of that.

 

[Chinieba]

How did everyone not know?!

It was clear that he was perverted on his show. Whenever he had female guests, he would stare down at them all the time. The very reason why I never watched him in the first. Is everyone that oblivious?

My opinion of course stays the same regardless of this "scandal" that is going on.

For those of you who watched the show, did you really not notice?

I don't notice that ,
as I don't understand what he/they is/are talking about.
I hear everyone in the tv laugh then I laugh too
if they suddenly keep silent then I show a little surprise on my face as if I understand the "feel" of what is going on. True.

 

[DaveC426913]

I don't notice that ,
as I don't understand what he/they is/are talking about.
I hear everyone in the tv laugh then I laugh too
if they suddenly keep silent then I show a little surprise on my face as if I understand the "feel" of what is going on. True.

Asperger's?

 

[JasonRox]

Yes, if you actually listen to his comment/joke in context, his meaning is more than clear. He's being self-deprecating. Witness his, “I know what you’re saying: ‘Oh, Dave had sex!’” comment. He took shots at himself the entire way.

Sometimes people look for offense.

And, for all of the dissecting of this so far, it doesn't sound as if any of it was coerced or power plays or anyone's jobs were contingent upon having sex with Letterman. It isn't always (particularly when you're dealing with celebrity situations) a circumstance where a woman is unwilling but feels she has no choice and is therefore being exploited. An exploitation situation would have me perturbed. I don't hear any signs of that.

I know he's being clear.

Yes, self-depreciating. But then he's implying that a girl should be embarassed to sleep with an ugly old man and that it's something that can ruin her reputation! That's obvious.

The point is that this is also a double standard. A guy can sleep with old an bag and nothing really happens.

Self-depreciating himself or not, he should have left that out. He didn't contribute to anything by saying that.

 

[Proton Soup]

I know he's being clear.

Yes, self-depreciating. But then he's implying that a girl should be embarassed to sleep with an ugly old man and that it's something that can ruin her reputation! That's obvious.

The point is that this is also a double standard. A guy can sleep with old an bag and nothing really happens.

Self-depreciating himself or not, he should have left that out. He didn't contribute to anything by saying that.

of course there are double standards, men and women are different.

 

[Averagesupernova]

I know he's being clear.

Yes, self-depreciating. But then he's implying that a girl should be embarassed to sleep with an ugly old man and that it's something that can ruin her reputation! That's obvious.

The point is that this is also a double standard. A guy can sleep with old an bag and nothing really happens.

Self-depreciating himself or not, he should have left that out. He didn't contribute to anything by saying that.

Ummm, no. That a guy can sleep with an old bag and nothing happens is a matter of opinion, at least in my world. And I don't believe that he said a guy can sleep with an old bag and nothing happens, so your statement is putting words in Lettermans mouth.