Former Letterman writer cries foul over sexcapades

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - A former writer for David Letterman says she left his NBC show in the 1980s partly because she was uncomfortable with a work environment in which several female employees benefited from sexual relationships with high-ranking men.
Nell Scovell, who worked on “Late Night with David Letterman” for less than a year, writes on VanityFair.com that “sexual politics” was a “major part” of why she walked away from her dream job.

“Did I believe these female staffers were benefiting professionally from their personal relationships?” Scovell writes. “Yes. Did that make me feel demeaned? Completely.”
But she stops short of confirming direct knowledge of any sexual relationship Letterman had.
The comedian last month admitted on CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman” that he had had consensual sexual relationships with female employees.
Scovell writes that she never spoke of the “sexual politics” at “Letterman” until now, but nearly told the host why she was leaving at the time.
“On my last day at ‘Late Night,’ Dave summoned me to his office and pressed me on why I was quitting the show. I considered telling him the truth, but with Dave’s rumored mistress within earshot, I balked.”
In the article, Scovell lays responsibility for the hostile work environment on the traditionally male-dominated world of late-night TV writers; she identifies herself as the second-ever female writer hired by Letterman.
Scovell created the ABC series “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,” and has written for series including “Monk,” “Murphy Brown” and “Coach.”
Scovell names neither the “high-ranking” males or female employees on “Late Night” engaged in relationships.

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Details of Letterman Blackmail Plot Revealed

New details have emerged about the alleged $2 million extortion plot against David Letterman.
In a press conference held by Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau Friday morning, prosecutors identified the suspect in the plot as CBS News producer Robert “Joe” Halderman and outlined the case against him but declined to comment on his possible motives.
Morgenthau said that Halderman, a 48 Hours producer, had been charged with attempted grand larceny between the period of Sept. 9 and Sept. 30.
The D.A. said that Halderman waited outside Letterman’s Manhattan apartment Sept. 9 at 6 a.m. to give him a package and say that he needed a “large chunk of money.” He was hoping to sell a “screenplay treatment” and told Letterman that his life was about to collapse around him.
The one-page treatment mentioned “your beautiful loving son” and said Letterman’s “world was about to collapse around him.” He also referred to “ruined reputation and severe damage to his professional and family lives.”
Halderman allegedly said he should contact Letterman by 8 a.m. to further discuss the matter. Letterman immediately called his lawyer. Halderman and the lawyer met at the Essex House hotel on Sept. 15, at which point Halderman allegedly attempted to extort $2 million from Letterman, 62, in exchange for keeping quiet about sexual activity between the Late Show host and female employees of his program.
One of the women at the center of the case is Stephanie Birkitt, Letterman’s former assistant, according to the search warrant obtained by FOX 5 New York. The warrant says Birkitt was Halderman’s girlfriend.
On Late Show Thursday night, Letterman admitted to having “had sex with women who work with me on this show” and said that he had testified against his alleged extortionist before a grand jury earlier that day.
The warrant says that the package Halderman sent Letterman – who married longtime girlfriend Regina Lasko in March – contained copies of parts of a diary and correspondence belonging to Birkitt.

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