Letterman Apologizes to His Wife and Staff: 'I Just Wasn't Thinking'
During the first Late Show taping since David Letterman shared the stunning details of the latest extortion plot against him last Thursday, the host took the stage this afternoon to rousing audience applause. After making a few lighthearted monologue jokes at his own expense ("I get in the car this morning and the navigation lady wasn't speaking to me. Ouch."), Letterman delivered heartfelt apologies to his wife, Regina Lasko, and his Worldwide Pants staff for the indiscretions he admitted to last week. The apology transcript and monologue video after the jump.
"I'm terribly sorry that I put the staff in that position. Inadvertently, I just wasn't thinking ahead. And, moreover, the staff here has been wonderfully supportive to me, not just through this furor, but through all the years that we've been on television and especially all the years here at CBS, so, again, my thanks to the staff for, once again, putting up with something stupid I've gotten myself involved in."
"Now the other thing is my wife, Regina. She has been horribly hurt by my behavior, and when something happens like that, if you hurt a person and it's your responsibility, you try to fix it. And at that point, there's only two things that can happen: either you're going to make some progress and get it fixed, or you're going to fall short and perhaps not get it fixed, so let me tell you folks, I got my work cut out for me."
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Comments
David,
You did what you thought best, everthing you (aleged) did was before you got married... the public knows your great,your wife should respect your thoughts and be supportive not hurt. The media will take this to the end...its junk news. You deserve to be accredited for your
talent...let's put the past.. their. J.R.
Dave,
You messed up Big time -- I'm not sure I like you anymore.
OK I decided, I don't care for you anymore..
Dave probably didn't regret any of it until he got caught with his Worldwide Pants down in public.
Is it just me, or has anyone noticed that he's only commenting on this on his own show, the one place in the world where he is completely in control of everything and everyone around him?
This could actually hurt him pretty bad. There was a comedian/performer in Britain who had a hit show where he skewered the moral lapses of the rich and famous. Then he got caught with hookers and blow. Suddenly those who he mocked, mocked him right back.
Top Ten Reasons Why Dave Slept With Members of His Staff should definitely be included on an upcoming airing of the Late Show. Narrated by Monica Lewinsky.
1. Letterman has always been better than his competition (from this viewer's perspective) so hopefully, at the end of the day, this is his "Hugh Grant" moment (to a much more painful degree) that drives viewers to CBS.
Not that Conan has been much competition.
2. In regard to him using his personal outlet as a place to state his case, how can you fault him? From everything people have read over his close to 30 year career, the guy's a really private man. (As was Carson. And Carson didn't have TMZ and the internet to deal with.)
So if you had a national talk show and legal proceedings were underway, would you rather make your personal amends/statements from the comfort of your own "Home" or on the couch at "The Early Show"?
The answer seems sort of obvious, doesn't it?
The guy had sex with a woman with from his office before he was married.
Smart (when you're a national public figure)? - No.
Legal? - Yes. Smart? - No.
But he certainly isn't the first guy to make that mistake.
Few have to worry about a boyfriend with "alleged" child support payments past due finding "alleged" diaries and trying to use them in an extortion scheme later.
But, then again, the guy is a producer for "48 Hours Mystery" so one must consider his side of the story.
Having been a producer for that show and seeing all the stupid ways people get caught for crimes due to simple actions that seem 20/20 stupidity in hindsight, trying to cash a $2m check seems a little weird.
We're not talking about Johnny Podunk blackmailing a local mailman here.
His choice of hiring an attorney who repped John Gotti? I'm not so sure that's a great sign of innocence (Public PR-wise).
But that's what makes it all so interesting.
Strap in, kids, this is an E-Ticket ride.
Knowing America's fascination with dirt and mayhem, this thing has the potential to get a LOT dirtier in the weeks ahead.
To clarify (my bad) I meant HIM being a producer for the show. Not me.
A spouse should be SUPPORTIVE?! and put the past in the PAST? I hope your not married. You are so wrong. Reverse your thinking. I like Letterman, but his wife doesn't have to do a damn thing....he does.
This is so much of what American life is like. To bad Dave didn't adhere to his own standards. Now he's the butt of his own jokes. No one's perfect.