Sources: ‘Late Show’ staffers were unaware of Letterman’s bombshell

Yahoo! News ^ | Friday, October 2, 2009 | Brett Michael Dykes

[DogByte6RER]

Sources: ‘Late Show’ staffers were unaware of Letterman’s bombshell

Fri Oct 2, 4:29 pm ET

Much of the buzz around David Letterman’s late-night revelation keeps circling back to one question: Why was the studio audience laughing? Viewers who watched it on TV or online immediately took to Twitter to express everything from bewilderment to outrage over the audience's reaction. Shawn Ryan, creator of the FX show "The Shield," opined, "What a fascinating confession/comedy act from Letterman. Audience didn't know how to respond at parts." Another Twitter user going by the handle "Brain" stated, "Letterman audience clapped when he said he had sex with staffers. It's a world gone mad." But maybe the reason the audience’s reaction was so odd is that the "Late Show" staffers who prepped them had no idea about Letterman’s bombshell.

Yahoo! News has learned from sources close to the show that employees who do audience prep were not made aware of the situation prior to the taping. Discussing the subject of who did and didn't know beforehand, one source said, "Only the show's producers knew what was about to go down," adding that many "Late Show" staffers learned of the situation watching off-stage monitors in real time as Letterman weaved his tale. So the routine in which the audience was prepped, which usually involves a heavy emphasis on laughing and applauding often and loudly, was not altered in any way. Thus, the audience, meticulously prepped for a good time at a nationally televised comedy show, probably thought that Letterman's story was a comedy bit, as is most often the case.

[Cementjungle]

I expect Letterman to go on hiatus shortly while the producers struggle with damage control.

Damage control? Their ratings are up 30%... should more than cover the settlements.

[tioga]

what’s really depressing is that folks still line up to get into his show.

[Chode]

suprizing from a guy that makes jokes about child rape... NOT!!!!

[Dianna]

So naturally Dave, recognizing the cognitive dissonance, paused in his prepared remarks and said, “no, realli ... I’m series. Nailed ‘em all ...” but no, he didn’t. Makes no nevermind, though - the audience would have only laughed louder.

I've seen two clips. The shorter one started when Dave said, "So, what was the creepy thing I did?" and explains that he had sex with staffers who worked for him. I think that might be the most often played part.

The longer clip gave more explanation about the extortion, and starts well before the admission. During that clip, at some point he did ask, "Why are you people laughing?" but he didn't come off as serious.

[ponygirl]

I haven't watched the clip, but I've heard the audio. My impression was that when he said, "What was the creepy thing I did? I had sex with women on my staff..." was that the audience was laughing because that butch lookin' chick he married was once a staffer. So the audience thought the joke was, "What was the creepy thing I did? I had sex with my wife..." But of course, when you actually pause and think about it, he said women as in plural. So yes, it actually is kind of creepy. Who would want to work for someone who is nailing the staff? But that's why I kind of give the audience a pass on this one. Letterman's whole schtick is to make straight-faced comments that are outrageous so you have to be "in on the joke" to find them funny in the first place.

[Nosterrex]

If I wish to be generous, I’d say it was a nervous response or reaction. On the other hand, people that are attracted to Letterman have a bent moral compass. It wouldn’t surprise me that they not only laughed because they thought it was funny, but they saw nothing wrong with it.

[Albion Wilde]

[elpadre]

I have often wondered how “funny” these TV comedians would be if there were no canned laughter, no applause signs, no cheerleaders to chum laughter.

[Erasmus]

Or maybe David Scarlet-Letterman.

[wildandcrazyrussian]

That’s it, I just forget the term! Get this out there quick.