Posted on 10/07/2009 9:20:09 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Popularity has dipped 8 percent since May
David Letterman may have ticked off more than just his wife by revealing his indecent liaisons with "Late Show" staffers.
A new poll says that 29 percent of Americans are less likely to tune in to Letterman's shtick following his admission that he had affairs with woman who work for him.
The Rasmussen Reports telephone survey, however, found that five percent of those polled thought that the naughty misdeeds made them even more likely to watch the show, and 63 percent say their viewing decisions have been unaffected.
Dave's popularity ratings in general have also taken a hit. Forty-two percent of adults still have an at least "somewhat favorable" opinion of Letterman, according to the poll, but that's down 8 percent from just May. Forty-six percent of the people surveyed view him unfavorably.
Nevertheless, at lest for the short term, the off-camera shenanigans have brought big ratings for Letterman, who continues to air his dirty laundry on camera. His apologies Monday night to his wife and staff netted big ratings for CBS. The Nielsen Co.'s overnight measurement of the nation's 56 biggest markets netted Letterman's "Late Show" on CBS a 4.2 rating — higher than anything in prime-time.
But Nielsen didn't immediately have an estimate Tuesday of the size of Letterman's audience. The overnight rating was slightly less than last Thursday's show, when 5.8 million people watched Letterman say he had been the victim of a $2 million blackmail threat that led him to reveal he had sex with staff members.
As Letterman mixed wisecracks with contrition on Monday's show, he said his wife, Regina Lasko, had been "horribly hurt by my behavior" and stated flat-out that those affairs "are in the past."
He vowed to repair his relationship with his wife, whom he married in March after a years-long courtship. "Let me tell you folks, I got my work cut out for me," he said ruefully.
Monday's show was the first Letterman had taped since Thursday. While he laced the show with references to the scandal, only one other late-night host, Craig Ferguson, made any reference to it. Jay Leno, Jimmy Fallon and NBC's "Saturday Night Live" had all made jokes in earlier shows, but everyone but Ferguson avoided the topic on their Monday night and Tuesday morning shows.
As host of the "Late Late Show," Ferguson follows Letterman's "Late Show." Letterman also is his boss, since Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Inc., produces the "Late Late Show."
"The person you work for, the person you admire and respect, is caught in an embarrassing situation," said Ferguson. "And your job is to be funny about that, whilst trying to keep your own job."
"So this is my last show," he joked. Ferguson did make light of the situation, joking that it had now been revealed how he got the job in the first place.
But Ferguson defended Letterman, calling him "the king of late-night television."
"If we are now holding late-night talk-show hosts to the same moral accountability as we hold politicians or clergymen, I'm out," said Ferguson. "I'm gone." On the "Late Show," Letterman noted the cool fall weather, reporting, "It's chilly outside my house; chilly INSIDE my house." Then he cautioned the audience, "This is only phase one of the scandal. Phase two: Next week I go on 'Oprah' and sob."
I don’t know why anyone still watches his freak show.
It couldn’t happen to a nicer (not) guy.
I guess being a dick has its drawbacks.
“Nearly 1/3 Fewer People Likely to Watch Letterman: Poll”
Good.
I understand that Letterman's ratings have been have been even higher since this story broke, which is pathetic.
I would like to believe this. But I don’t.
Most of the people who are “less likely to watch” Letterman, probably don’t watch him anyway. His own followers are probably uneffected.
My prediction is that he will get a big book deal out of this.
And before the end of the year he will have his own reality show called “Who Will Spend a Late Night With David Letterman?”
Why does Letterman still have a job?
I’d like to see 1/3 fewer watch Conan while they’re at it.
Letterman?? Letterman?? Who is Letterman? Oh, that stupid jerk on late night TV. Never watch him.
I haven't watched him since the first season, do I get extra credit for prescience?
I haven’t watched him in years. It has nothing to do with who he might or might not sleep with. It’s his general nastiness toward conservatives, including their children.
As for his latest “revelation,” I find it hard to care at all, except for the very interesting tidbit most people are forgetting or ignoring: an award-winning journalist/news producer agreed to spike a story for money in this instance. How many other news stories have we not heard about because of this practice? Does he also alter news stories for money?
Dave Letterman, Woody Allen — entitled Manhattan celebupervs.
Leno has talent, Letterman never did..
Drudge Report says his ratings are way up since confession.
yes, what he has lost in comedy fans he will likely more than gain back in soap opera fans.
Uh........would someone please rimind me again who David Letterman is..........
Until its reflected in his ratings, this is nothing.
Letterman loses viewers every year. Along with all other network shows. He isn’t smart or funny. It’s no wonder.
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