TresSugar

Say What? Ex-Letterman Writer Says Hostile Work Environment No Joke

TresSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0700

"Was I aware that other high-level male employees were having sexual relationships with female staffers? Yes. Did these female staffers have access to information and wield power disproportionate to their job titles? Yes. Did that create a hostile work environment? Yes. Did I believe these female staffers were benefiting professionally from their personal relationships? Yes. Did that make me feel demeaned? Completely. Did I say anything at the time? Sadly, no."

- Nell Scovell, a female writer on the David Letterman show in the '80s, on why she left her "dream job" in less than four months as a writer on the show because of the sexual atmosphere there. Sexual favoritism, a subset of sexual harassment, creates a hostile work environment for women who are not having sex with higher ranking men by creating an uncomfortable sexual atmosphere in which it appears that advancement is predicated on having a sexual relationship with higher-ups. In 27 years, there have only been seven female writers on Late Night and Late Show. Scovell's dream? "I just want Dave to hire some qualified female writers and then treat them with respect. And that goes for Jay and Conan, too." As of today, there are no women out of the 50 comedy writers writing for Late Show With David Letterman, The Jay Leno Show, and The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien.

How Old Were You When You Lost Your Virginity?

TresSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:00:00 -0700

In a hard-to-believe fit of modesty, sexy funny lady Tina Fey revealed to David Letterman last night that she was 24 before she lost her virginity and "couldn't give it away." (I'm incredulous about the latter claim - not that she was 24.)

I don't think I know anyone who waited that long, but everyone has her reasons for delaying sex. Honestly, I think being ready to have sex is better than "getting it out of the way" as I hear some people describe their motivations for having sex for the first time.

I had a good first experience, but it happened before I was 24! At what age did you lose your virginity? If you want to see the clip of her revelation, read more.

Say What? National Organization For Women on Letterman

TresSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0700

"As 'the boss,' he is responsible for setting the tone for his entire workplace - and he did that with sex. In any work environment, this places all employees -including employees who happen to be women - in an awkward, confusing and demoralizing situation."

- Terry O'Neill for the National Organization for Women reminding people that David Letterman's admitted affairs with female staffers over the years, although described as consensual, occurred in the workplace and constitute what many people would consider an abuse of power by an employer toward his employees. Because men who are bosses decide who to hire, fire, advance, and give raises to, "consent" is made between two people who are not equals. Letterman has since apologized to viewers, to his entire staff over the years, and to his wife, Regina Lasko, but O'Neill wants people to remember this happens every day in workplaces all over the country. If you'd like to hear what she thinks CBS should do to fix this "toxic" situation, read more.

Très Bizarre: If Mark Sanford's Confession Had a Laugh Track

TresSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0700

People have remarked how weird it was that David Letterman's confession that he'd had extramarital affairs with staffers elicited laughs and even cheers from audience members. Some speculate it's because the audience must have thought he was joking when telling them about the extortion attempt against him. Others thought that maybe people laughed because - hey, it's David Letterman, so anything goes. Some wiseacre decided to show how weird it really was by adding a laugh track to Mark Sanford's confession he had an Argentinean lover. . .

Will David Letterman's Antics Turn Off Women Viewers?

TresSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0700

David Letterman surprised viewers last week by revealing that he had affairs with multiple women on his staff. The confession raises ethical concerns, such as whether Letterman used his position of power to get in bed with female underlings. But besides these ethical questions, some people want to know what this means for his ratings.

The AP wonders if the "creepy" revelation, along with previous spats with Sarah Palin that many considered to be sexist, will turn women off so much that they turn off his show. (Note: women make up 58 percent of Dave's audience.) Back in June, Letterman said Palin sported the "slutty flight attendant look," and he caught heat for making an indecent joke about Palin's young daughter.

Following the latest scandal, Dave is in good shape. His ratings were up 22 percent Thursday night. But who knows, maybe his apparent womanizing will make some viewers change the channel.

Front Page: David Letterman Reveals Affairs, Extortion Attempt

TresSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:00:05 -0700

David Letterman revealed on his show last night that he was recently blackmailed for $2 million. The extortionist threatened to go public with information that the talk show host had sexual relationships with female members of his staff.- BuzzSugar
The US unemployment rate has reached 9.8 percent, as 263,000 jobs were lost in September. - Wall Street Journal
During his five-hour trip to Copenhagen, President Obama said granting the 2016 Olympics to Chicago would give the US a chance to "welcome the world back to our neighborhood." - AP
Senator John Ensign may have violated ethics laws when he had an affair with his aide's wife and then sought to find her husband a job. - New York Times
Following talks in Geneva, Iran has agreed to move most of its known enriched uranium out of the country. - Reuters

Front Page: Obama Talks Race and Anger With Letterman

TresSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:00:49 -0700

President Obama chatted about race and angry protesters last night with David Letterman, pointing out that he was "actually black before the election." - CBS
World leaders will meet to discuss climate change this week at the UN. - BBC
The number of foreign-born US residents has declined for the first time since 1970, as fewer immigrants come to America for job opportunities. - WSJ
More details are coming out still about John Edwards's affair with Rielle Hunter. - CNN

Say What? Letterman Apologizes to Palin

TresSugar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:08:51 -0700

"I told a bad joke. I told a joke that was beyond flawed, and my intent is completely meaningless compared to the perception . . . So I would like to apologize, especially to the two daughters involved, Bristol and Willow, and also to the governor and her family and everybody else who was outraged by the joke. I'm sorry about it and I'll try to do better in the future."

David Letterman apologized again last night on his show for a series of sexist and crass jokes about Sarah Palin and her daughter last week. First, he described Sarah Palin as having a "slutty flight attendant look." Next, thinking her 18-year-old daughter Bristol was at a Yankees game (in fact it was 14-year-old Willow), Letterman joked that in the seventh inning she got "knocked up" by Alex Rodriguez. Letterman admitted that, ultimately, even if Bristol had been at the game, the joke was not acceptable.

I have to say, it's refreshing to know that sexist humor will get called out. (There were protests outside his studio, contributing, no doubt, to his need for an on-air apology.) I wonder if this public outcry signals an increasing intolerance for low-blow sexism, or is this politics piggybacking on an issue that people are actually immune to?

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Front Page: Sarah Palin Thinks Letterman Is Pathetic

TresSugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:02:07 -0700

Sarah Palin calls David Letterman pathetic, after he said she sports a "slutty flight attendant look." - Politico
China and Russia have agreed to back the US on a UN resolution that would punish North Korea for its nuclear-bomb test. - Bloomberg
Light security most likely contributed to a hotel suicide bomb that killed 15 and injured 70 in Pakistan yesterday. - Voice of America
Hezbollah's loss in Lebanon's election is hopefully a win for the peace process. - Salon
The "pregnant man" has given birth again. - People
Stephen Colbert debated the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy in front of active soldiers on his show last night. - Colbert Nation

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Oh Snap! Dolly Wears a Coat of Single Color to Letterman Show

TresSugar — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:00:00 -0700

How I love this woman, let me count the ways. Here she is on the way to Late Night With David Letterman which aired last night.

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