David Letterman apologizes to wife and staff (video)
David Letterman, days after revealing on air that he’d been sexually involved with women from his television program, apologized to his wife on Monday’s “Late Show,” saying she had been “horribly hurt by my behavior” and stating flat-out those affairs “are in the past.”
The CBS late-night host, building on Thursday’s startling confessional, vowed to repair his relationship with his wife, Regina Lasko, 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.
As Letterman faced Monday’s show, and the shows that will come after, it was clear that how he deals with his messy situation could prove to be a defining chapter in his long TV career. And, ironically, it could clinch his recent ratings victory in late-night TV.
His dilemma was Topic A on the show as he mixed wisecracks with contrition in a virtuoso balancing act. Noting the cool fall weather, he reported, “It’s chilly outside my house; chilly INSIDE my house.”
Then he cautioned the audience, “This is only Phase 1 of the scandal. Phase 2: Next week I go on ‘Oprah’ and sob.”
A bit later, guest Steve Martin gave Letterman his kidding consolation: “It proves that you’re a human being. And we weren’t really that sure before.”
Martin Short, making an unannounced appearance, playfully plopped himself in Martin’s lap.
“You spend one more minute on his lap, you’re gonna get blackmailed,” Letterman quipped.
Monday’s show was the first Letterman had taped since Thursday, when he disclosed that he had had sexual relationships with women who worked for him and said that he had been the victim of a $2 million blackmail threat.
During the hour, he also apologized to his staff, which, he said, had been subjected to “being browbeaten and humiliated” by reporters since his revelations.
“My thanks to the staff for, once again, putting up with something stupid I’ve gotten myself involved in,” he said.
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