Tony Mendez, a cue card handler who became a popular member of David Letterman’s onscreen gang of real-life characters, died July 29 at his Miami Beach home. He was 76.
His death was confirmed by former companion Andrew Corbin to The New York Times. A cause was not disclosed.
Mendez, born in Havana, Cuba, was among the Late Show With David Letterman staffers who became regular onscreen presences and even stars in their own right, a roster that also included stage manager Biff Henderson, announcer Alan Kalter and assistant Stephanie Birkitt.
During his 21-year Late Show tenure in the role Letterman dubbed “cue card boy,” Mendez even hosted a popular series of online videos, called The Tony Mendez Show, for the Late Show website. Mendez had occasionally handled cue cards for Letterman during the earlier NBC Late Night With David Letterman era, taking over the role full-time when the host moved...
His death was confirmed by former companion Andrew Corbin to The New York Times. A cause was not disclosed.
Mendez, born in Havana, Cuba, was among the Late Show With David Letterman staffers who became regular onscreen presences and even stars in their own right, a roster that also included stage manager Biff Henderson, announcer Alan Kalter and assistant Stephanie Birkitt.
During his 21-year Late Show tenure in the role Letterman dubbed “cue card boy,” Mendez even hosted a popular series of online videos, called The Tony Mendez Show, for the Late Show website. Mendez had occasionally handled cue cards for Letterman during the earlier NBC Late Night With David Letterman era, taking over the role full-time when the host moved...
- 8/23/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
For CBS’ Criminal Minds, the end begins this Wednesday at 9/8c, with a two-hour Season 15 premiere that updates us on Rossi’s ongoing obsession with “the Joker to his Batman” as well as forces JJ and Spencer to address the elephant that for them has been standing in the room for a long, “sad” six months.
Showrunner Erica Messer shared with TVLine a preview of the hunt for the Bau’s final Big Bad, and how during this farewell run several agents will be led to ponder paths not chosen. Plus, which series vet’s expected encore actually won’t...
Showrunner Erica Messer shared with TVLine a preview of the hunt for the Bau’s final Big Bad, and how during this farewell run several agents will be led to ponder paths not chosen. Plus, which series vet’s expected encore actually won’t...
- 1/7/2020
- TVLine.com
David Letterman was swamped in scandal in 2009, when CBS News producer Robert “Joe” Halderman attempted to blackmail him after coming across a diary that proved Letterman had been having an affair with his assistant, Stephanie Birkitt.
Now a new biography, Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night by New York Times reporter Jason Zinoman obtained by People, reveals what was known by the Late Night host’s inner circle, and how the scandal sent him into a deep depression.
” ‘I’m in hell. I will always be in hell until the day after, when I will go to hell,’ ” Letterman...
Now a new biography, Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night by New York Times reporter Jason Zinoman obtained by People, reveals what was known by the Late Night host’s inner circle, and how the scandal sent him into a deep depression.
” ‘I’m in hell. I will always be in hell until the day after, when I will go to hell,’ ” Letterman...
- 4/11/2017
- by Sam Gillette
- PEOPLE.com
As his 33-year-long tenure on late night comes to a close, David Letterman is feeling reflective.
Though he was candid about his sex scandal when it made headlines in 2009 after a blackmail attempt forced his hand, the late-night host has kept mum on the issue since.
In a revealing interview with The New York Times, Letterman, 68, was able to look at the scandal with some distance. "I think [CBS] would have had good reason to fire me," he said, adding that he was "largely ignorant as to what, really, I had done."
At the time, Letterman thought that he had simply...
Though he was candid about his sex scandal when it made headlines in 2009 after a blackmail attempt forced his hand, the late-night host has kept mum on the issue since.
In a revealing interview with The New York Times, Letterman, 68, was able to look at the scandal with some distance. "I think [CBS] would have had good reason to fire me," he said, adding that he was "largely ignorant as to what, really, I had done."
At the time, Letterman thought that he had simply...
- 4/30/2015
- by Amanda Michelle Steiner, @amandamichl
- People.com - TV Watch
Joe Halderman sentenced to six months in prison for attempted grand larceny after threatening to expose talk-show host's affair with staffer.
By Gil Kaufman
David Letterman
Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images
David Letterman breathed a sigh of relief on Tuesday after former CBS News producer Robert "Joe" Halderman pleaded guilty to attempted grand larceny in a Manhattan courtroom.
Shortly after the plea was announced, the "Late Show With David Letterman" host released a statement in which he praised prosecutors, saying, "When they became involved with this case, I had complete faith that a just and appropriate result was inevitable. On behalf of my family, I am extremely grateful for their tireless efforts."
Later, on the air, Letterman said he'd never been involved in anything like this before and was initially "full of anxiety and nervous and worried" about the plea, according to a Reuters report. But his fears were calmed...
By Gil Kaufman
David Letterman
Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images
David Letterman breathed a sigh of relief on Tuesday after former CBS News producer Robert "Joe" Halderman pleaded guilty to attempted grand larceny in a Manhattan courtroom.
Shortly after the plea was announced, the "Late Show With David Letterman" host released a statement in which he praised prosecutors, saying, "When they became involved with this case, I had complete faith that a just and appropriate result was inevitable. On behalf of my family, I am extremely grateful for their tireless efforts."
Later, on the air, Letterman said he'd never been involved in anything like this before and was initially "full of anxiety and nervous and worried" about the plea, according to a Reuters report. But his fears were calmed...
- 3/10/2010
- MTV Music News
David Letterman avoided a potentially messy trial that would have shed light on his relationship with employees of his CBS Late Show as a former CBS News producer, Robert "Joe" Halderman, pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted grand larceny in a Manhattan courtroom. He was sentenced to six months in prison for attempting to extort $2 million from the late-night host in exchange for keeping quiet about Letterman's affair with a staffer. Halderman, 52, had originally pleaded not guilty in October but accepted a plea bargain. In addition to the jail time, he received 5 years of probation and 1,000 hours of community service. "I...
- 3/9/2010
- by Tim Nudd and Stephen M. Silverman
- PEOPLE.com
Co-workers of accused David Letterman extortionist Robert Halderman have posted his bail. The 48 Hours producer was named by New York City police as the man behind the $$2m (£1.25m) scheme to blackmail the Us chatshow host regarding his sexual relations with several female staff members. Letterman confessed to the affairs during a broadcast last week. It was earlier revealed that his former assistant Stephanie Birkitt, who is believed to be one of the women involved, had (more)...
- 10/9/2009
- by By Tim Parks
- Digital Spy
Stephanie Birkitt has not been banned from the set of the Late Show With David Letterman, according to the chatshow host's production company. The 34-year-old hit the headlines last week after Letterman publicly admitted to having sexual relationships with some female members of his staff. He also alleged that he had been blackmailed over the affairs. 48 Hours producer Robert Halderman was later arrested in connection with the scheme. Birkitt is rumoured (more)...
- 10/9/2009
- by By Lara Martin
- Digital Spy
To date, the public outrage about David Letterman's affair(s) of the heart has been pretty minimal. Maureen Dowd wrote in the New York Times that "sexual harassment entails pressuring or penalizing a staffer or making the office atmosphere hostile" and she then concludes that since Stephanie Birkitt was promoted there was no sexual harassment. Other than recent statements from groups such as Now, women commentators and women's groups have generally seemed nonplussed about his conduct and haven't seemed to find it all that objectionable. I completely disagree. The real point that women and commentators such as Maureen Dowd are missing is was there a "hostile work environment" (the legal term of art required for a Title VII claim of sexual harassment) for the women who Letterman did not bed? The media is in a frenzy focusing on Birkitt...
- 10/9/2009
- by Julie Menin
- Huffington Post
As the David Letterman "sex with co-workers" scandal continues to unfold, sources close to the situation say that his alleged extorter, Robert "Joe" Halderman, wasn't after Letterman's two million dollars, rather he was fueled by jealousy. Halderman allegedly had caught Letterman making out with his girlfriend at the time, former "Late Show" assistant Stephanie Birkitt, during one of the times Letterman drove her home.Really? We'll believe a lot, but come on...David Letterman doesn't make out with people. Give them a quick, forbidden kiss on the cheek before driving away and muttering sarcastic one-liners to himself, maybe...but ma ...
- 10/8/2009
- by By Actress Archives
This just in from the home office: Stephanie Birkitt, the woman at the center of David Letterman's sex scandal, is not barred from the The Late Show set as TMZ and other media outlets have been reporting. "Stephanie is on a paid leave of absence. TMZ's reporting that she is banned from the building is incorrect," a rep for the host's Worldwide Pants production company tells E! News. No word whether she's hiking the Appalachian Trail, but while she's Mia, Letterman has escaped any kind of official reprimand. He remains on air, cracking jokes at his expense and raking in boffo ratings. The 34-year-old Birkitt worked as Letterman's former assistant before moving...
- 10/8/2009
- E! Online
David Letterman's production company tells "Extra" that "Late Night" staffer Stephanie Birkitt is not banned from CBS studios in New York City.
Worldwide Pants says "there is no truth to reports" that Birkitt is banned. The company adds, "Stephanie is on a paid leave of absence."
Last week, Birkitt's ex-boyfriend Robert "Joe" Halderman allegedly threatened to blackmail Letterman for $2 million to prevent release of information about the late night host's affair with Birkitt.
Worldwide Pants says "there is no truth to reports" that Birkitt is banned. The company adds, "Stephanie is on a paid leave of absence."
Last week, Birkitt's ex-boyfriend Robert "Joe" Halderman allegedly threatened to blackmail Letterman for $2 million to prevent release of information about the late night host's affair with Birkitt.
- 10/8/2009
- Extra
Levi Johnston works out before his Playgirl shoot - TMZ Meet Jennifer Hudson's newborn son, David - People Nick Lachey is also upset about the loss of Daisy - I'm Not Obsessed Stephanie Birkitt reportedly banned from Letterman set - Popeater Harry Connick Jr. isn't amused by Australian blackface skit - Lifeline Live Hilary Swank sleeps naked in front of her boyfriend's 6-year-old son - Celebitchy Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt did not have a secret meeting in NYC - Wonderwall Heidi Klum hasn't given birth yet - Us Weekly Olivia Wilde loves her sex symbol status - Fox411...
- 10/8/2009
- by PopSugar
- Popsugar.com
It wasn't the $2 million he allegedly sought that prompted Joe Halderman to try to blackmail David Letterman - it was jealousy, according to a source. In August, Halderman, 51, caught the talk-show host and his then-girlfriend, Letterman's onetime assistant Stephanie Birkitt, passionately kissing in a car in the driveway of the Norwalk, Conn., home Halderman shared with her, a source tells People. Letterman and Birkitt "were seen making out in the driveway in August," the source says. "He drove her home once a week. The interesting thing was he lives in North Salem, N.Y. Driving her home to Norwalk wasn't exactly the next town.
- 10/8/2009
- by Michael Y. Park
- PEOPLE.com
TMZ has learned Stephanie Birkitt -- the woman at the center of the David Letterman sex scandal -- has been banned from setting foot on the CBS set where the "Late Show" is filmed.Birkitt used to be David's assistant -- appearing on the "Late Show" numerous times -- and later became his personal attorney. It was Birkitt's ex-boyfriend -- Robert Halderman -- who discovered Letterman's secret relationship with her ... and then allegedly threatened to...
- 10/7/2009
- TMZ
"Extra" has the dish on the "48 Hours" producer who allegedly tried to extort $2 million from David Letterman. Robert "Joe" Halderman was a respected producer... his colleagues pooled their resources to post his $200,000 bail.
All About Robert 'Joe' HaldermanAward Winner
Robert “Joe” Halderman’s journalistic career has spanned three decades. An online biography claims Halderman’s work has been acknowledged with seven Emmy awards and a prestigious Columbia DuPont Award.
Big Leagues
In the 1980s, he...
All About Robert 'Joe' HaldermanAward Winner
Robert “Joe” Halderman’s journalistic career has spanned three decades. An online biography claims Halderman’s work has been acknowledged with seven Emmy awards and a prestigious Columbia DuPont Award.
Big Leagues
In the 1980s, he...
- 10/7/2009
- Extra
It's become the new scandal of the week of the century that just won't go away. Now TVTattle.com has discovered that Stephanie Birkitt, the "former" Late Show employee who had a fling with host David Letterman, is still getting credit in the show's closing credits.
The image above lists Birkitt, the girl who also worked in front of the camera as Vicki the prize girl during the show's "Know Your Current Events" bit, as Letterman's assistant.
Talk about a scandal that literally just won't go away. Of course, there are a number of explanations for this (it's just an inside joke, it was a mistake, etc.) Keep watching the closing credits and see if her name still pops up under the "assistants" slot and be sure to let us know below if you see it.
Filed under: Late Night, Celebrities, Reality-Free
Permalink | Email this | | Comments...
The image above lists Birkitt, the girl who also worked in front of the camera as Vicki the prize girl during the show's "Know Your Current Events" bit, as Letterman's assistant.
Talk about a scandal that literally just won't go away. Of course, there are a number of explanations for this (it's just an inside joke, it was a mistake, etc.) Keep watching the closing credits and see if her name still pops up under the "assistants" slot and be sure to let us know below if you see it.
Filed under: Late Night, Celebrities, Reality-Free
Permalink | Email this | | Comments...
- 10/7/2009
- by Danny Gallagher
- Aol TV.
By Wrap Staff
The diary of a woman who works on "The Late Show With David Letterman" and dated extortion suspect Robert Halderman reportedly provided the basis for the blackmail attempt.
Stephanie Birkitt lived with Halderman until August. She still works on the CBS late-night show, where she was an assistant to Letterman and appeared on-camera with him in comedy bits.
She also has worked on CBS' "48 Hours Mystery," where Halderman is employed.
Halderman allegedly copied parts of Birkitt's diary, containing details of her affair with the talk show host, and tried ...
The diary of a woman who works on "The Late Show With David Letterman" and dated extortion suspect Robert Halderman reportedly provided the basis for the blackmail attempt.
Stephanie Birkitt lived with Halderman until August. She still works on the CBS late-night show, where she was an assistant to Letterman and appeared on-camera with him in comedy bits.
She also has worked on CBS' "48 Hours Mystery," where Halderman is employed.
Halderman allegedly copied parts of Birkitt's diary, containing details of her affair with the talk show host, and tried ...
- 10/6/2009
- by Lisa Horowitz
- The Wrap
A report today suggests that Stephanie Birkitt, David Letterman's former assistant and lover, was cheating her boyfriend/accused extortionist Joe Halderman with the "Late Show" host!
According to the NY Post, Stephanie spent romantic weekends with Letterman on his ranch in Montana, while her live-in boyfriend Halderman stayed at home in Connecticut. When Joe reportedly became suspicious of the relationship, Stephanie allegedly told him that she was Dave's "best friend," and their relationship was strictly "platonic.
According to the NY Post, Stephanie spent romantic weekends with Letterman on his ranch in Montana, while her live-in boyfriend Halderman stayed at home in Connecticut. When Joe reportedly became suspicious of the relationship, Stephanie allegedly told him that she was Dave's "best friend," and their relationship was strictly "platonic.
- 10/6/2009
- Extra
On Monday night's 'Late Show,' host says wife Regina has been 'horribly hurt.'
By Gil Kaufman
David Letterman on "The Late Show" on Monday
Photo: CBS
When David Letterman revealed last week that he had testified before a grand jury about a $2 million extortion scheme tied to his affairs with staffers, the typically self-deprecating late-night icon said that was probably the last he would speak of the scandal.
But on Monday night, Letterman dove back into the topic to apologize to his wife, Regina Lasko, who he said had been "horribly hurt" by the news that he had slept with women on his staff in the years leading up to their marriage in March.
"Now the other thing is my wife, Regina," Letterman said on Monday's show, after apologizing to his staff for the unwanted attention focused on the show in the wake of the scandal. "She has...
By Gil Kaufman
David Letterman on "The Late Show" on Monday
Photo: CBS
When David Letterman revealed last week that he had testified before a grand jury about a $2 million extortion scheme tied to his affairs with staffers, the typically self-deprecating late-night icon said that was probably the last he would speak of the scandal.
But on Monday night, Letterman dove back into the topic to apologize to his wife, Regina Lasko, who he said had been "horribly hurt" by the news that he had slept with women on his staff in the years leading up to their marriage in March.
"Now the other thing is my wife, Regina," Letterman said on Monday's show, after apologizing to his staff for the unwanted attention focused on the show in the wake of the scandal. "She has...
- 10/6/2009
- MTV Music News
Though David Letterman said Thursday that his on-air comments would be all he was going to say about the alleged $2 million extortion plot against him, the topic permeated his CBS Late Show Monday night. Now, the New York Post is offering further details of his behavior allegedly contained in the diary of former Late Show staff member Stephanie Birkitt - identified as the woman at the center of the Letterman scandal. According to the newspaper, Birkitt, Letterman's former personal assistant, wrote that she continued her affair with Letterman even after moving in with Robert "Joe" Halderman, the CBS producer now...
- 10/6/2009
- by Stephen M. Silverman
- PEOPLE.com
The David Letterman sex scandal just keeps getting more and more twisted. The New York Post reports that Letterman's former staffer Stephanie Birkitt—who's at the center of an alleged attempted extortion plot against the Late Show host—continued to see Letterman even after hooking up with CBS producer Robert "Joe" Halderman, who stands accused of blackmailing Letterman over his relationships with Birkitt and others. Sources say that, according to passages in Birkitt's diary—which was reportedly used by Halderman in his alleged extortion effort—reveal that Letterman and Birkitt went on romantic hikes with Letterman at his Montana ranch as recently as last fall (Letterman...
- 10/6/2009
- by Celebuzz
- Celebuzz.com
New details have just surfaced in the extortion case against David Letterman. The New York Post claims to have proof from former Late Show employee Stephanie Birkitt that she had sex with her boss. And it’s from her diary entries! Sources say David Letterman and Birkitt enjoyed romantic hikes last fall at his ranch in eastern Montana where he was married in March, while her boyfriend Halderman, stayed home in Connecticut. Stephanie would tell her boyfriend that she and Dave were just friends, and the relationship was simply platonic. The Post also claims that at least once a week...
- 10/6/2009
- Hollyscoop.com
David Letterman is not done addressing his affair with a staff member that eventually led to an extortion plan. During his "Late Show with David Letterman" monologue for the Monday, October 5 episode, he once again talked about the sensitive issue, revealing that his wife Regina is "horribly hurt" by the story and that he has apologized to her.
CBS in fact released a preview for the episode but decided to exclude the part where he delivered his apology to Regina. "When something happens like that, if you hurt a person and it's your responsibility, you try to fix it," Letterman said on the cut segment. "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."
He also made an apology to the staff of the show,...
CBS in fact released a preview for the episode but decided to exclude the part where he delivered his apology to Regina. "When something happens like that, if you hurt a person and it's your responsibility, you try to fix it," Letterman said on the cut segment. "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."
He also made an apology to the staff of the show,...
- 10/6/2009
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
By Wrap Staff
Evidence exists that David Letterman engaged in sexual harassment of staff members on his CBS show, according to the lawyer representing the man accused of trying to blackmail the talk show host.
Gerald Shargel, the lawyer for accused extortionist Robert Joel Halderman, told the New York Times he would "put forward evidence" of sexual harassment and would be "sharing that in a courtroom."
Shargel also told the Times that Letterman "had a relationship with my client’s girlfriend.”
He said that Letterman assistant Stephanie Birkitt has...
Evidence exists that David Letterman engaged in sexual harassment of staff members on his CBS show, according to the lawyer representing the man accused of trying to blackmail the talk show host.
Gerald Shargel, the lawyer for accused extortionist Robert Joel Halderman, told the New York Times he would "put forward evidence" of sexual harassment and would be "sharing that in a courtroom."
Shargel also told the Times that Letterman "had a relationship with my client’s girlfriend.”
He said that Letterman assistant Stephanie Birkitt has...
- 10/6/2009
- by Lisa Horowitz
- The Wrap
In the wayback days of my entertainment journalism career (2004, to be precise), I had written a few poorly-executed but fun articles for a wonderful little site called Knot Magazine (not to be confused with The Knot, a website which I'm unfortunately all too familiar with these days). After publishing a couple of my missives, the editor had an idea for me: why not interview that spunky assistant Dave Letterman has on his show?
Sounded like a cool idea. It's not like Stephane Birkitt hadn't been interviewed before; she had spoken to a couple of papers from her alma mater and her hometown, and seemed approachable. And it would have been a fun story to try to figure out how she went from anonymous assistant to the girl who talked about her weekend on the phone to the on-stage presence Dave often called "Vicki." How hard could it be to get an interview?...
Sounded like a cool idea. It's not like Stephane Birkitt hadn't been interviewed before; she had spoken to a couple of papers from her alma mater and her hometown, and seemed approachable. And it would have been a fun story to try to figure out how she went from anonymous assistant to the girl who talked about her weekend on the phone to the on-stage presence Dave often called "Vicki." How hard could it be to get an interview?...
- 10/5/2009
- by Joel Keller
- Aol TV.
David Letterman is a "master manipulator" according to a lawyer representing the producer accused of trying to extort $2 million (GBP1.3 million) from the talk show host.
Letterman revealed during his late night show on Thursday that he had been blackmailed over his sexual affairs with several female members of staff.
TV producer Robert 'Joe' Halderman was arrested in New York on Thursday on charges of attempted grand larceny in the first degree.
Halderman's attorney Gerald L. Shargel appeared on U.S. breakfast programme the Today show on Monday morning - accusing Letterman of twisting the truth and promising to reveal evidence at trial that will exonerate his client.
Shargel said, "The case described by the prosecution makes no sense.... The public should not simply take the word of David Letterman at face value or the word of the prosecutor at face value."
Criticising Letterman, he added, "He has access to the media, he has access to a huge audience. David Letterman didn't give his side of the story. David Letterman gave what he wanted the public to know. He wanted to get out ahead of the story and that's exactly what he did. He is a master of manipulating audiences. That's what he (does) for a living, so to think David Letterman gave the entire story and there's nothing more to be said is simply wrong."
Halderman was reportedly involved in a relationship with Letterman's former assistant Stephanie Birkitt, who allegedly enjoyed an affair with Letterman until 2003.
Letterman married longtime girlfriend Regina Lasko in March.
Letterman revealed during his late night show on Thursday that he had been blackmailed over his sexual affairs with several female members of staff.
TV producer Robert 'Joe' Halderman was arrested in New York on Thursday on charges of attempted grand larceny in the first degree.
Halderman's attorney Gerald L. Shargel appeared on U.S. breakfast programme the Today show on Monday morning - accusing Letterman of twisting the truth and promising to reveal evidence at trial that will exonerate his client.
Shargel said, "The case described by the prosecution makes no sense.... The public should not simply take the word of David Letterman at face value or the word of the prosecutor at face value."
Criticising Letterman, he added, "He has access to the media, he has access to a huge audience. David Letterman didn't give his side of the story. David Letterman gave what he wanted the public to know. He wanted to get out ahead of the story and that's exactly what he did. He is a master of manipulating audiences. That's what he (does) for a living, so to think David Letterman gave the entire story and there's nothing more to be said is simply wrong."
Halderman was reportedly involved in a relationship with Letterman's former assistant Stephanie Birkitt, who allegedly enjoyed an affair with Letterman until 2003.
Letterman married longtime girlfriend Regina Lasko in March.
- 10/5/2009
- WENN
David Letterman apologized to his wife on Monday's "Late Show," saying she had been "horribly hurt by my behavior."The late-night host vowed to repair his relationship with his wife, Regina Lasko."Let me tell you folks, I got my work cut out for me," he said, according to an early transcript of the program released by CBS.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."Inadvertently, I just wasn't thinking ahead," Letterman said. "My thanks to the staff for, once again, putting up with something stupid I've gotten myself involved in."He arrived on stage to applause and cheers from his studio audience.
- 10/5/2009
- Filmicafe
As new details emerge about David Letterman's trysts with his staffers, TV judge Jeanine Pirro tells "Extra" Dave isn't in any legal trouble.
"It doesn't sound like sexual harassment to me," Pirro explains. "The complication comes because Letterman is the head of this Worldwide Pants company... and the women were working for him. Unless and until someone says, 'I had to do this' -- he's free to do whatever he wants."
New York newspapers...
"It doesn't sound like sexual harassment to me," Pirro explains. "The complication comes because Letterman is the head of this Worldwide Pants company... and the women were working for him. Unless and until someone says, 'I had to do this' -- he's free to do whatever he wants."
New York newspapers...
- 10/5/2009
- Extra
The hard-driving newsman accused of trying to blackmail David Letterman recently produced a piece on crime boss John Gotti and his family. Now he's using one of Gotti's former attorneys to defend himself.Defense attorney Gerald Shargel spoke on morning news shows Monday in defense of Robert J. "Joe" Halderman. The producer for CBS' "48 Hours Mystery" was arrested last week on charges that he tried to extort $2 million from Letterman in return for keeping some of the comedian's sexual affairs quiet.The 51-year-old producer has been praised by colleagues for his news smarts. While some colleagues described him as a "swashbuckler" and prosecutors talked of money problems that may have driven him off the rails, the general sense from those who knew Halderman is shock at his arrest."I'm mystified," said former CBS News anchor Dan Rather. "The Halderman I knew...
- 10/5/2009
- Filmicafe
Despite press reports suggesting that further scrutiny may be needed, it appears unlikely at this time that Worldwide Pants and/or CBS will conduct an internal investigation following David Letterman's televised revelation on Oct. 1 that he had affairs with female staff members. Press reports have indicated that the host had a relationship with former assistant Stephanie Birkitt, 34, and an employee in the 1990s who was one of his peers. A spokesman for Worldwide Pants (the production company that produces The Late Show for CBS) indicated to EW that, like most companies, it circulates an employee manual each year that addresses harassment,...
- 10/5/2009
- by Lynette Rice
- EW - Inside Movies
Fellow talk show hosts from rival networks have been out to make fun of David Letterman's infamous confession of extortion plot set to him. During his Friday, October 2 monologue, Jay Leno kicked it off with "If you came here tonight for sex with a talk show host, you've got the wrong studio."
Letterman recently made a public announcement to the audience of his show that he had a sexual relationship with a female staff, identified as Stephanie Birkitt. He also revealed that somebody has threatened to leak out the information. Allegedly, "48 Hours Mystery" producer Robert J. "Joe" Halderman is the blackmailer.
"What is going on? First Conan hit his head, and then somebody tries to extort money from Letterman. I'm so glad I'm out of late night," Leno continued in reference to Conan O'Brien who suffered a mild concussion during a skit on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien". Commenting on Joe's participation,...
Letterman recently made a public announcement to the audience of his show that he had a sexual relationship with a female staff, identified as Stephanie Birkitt. He also revealed that somebody has threatened to leak out the information. Allegedly, "48 Hours Mystery" producer Robert J. "Joe" Halderman is the blackmailer.
"What is going on? First Conan hit his head, and then somebody tries to extort money from Letterman. I'm so glad I'm out of late night," Leno continued in reference to Conan O'Brien who suffered a mild concussion during a skit on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien". Commenting on Joe's participation,...
- 10/5/2009
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
A former Late Show with David Letterman staffer tells People that the talk show host had a sexual relationship with one of the show's employees in the late 1990s. The source says the relationship occurred before Stephanie Birkitt, 34, the woman at the center of the Letterman scandal, worked on the show and involved a different female staffer. "I'm not surprised this came out," the former staffer tells People of Letterman's admission Thursday night that he had "had sex with women who work for me on this show." "Even the interns knew stuff like that was going on," says the source.
- 10/3/2009
- by David Caplan and Michelle Tauber
- PEOPLE.com
She may have known her current events, but we doubt Stephanie Birkitt could have predicted the future. It turns out that the 34-year-old New Hampshire native, a former assistant on The Late Show With David Letterman, is the woman at the center of CBS employee Robert Halderman's alleged plot to extort $2 million from Letterman in exchange for keeping quiet about past affairs. Multiple news outlets have identified Birkitt—or "Smitty," "Vicky" or "Monty," depending on which skit you saw—as the funnyman's onetime paramour. According to reports, Birkitt recently lived with Halderman, and the so-called packet of damning documentation he presented to Letterman...
- 10/3/2009
- E! Online
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has announced that former CBS employee Joe Halderman has been indicted in an extortion plot against David Letterman.
"Our concern here is extortion, and that's what we're focusing on," District Attorney Robert Morgenthau told AP.
Halderman, a producer for "48 Hours," was arrested on Thursday for attempting to blackmail the comedian into giving him $2 million in exchange for Halderman keeping quiet about sexual affairs Letterman had with staffers -- allegedly including Joe's girlfriend Stephanie Birkitt,...
"Our concern here is extortion, and that's what we're focusing on," District Attorney Robert Morgenthau told AP.
Halderman, a producer for "48 Hours," was arrested on Thursday for attempting to blackmail the comedian into giving him $2 million in exchange for Halderman keeping quiet about sexual affairs Letterman had with staffers -- allegedly including Joe's girlfriend Stephanie Birkitt,...
- 10/2/2009
- Extra
New details have emerged about the attempt to extort money from David Letterman. Suspect Joe Halderman threatened to make public the correspondence between the "Late Show" host and his former assistant Stephanie Birkitt, as well as Birkitt's diary.
According to a search warrant obtained by Fox 5 New York, Letterman -- referred to as "Client 1" in the documents -- received a package full of treatments for a screenplay revolving around Letterman's alleged sexual relationship with Stephanie,...
According to a search warrant obtained by Fox 5 New York, Letterman -- referred to as "Client 1" in the documents -- received a package full of treatments for a screenplay revolving around Letterman's alleged sexual relationship with Stephanie,...
- 10/2/2009
- Extra
New information in the David Letterman extortion case reported by People.com this afternoon reveals that the main suspect in the alleged crime, Robert "Joe" Halderman, who demanded $2 million to keep quiet about Letterman's sexual encounters with Late Show staff members, was the boyfriend of Letterman's former assistant, Stephanie Birkitt. According to a search warrant obtained by Fox 5 New York, Halderman used portions of Birkitt's diary (reportedly without her consent) as part of the extortion plot. Back in 2002, EW interviewed Birkitt to find out what it was really like to work at The Late Show with Dave: In the Q&A,...
- 10/2/2009
- by EW staff
- EW.com - PopWatch
New details have surfaced in the extortion plot against David Letterman. TMZ reports that Robert Halderman was actually living with the woman that Dave was having a sexual relationship with. Her name is Stephanie Birkitt, and she is Dave’s former assistant! And according to a search warrant obtained by Fox New York, Birkitt was Halderman’s girlfriend, up until just recently, and they were living together in Connecticut. Birkitt was regularly featured on The Late Show in taped segments. Additionally, sources tell RadarOnline that Birkitt and Letterman slept together for a period of time before he married his girlfriend...
- 10/2/2009
- Hollyscoop.com
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