Over a week ago, in what initially seemed like an extended anecdote given by good ol' Grandpa Dave, Mr. Letterman professed to being involved in some "creepy stuff," specifically of the kind we thought dear Gramps was never privy to-sex, with colleagues who were female and presumably young. The announcement of his scandal pre-empted his late-night monologue, and as one who was aware of the fiasco prior to the the episode during which it was discussed, its viewing could not quite be placed in the "pleasure" category. Letterman revealed the details of his blackmail in all the ways he's handled controversy before (cough, Palin, A-Rod, O'Reilly), openly but not without the support of his charm and storytelling gifts. However, the tension within the audience was palpable with sidekick Paul Shaffer muttering an "oh, no" every so often to push the crowd along in its reactions. Tabloids jumped on the story, more interested in what Letterman himself found most interesting-"He had sex?!" Though a father, the production of a son is much less cringe-worthy than the production of a sex scandal. On the shows that followed, Letterman apologized to his wife, his staff and the women involved.

Upon the revelation of the scandal, some of the women in question came out openly about their relationships with the man, the legend and the oversexed, cardiac-vexed, over-the-hill late-night host. Merrill Markoe, a onetime producer of the show as well as Letterman's somewhat unexclusive girlfriend, responded, "This is a very emotional moment for me because Dave promised me many times that I was the only woman he would ever cheat on."

Another of Letterman's sexual subjects, and the missing puzzle piece of the extortion plot as the ex-girlfriend to blackmailer and 48 Hours producer Robert "Joe" Halderman, Stephanie Birkitt was at one point an intern on the late night program. Once done with college, Birkitt returned to the show to apply for the position of Letterman's assistant (and, it seems, she also assumed another position).

What did Birkitt think of her superior/lover? In a 2002 interview she called Letterman "the best boss I've ever had." Oh, if no one minds, I'd rather side with the Stockholm Syndrome interpretation than uncomfortably question the phrase's sexual undertones.