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Former Letterman Staffer: Show Is a "Hostile Work Environment"

Tuesday – October 27, 2009 – 5:02pm

Comments (17) »

Another woman once employed by David Letterman has pointed to a less-than-ideal workplace on his long-running show.

In 1990, Nell Scovell became the second female writer ever to be hired for the comic's show. Within six months, however, she had quit what she calls her "dream job."

Why? Late Night with David Letterman was a "hostile work environment" and "demeaning," Scovell claims in an article published today at VanityFair.com.

"My first day as a Letterman writer was one of the happiest moments of my life," Scovell writes. "But it was all downhill after that."

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The TV writer (for Monk, NCIS and Sabrina the Teenage Witch) elaborates:

"Did Dave hit on me? No. Did he pay me enough extra attention that it was noted by another writer? Yes. Was I aware of rumors that Dave was having sexual relationships with female staffers? Yes. 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? Did I believe these female staffers were benefiting professionally from their personal relationships? Yes."

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When Letterman, now 62, asked her of her sudden resignation, "I considered telling him the truth, but with Dave's rumored mistress within earshot, I balked . . . Dave said 'You're welcome back anytime,'" she recalls.

Scovell insists that she isn't after revenge or a windfall. Instead, she says, "I just want Dave to hire some qualified female writers and then treat them with respect."

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Following the disclosure of a $2 million extortion plot against him, Letterman admitted in early October that he'd had sex with female employees. He apologized to his wife, Regina Lasko, on air. "She has been horribly hurt by my behavior, he admitted. "I got my work cut out for me."

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Comments

(17)

October 29, 2009 - 10:33am CindyGHolman Says:

Get out!! Get your resume together and find another job first girls!! But Get Out! He is a nutcase!!!!!!!!!!
October 28, 2009 - 5:57pm pat Says:

Bad bosses are going to keep acting like jerks until they are exposed on sites like eBossWatch.
October 28, 2009 - 11:52am Bell Says:

I loved the Letterman show! Even when I was younger I thought it was hilarious. Now I can't even hear his voice because I lost any positivity I had about him. Its dissapointing, an affair is horrible but with numerous women on your staff? He turned out to be a slimey dog.
October 28, 2009 - 9:37am Renate Melka Says:

Awful teeth..with all his money he should spend it on veneers.
October 28, 2009 - 8:13am Just me Says:

Kaly your ridiculous and stupid. Your same stupid comments are on every comment section on this website. Get a real job!
October 28, 2009 - 8:07am Julie Chen is Exhibit A that CBS is a joke regarding women Says:

Julie Chen was only a news reader when she started banging the boss, Les Moonves, a marriaged man with children, TWICE her age. I guess she was good in the sack because then he threw a female anchor under a bus and put Julie Chen in her place. CBS has always been a revolving door of female anchors because of the low ratings in the morning. The Today Show and Good Morning America always beat them. Yet, Chen is now Moonves's wife. Therefore, he can't fire her and replace her with talent. Also, Chen was handed the "Big Brother" gig. Chen slept her way to the top. VERY unfair to women who work their butts off at that station.
October 28, 2009 - 5:34am Annabel Says:

Letterman's an old hasbeen and is obsessed with Sarah Palin which is not surprising as his women seem to be very ordinary looking but apparently all he can get at his age. It is so boring to tune in and he is banging on about Palin. He should be fired but then Les Moonves is no better. Julie Chen stole Les Moonves from his wife of 26 years so he should be fired as well.
October 27, 2009 - 10:52pm Me Says:

Oh, Nell, STFU. Oh, and ask your parents why they named you Nell. Stupid.
October 27, 2009 - 10:01pm rm2h Says:

He is in a serious relationship for 23 years and he was cheating on her. It is really sad that he could not keep his zipper up but hurt his wife.
October 27, 2009 - 9:09pm Late-night Booty Calls Says:

OK. So The Entertainment Industry gets to air its dirty bedsheets and clean-up its act on professional hook-ups. This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of our sick American work culture where to "succeed", career must come first, partner and family come well after that, and 12-18hr workdays are expected and rewarded with promotions, power and influence, and looking the other way from the booty calls. In this environment it's logical that the good little workaholics get physical. After decades in corporate America I'll say one more thing; hostile work environment is NOT just when the Big Boss hits on the pretty underlings against their will or up-'n-comers barter sex for advancement. When the conscentual hook-ups happen and everyone else (whether unconsciously or through veiled coercion) are expected to keep the secret - THAT'S also a hostile work environment.
October 27, 2009 - 8:16pm linda Says:

Now she said so.
October 27, 2009 - 7:34pm toddlorensinclair Says:

He'll be gone by next year!
October 27, 2009 - 7:06pm Mary Says:

Some people will further their career any way they can and that's their business and no one elses.
October 27, 2009 - 6:51pm MEL Says:

UGH...HIS TEETH ARE YELLOW. SINCE HE'S SO RICH HE SHOULD GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF. WHY YOUNG LADIES WOULD MESS WITH THAT MESS (DAVID LETTERMEN) IS BEYOND ME. JAY LENO IS UGLY TOO, BUT HE'S CUTER THAN DAVE...UGH
October 27, 2009 - 6:43pm no name Says:

He's a pig!
October 27, 2009 - 6:11pm Gail Says:

She wants Letterman to hired qualified female writers and she thinks that this is the way to go about it? Sour grapes Nell.
October 27, 2009 - 5:38pm Tony Says:

Oh yeah, this spells like a lawsuit and it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.