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UPDATE: Fire David Letterman apology, jokes continue
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Is the 'fire David Letterman' movement moot now that Letterman apologizes (again) about the 'bad' jokes directed at Gov. Sarah Palin (who accepted, see below) and her daughter, and will the Letterman apology stop the "fire David Letterman" movement at FireDavidLetterman.com?
Update: 06.17.09
7:24 a.m. EST
"Bill Maher, host of HBO's "Real Time," called the apology that Letterman issued Monday [to Gov. Sarah Palin, her daughters and family]" a real shame. David Letterman should not have had to apologize," Maher told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on The Situation Room. "I've known David Letterman a long time."
Maher's vote of support is comical in its context regardless of how one feels about the "off-color" -- CNN characterizes it -- joke about Gov. Sarah Palin's daughter. Who else is least likely to positively influence those who were severly offended by Letterman's comments.
Watch the CNN video:
In other news, Letterman retains his brand of humor during a Tuesday taping for The Late Show, "included a bit entitled Top 10 things overheard at the 'Fire David Letterman' rally." -- LA Times At least this joke makes sense.
06.15.09
8:34 a.m. EST -- ABC News reports that Sarah Palin has accepted David Letterman's apology and released the following statement:
"Of course it's accepted on behalf of young women, like my daughters, who hope men who 'joke' about public displays of sexual exploitation of girls will soon evolve," the statement read. in part.
The David Lettermam apology to the Palins and the public:
""I've never made jokes like this as long as we've been on the air, 30 long years, and you can't really be doing jokes like that," Letterman said, referring to the inappropriate thing some thought that he was saying. "And I understand, of course, why people are upset. I would be upset myself." -- See the full text of the Letterman apology on E! or watch this video and judge for yourself if the apology is sufficient.
David Letterman apologizes on the Late Show (June 15, 2009) video
Original Article entitled: Rally to fire David Letterman at firedavidletterman.com, Regina Lasko attacks
A new advocacy website FireDavidLetterman.com makes news today as the anger .jpg)
meme towards the host of the CBS Late Night Show continues, shown by a rally to compel CBS to fire David Letterman. The grassroots website and "fire David Letterman" campaign stem from inappropriate remarks the late night star made last week concerning Gov. Sarah Palin and one of her daughters as the two were visiting New York City. The remarks were deemed “desperate jokes” by Letterman.
Though some viewers have sincere, if not legally valid, arguments as they rally to see David Letterman fired, others are attacking unrelated parties including Regina Lasko, Letterman's wife (see below). Additionally, in Letterman vs. Palin, the issue has turned somewhat partisian as attacks about Sarah Palin's character continues status quo.
Asthetically modeled after the Drudge Report, FireDavidLetterman.com headlines a "Fire David Letterman" rally and a related mission statement to include:
“David Letterman Must Held Be [sic] Accountable For His Disgraceful Statements”
and
“62 Year Old Letterman Violates Common Decency
With Sexist Insults of 14 Year Old Girl [sic]”
Contacts for FireDavidLetterman.com include New York State Assemblyman Brian Kolb, Attorney Gwendolyn Lindsay-Jackson and John Ziegler, radio talk show host and producer of Media Malpractice.
At the site, interested parties are encouraged to become involved in the "Fire David Letterman" campaign. Highlights include a CBS / Letterman protest rally scheduled for Tuesday, June 16 to be held at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York.
Additional instructions from the grassroots site include advice on sending emails (of moral outrage) to CBS, to comment on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook and to blog on related issues.
Citizens who desire to see CBS fire David Letterman are also encouraged to hit where it hurts most, via advertisers. A contact list and sample emails are included.
This is not the first loosely organized movement to target David Letterman following the spurious comments, as Z on TV points out:
"Some conservatives and conservative groups are calling for a boycott of marketers who advertise on David Letterman’s late-night talk show on CBS because of the jokes he told about Sarah Palin and her family last week."
History behind the David Letterman should be fired movement
To recap the incidents that led to the creation of FireDavidLetterman.com, the veteran talk show host made two "jokes" last week that inflamed the Palins and their supporters – along with some formerly neutral parties, apparently.
First, in a Top 10 list segment on things Sarah Palin can do during her NYC trip, one “desperate joke” – as characterized by Letterman – includes instructions on where Sarah Palin can go to keep her “slutty flight attendant” appearance.
While low on taste, the aforementioned insult is relatively benign when considering jokes and editorials involving public figures.
What has the talk show host in trouble, per se, is a remark made during that night's monologue.
“One awkward moment though…awkward moment for Sarah Palin at the Yankee game…during the seventh inning “her daughter was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez.” -- David Letterman
David Letterman joke about Sarah Palin’s daughter (video)
Gov. Palin responded initially with the following statement:
"Concerning Letterman's comments about my young daughter (and I doubt he'd ever dare make such comments about anyone else's daughter): 'Laughter incited by sexually-perverted comments made by a 62-year-old male celebrity aimed at a 14-year-old girl is not only disgusting, but it reminds us some Hollywood/NY entertainers have a long way to go in understanding what the rest of America understands -- that acceptance of inappropriate sexual comments about an underage girl, who could be anyone's daughter, contributes to the atrociously high rate of sexual exploitation of minors by older men who use and abuse others.” --Newsweek
David Letterman, for his part, latter clarified that the jokes were ugly but that he “would never, never make jokes about raping or having sex of any description with a 14-year-old girl.” See Letterman’s full response in the video below.
David Letterman's apology/response on the Palin comments
Many people, including those who support the Palins, do not feel that David Letterman will be fired, yet the possibility remains and the FireDavidLetterman.com site may be more than hot air.
Talk show personalities have had their employment terminated regarding inappropriate comments (made in jest or otherwise) in the past, facilitated by the social media, including Don Imus. There is obviously animosity towards the talk show host as demonstrated by the comments against his new wife, Regina Lasko, in the article More Regina Lasko photos found, (See comment section.)
CBS has yet to comment on the Letterman-Palin feud but some entertainment pundits speculate that the show's ratings may improve as a consequence.
Do you think David Letterman will (or should be) fired? Post your comments below.
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