On his way to “The Late Show with David Letterman,” actor Tom Hanks makes a fan’s baby cry just because he can. [10/29/09, NYC]

David Letterman, we haven’t forgotten about you and your staff member-diddling ways! Nell Scovell, the second female ever hired to write for “Late Night with David Letterman” recently penned a piece for Vanity Fair‘s website alleging that sex between high-level male and lower-level female staffers led to a “hostile” work environment:

“Without naming names or digging up decades-old dirt, let’s address the pertinent questions. 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? Yes. Did that create a hostile work environment? Yes. Did I believe these female staffers were benefiting professionally from their personal relationships? Yes. Did that make me feel demeaned? Completely. Did I say anything at the time? Sadly, no. Here’s what I did: I walked away from my dream job.

Tina Fey, poster child for the abstinence movement? Naaaah. She was just homely, the 30 Rock star told David Letterman last night. (Sorry, Sarah Palin.)

Even though Tina held onto her V-card until the ripe old age of 24, this story’s got a sweet ending! The fabulous Ms. Fey ended up having her daughter with the guy who took her virginity: her husband. How old-fashioned!

There’s a new round of fallout from David Letterman’s affair and blackmail scandal.

After the “Late Show” host admitted to affairs with staff—including an alleged affair with former intern Stephanie Birkitt—Connecticut’s Quinnipiac University is re-evaluating its relationship with the show. Here’s what a Quinnipiac representative told TMZ:

“Due to recent circumstances we will have a discussion with those in charge of placing our interns at the David Letterman show in the future. We will diligently oversee this internship program to ensure that our interns are out of harm’s way.”

Letterman’s camp hasn’t commented on the Quinnipiac decision. [People]

David Letterman sat down for a chat with my boyfriend “Mad Men“‘s Jon Hamm, and the conversation ventured into the territory of Hamm’s former career as a set dresser on those late-night Cinemax movies where chicks run around naked and guys hump them. During this “fallow period” of his acting career, Hamm was a prop wrangler on soft-core movies. “It was an exciting moment in my life,” Hamm reminisces. “It’s a closed set so only, you know, vital personnel are there. Then you see the guy that, like, runs the craft service thing, like, kind of eating a hot dog, staring at it. And it’s like, why does Jimmy need to be here?” Maybe they can work this story into a Sterling Cooper plot line? [Huffington Post]

One of the country’s largest feminist groups, National Organization for Women, has weighed in on the revelations that “Late Show” host David Letterman slept with several of his interns and assistants. In a statement released on Tuesday, NOW said:

“The latest Letterman controversy sheds new light on the widespread objectification of women in the workplace. Most women can attest to the fact that many workplaces are plagued with inappropriate behavior by men in power. As ‘the boss,’ he is responsible for setting the tone for his entire workplace — and he did that with sex. In any work environment, this places all employees — including employees who happen to be women—in an awkward, confusing and demoralizing situation. The National Organization for Women calls on CBS to recognize that Letterman’s behavior creates a toxic environment and to take action immediately to rectify this situation. With just two women on CBS’ board of directors, we’re not holding our breath.”

Usually, I agree with NOW’s pro-women’s rights stance on lots of subjects—for what it’s worth, I was president of the NOW chapter at my college. But I only have one thing to say about the stink they’re making about Letterman’s employee-diddling:

Bitch, please.

It’s Wednesday, which means the week is half over and you’ve made it to hump day. But even more importantly, the new ‘bloids just hit newsstands. Lest you have to actually buy and read them cover to cover, we’ve perused each to bring you the juiciest, most fascinating stories. We’re sure each and every bit is 115 percent true.

After last week’s admission that he’d been blackmailed for having sex with former “Late Show” employees, David Letterman issued a mea culpa on last night’s show, apologizing to his staff and to his wife, Regina Lasko. First he delivered a monologue that was funnier than it was awkward, in which he quipped: “Right now, I would give anything to be hiking on the Appalachian Trail. I get in the car this morning and the navigation lady wasn’t speaking to me. Ouch!” Then Letterman went on to say that he hadn’t thought out how his admission last week would affect his staffers and he apologized for the relentless harassment they’ve endured from the press for the last few days. “I would like to set the record straight,” he said. “No, I am not having sex with these women. Those episodes are in the past. My apologies for subjecting them to that vulnerability and to being browbeaten and humiliated.” This brings up an interesting point: How many current female staffers are now being accused of having a sexual relationship with Dave? How many women who have earned promotions throughout the years are now suspected of having climbed the ranks horizontally? And I wonder if any of them have had any ‘splainin’ to do to their partners at home.

Let the games begin! After the revelation on Friday that David Letterman was shtupping his intern/assistant Stephanie Birkitt, a second woman has come forward saying that she had a year-long affair with Dave. Holly Hester was an intern at the “Late Show” in the early ‘90s and says that everything started when Dave asked her to the movies. “I was madly in love with him at the time,” she told TMZ.com. “I would have married him. He was hilarious.” I wonder how many more women will step up, here? What is it about interns? Just that they’re young and less likely to make a stink with human resources?

Last night, David Letterman nipped an extortion plot in the bud and told his audience that some mysterious person was demanding $2 million to keep quiet evidence that he’d slept with women on his staff. What is it about David Letterman that attracts the crazies? First there was that plot to kidnap his son, then Joaquin Phoenix, and now this? Finally, we’re getting the details on who did the extorting. The main suspect is apparently Robert “Joe” Halderman, a “48 Hours” producer who’s been nominated for an Emmy. He was arrested and his job has been suspended. [Huffington Post]

But how did he know that Letterman had dallied with women on his staff? Because ... one of the women is his ex-girlfriend, Stephanie Birkitt. Birkitt interned at the “Late Show” in 1996 and later became Dave’s assistant. She appeared on the show multiple times, covering the Winter Olympics, interviewing “Survivor” cast-offs, and playing the character Vicki. Apparently, she and Letterman started doing the horizontal polka, though their affair supposedly ended before Letterman had a baby with his long-term girlfriend in 2003. Halderman either found out or was shown Birkitt’s diary entries, letters, and photos of Birkitt’s that proved she was banging Letterman.

What does a late-night talk show host do to top guest appearances by President Obama on one night, Bill Clinton the next night, and Madonna the following week? Well, if you’re David Letterman, you go on air and admit to having sex with your employees. The confession came last night when Letterman announced he’d been the victim of a $2 million extortion plot to expose sexual relations he’s had with female staffers. He first learned of the plot three weeks ago when he found a package in the backseat of his car one morning on his way to work. The package included “proof” of “terrible things” Letterman has done and a blackmail letter explaining a plan to write a screenplay about Letterman and his affairs unless he forks over $2 million. Letterman called the cops, they caught the guy with a fake check, and Dave testified this week in before a grand jury. His response to the claim that he’s banged female staffers? “My response to that is, yes I have. I have had sex with women who work on this show. Would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Perhaps it would, perhaps it would. Especially for the women.” He then says he wants to protect these people, his family, and hopefully his job. It’s just a hunch here, but I’d say his job is pretty safe. Clip above.

Madonna made her eighth visit to “Letterman” last night, arriving through the door of The Ed Sullivan Theater carried by a slew of handsome hockey players. “It’s the one sport I haven’t explored,” Madonna later quipped — a reference to her well-documented dating history with a variety of sports stars. Letterman asked about her recent divorce and she joked that her marriage lasted through the “Bush years,” when it was a “good time to be out of America” and that she’d rather “get run over by a train” than ever marry again. They ended the interview with Madonna’s first slice of NY pizza, which she probably spit into her napkin when the cameras stopped rolling. After all, she doesn’t like cheese on her pie. Clip above.

Last night Barack Obama became the first sitting U.S. President to take on the “Late Show With David Letterman” when he made an appearance on the late-night talk show and discussed Afghanistan, the economy, health care, and heart-shaped potatoes. The President made the day of a woman from Missouri named Mary Apple when he asked to take a look at the wrinkled heart-shaped potato she brought to the show. The woman threw the potato up to Letterman and he handed it to Obama who said, “Well, thank you so much for sharing.” While Obama said the potato was the “main reason” he was there, Letterman’s Top Ten list gave several other possible reasons Obama agreed to do the show, including: “Wanted to congratulate Dave on the big Emmy win.” (Letterman lost the Emmy to Jon Stewart for the seventh year in a row).

Personal aside: Letterman films his show in my neighborhood, just two blocks from my apartment, and yesterday afternoon I met up with my husband, who was on his way home from work, and we were lucky enough to catch President Obama leaving the studio after his interview! It was a thrill to see all cops rev their engines in the front of the motorcade and then see the President himself drive past, but the best part of all is that Obama actually looked right at us, like us, personally, and smiled and waved! And I even have a video clip to prove it! Let’s face it: The heart-shaped potato may have been one draw, but I think the President really agreed to do “Letterman” so he could wave “hi” to me!

On last night’s “Letterman,” Anne Heche spent a seriously large chunk of time making fun of her ex-husband, Coley Laffoon, whom she divorced in 2007 before shacking up with her “Men In Trees” co-star, James Tupper. She not only called Coley a “lazy ass,” but took things even further, having this to say about Coley’s current occupation:

“He goes out to the mailbox and he opens up the little mailbox door and goes, ‘Oh! I got a check from Anne! Oh! I got a check from Anne! Yay!’”

After a few minutes of this tirade, Anne started to look pretty vengeful. I mean, really, trash-talking your ex on national TV is just ... sad and kind of pathetic. Right? If you must vent some anger over an ex, please keep in mind these 10 rules.

Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour was on “The Late Show” last night to promote “The September Issue” and she was everything I expected and more. She trotted out in her signature sunglasses, didn’t let Letterman intimidate her in the slightest, and, perhaps unexpectedly, she was funny! She poked fun at Dave’s socks and sincerely seemed to suggest he buy Thom Browne suits, with their cropped pant leg, so he could show them off, and despite a reputation for being completely unapproachable, she was actually quite self-deprecating. Check out the interview above!

Last night Renee Zellweger appeared on David Letterman‘s “Late Show” looking mighty skinny. But I found myself ignoring her stick-thin arms when Letterman rolled out a guacamole-filled pinata and asked Renee to take a swing. We don’t know how they kept that green goo from going everywhere but Renee must not have eaten in quite a while because she kept asking, “Where are the chips?”

Everyone’s favorite reformed (?) psycho-in-a-blond-weave, Britney Spears, made an appearance on “Letterman” last night, reading the Top Ten list which, appropriately enough, was titled “Top Ten Ways The Country Would Be Different If Britney Spears Were President.” Wearing a string bikini — and an enormous tropical flower behind one ear — and looking more toned and in-shape than she has in years, Brit-Brit sat atop a Presidential-looking desk and shifted her weight from hip to hip as she read each number. The appearance was certainly less disastrous than past televised appearances (the infamous MTV Music Video Awards, anyone?), but I couldn’t help but think her “charisma” seemed a little canned. What do you think?

Frosty Vogue editrix-in-chief Anna Wintour is slated to yuk it up with David Letterman on his late night show. Why would her Highness deign to gift Dave with her presence? To promote “The September Issue,” a new documentary that chronicles Wintour’s preparations for the massive September 2007 issue of Vogue, following the fashion legend as her team of editors brainstorm, style shoots, and meet with designers.

Could Letterman bring out Wintour’s supposed fun, coquettish side? If he can’t do it, no one can. Set your TiVos for Monday, August 24. [The Cut]

Well, it was bound to happen. Porn company Lethal Hardcore Video has spoofed the Sarah Palin/David Letterman feud for a flick called, ahem, “F**k My Mom and Me.” In the dirty movie, “Letterman” has sexual relations with both the former Governor (“Sara Paelin”) and her daughter (“Bristhole Paelin”). Has porn finally gone too far?! I’m sure Palin thinks so, but this is just another example of the negative side of putting your family in the limelight (and People magazine). As for the mother/daughter theme, this is hardly new. Porn with incestuous themes are pretty common—I’ve seen (and by “seen” I mean, uh, glimpsed, not watched) porn where two actresses, playing mother/daughter, sisters, etc. schtoop each other. I’ve even seen some twin porn and what’s icky about that is that it’s hard to fake identical twins. [AVN.com]

Yes, we’ve done a lot of posts about “Bruno” in the past two days. No, we’re not planning on stopping anytime soon. The other night, Sacha Baron Cohen went on “The Late Show With David Letterman” as…(gasp)...himself. He describes getting an interview with an actual terrorist for the movie. Any chance he’ll divorce Isla Fisher and marry me?