CBS execs to David Letterman: Leave Britney...er...McCain...ALONE!

[Amerigo Vespucci]

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CBS News Executives "Aggravated" By Letterman's Use Of Internal News Feed: Report

Huffington Post | September 26, 2008 08:49 AM

By DON KAPLAN

http://www.nypost.com/seven/09262008/tv/mad_about_letterman_130739.htm



CBS News executives were red- faced yesterday trying to explain how David Letterman used unaired news footage of Sen. John McCain with Katie Couric to embarrass the Republican presidential candidate.

McCain canceled his appearance on Letterman's show late Wednesday, several hours before he was due to appear - claiming he had to return to Washington to deal with the financial crisis.

Get MORE TV News at NYPost.com

But when Letterman discovered the Senator sitting down with Couric at the same time he was supposed to be taping "Late Night," he unloaded on McCain.

"I'm more than a little disappointed by this behavior," Letterman told viewers. "This doesn't smell right."

"This is not the way a tested hero behaves. Somebody's putting something in his Metamucil," he said.

Later in the show, Letterman showed an internal, live video of McCain being tended to by a make-up artist before the Couric interview. Both Couric and Letterman are on CBS.

Letterman said on the air that McCain had called him personally to apologize and said he was racing to the airport.

"He doesn't seem to be racing to the airport, does he?" Letterman told viewers.

"I feel like we've caught him getting a manicure," Letterman quipped, as a make-up woman dabbed at McCain's face.

Asked if CBS officials had a problem with Letterman using the internal news feed, a spokeswoman for "The Evening News" refused to address the issue.

But several CBS News executives - who asked not to be identified - said that the stunt did not go down well within the news division.

"If we had done something like that to him, someone around here would end up getting fired," one said.

News officials found out Letterman was using the internal feed shortly after it showed up on an internal CBS feed carrying the "Late Show" taping.

"They were pretty aggravated," a CBS News source told The Post.

"But they were not about to start a fight with Letterman," the source said. "We're in the middle of a heavy, heavy news cycle and Letterman is Letterman.

"He does whatever he wants and always has."

McCain spokeswoman Nicole Wallace said that the campaign canceled on Letterman because it "felt this wasn't a night for comedy."

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[tridim]

1. If they know Letterman "does whatever he wants and always has."

Why would the executives even bother issuing these statements?

This seems to just be political, as in "we're rich Republican executives and we're mad that McCain is getting roasted by that commie-pinko Letterman."

It's really pathetic.

[RichGirl]

8. Dave has always been bold.

But now that he has son I think his priorities have changed. He is really invested in this election and wanting a better world for his son. I think he would risk everything for it. He certainly would not choose money over a better life for his son.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

12. It's all about "keeping up appearances"...

...I read an article recently about Jay Leno, and the fact that he aggressively courted NBC executives in order to land the "Tonight Show" gig. Free public appearances for the network, all kinds of things, and consistently. Good little doggie, and his reward was the show.

Letterman, on the other hand, has always been a "bite the hand that feeds him" type, and the execs all KNOW this...but they have to maintain the illusion that they have some degree of control over him.

They don't.

:toast:

[MoJoWorkin]

2. This is going to get REALLY GOOD, if McStunt tries to put pressure on Dave thru the CBS suits. LOL

[tridim]

14. Dave has never hesitated to rip his own network's top-brass

He really has nothing to lose, especially since he's CBS's cash cow.

I'm guessing tonight he'll refer to them as "weasels", about 50 times. :)

[Ian David]

3. ...

[ej510]

7. This shows how much power Letterman has.

[Ian David]

10. If McCain has lost Letterman, he's lost Middle America. n/t

[Buzz Clik]

4. Poor CBS. Walked through the dung heap and got shit on their shoes.

"Hey, Letterman! Quit telling us we have shit on our shoes."

[Ian David]

5. On August 29, 2005 McCain appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien while New Orleans drowned.

I guess THAT was a night for comedy?

[Egnever]

11. wow that graffic is very effective.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

17. Nicole is like a less-aware version of Dana Perino...

...seriously. Dana's not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree, but Nicole is cut from the "Fox News Anchor" cloth. She's got a harder edge, she is 110% pure "talking points"...reminds me of Monica Crowley (pictured below)...



:patriot:

[southpaw]

6. So... do you think Letterman is going to back down?

My feeling is that, while he may not harp on the McCain thing, he will be sure to inject a reference every night.

What are they going to do, Fire Letterman? :rofl:

[Ian David]

13. Letterman, bless him, will do whatever the hell he wants. They can't touch him.

And even if they DID fire him, he has more money than god by now, and apparently is much more frugal with it than that douchebag Jay Leno.

[tridim]

16. No, he'll start ripping on the CBS News execs tonight.

That's what he does.

[Egnever]

9. He does whatever he wants and always has.

its good to be king!

[Ian David]

15. Now, what he needs to do is get the news division to cut to him getting his make up put on. n/t