A CBS newsman who prosecutors said was desperate and deep in debt was charged Friday with trying to blackmail David Letterman for $2 million in a plot that forced the late night comic to acknowledge having sex with some of the women who have worked for him. The bizarre case created a messy legal and professional problem for one of CBS' most valuable personalities. Commentators and bloggers quickly accused Letterman of hypocrisy because he has made a career of mocking politicians mercilessly, often for their sexual transgressions. From a strictly business perspective, Letterman's revelations on Thursday's show were an immediate success: His overnight ratings were up 38 percent over the same night a week ago, the Nielsen Co. said. It remains to be seen whether Letterman will suffer long-term damage just as his career appears to be peaking. Jay Leno, Letterman's longtime late-night rival, didn't waste a moment commenting on the situation. He kicked off his monologue on NBC's “The Jay Leno Show” on Friday with jokes about Letterman. He opened: “If you came here tonight for sex with a talk show host, you've got the wrong studio.” Meanwhile, Robert J. “Joe” Halderman, a producer for the true-crime show “48 Hours Mystery,” pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan court as he was arraigned on one count of attempted first-degree grand larceny, punishable by five to 15 years in prison. He was released after posting $200,000 bail.
