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

David Letterman vaulted himself into the headlines this week by mocking John McCain for canceling an appearance on his show only to show up on the CBS "Evening News" with Katie Couric. And in a classic stunt, Letterman showed the internal CBS News feed on his show to demonstrate McCain's hypocrisy.

WATCH THE VIDEO

The New York Post's Don Kaplan reports that trick didn't go over so well with CBS News executives:

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.

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"He does whatever he wants and always has."

Read Kaplan's full article here or click below to watch video of the event in question.

WATCH: Letterman Mocks McCain For Canceling "Late Show" Only To Appear On "Evening News"

Letterman kept on McCain for a second night, saying Thursday, "I feel like an ugly date."

WATCH: Letterman Attacks McCain Day 2: "I Feel Like An Ugly Date"

Comments

[Phalanxman]

The Letterdude was great. Best I've ever seen him. So what is CBS gonna do, fire him? He'd just go to ABC.

[CastaicLiBilleral]

I used to work in the Engineering Dept. with Network News for another network. What Dave did was wrong, plain and simple. You don't steal another show's video and audio feed without that show's prior permission. To then use it illegally on-the-air is just plain unethical and subject to recriminations.
Dave needs to grow up. He felt slighted (and was). He's getting more mileage out of this than if McSame would have been on the show. It is truely doubtful he would have beaten Leno anyway that night. Dave, your jokes and routines (Top 10, Will It Float?, Presidential Speeches, etc.,) are as old and stale as McSame's claim's and lies. Both you and McSame have to move into the future. Retirement.

[Phalanxman]

McSame lied to him, and Letterdude exposed him. That is news. Letterdude the journalist. Pulitzer material, I'd say.

[Totto]

I used to work at CBS when it WAS CBS. It's good to see a little reality break through the corporate propaganda that now permeates the broadcast media. The execs can't do a thing to Dave and ain't it great! The guy has guts AND power. And a wonderful sense of irony.

[Totto]

Letterman's routines have always been much funnier than Leno's.

[rock2casbah]

David Letterman is known for his irreverance. This is nothing new. He made his name off of honest righteous ascerbic wit. What did the CBS execs think they were going to do by getting mad at Dave? He can buy and sell every one of them by now. So try and take him off the air. That would be the biggest blunder of CBS in this decade.

He will go wherever he wants, and I for one will be following him right to wherever he ends up. That is if he even wants to be bothered anymore.

[Schoogy]

Leno is not funny. i've never understood his popularity. laughs at his own material too much, to.

[quiscut]

Leno is so unsuited to the hosting job it is unreal. I find it painful to listen to him murder the language so badly. The bits are all written to appeal to the' most people with the least amount of intelligence'. So sad. Carson must have been in agony seeing what happened to his 'tonight show' brand.

[dukeitout]

So the CBS executives undermine Letterman and then get angry at Lettermen for exposing their sleazy action. Nice network. Also, would it be a stretch to say that McCain's honor left him in the 60's.

[Reaganwater]

Dave , HEY ! , you should have known better -- telling the truth is not allowed... without prior Boardroom level approval . After all , CBS (Currently Bottom in the Standings) has its reputation to consider

[Naithom]

What McCain did was news, shouldn't it be reported on, even if it's not by the CBS reporters?

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

I bet Dave's Mom laughed.

I love Dave's Mom, I wish NBC would have sent her to do the Olympics again. Can you imagine a segment with Dave's Mom and Michael Phelps' Mom?

[markmceahern]

This is manufactured outrage. Who cares what the execs think--what did they *do*? Oh, nothing? Move along.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

And Letterman's aggravated that John McCain LIED to him. I'm sure that Letterman would have understood that McCain might not want to be on an entertainment show, considering the events of the day. McCain didn't HAVE to lie... but he did - because it was the expedient thing to do.

[PHM]

Actually, McCain lied because it is what he does...dec­eit is his default mode.

[rzan]

McCain lies when the truth would be better.

[trinity29]

thats exactly correct. if mc c a i n said to dave i dont think it would be appropriate for me to do comedy tonight, would it be ok with you if we did this another date and set a date and time or say that someone would call him, i am sure dave would have understood. mccain would have looked so much better. however, when lying is the only principle with which you are guided, then you cannot see how easy it is to tell the truth.

[BuzzingAlong]

McCain hasn't had any problems yet appearing on entertainment shows. Just what do you think the so-called networks news shows are.

[Meah]

Dave, you are the man! Letterman needs top go after CBS news, not the other way around! McCain was DISHONEST and got his arse caught. What a weirdo. Did he think that Dave was going to be OK with that? Doesn't know Dave well, does he? And why did Couric allow McCain to manipulate when they knew that he was supposed to be on Dave's show. POSTURING and phoniness! Give me a break!

[ebethgay]

Perhaps if Katie hadn't stolen Dave's guest, this wouldn't have happened. CBS News brought this on themselves.

[PT6]

He must be a Repub! Get a sense of HUMOR!

[elcojonu]

CBS News, tough Maracas; you're in last place !

[owndao]

Yes, Dave. You did what needed to be done and that is to show the truth that the "news" sometimes misses. I'm behind you 100%!

[Phalanxman]

I think most of his viewers are. He's untouchable on this one.

[redsongia]

MAN, I'VE HAD A CRUSH ON LETTERMAN SINCE I WAS 12!!! THAT'S A 23 YEAR LONG CRUSH, DAVE!!

(I'd stalk you at your house, but I know you hate that :)

[gnomic]

What, is CBS worried that if they go hard on McCain they will lose the old people demographic that is the only one they lead in? McCain lied and Letterman called him on it. If only the media would do that to both candidates more often, rather than airing theirs lies as ads and taking money for it.

[cfreedom]

You do not want Letterman on you night after night. He's relentless. No one wears out a gag like Dave, and no one can keep it so funny for so long either. He may just keep it going right till the campaign. I like John McCain okay, but this is really another example of Republicans being out of touch.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

Humorous Hoosiers - We hold a grudge!

BTW, Dave graduated from Ball State University, where the unofficial motto is: I'd Rather Ball U. then I.U.

Don't blame me for Dan 'Mr PotatoE-head' Quayle, I voted for BIRCH Bayh.