HE'S BECOME THE BUTT OF THE LATE NIGHT LAUGHS OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS

It was reported that the blackmailer Joe Halderman was threatening to reveal embarrassing details of Letterman's personal life. For example, after sex he would always say "Stay tuned for Craig Ferguson."

IF YOU CAN'T BEAT EM, WELL

Did your weekend just fly by?  I'd be honest with you folks, I'd give anything to be hiking on the Appalachian trail.

FANS AT LAST NIGHT'S TAPING SAID LETTERMAN HANDLED THE SITUATION LIKE A PRO.

Very into it very energized, it was a lot of fun and I think people generally support him.

IT DID GET SERIOUS FOR A FEW MINUTES WHEN LETTERMAN - A VERY PRIVATE PERSON AGAIN...USED HIS VERY PUBLIC FORUM - SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO HIS STAFF, AND THEN - HIS WIFE - REGINA LASKO.

She has been horribly hurt by my behavior, and when something happens like that, if you hurt a person and it's your responsibility, you try to fix it.  And at that point, there's only two things that can happen:  either you're going to make some progress and get it fixed, or you're going to fall short and perhaps not get it fixed.

LETTERMAN ALSO STRESSED, THOSE SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE OVER.

I would just like to set the record straight, no, I'm not having sex with these women, those episodes are in the past. 

MEANWHILE, THE 27-YEAR CBS VETERAN ACCUSED OF DEMANDING TWO-MILLION-DOLLARS FROM LETTERMAN, TO KEEP QUIET ABOUT HIS SEXUAL PAST IS FIRING BACK.

JOE HALDERMAN'S LAWYER SAYS LETTERMAN IS A MASTER AT MANIPULATION.

He wanted to get out ahead of the story and that's exactly what he did.