Now lets be clear – David was well inbounds the first time he called for Spitzer’s resignation. And David’s top ten list of Excuses and other jokes are still within comedic cover and Spitzer’s own buffoonery. But then to make Spitzer’s resignation a continuing rant throughout the show and David crossed over the line. David tried to enlist Martha Stewart, “victim” of the Spitzer-like financial prosecutions, into denouncing Spitzer. To his chagrin, Martha would not join in. Instead they delayed even doing the usual cooking fun, instead devoting all the time to David’s attempts to get Martha to Roast Spitzer.

And therein lies the tale – David Letterman showed not an ounce of leavening on the personal tragedy that was unfolding. Such vindictiveness stained the man and his show.