David Letterman's Actions Defended.......In Bed

As a kid you probably heard the old joke that the fortunes inside fortune cookies could be made much funnier if you simply added ".... in bed" at the end as you read them. If you haven't ever tried this, I can assure you it works. Here, try a few for yourself with these sample fortunes:

• Do not make extra work for yourself
• A dubious friend may be an enemy in camouflage
• A soft voice may be awfully persuasive
• All your hard work will soon pay off
• Believe in yourself and others will, too
• Courtesy is contagious

I could go on like that all day. But I mentioned this only because it came to mind as I read a news item this afternoon about the executive producer of "The Late Show With David Letterman," Rob Burnett, defending his production company's treatment of women. He was responding to a letter from the National Organization of Women which alleged in part that Letterman's actions had created a "toxic environment." Here are a two excerpts from Burnett's own response letter. Why does the same "fortune cookie" trick work so well on these, too?

• "And, as an employee of David Letterman's since 1985, I have personally found the work environment on his shows to be fair, professional and entirely merit-based at all times."
• "Since that time, our human resources department has consulted every member of the 'Late Show' staff, and not a single complaint has been raised or filed."