Letterman scandal largely a non-story

After years of poking fun at the personal troubles of politicians, "Late Show" host David Letterman finds himself in the same situation.

Last week, Letterman revealed a plot to blackmail him out of $2 million for affairs he had with staffers. In the aftermath, Letterman has apologized to everyone — his wife, his staff and his viewers — and his jokes about politicians' indiscretions are now stones from a glass house.

But not really.

Letterman is the host of a variety talk show, not a politician. He's never presented himself as anything other than a cranky old man largely disinterested in the celebs he's interviewing.

So he had an affair with a staffer when he was unmarried and childless. And then what happened?

Ratings.

On Monday, 5.7 million people tuned into the "Late Show." This is a greater amount of viewers than any show in NBC's entire prime-time schedule received — including rival Jay Leno's show.

"The ratings popped the first night," said David Joyce, analyst for advertising firm Miller Tabek. "It appears as if it's going to be a non-story."

That is exactly what this story is.