Former Letterman Writer Nell Scovell Says She Quit Show Due to Sexism

"The Color Purple" broadway opening night held at the the Broadway Theatre in New York. (Bauer Griffin)more pics »In this month's issue of Vanity Fair, Nell Scovell, a former writer for Late Night with David Letterman opens up about her experiences as one of the few female writers in the history of the show. In a short essay, Scovell says that a widespread attitude of male chavaunism created a "hostile work enviroment" that eventually led to Scovell walking away from her dream job after only a few months in New York.

Did Dave hit on me? No. Did he pay me enough extra attention that it was noted by another writer? Yes. Was I aware of rumors that Dave was having sexual relationships with female staffers? Yes. - Former Letterman writer Nell Scovell
Scovell begins the piece by noting that David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Conan O'Brien all currently have no women working on their writing staff, before getting into her own experience on Letterman's writing staff in the late 80s. "Let's address the pertinent questions," Scovell writes. "Did Dave hit on me? No. Did he pay me enough extra attention that it was noted by another writer? Yes. Was I aware of rumors that Dave was having sexual relationships with female staffers? Yes."

Scovell continues on about the working enviroment she faced, writing: "Was I aware that other high-level male employees were having sexual relationships with female staffers? Yes. Did these female staffers have access to information and wield power disproportionate to their job titles? Yes. Did that create a hostile work environment? Yes. Did I believe these female staffers were benefiting professionally from their personal relationships? Yes. Did that make me feel demeaned? Completely."

Former Letterman writer Nell Scovell. (vanityfair.com)
Scovell goes on to say that she's opening up about her experiences now partly because because others "who have no knowledge of the situation are voicing opinions, so why not me?" However, she says she hopes ultimately her revelations will "pivot the discussion away from the bedroom and toward the writers’ room, because it pains me that almost 20 years later, the situation for female writers in late-night-TV hasn’t improved."

Scovell says that she considered telling Letterman all of this when she quit years ago. "On my last day at Late Night, Dave summoned me to his office and pressed me on why I was quitting the show. I considered telling him the truth, but with Dave’s rumored mistress within earshot, I balked. Instead, I told him I missed L.A. Dave said, 'You’re welcome back anytime.'"

No word or response from Letterman or the Late Night crew as of yet. Considering Letterman's obvious desire to move beyond his recent sexual scandals, we wouldn't hold our breath for one either.

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