In 2009, on this day David Letterman's contract was terminated by his employer the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) who simultaneously announced that the new host of the "Tonight Show" would be Conan O'Brien.
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"Tonight Show" implodes after NBC fires David LettermanThe original scandal had come to light when the alleged extortionist, Robert J. "Joe" Halderman was arrested trying to cash a phony $2m check after Letterman had contacted the Manhattan District Attorney's office. On September 9th, Halderman had allegedly broken into Letterman's car to place photographic evidence alongside the demand for the money. Requiring a grand jury to order the arrest, the photographs had been revealed, demonstrating that Letterman had pursued a string of affairs with the staff on his show. Because of his role as the manager, it later transpired that Letterman was liable to charges of sexually harrassment, forcing his dismissal from NBC.

Viewing ratings on the "Late Night with Jay Leno Show" on CBS received an immediate, huge surge which really meant that only Leno, and not O'Brien, was the main beneficiary from the scandal. Ironically, NBC had initially favoured Leno as the successor to Johnny Carson in 1992, but at the host's insistence, had instead offered the position to David Letterman. Leno had been one of a number of Talk Show Hosts who had sharply criticised Letterman's behaviour.
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