"Fire David Letterman " Rally Called for by FireDavidLetterman.Com

Craig Ferguson jokingly declared himself the "King of Late Night" Friday night and the Scot comedian just might become just that if the Fire David Letterman crusade catches hold and produces the result it demands. But Letterman is the leader in late night television, according to the latest rankings, possibly due to unfamiliarity with the new host of the "Tonight Show," Conan O'Brien, and the controversy over the Sarah Palin jokes that inspired pundits, politicians, and average citizens to call upon CBS to fire David Letterman.

FireDavidLetterman.com has been set up to hold David Letterman "accountable for his disgraceful statements," according to the site's Mission Statement. The site includes a sample protest/boycott letter and a list of "Late Show with David Letterman" advertising sponsors' to which one can write. The site also calls upon the outraged to write, e-mail, or call their local CBS affiliate or local sponsor of the show to let them know they disapprove or will boycott their station/product until David Letterman's show is removed from the station's lineup. The site even lists six ways to make FireDavidLetterman.com viral.

But under the title "Fire David Letterman" is the announcement of a rally to be held on Tuesday, June 16, at the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York City (where "Late Show with David Letterman") is recorded.

David Letterman seems to have touched a nerve with his inappropriate joke told Monday night. Not one to ever let a Sarah Palin moment go un-joked about, Letterman included in his Top 10 List that night ("Top Ten Highlights of Sarah Palin's Trip to New York") that Palin had went to Bloomingdale's to "update her 'slutty flight attendant' look." After some criticism leveled for the sexist joke, most detractors centered on the 'awkward' joke where he said that Sarah Palin's daughter had been "knocked up" by Alex Rodriguez (New York Yankees baseball player) in the seventh inning.

Although Letterman apologized and invited the Palin family onto his show, Sarah Palin began a retaliatory media onslaught that began with calling Letterman's comments "sexually perverted" to telling Matt Lauer on the "Today Show" that she stood by the statement made by her publicist that it would be wise to keep her 14-year-old away from the 62-year-old talk show host.

But does the late night show host deserve to be fired? Many would say "yes." One of those is New York Assemblyman and Minority Leader Brian Kolb, according to KXMC.com, who has called upon CBS to fire David Letterman as well. "Firing Mr. Letterman would send a clear message that CBS will not tolerate any of its employees even an established media figure like Mr. Letterman making demeaning and degrading comments about women."

David Letterman's position as an iconic late show personality would seem to be inviolable, especially considering Letterman's topping of the late show rankings. Or so it seemed until this past week. If the groundswell campaigns like that being promoted by FireDavidLetterman.com place enough pressure on CBS and their sponsors, his position could very well be threatened. Don Imus, famous shock jock and philanthopist, was relieved of his position at NBC and MSNBC in 2007 for an inappropriate comment made about the Rutgers women's basketball team. Howard Stern, another famous shock jock, has been fired numerous times for making inappropriate comments during his broadcasts.

Although David Letterman may not be fired, it is not outside the realm of possibility. If the "fire David Letterman" groups and individuals continue to grow stronger, CBS might not have any other choice, as it would effect their commercial viability.

All jokes aside, Craig Ferguson could indeed then become the "King of Late Night Television."

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Sources:

FireDavidLetterman.com

"Late Show with David Letterman," CBS Television

KXMC.com