Pop Stand

David Letterman used a Monday taping of his 'Late Show' to apologize to his wife, Regina Lasko. "She has been horribly hurt by my behavior, and when something happens like that, if you hurt a person and it's your responsibility, you try to fix it. ... At that point, there's only two things that can happen: Either you're going to make some progress and get it fixed, or you're going to fall short and perhaps not get it fixed, so let me tell you folks, I got my work cut out for me." Letterman also apologized to current and former employees of his Worldwide Pants production company. His Monday guests, Steve Martin and Martin Short poked fun at Letterman's predicament, but tempered it acknowledging it was no laughing matter

Meanwhile, protege Craig Ferguson, whose own talk show airs after and is produced by Letterman, supported his boss on Monday's show. Ferguson joked that the audience should put themselves in his position, adding: "The person you work for, the person you admire and respect, is caught in an embarrassing situation. And your job is to be funny about that, whilst trying to keep your own job. So this is my last show." Ferguson called Letterman "the king of late-night television," and jokingly added: "If we are now holding late-night talk show hosts to the same moral accountability as we hold politicians or clergymen, I'm out. I'm gone."

Other late night shows have steered clear of the scandal, mostly, Jay Leno made light of it on Friday's show, but didn't mention it on Monday's taping. Also mum were Conan O'Brien, Jon Stewart, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert.

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Meanwhile, the attorney for alleged extortionist Robert 'Joe' Halderman, says the case against his client "makes absolutely no sense." Gerald Shargel said that no one pays an extortion attempt with a check, and that the audio from the meetings -- which came from a hidden wire worn by Letterman's attorney -- shouldn't be weighed too heavily. "If you only hear David Letterman's side of the story, take it at face value and say, 'Turn off the sets, that Halderman’s guilty' -- I think that’s plain wrong," Shargel said. Shargel also took exception with the idea that his client was burned in some sort of sting. "He knows all about cops and wiretaps. And to suggest that he was trapped in an extortion plot is preposterous."

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Reality show mastermind Mark Burnett is resurrecting 'Fantasy Island' as a reality show, where contestants compete for a job at a hotel in an exotic location. I'm not expecting showdowns with the devil or marionettes come to life, but Burnett says: "One contestant will be chosen as the star performer for the week and will be safe from elimination. All of the contestants will then vote on who should be expelled from paradise and have their quest for a dream job come to an end."

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'American Idol' is bringing back the Idol Gives Back special, due to air April 21, 2010. The series took a hiatus last season, although the previous two events raised more than $140 million for charities in the U.S. and abroad. This season, money raised will go to Children's Health Fund, Feeding America, Malaria No More, Save the Children and the United Nations Foundation.

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Despite the death of Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein, MTV has finally picked a date to air 'Gone Too Far,' a reality series that chronicles the story of teens overcoming addictions to drugs. The network says that the show will air on Monday, October 12 at 10:00 PM. Goldstein's family said in a statement, "After careful consideration we have decided to air the show. Adam felt strongly that by doing this series he could help other addicts who were at a crisis point to get sober. ... The decision to air the show has been difficult, but we do this with the profound belief that it will inspire others to seek help."

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Buffalo actor David Boreanaz, who stars on Fox Network's 'Bones,' has flu-like symptoms which has shut down production on the show. Fearing Boreanaz may be sick with the swine flu, the studio shut down production for the day. 'Bones' creator Hart Hanson quipped, "First time in 'Bones' history we are shut down from production. Damn swine flu! That's gonna cut into Christmas hiatus."

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Nicole Richie was in an auto accident on Monday afternoon when a paparazzi vehicle got too close and hit Richie's Range Rover. Richie's hubby Joel Madden was with her, but the couple's two young children were safe at home. There were no physical injuries, and no ambulances called, but Richie's mother Brenda was called to come console her daughter, who was spotted sobbing behind the steering wheel. 

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Fans of 'The Office' can find the NBC sneak peek at the Niagara Falls wedding episode here. The episode airs Thursday at 9:00 PM on Channel 2.

-- Dave Valenzuela