David Letterman finds humor in Palin uproar as protesters chant

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Even as protesters chanted outside, David Letterman started his ‘Late Show’ Tuesday with a Top 10 list making light of his current predicament.

The host has been under fire since last week, when he joked that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s daughter got ‘knocked up’ by New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez during a ball game. He also described Palin herself as looking like a ‘slutty flight attendant.’ The jokes sparked outrage among many Palin supporters and others, who said they demeaned women.

Palin in a statement Tuesday said she accepted Letterman’s apology offered during the show Monday night. The host’s sober message -- ‘I’m sorry about it and I’ll try to do better in the future,’ he said -- followed a more lighthearted attempt at amends last week.

But the governor’s acceptance didn’t stop several dozen protesters from gathering outside New York’s Ed Sullivan Theater, where ‘Late Show’ is taped. The event was organized by the group FireDavidLetterman.com.

‘We don’t believe there’s been any accountability at all here,’ said John Ziegler, a libertarian Los Angeles talk radio host who is serving as a spokesperson for the group. ‘We believe he’s benefited from this.’

Letterman, however, seemed determined to return to his usual brand of comedy. A taping for the Tuesday program included a bit entitled ‘Top 10 things overheard at the ‘Fire David Letterman’ rally.’

Among them: ‘We should have done this years ago,’ ‘Well, it was nice of CBS to provide the catering’ and ‘David who?’

-- Scott Collins