'Late Show With David Letterman' Demotes Comedy Booker After Comments About Female Comedians

NEW YORK - The Late Show With David Letterman has demoted its long-time comedy booker Eddie Brill after comments he made about female comedians in a New York Times profile, the newspaper reported.

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The paper said that the show is going back to sending staffers to scout comedians and then invite them to perform in showcases for a group of senior producers who will book select talent. Brill, who previously had the power to choose stand-ups for the late-night show, is expected to remain as a warm-up comedian for the show, according to the Times.

“There are a lot less female comics who are authentic," Brill had told the Times when asked why more male stand-ups made it to the Late Show. "I see a lot of female comics who to please an audience will act like men."

Some female performers criticized the comments. For example, the Times quoted the Facebook page of comic Elayne Boosler as saying that Brill “blocks access to the show & keeps the quality level down to boost himself.”

Comedian Lisa Lampanelli lauded Brill though for "always [being] a gentleman to me,” the Times said. She added that she would be disappointed if he lost his role as booker “over an opinion that’s pretty benign...If the show doesn’t like you, move on, who cares? You’ll always get on the show you’re meant to get on.”

The paper said that a spokeswoman for CBS declined to comment and that Brill wasn't immediately available for comment. But it said he later posted an online comment, saying: “It is time for me to accept the consequences of my printed words … and to learn from this. I apologize to all who have been affected by this.”

Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com

Twitter: @georgszalai