Former Letterman Writer Discusses "Hostile" Workplace

Nell Scovell, a former writer for the "Late Night Show with David Letterman" is speaking out in Vanity Fair about inappropriate sexual relationships maintained by Letterman and other male employees.

Scovell wrote for the show from 1982 through 1983, 34 episodes total, and in that time, she observed that female employees were "benefiting professionally" from sexual relationships with higher-ranking male employees.

Scovell hopes that by speaking out, she will encourage Letterman hire "qualified female writers and then treat them with respect," and Scovell pointed out that there are more women serving on the Supreme Court than on all of the late night show's writing staffs combined.

Since leaving the show, Scovell wrote for "The Simpsons," "Murphy Brown," and "Coach," and Scovell also created the successful teen television comedy "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch."

Letterman's company Worldwide Pants has not yet commented on Scovell's revelations in Vanity Fair, but so far, Letterman has dealt with the controversy head-on. Perhaps Scovell's story and his lack of female writers will make it into Letterman's opening monologue.