TV chief jailed

THE former CBS television producer who tried to blackmail David Letterman has started a six-month jail term, closing a case which exposed the chat show host’s behind-the-scenes behaviour to public scrutiny.

Robert “Joe” Halderman, 52, did not speak before he was led from a Manhattan court in handcuffs to begin his sentence, which will be followed by 1,000 hours of community service. He agreed to both when he pleaded guilty in March to attempted grand larceny.