The late-night host vowed to repair his relationship with his wife, Regina Lasko, who, ironically, also used to work on Letterman's staff.

"Let me tell you, folks, I got my work cut out for me," said Letterman, according to an early transcript of the program released by CBS.

Last night's show was the first show taped by Letterman since Thursday, when he disclosed that he had had sexual relationships with women who worked for him, and that he had been the victim of an alleged $2 million blackmail threat.

Dave also apologized to his co-workers for the situation.

Later, Steve Martin played his banjo, which should not be interepreted as a sexual reference.

* Robert Halderman, the CBS producer accused of blackmailing Dave, used pages from his former girlfriend Stephanie Birkitt's diary that described an affair with the "Late Show" host, a law enforcement official confirmed yesterday.

Tattle tip: A good way to make a girlfriend a former girlfriend is by going through her diary.

Birkitt, 34, works on the "Late Show" and lived in Connecticut with Halderman until August. Halderman copied parts of her diary, which contained details of her affair with Letterman, and tried to use it as blackmail fodder, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

Birkett dumped Halderman in August and moved to Manhattan, to an Upper West Side co-op. Neighbors said that they did not know her well, although she did know her cuts of meat. They never saw Dave.

"She seems like an enigma," said Iris Rutkoski. "Nobody seems to know her in the building."

Cut her some slack, Iris, she's only been there two months. Tattle moved in August and we still haven't met one person who lives on our floor.

Halderman's attorney, Gerald Shargel, said yesterday that the charge against his client is "so obviously out of character to the point of not making any sense." Shargel said that Letterman manipulates audiences for a living and that to think he "gave the entire story and there's nothing more to be said is simply wrong."

CBS had no comment.

Andrews peeper freed

Erin Andrews was not alone.

Insurance executive Michael D. Barrett, the man accused of secretly making nude videos of the attractive ESPN sideline reporter, apparently uploaded videos of other unsuspecting nude women to the Internet, a federal prosecutor said yesterday.

But that didn't stop Barrett, 47, from being released on $4,500 bond. He was, however, ordered to wear an ankle monitoring bracelet, to adhere to a strict curfew and not to use the Internet.

No Facebook for you, Michael.

Barrett is due in U.S. District Court in L.A. on Oct. 23 to face federal charges of Interstate stalking. He is accused of trying to sell the videos to celebrity gossip site TMZ.