AMERICANS love an underdog and public sympathy clearly is on David Letterman's side judging from the wild applause he's been getting lately.

No one likes the idea of extortion - even if the victim is as guilty as Letterman is of allowing his moral failings to jeopardize his professional and personal relationships. Besides, he didn't lie and has been so cool about apologizing.

"If you hurt a person and it's your responsibility, you try to fix it," Letterman said on air Monday night. "Let me tell you, folks, I got my work cut out for me."

There's no excuse for Letterman's cheating ways, but this is Letterman we're talking about - a professional comedian. CBS pays him to make people laugh.

So, he had affairs with women on his staff. Not very smart for a man in his position. And it's a pretty scuzzy thing to do. But that's between him and his wife.

So, could we all turn back to our regularly scheduled programs? We've already paid way too much attention to the Letterman sex scandal as it is. The allegations may have sparked all kinds of discussions about sexual harassment in the workplace, but until more details come out, it's unclear whether Letterman abused his power as host of the late-night TV show.

And even if he did, it's not as if Letterman's going to actually step down. That ain't happening. This is a late-night icon we're talking about.

So, in tribute to America's favorite wise guy, I've come up with my own Top-10 List for why we'll soon forget the David Letterman sex scandal of 2009.

10. Americans are suffering from an extreme case of sleaze fatigue.

9. It's not as if Letterman is a family- values-promoting governor who snuck off to Argentina on a five-day trip to rendezvous with his mistress.

8. He didn't get busted in an airport- bathroom sex sting and then blame it on his "wide stance."

7. None of the other employees he had affairs with have stepped forward or filed sexual-harassment lawsuits against him.

6. No photos have surfaced of any apparent love child the way they did with former presidential candidate John Edwards.

5. It's hard to judge a self-deprecating comic willing to stand onstage and poke fun at himself.

4. It's not as if Letterman's a governor who got caught paying a high-priced escort service for sexual services.

3. Letterman's alleged lovers were female staffers on his show and not male staffers to whom he'd given preferential treatment.

2. Sarah Palin is too busy getting ready to go on tour with her new book, "Going Rogue," to needle him.

And finally, the No. 1 reason you just have to respect Letterman even in light of all the low-down things coming out against him:

He didn't drag his longtime girlfriend-turned-wife onstage with him when he apologized on national TV.

Hey, guys, you could learn a thing or two from Dave.

Send e-mail to heyjen@phillynews.com. My blog: http://go.philly.com/heyjen.