text: Just when it was becoming possible to watch the “Late Show with David Letterman” without thinking about the host’s extortion scandal, the case is back in the news. 
   
   Robert “Joe” Halderman, the CBS news producer accused of attempting to extort $2 million from Letterman, is due to appear in a Manhattan court Tuesday for the first hearing in the criminal case against him. 
   
   Before even entering the courtroom, Halderman (who will likely appear, although Letterman probably won’t) was making news. 
   
   The New York Observer reported that since his Oct. 2 indictment, he’s raised $100,000 for his defense fund, which would seem to indicate that he won’t be taking any plea deal from the prosecution. If Halderman is found guilty of attempted grand larceny, he could face up to 15 years in state prison. 
   
   Tuesday's hearing will likely tackle the mundane issues involved with scheduling future proceedings, but don’t rule out some headline-making from Halderman’s attorney, according to NBC legal analyst Dan Abrams. 
   
   “The judge will address any legal issues in front of him, like what sort of evidence the defense is entitled to and when,” said Abrams. “In large part, however, they will assess what the broader legal questions are that need to be resolved and likely set dates for future proceedings. Watch for defense attorney Gerry Shargel, however, to continue his public assault on Letterman's character. He may also try to make it seem as if he wants to move forward with a trial whether that is true or not. So don't expect any grand revelations but based on the way Shargel has behaved already, I would not be surprised to hear some theatrics from the defense.” 
   
   What a week for Levi Johnston 
   
   Think that Levi Johnston’s Playgirl photo shoot is the most interesting thing happening to him this week? Think again. 
   
   On Wednesday, the father of Sarah Palin's grandson will receive Fleshbot’s “Crossover Star Award,” for being the biggest pop-culture star turned sex star. (Since you didn’t ask: Yes, the award itself is in the shape of a sex toy.) 
   
   Slideshow: Celebrity sightings 
   
   Fleshbot’s editor Lux Alptraum broke it down: “Levi's receiving a Crossover Award to honor the bravery and self confidence he’s displayed in making the leap from future son-in-law of the Republican VP candidate to Playgirl pinup — but yes, his abject sexiness was certainly a factor in our decision making process. It makes more sense to honor someone who we want to see naked, after all.” 
   
   And, it seems a “Saturday Night Live” appearance could be in the cards, too. In a tweet on Monday, Johnston wrote (spelling and grammar all his): “BREAKING NEWS !!!! SNL APPEARANCE THIS SAT . .. were you hear it first !!!” ||||| Joe Halderman, the CBS News producer accused of attempting to extort $2 million from CBS Late Show star David Letterman, will be headed to a Manhattan court on Tuesday morning for the first hearing in the criminal case against him. 
   
   Will Mr. Halderman, as it is widely assumed, try and reach a hasty plea agreement with prosecutors, beginning with Tuesday's motions hearing? 
   
   That's unlikely, according to a source close to Mr. Halderman. 
   
   Over the weekend, Dr. Bob Arnot, a friend and former colleague of Mr. Halderman, told The Observer that Mr. Halderman is currently planning to try and take the case all the way to trial. In a recent interview with Newsday's Verne Gay, Mr. Halderman's attorney Gerald Shargel likewise suggested that no plea agreement is in the works. 
   
   That's something of a surprise to those who have closely followed the case. 
   
   >>READ FELIX GILLETTE'S BACKSTORY ON THE LETTERMAN LOVE TRIANGLE 
   
   Ever since Mr. Halderman's initial October 1 arrest on charges of attempted grand larceny, it's been widely assumed that the troubled 48 Hours Mystery producer would quickly try to reach a plea agreement with prosecutors. 
   
   Those assumptions were based in part on widespread reports of Mr. Halderman's financial problems. Mr. Halderman was making roughly $214,000-a-year from CBS at the time of his arrest and owed roughly $6,000 a month in child-support payments to his ex-wife, while also holding a series of hefty mortgages. 
   
   How would Mr. Halderman pay for a lengthy defense? Would he want to? 
   
   Under such circumstances, a quick plea bargain would seem to be an attractive possibility. Similarly, the victim of the alleged extortion, David Letterman, would presumably love to avoid the massive amounts of attention that would come with a criminal trial. 
   
   But he may be out of luck. 
   
   Over the weekend, Mr. Arnot told The Observer that Mr. Halderman has already raised $100,000 for his defense, and is planning to meet with friends and advisers in the coming weeks to discuss other fund-raising possibilities. 
   
   "This lawyer is a real litigator," Mr. Arnot wrote via email, "and Joe is paying the full boat to go to trial." 
   
   More from Felix Gillette: 
   
   Letterman's Bizarre Late Night Love Triangle 
   
   Halderman Is a Guy's Guy, Sort of Like Vince Vaughn
target: – The man accused of trying to blackmail David Letterman has raised $100,000 for his defense fund ahead of tomorrow’s first hearing in the case, and some experts think Robert “Joe” Halderman won’t accept a plea bargain despite his reported money woes. “This lawyer is a real litigator,” a Halderman friend tells the New York Observer of Gerald Shargel, “and Joe is paying the full boat to go to trial.” Adds an NBC analyst: “Don’t expect any grand revelations, but based on the way Shargel has behaved already, I would not be surprised to hear some theatrics from the defense.”