Stern came out in a ratty Santa beard and then took it off, but kept putting it back on and riding Dave for the whole show,

Some guys look good in a beard.

Dave ain't one of them.

All I can figure is that his wife is okay with it. Personally, I'd cut that thing off in his sleep.

the Letterman beard thing. He's just not a beard kind of guy for one. Any beard, neat or otherwise. Second, he looks like a street person who needs to get back on his meds. I agree with the person below who said that if she were his wife she would cut it off in his sleep.

Then I watched a "Beauty Pageant" he produced back in the 1990s.

He was doing interviews with the contestants.
One of them told him her mom had died the previous day, and he just made a stupid joke about it and then moved on to the next contestant.
What an asshole!

As far as Letterman's beard....who cares?
He'll be able to play Santa Claus for his favorite charity come Christmas time.