Meredith Vieira Gushes Over Shirtless Vladimir Putin

Meredith Vieira Gushes Over Shirtless Dreamboat Vladimir Putin (NewsBusters)

Is this how Stalin charmed New York Times reporter/Soviet apologist Walter Duranty?

Former "Today" show co-host Meredith Vieira has become the latest example of a prominent figure in American media with a weak spot for an autocrat ruling Russia. Vieira appeared last night on "Late Show with David Letterman" and described covering the Winter Olympics in Sochi for NBC.

Letterman told Vieira how he was impressed by the "enormity" of props that "appeared to be just flying" in the games' opening ceremonies, including four of five huge snowflakes opening to represent the Olympic rings, the fifth snowflake failing to open on cue.