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Top Ten list (David Letterman)

The Late Show Top Ten List is a regular segment of the television program The Late Show with David Letterman. It is adapted from Letterman's NBC show Late Night. On September 18, 1985, the very first list, "The Top Ten Things That Almost Rhyme With Peas" was broadcast. Contrary to popular belief, the list is compiled by the show's writing staff, and not Letterman himself, although he did write and read the Top Ten lists when the writers were on strike in 1988.

Topics

The lists are usually given humorous topics such as Top Ten Signs Your Kid Had A Bad First Day At School or Top Ten Rejected James Bond Gadgets

The CBS Web site also conducts a weekly "Top Ten Contest" on a particular topic (similar to the show), where viewers can submit their jokes and the top ten responses get posted on the Web site. These Top Ten lists, however, are not read on air. The contests continued through the 2007-08 Writers Guild of America strike while the show was on hiatus.

Background and origin

The Top Ten List was not originally a regular segment of Late Night, but was added as a way of mocking People magazine, which routinely featured such lists (as well as 'Worst 10' lists). Letterman had once made an off-hand remark on the show that he found the People lists to be annoying, and began his own lists as a way of ridiculing what had by then become an increasingly recurring trend in other periodicals and magazines. Ironically, the satirical Letterman Top Ten List had become so popular that it became a signature feature of the show, and at one point a series of compilations were released for sale in bookstores.

The switch from NBC to CBS

Before Letterman's departure for CBS, NBC had insisted that the "Top Ten List" was the intellectual property of the network, and demanded that it not be used on his new show. A loose compromise was reached where it would be renamed the "Late Show Top Ten List," although Letterman would soon simply refer to it once again as the "Top Ten List," with no repercussions.

The only significant modifications in the Late Show years have been the elimination of mentioning a "home office" (such as Wahoo, Nebraska or Grand Rapids, Michigan) and the addition of a computer-animated introduction and closing as well as background graphics. The list topics are also more frequently inspired by current, topical news and entertainment items, and have taken on less of the absurdist, random nature of its Late Night incarnation. This is a likely a contributing factor in the show's gradual discontinuation of the compilation books.

Presentation

The entries are read by Letterman in reverse, countdown order, and are accompanied by a drum roll performed by CBS Orchestra drummer Anton Fig. The conclusion of the list is then followed by a brief performance by the band, usually a pop song relating to the topic of the list in some way (a common example being Michael Jackson's "Bad" being played after a list such as "Top Ten Signs You've Hired a Bad Accountant"). Sometimes the song chosen by bandleader Paul Shaffer relates to the list in such an obscure manner that Letterman will inquire about it.

Letterman makes no effort to hide any displeasure when reading a subpar list, usually provoked by tepid audience response. He will often tease the audience by threatening to not complete the list, but is often rebuked by playful protests from the audience and Shaffer.

Occasionally the list is given by a guest presenter (such as John Malkovich reading "Ten Things That Sound Creepy When Said by John Malkovich"). At times the list has also been given by a series of presenters, with each providing one entry (such as the 2000 list for "Ten Things I've Always Wanted to Say to Dave", presented by a group that included Rudolph Giuliani, Cindy Crawford, and Dave's mom).

Two animated characters thus far have recited a Top Ten list on the show: Homer Simpson and Peter Griffin.

Perhaps to break the monotony of daily list, the show will occasionally add a twist to the presentation, sometimes by altering the nature of the list itself. One notable example occurred on November 27, 2001. Introduced as "Top Ten Ways Osama bin Laden Can Improve His Image," the list consisted of only one entry: "#10: There's no way he can improve his image. He's a murdering, soul-less asshole."

A common source of confusion regarding the Top Ten List is why the #1 entry is usually seen as the least funny. This even inspired the Late Show to run a pre-taped bit in 1998, humorously exploring the apparent mystery, and to mention it again on December 29, 1999, when the list "Top Ten Phrases That Were Not Spoken This Millennium," included the #1 entry of, "Why is the number one always so damn funny?" The most sensical explanation is merely that because upon its completion, the list is followed by audience applause and the band performing, so any significant laughter provoked by a particularly funny #1 entry would essentially be cancelled out.

Since 2007, the usual Top Ten list becomes the Top Twelve list when NASCAR has its Media Day in New York before the start of the Chase for the Sprint Cup. The Media Day gig includes the twelve playoff contenders reading each one line of the twelve on the show.

Letterman's Top Ten List is syndicated as a short-form feature, along with several other late-night shows, to radio stations across the country by Westwood One.

Sometimes the list would be long if video clips are incorporated such as "Top 10 Bush Moments" and the music store featuring Jack Black, where number one simply has him reciting a verse for a minute.

Letterman's June 13, 2008 Top Ten List was promoted by Letterman during the show but was not aired as scheduled.

Home offices

Cities that have been the supposed source of the Top 10 list include:

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Lincoln, Nebraska

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The first Late Night with David Letterman home office

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Omaha, Nebraska#

Liverpool, England

Used during David Lettermans London shows in 1995

Oneonta, New York

The last office from the Late Night with David Letterman show

Sioux City, Iowa

Was a home office primarily to make fun of its CBS television station KMEG, who refused to air The Late Show with David Letterman for months after it debuted in 1993.