Thursday's Late Show with David Letterman on CBS featured a “Top Ten” list announced by CNN anchor Kyra Phillips, who on Tuesday was caught with her microphone on in a CNN restroom talking over a speech by President Bush. See this NewsBusters item by Megan McCormack for a transcript and fun video. The #5 from Phillips on Letterman: “I was set up by those bastards at Fox News.” To watch video of her presentation from the stage of the Ed Sullivan Theater, go to the Late Show home page. Or, direct to the Late Show's “Big Show Highlights” page and click on the top video. Either way, the video is available only as a streaming (not downloadable) Real clip. (Text of full list follows)

As I transcribed from the August 31 Late Show with David Letterman, “Top Ten Kyra Phillips Excuses”

10. “Still haven't mastered complicated on-off switch”

9. “Larry King told me he does this all the time”

8. “How was I supposed to know we had a reporter embedded in the bathroom?”

7. “I honestly never knew this sort of thing was frowned upon”

6. “I couldn't resist a chance to win $10,000 on America's Funniest Home Videos”

5. “I was set up by those bastards at Fox News”

4. “Like you've never gone to the bathroom and had it broadcast on national television”

3. “I just wanted that hunky Lou Dobbs to notice me”

2. “Okay, so I was drunk and I couldn't think straight”

1. “You have to admit, it made the speech a lot more interesting”

—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center