 NBC claimed "intellectual property rights" on many of Lettermans  famous running gags and characters from his original show. As a  result, the character of "Larry Bud Melman" was retired (though the  actor remained with the show and appeared under his real name), and  such traditions as "Viewer Mail", "Stupid Pet Tricks", and the "Top  10 List" were simply renamed. This controversy was the subject of  much ridicule during the 1993