Letterman needles Murdoch with Top 10

NEW YORK, July 20 (UPI) -- David Letterman ribbed embattled media mogul Rupert Murdoch with a special Top 10 list on "Late Show" in New York.

Murdoch, the 80-year-old head of News Corp., has come under fire for his company's allegedly unethical practices in newsgathering. His newspaper News of the World was shuttered this month amid allegations its reporters tapped phones and recorded the conversations of subjects without their permission. Murdoch apologized for his subordinates' phone-hacking but denied direct knowledge.

His testimony about the scandal at a hearing before the British Parliament was interrupted Tuesday when a protester hit him in the face with what appeared to be a pie.

The attacker was quickly taken away by police.

Letterman read the list of "Things that Went Through Rupert Murdoch's Mind During the Pie Attack" on Tuesday's edition of his CBS talk show.

It read as follows --

10. "Hey, free pie!"

9. "This would have made a great cover for 'News of the World.'"

8. "How did he get past the pie detector?"

7. "A pie fight in Parliament -- what is this, Benny Hill?"

6. "Duh, winning."

5. "I was punk'd -- wait is 'Punk'd' still on the air? Who writes this stuff?"

4. "Mmm tasty."

3. "You know what was funny -- remember that smoking baby?"

2. "Don't pie me, bro!"

1. "It's the same guy who broke into Letterman's theater."