 O'Donnell worked on Letterman nearly since the show's inception.The Top Ten List was originally created during O'Donnell's time as head writer, and lists were written in collaboration with other staff writers on the show.According to O'Donnell, the Top Ten List was an "almost simultaneous inspiration arriving from staffers Jim Downey, Randy Cohen and Robert "Morty" Morton — largely prompted by the ridiculous 'eligible bachelor' lists in a local New York paper that included the 84-year-old Bill Paley.