It happened again last night. I watched the 6 p.m. news, shut the TV
off and put the remote on the end table. My entire family went out
Christmas shopping. At about 8:30 my son picked up the remote to turn
on the TV and it was hot. The batteries were extremely hot. The
negative terminal was melted more than the original episode. Very
strange.

Obviously the thing is toast. Am now shopping for a new remote.
Probably will get a universal.