Uh, You Know, Zucker Defends CNBC, Cramer

NBC czar Jeff Zucker's rival at CBS Viacom is defending Jon Stewart's reaming of CNBC's Jim Cramer after Zucker whined it "was incredibly unfair." "Completely out of line."

The rivals appeared at the McGraw-Hill Media Summit in NYC Wednesday.

Zucker: "I put my law school plans on hold. That's a nice way of saying I didn't get in."
BusinessWeek: "I was just trying to be polite."
Zucker: "I'm cool with it."
BusinessWeek: "I just feel I have to ask you what you thought about Jon Stewart -- "
Zucker: "Who?" ... CNBC is a spectacular organization... Everybody wants to find a scapegoat... I'm upset that my 401K isn't what it was.... we all want to blame somebody... CNBC has done a fantastic job... in particular, you known, Jim Cramer, uh, was out in front on two days I remember vividly... I'm incredibly proud of the job they have done."

He says "uh" and "you know" more than I care to count. Zucker denies CNBC's ratings have gone down because of the Stewart/Cramer imbroglio. "When there's a lot of red on the screen, uh, historically people don't want to watch that. Ratings are only one measure you think of CNBC... Historically those have led to periods of lesser ratings. That is absolutely not the case this time... the ratings continue to rise... "

Zucker: "Just because uh, someone mocks authority doesn't make it so. The audience has been there in very strong number in the past seven days..."

BusinessWeek: "I bet you're not putting Cramer on Jon Stewart anytime soon."

Zucker: "That will be up to Jim Cramer."

Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman: "Jon Stewart is a great person and he's very smart and has a connection with the zeitgeist which makes him successful. It got so much attention because Jon Stewart was one of the few people on air that spoke to what people are thinking out there. He did a great job and we're proud to have to have him as part of our family."