People are still talking about The Daily Show showdown two weeks ago, in which Jon Stewart went head-to-head with CNBC’s Jim Cramer. In my opinion, Cramer got his ass handed to him by Stewart, and most non-NBC-affiliated people agree. But what, perchance, do NBC-affiliated people think of their golden boy Cramer being so thoroughly taken down?

NBC-Universal’s Chief Executive Jeff Zucker had a lot to say about it. He said that Jon Stewart was “completely out of line” and he basically claims that Stewart had made CNBC “the scapegoat” and that the financial network’s anchors and commentators were not responsible for what’s happened with the financial crisis. Zucker also came out with this gem: “Just because someone who mocks authority says something doesn’t make it so.” And just because someone with authority says it, doesn’t make it so. Reuters has more:

NBC Universal Chief Executive Jeff Zucker fired back at comedian Jon Stewart on Wednesday, saying it was “unfair” and “absurd” for the funnyman to criticize CNBC and question its coverage of financial news.

“Everybody wants to find a scapegoat. That’s human nature,” Zucker said during a keynote address at a media industry conference. “But to suggest that the business media or CNBC was responsible for what is going on now is absurd.”

“Just because someone who mocks authority says something doesn’t make it so,” Zucker said, describing the comedian’s comments as “completely out of line.”

Zucker’s comments are the latest salvo in a war of words with Stewart, who hosts the mock news program “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” on the Comedy Central cable television network owned by Viacom Inc. Stewart has blasted CNBC’s reporting of the financial market meltdown, saying the channel was too cozy with corporate chiefs and key government officials.

The comedian has lobbed particularly harsh criticism at CNBC commentator Jim Cramer, and last week invited him for an appearance on the comedy show, where he hammered the guest for his coverage of Wall Street.

Zucker, speaking at the McGraw-Hill Media Summit in New York on Wednesday, said that CNBC’s reporters and commentators had done a “terrific” job and the network remained a “go-to” place for financial news.

“It’s unfair to CNBC and to the business media in general,” Zucker said. “I don’t think you can blame what happened here on the business media.”

Speaking later at the same event, Viacom Chief Executive Philippe Dauman defended Stewart, among the top stars of his company’s Comedy Central network.

“He’s very smart and has a connection with the zeitgeist,” Dauman said when asked about he controversy. “Jon Stewart’s one of the few people on air who spoke to what people were thinking out there.”

[From Reuters]

Many have pointed out that during the “showdown”, Jim Cramer barely defended himself or CNBC. Cramer just came out with a bunch of mealy-mouthed excuses like “we could all do it better.” I hope the next showdown is between Jon and Jeff Zucker. That would be really fun.

Also, it’s interesting that Viacom’s Philippe Dauman stepped up to defend Stewart. I really think Viacom wants Jon Stewart to stay on the air as long as possible, no matter what it costs.