COURIC ROASTS ZUCKER

Katie Couric was among the celebrities taking potshots at her onetime boss, NBC President Jeff Zucker, at a Frank Stanton Award luncheon in New York Monday that actually turned out more nearly to resemble a Friars Club roast. Alluding to Rick Sanchez’s recent remarks that got him fired from CNN, Couric said that Zucker is “living proof that Jews may control the media, but that doesn’t mean they’re good at it.” Under Zucker, NBC has plummeted in the ratings from first- to third-place. Said Couric, “He showed me that being in third place really isn’t that bad.” Couric was followed by NBC anchor Brian Williams, who noted that it was appropriate that Zucker should receive an award named after the man who headed CBS-TV in its formative years. “Jeff has so much in common with Frank,” said Williams, “a competitive spirit, strong work ethic and, of course, both were instrumental in turning CBS into a ratings powerhouse.” When Alec Baldwin, who co-stars in NBC’s 30 Rock sitcom, appeared on the podium, he commented, “I can’t believe that Katie Couric and Brian Williams are the funniest people at this lunch.”