Cramer boosts 'Daily Show' stock

Thursday night's "Daily Show" recession-era smackdown between host Jon Stewart and CNBC analyst Jim Cramer gave the Comedy Central quite the ratings boost. 

"The Daily Show" was seen by 2.3 million viewers and earned a 1.1 rating among adults 18-49, making it one of the top 10 most-watched episodes in the show's 13-year history.

The "weeklong feud of the century," as Stewart described the media volleys, has propelled "The Daily Show" to record heights in general recently, and for the second time this year -- the first record-setter was during Inauguration Week and, appropriately, even White House staffers were watching last night's fight.

Press secretary Robert Gibbs said he had spoken with President Barack Obama on Thursday about watching the Stewart-Cramer showdown.

"I forgot to e-mail and remind him that it was on, so I don’t know if he’s seen it," Gibbs said when asked by a reporter Friday. "I enjoyed it thoroughly."

The spokesman added: "Despite, even as Mr. Stewart said, that it may have been uncomfortable to conduct and uncomfortable to watch, I thought it was I thought somebody asked a lot of tough questions."

Stewart accused Cramer for trying to turn finance reporting into a "game." Stewart claimed CNBC shirked its journalistic duty by believing corporate lies, rather than being an investigative "powerful tool of illumination."

For his part, Cramer insisted on the show that he was devoted to revealing corporate "shenanigans." At one point, Cramer responded to Stewart’s plea for more levelheaded, honest commentary by saying: "How about I try that?" (With additional reporting by the AP)

PREVIOUS: Stewart vs. Cramer: In defense of CNBC

THE FULL INTERVIEW:

PART 1: 

PART 2:

PART 3:

PART 4: