MSNBC is firing back over the lead item in today's Page Six headlined, "Cable Guys Lust for Tim's Job." The story claims Chris Matthews "seemed to be plotting" for Russert's job, while Keith Olbermann, according to an insider, was "threatening to quit if he isn't installed as Russert's replacement."

A rep for MSNBC told the Post, "All of this is utterly untrue." An network insider tells TVNewser, "Page Six never lets the facts get in the way of the lies they want to tell. This story is complete bullshit. They took comments Chris was making, asking for advice on a speech he was to give next week and took that to somehow be about Tim. It's such bullshit"

Interestingly, Tom Brokaw joked about the future of Meet the Press at the start of Russert's memorial service Wednesday. "The largest contingent of all in this room," Brokaw said, "those who think that they should be his successor on 'Meet the Press.'" The line got a lot of laughs and a round of applause.

• More: NBC News SVP Phil Griffin responds to TVNewser: "It's outrageous and it's so disgusting and it's so disrespectful of Tim's memory that Page Six would use his memorial as an occasion to slam MSNBC and NBC News."

• Earlier: Olbermann names Page Six WPitW...