A new report from veteran media reporter Oliver Darcy suggests that the pending Skydance-Paramount merger could spell trouble for two of Donald Trump’s most high-profile critics: Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart.
Writing in his Status newsletter Tuesday night, Darcy revealed that with the deal expected to close in the coming weeks, conversations are already happening behind the scenes about the future direction of the company—and who might no longer fit in.
As we’ve reported, Stewart kicked off Monday night’s Daily Show with a fiery monologue slamming Paramount’s $16 million settlement with Trump, calling it “shameful.” But before he could finish, the show cut to a faux Arby’s ad—satirizing the idea that parent company Comedy Central might censor its own host. “Did they? Son of a bitch!” Stewart exclaimed, both playing along and acknowledging the moment’s discomfort.
Later in the episode, he brought on former 60 Minutes correspondent Steve Kroft, who described the settlement in no uncertain terms: “It was a shakedown.” Internally, Daily Show staffers reportedly saw Stewart’s decision to go directly at his corporate bosses as a point of pride—proof, as Darcy puts it, that he’s “willing to stand up to powerful interests, even if it potentially risks his future employment.”
That risk may be more than hypothetical. Darcy writes that “inside certain power circles, there is an open question: How much longer will Stewart have this platform?” With linear viewership (and thus ad revenue) shrinking, cutting him loose this December when his current contract expires could be painted as a cost-cutting measure, even if the politics are hard to ignore.
Colbert, who’s signed through 2026, presents a different kind of challenge. Not only is he CBS’s signature star, but he’s also the highest-rated host among the traditional broadcast late-night shows. That hasn’t stopped Trump from targeting him repeatedly, including last fall, when he called Colbert “not funny” and “very boring,” and demanded CBS “terminate his contract.”
Darcy reports that some in the industry believe the Ellisons might be receptive to that pressure, even if indirectly. “What better gift could [they] give Trump than to get rid of Colbert and Stewart?” one media insider told him.
So far, Skydance has maintained that its focus is strictly business, not politics. But as Darcy notes, “it is hard to separate the two.” The Trump-60 Minutes suit already cost two CBS News executives their jobs, and Trump has hinted at a side deal involving free public service announcements for causes he supports.
Within CBS, there’s reportedly a growing sense of unease. One insider told Darcy that top talent is now grappling with the question: “Do I want to keep doing this, knowing management won’t have my back?” Colbert, they noted, could easily walk away.
As Darcy points out, the Ellisons could cut costs and claim neutrality while effectively “silencing two of Trump’s loudest critics on the airwaves.” That possibility prompted LateNighter’s own Bill Carter to tell Darcy, “There’s never been a time when a political figure being treated humorously by comedians has exerted some sort of pressure to eliminate them. That would be a big-time statement about where we are in the country if anything like that happened.”
Read Darcy’s full report in Status.
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“With linear viewership (and thus add revenue) shrinking …”
The correct word is ad!
Thank you David, fixed!
If they “cancel” Colbert and Stewart, they capitulate to neo-fascism.
So sad. Colbert and Stewart can always change their style and skewer Democrats once in a while.
Always a chance they will try and unload Comedy Central and CBS and find a new owner.
They should move TDS exclusively to Paramount+ and out of Comedy Central.
The insufferable affluent liberal white viewership may actually subscribe to Paramount+ in order to be told how to think by their late night therapy hosts.
First of all, Colbert did regularly skewer Joe Biden. Second, if you ever watched Colbert you would know that dam funny, which is what a comedian is supposed to be. Is his fault that simply telling the truth about Donald Trump is hilarious?
Thank you! That guy aggravated the heck out of me with his cherry picked history condescension.
Regularly skew Biden? Colbert went after Biden’s dementia? LMAO.
I know liberals are delusional, but this is taking it to a new level.
ALERT: Cult Member Projecting.
First you say Colbert and Stewart don’t skewer Democrats, then you say Colbert went after Biden’s alleged “dementia.”
Is it finally sinking into that thick skull of yours why you’re such a fucking joke here?
And I’m sure you’ll come up with another one of your lame assed attacks against me, because you’re a fucking pathetic loser, bitchboy!
Victor the Retard – then you say Colbert went after Biden’s alleged “dementia.”
That was Michael saying that and it wasn’t alleged like YOUR retardation
I’m sure I’m going to take the advice of a retard that confuses “you’re” with “your” because you’re so fucking desperate to top anybody, that you end up looking like a fuckface!
Talking out your ass — never watched it, obviously
I watch Colbert on YouTube. If CBS fires him, I’ll still get content.
Good for you….except it wouldn’t be on any CBS Youtube account.
Andrew Tate is also on Youtube and gets far, far more viewers.
And the combined IQ of Tate’s audience – which you’re a part of – wouldn’t be enough to match your average Colbert viewer!
“There’s never been a time when a political figure being treated humorously by comedians has exerted some sort of pressure to eliminate them.”
Y’all forget the lessons of Richard Nixon. And here we are, condemned to repeat them…
liberals are hate filled trash
Trump should revoke CBS licenses
No Kings, Little Marky.
You’re a fucking retarded filth that projects like mad!
You deserve to be fistblasted to Kingdom Come for voting for fascism, bitch hole!
It seems that we are well under way toward life in a police state. If Paramount silences the voices of Colbert and Stewart it will certainly affirm that trend . In these dangerous times, we can’t afford to lose these voices. When many politicians and powerful people in our country are afraid to speak out against this administration, the voices of those who are brave enough to do so should be valued. As this article states, “There’s never been a time when a political figure being treated humorously by comedians has exerted some sort of pressure to eliminate them. That would be a big-time statement about where we are in the country if anything like that happened.” OUCH!
I agree!!
Totally agree.
Paramount got squeezed. I don’t know why they didn’t let it go to trial. There must have been something to their “time editing” they didn’t want to get out, or they just didn’t want the bad publicity from a long drawn out trial, or both.
Pretty much….all those emails from CBS News executives being extracted from deletion….would have shown collusion with Kamala’s campaign and the Democrat party.
Like with Dan Rather and John Kerry back in 2004.
Care to provide the evidence to that retard? And before you respond with “Google is your friend” let me remind you that the onus is on YOU to provide the evidence! And if you can’t, for whatever bullshit excuse you spew out, then your claims will be dismissed as bullshit, and you will be labelled a lying cunt!
Prime grade Trump cult bullshit right here. This person I’m responding to is literally just fabricating stuff out of their ass. “It would have shown collusion for sure!”. Yeah they literally just made that up.
they need trump approval for the merger that will be big for them so the settlement is tiny compared to merger.Its all about money as it always is.
This is an outrage!! Are we living in a fascist country now? Why don’t these greedy money hungry executives have the courage to stand up for freedom of speech. My god!!! I cannot stand this current government regime and Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert are two of the most important people in listen to. They give me hope and some relief from the horrors of our daily life under Trump. Someone (executives ) please wake-up and have integrity in what you represent .
trump is a joke and a moron. he calls EVERYONE names, no problem. This America, what happened to free speech!!
This is so ridiculous. This is goon style intimidation. How do we contact skydance and its owners to express our anger and frustration that they are totally missing their spines!!
Trump is in a position to demand NOTHING. This used to be a great country until he came along. Now we are a global laughing stock. When is congress going to grow a pair and fire the man (and i use the term loosely.) When is this government going to serve the people instead of themselves. Don’t count on getting re-elected this time or any other. All you career politicians belong in jail, not ruining America.
Just what the fuck can Democrats do? They have no power to stop Republicans in both the House and Senate, except talk about it, which seems to get people like you upset for no good reason!
Don’t blame Democrats for the mess America’s in! Blame the voters for being too fucking stupid and hate filled to know what the fuck they’re doing!
Darcy doesn’t seem to remember the Smothers Brothers and Johnson.
why are you giving tRump permission to become a true Dictator in Ametica? we are now like Germany 1938/39, they call them detention camps instead of concentration camps. please dont give him any more wrong power.
I hope not because these two men are the best in the late night arena. They both send me laughing loud. We have to be able to enjoy some humor. Everything must not be so serious that the Country is Sad! Please keep these two favorites going. Their jokes are Brilliant.
Well, I am here from the future to tell you the worst has happened. Colbert is out and I don’t think Jon will even want to stay if they let him. Better he quits pre-emptively and moves on to something else. No more Apple, no more network…