Paramount’s try to accumulate Warner Bros. Discovery has late-night host Stephen Colbert questioning the logic behind the drastic transfer.
Earlier this week, Paramount’s CEO, David Ellison, made an unsolicited bid to take over Warner Bros. Discovery. The provide got here shortly after the studio struck a take care of Netflix. The settlement provides the streaming platform possession of Warner Bros. movie and tv franchises, in addition to HBO and HBO Max.
Netflix and WBD’s settlement is valued at $82.7 billion, translating to $27.75 per inventory. Paramount, nonetheless, upped the numbers with a brand new provide, elevating the numbers to $30-per-share, making its proposal to over $108 billion.
The surprising figures raised the eyebrows of many and caught the eye of Colbert. The late-night host supplied his opinion relating to Paramount’s unusual however daring transfer throughout The Late Present With Stephen Colbert, which is aired on the Paramount-owned community, CBS. He acknowledged throughout his monologue about how, if the studio had that type of cash to throw away, then they may positively afford to not cancel one in every of their greatest reveals and jokingly demanded that the studio deliver again The Equalizer.
Wow. I gotta say, if my firm’s obtained that type of inexperienced, I’m positive they’ll afford to un-cancel one in every of their greatest reveals. CBS, you heard the individuals — deliver again The Equalizer.
Again in July, CBS revealed that The Late Present could be cancelled after its present run (season 11), which can finish in Might 2026. The assertion was launched simply weeks earlier than Skydance formally acquired Paramount. The corporate blamed the choice on monetary points, saying this system loses the community round $40 million yearly.
Colbert went on to say that Paramount’s provide for WBD is backed by $24 billion from worldwide wealth funds in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. He sarcastically added that he was completely constructive that these contributions did not include any contingencies in any respect. The late-night host additionally joked that he was anticipating a brand new CBS present titled Younger Mohammed bin Sheldon.
And when the dictator of Saudi Arabia provides you billions of {dollars}, I’m positive there’s no catch. In a completely unrelated story, I’m wanting ahead to subsequent season’s new CBS hit comedy, Younger Mohammed bin Sheldon.
The Late Present With Stephen Colbert airs Mondays to Thursdays at 11:35 PM ET and eight:35 PM PT on CBS. The final episode of the collection will air in Might 2026.