Colbert Mocks Paramount Skidance Merger Following Show Cancellation
Late-night host Stephen Colbert took aim at the merger between Paramount and Skydance on Monday, sharing his thoughts humorously after news broke that his show would not be renewed by the network.
“I’m really excited about the new stock ticker names for Paramount Skydance,” Colbert remarked. He likened the potential success of PSKY to that of the hit show “Yellowjackets,” stating it might become a “warm entertainment pitcher.”
Colbert’s contract is set to expire in May 2026, which comes after a settlement reached with Paramount’s President, Donald Trump. This was reportedly tied to an edited interview from a “60 Minutes” segment featuring Trump and then-President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign.
Colbert didn’t hold back when addressing the president directly. Trump had been vocal about his displeasure with networks like NBC and ABC, making pointed critiques. Colbert responded light-heartedly, noting that it started with CBS, and now Trump seems to be targeting ABC and NBC too.
In a twist, Trump’s remarks included a jab about ratings, mentioning NBC’s drop of nearly 28% in viewership this year. He remarked on the poor programming and management of these networks and criticized the “fake news” associated with them.
Colbert, responding to Trump’s comments, added a humorous challenge to fellow hosts, saying, “For all PSKYs, the water is warm.” He didn’t shy away from expressing his feelings, even telling Trump to “go f–k yourself” after the cancellation announcement came to light.
Trump, on July 17th, expressed what seemed like glee about Colbert’s situation on Truth Social, saying that Colbert’s talent was overrated. Colbert quipped back the following week, asking, “What dare you, sir?”
Before the cancellation, Colbert had alleged that Paramount took “a big fat bribe” from Trump. He suggested that such financial dealings with government officials might be legally referred to as a “big fatty courier,” implying that the network was trying to gain favor with Trump’s administration in hopes of selling to Skydance.
