Welp, the Paramount bribe worked. Is this the beginning of the end of CBS?

Therese Odell

1 year ago

POLUGHTICS

~~Now that President Shakedown has been paid off~~ The FCC has given its blessing for the Paramount/Skydance merger to go through, and Paramount is now owned by the son of the second-most-wealthy man in the world. Cool.

The lone Democratic FCC Commissioner, Anna M. Gomez, has some thoughts about the merger: “The Paramount payout and this reckless approval have emboldened those who believe the government can—and should—abuse its power to extract financial and ideological concessions, demand favored treatment, and secure positive media coverage. It is a dark chapter in a long and growing record of abuse that threatens press freedom in this country. But such violations endure only when institutions choose capitulation over courage. It is time for companies, journalists, and citizens alike to stand up and speak out, because unchecked and unquestioned power has no rightful place in America.“

BREAKING NEWS: Trump’s government just approved Paramount’s merger with Skydance.

Sure looks like they paid Donald Trump $36 MILLION for this merger.

Bribery is illegal no matter who is president. pic.twitter.com/DE7LPRjT6X

— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) July 24, 2025

All puffed up on his power from that Paramount deal, that asshole Brendan Carr, the FCC Commissioner, is threatening The View now.

And some shithead conservative group is calling for the FCC to “investigate” late-night’s “ideologically one-sided” viewpoints. I don’t know, maybe people enjoy laughing at fascists.

The South Park guys on THAT episode:

‘South Park’ creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone kept it short and sweet with their deadpan response to the reaction over last night’s very topical Season 27 premiere | #SDCC 2025 pic.twitter.com/vccHPfjhkz

— Deadline (@DEADLINE) July 25, 2025

Also, Comedy Central wanted to blur President Microdick’s penis in the South Park episode, so Parker and Stone gave it googly eyes instead, turning it into a character. Brilliant.

As for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert:

The musicians’ union that represents The Late Show band had some thoughts:

The cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert without clear explanation is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about the broader implications for free expression and artistic freedom.

Live music has been an integral part of late-night shows for decades – serving as a vital platform for musicians to reach audiences, showcase their artistry, and participate in cultural dialogue. Colbert’s cancellation threatens not only the livelihoods of the world-class musicians who perform on the show, it also undermines the fundamental principles of free speech and creative expression that are cornerstone values of our industry and our nation.

We need to be very honest about what’s happening here: the President of the United States himself has said he hopes he played a role in the decision, and has warned NBC and ABC that their late night hosts are next.

This is why it is vital for NBC and ABC to state, loudly and clearly, that they will not allow themselves to be similarly intimidated. Now, more urgently than ever, is a time for courage, not cowardice.

CBS’s decision is about much more than just a late night talk show. When an administration tries to silence criticism and dissent by asserting its power, we all need to take notice.

When censorship is used as a tool to quash free speech, we must stand up together. What’s happening now is not only wrong, it goes against what we must stand for as a nation.

Local 802 stands by our members and also in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in labor who work on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. We will take whatever steps are necessary to protect our workers.

Sanda Oh literally cursed everyone involved.

The AV Club looks at the numbers and suggests that canceling The Late Show, dismantling CBS News’ journalistic integrity, and pushing CBS further right might just be CBS’s death knell.

Pajiba explains how The Late Show with Stephen Colbert can be the highest-rated late-night talk show and still lose money (spoiler alert: it’s because he’s political and advertisers are allergic to political material). But Lainey Gossip points out that history is not going to remember this cancelation as being anything but political, regardless of the financial realities.

Anyway, don’t let any of this distract you from the fact that President Cankles is in the Epstein Files and is desperate for you to think about anything else.

Here’s A BUNCH OF TV News

View on Threads

Yes, that was Andy Cohen in And Just Like That … and he was reprising a role from Sex and the City.

View on Threads

If The Daily Show survives, they should give some serious thought to hiring Josh Johnson as the full-time host; he killed it this week.

Dan Akyroyd explains that he didn’t attend the SNL 50th anniversary special, because he’s such a fan that he wanted to watch it at home, uninterrupted. And I get it — I do not go to watch parties for shows I actually like or for sports events that I care about for the exact same reason. DON’T TALK TO ME.

Cable TV is dying.

The NFL is looking into taking a 10% ownership of ESPN, and in return, ESPN would take control of NFL Network and NFL RedZone.

Personally, I think “Do it, lady!” and “Black purse” are pretty funny, but the rest don’t do much for me. Also, I think all of these people in the Chit videos owe Will Forte some residuals.

Wow they always go in threes: Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Ozzy Osbourne, and Chuck Mangione and absolutely no one else

— Paul F. Tompkins (@pftompkins.bsky.social) 2025-07-24T16:59:19.489Z

Renewals

Days of Our Lives has been renewed for a 63rd season on Peacock.

Cancellations

Resident Alien has been canceled at USA and Syfy after four seasons. The creator says they knew this was likely to be the final season and the finale will be “satisfying,” but that he’s open to reviving the show if another network is interested.
The Legend of Vox Machina will end with the fifth season on Prime Video.
E! News is being canceled (again) at E! after 25 seasons.
PBS’s Emmy-winning documentary series on American history, American Experience, is being put on pause thanks to the Republicans killing funding to PBS.

In Development

Eternally Yours, a vampire comedy from the creators of Ghosts, has been given a pilot order at CBS.
Christmas Above the Clouds, starring Erin Krakow and Tyler Hynes, is in the works at Hallmark.
The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife is being adapted at Netflix.
A SideKicks animated adaptation is in the works.
A Murder She Wrote movie starring Jamie Lee Curtis is apparently in the works.

Casting News

Faly Rakotohavana, Ava Jean, Sarah Bock, Daniel Di Tomasso, and Jack Cutmore-Scott have joined the Buffy reboot at Hulu.
Levi Chrisopulos and Olive Abercrombie have been cast in Percy Jackson and the Olympians on Disney+.
Keith David, Kenneth Choi, Ki Hong Lee, and Tai Leclaire have been added to the voice cast of King of the Hill on Hulu.
Mark Strong, Alan Cumming, Tim McGraw, Anika Noni Rose, Ming-Na Wen, Auli’i Cravalho, Rahul Kohli, Robbie Daymond, and Jonathan Frakes will all guest star in The Mighty Nein on Prime Video.

Mark Your Calendar

Percy Jackson and the Olympians returns on Disney+ on December 10.

NCIS: Tony & Ziva debuts on Paramount+ on September 4.

How Did They Build That? returns on Smithsonian on July 27.

Honest Renovations returns on HGTV on August 14.

The Braxtons returns on We TV in October.

Songs From The Hole will debut on Netflix on August 13.

Stolen: Heist of the Century will debut on Netflix on August 8.

Solar Opposites returns on Hulu on October 13.

Tell Me Softly will premiere on Prime Video in December.

King & Conqueror will premiere on BBC soon.

In the Mud will debut on August 14 on Netflix.

The Mighty Nein will premiere on Prime Video on November 19.

The Legend of Vox Machina will return on Prime Video in 2026.

Eyes of Wakanda debuts on Disney+ on August 1.

Mononoke The Movie: Chapter II – The Ashes of Rage will premiere on Netflix on August 14.

Hazbin Hotel will return on Prime Video on October 29. Helluva Boss will premiere on September 10.
Final Destination: Bloodlines will debut on HBO Max on August 1 and on HBO on August 2.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy returns on Paramount+ in 2026.

R.I.P.

Chuck Mangione, Grammy-winning jazz musician and voice actor on King of the Hill

Budd Carr, Musician, music supervisor in film and TV, and music agent

Jules Walter, Pioneering British actor who appeared in The Wild Geese, James Bond: A View to a Kill, Doctor Who, Blake’s 7, and The Professionals

Henri  Szeps, Australian actor known for the sitcom Mother and Son

Michael Ochs, Pop culture photo archivist

WATCH THIS

FRIDAY

Happy Gilmore 2: Nearly 30 years later, Happy’s back. Netflix

Monster Island: Two soldiers on opposite sides of World War Two must help each other to survive a monstrous predator. Shudder

SATURDAY

Death of a Unicorn: Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega star as a father and daughter who accidentally run over and kill a unicorn on their way to a weekend retreat. 7 p.m., HBO, Max

Network: Nearly 50 years later, we’re still mad as hell and not going to take it anymore. 8:45 p.m., Turner Classic Movies

SUNDAY

In the Eye of the Storm: The second season premiere will focus on the 2024 Texas Derecho that smacked Houston, the strangest weather event I’ve ever experienced. 9 p.m., Discovery

Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time: In keeping with the weather theme, this limited series follows one of the most devastating natural disasters to ever hit the United States, and reshaped the Gulf Coast. Premiere. 7 p.m., National Geographic

FRI.

7:00

7:30

8:00

8:30

9:00

9:30

ABC

Celebrity Jeopardy!
(repeat)

20/20

CBS

Big Brother
(new)