US EditionJohn Oliver Slams Paramount Amid HBO Takeover & Fears Show Might Get Canceled
John Oliver criticized Paramount Skydance's $31 per share bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, fearing it may lead to cancellations on his HBO show Last Week Tonight.
- Sunday | March 1, 2026, John Oliver mocked his potential new bosses on Last Week Tonight, asking `Please stay the f** away from us` and if they would `Take us over and immediately cancel us?`
- On Thursday, February 26, 2026, Netflix announced it would not match Paramount Skydance's bid for WBD, calling the deal no longer financially attractive.
- Oliver used a surreal gag about sitting on a Roku remote, saying `Oh s***, I'm in Paramount now, how the f*** do I get out of this?` and joked police body‑camera footage is `Paramount+'s job`.
- Amid earlier coverage in September 2025 and October 2025, Oliver flagged concerns and linked current worries to Paramount CEO's hiring of Bari Weiss at CBS News, saying it 'isn't ideal.'
- Looking toward the near future, the timetable places closure in Q3 2026, with the deal covering all WBD properties at $31 per share in cash.
23 Articles
23 Articles
What Does Paramount-WBD Deal Mean for HBO's John Oliver and Bill Maher?
Last week, we discussed the implications of Paramount’s planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery for live sports. In short, the deal would give Paramount arguably the strongest live sports portfolio in the industry.Today, we turn to what the deal could mean for HBO’s two late-night political shows, "Real Time with Bill Maher" and "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver."During a Monday investor call, Paramount CEO David Ellison said the company…
After Netflix withdrew from the long bidding war, Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery agreed to an acquisition. WBD will change hands for $31 per share. David Ellison, CEO of Paramount, confirmed the details in a conference call on Monday... (See also: Paramount plans merger of HBO Max and Paramount+)
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