Just hours before CBS canceled “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” Jon Stewart talked about the uncertain future of “The Daily Show” if the planned Skydance–Paramount merger happens.
David Ellison’s Skydance Media is in the middle of buying Paramount, which owns both CBS and Comedy Central — the network where Stewart works. The $8 billion deal is still waiting for FCC approval more than a year after it was announced.
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Earlier this month, Trump and Paramount settled a lawsuit over a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris. As part of the settlement, Paramount agreed to pay Trump $16 million. Both Colbert and Stewart have openly criticized the deal.
Do you think Skydance would get rid of ‘The Daily Show’ after the merger goes through? Unfortunately, we haven’t heard anything from them. They haven’t called me and said, ‘Don’t get too comfortable in that office, Stewart.’ But let me tell you something, I’ve been kicked out of shittier establishments than that. We’ll land on our feet. I honestly don’t know.
On Thursday’s episode of his “The Weekly Show With Jon Stewart” podcast, a listener asked then Stewart responded
However, Stewart noted that “without ‘The Daily Show,’ Comedy Central is kind of like muzak at this point.”
I think we’re the only sort of life that exists on a current basis other than ‘South Park.’ But I’d like to think we bring enough value to the property, like if they’re looking at it as purely a real estate transaction, I think we bring a lot of value. But that may not be their consideration. I don’t know, they may sell the whole fucking place for parts.
he said
Skydance didn’t respond right away to Variety‘s request for comment.
We’ll deal with it when we do, but I’m so happy and proud of everybody that works [here]. If they want to do that, knock themselves out. We’ve all got a surmisal about who actually is owning it and what his ideology is, but ideology may not play a part.
However, Stewart ended his answer on a somewhat positive note, saying, after that Though he reiterated that he has “no knowledge” of the future, he referenced the Trump-praised Ellison in saying
Source: Variety