John Oliver Slams Paramount Amid HBO Takeover Concerns

John Oliver didn’t hold back on Sunday’s Last Week Tonight as he addressed HBO’s looming corporate shake-up. With Paramount Skydance’s successful bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), HBO’s parent company, Oliver joked about getting a new “business daddy” and questioned the future of his show.

A New Corporate Owner

Paramount Skydance’s $31-per-share cash deal for WBD is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026. The acquisition includes HBO, CNN, and other linear networks. Netflix had previously considered matching the bid but ultimately backed out, calling the deal “no longer financially attractive.”

Oliver’s Sharp Commentary

Oliver opened his March 1 episode with biting humor. “It turns out we might be getting a new business daddy,” he said. “Yeah, not great news. In fact, if I may quote anyone who’s ever accidentally sat on their Roku remote, ‘Oh s, I’m in Paramount now, how the f do I get out of this?’”

Later in the show, while discussing police body camera footage, Oliver quipped, “There’s no point in the police just stacking up thousands of hours of footage that no one’s ever going to see. Especially given that we all know that that is Paramount+’s job.” He then added, “Hey, what are they gonna do? Take us over and immediately cancel us? I’m genuinely asking.”

Past Remarks on Paramount

This isn’t the first time Oliver has mocked Paramount’s interest in WBD. Last year, he criticized the company’s bid and joked, “Please stay the f** away from us. You are not my real business daddy, and you never will be!” He also commented on Paramount CEO David Ellison’s hiring of Bari Weiss at CBS News, suggesting the move “isn’t ideal” for HBO’s future.

What’s Next for HBO?

While Oliver’s jokes highlight the uncertainty, the merger raises real questions about HBO’s programming under new ownership. Fans worry about potential cancellations or shifts in creative direction. For now, Oliver continues to use his platform to spotlight the absurdities of corporate consolidation — even when it involves his own network.