The Friday Link for 7/25/25

This is all about Colbert getting fired and the response afterwards. 

In case you missed it, Paramount, CBS's parent company, decided to give Stephen Colbert 10 months, and then they will cancel The Late Show. They say they are doing this to cut costs, but nobody believes this.  Paramount wanted to merge with Skydance, and since a public broadcast network was part of the deal, they needed the FCC to sign off on the sale. Trump was intentionally holding up the sale to get some concessions. They got CBS to fold on the Trump lawsuit against 60 Minutes, a lawsuit which no one thought Trump had ANY chance to win, and then, for a cherry on top of the sundae, Paramount killed Colbert in some sort of ritual sacrifice to get Trump's favor.

Everyone hates Paramount now.  There is a movement to get people to cancel their Paramount+ subscriptions and give the money to Public TV and radio. That's not a bad idea. 

Colbert's first show back after the firing was magical. The opening monologue was great, but it was this segment with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Weird Al Yankovic that took the cake. They play a Coldplay song, referencing that moment when that CEO got caught at the Coldplay concert having an affair on their 'Kiss cam.' A lot of great cameos, but it's the ending that is just pitch-perfect. 

David Letterman was equally as pissed off about the termination of The Late Show, a show he began 30+ years ago.  He, in solidarity with Colbert, released a video montage of him brutally taking down CBS over the years. 

What comes next is INCREDIBLY ADULT! Do not watch this video if you are easily offended or are under the age of 18. 

South Park got into the game, too.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park, had the brilliant season premiere on Wednesday, and they didn't pull any punches. South Park is one of the top-rated shows in the country, and they just made a deal with Paramount (they air on another Paramount property, Comedy Central) for 1 and a half billion dollars. They also have negotiated control over their show's content.  You knew this swipe was coming.

They basically dismantle the weakling that is Trump to perfection.  This clip is the end of the episode, but I HIGHLY encourage you to watch the entire episode to get a master class in dismantling the bully. 

I want to repeat, the end of this video is OH MY GOD!!!  You've been warned.  There is an age restriction on this clip, so you have to go see it on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Afetnw70S04

Have a great weekend.  Please stay up to date on all of your vaccinations!