John Oliver made fun of Paramount’s $110-111 billion purchase of Warner Bros. at the start of the most recent episode of Last Week Tonight. Discovery joked about getting a “new business daddy” in David Ellison. In the middle of HBO’s ownership problems, he joked, “How the f— do I get out of here?” On the air, the comedian has made fun of HBO parents like AT&T and Warner Bros. Discovery for a long time.
Paramount won the deal over Netflix after Warner Bros. Discovery chose not to match the offer, putting financial discipline first. The merger, which was announced around February 27, 2026, makes HBO’s assets, such as Oliver’s Emmy-winning show, more valuable. Leadership says it will respect brands, but experts are worried about creative freedom after the takeover.
Fans are worried that Last Week Tonight will be canceled because Oliver’s contract ends in 2026. They see it as a “stress test” for Paramount’s priorities. Some people think that Ellison might censor things, especially since Oliver is against Trump and has made fun of big media companies. Oliver says he will keep making fun of the people who own HBO.
