Mass media conglomerate Warner Bros. Discovery is making like a Times Square baggage store and placing up a large signal: EVERYTHING MUST GO!
The troubled behemoth – and resentful dad or mum firm of NCS – has been pulled aside and stitched again collectively extra occasions than the Bride of Frankenstein. But now its rotting physique components are actually beginning to stink – and nepo-baby wunderkind David Ellison (chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance and son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison) sniffs a deal.
Over the previous 4 weeks, Paramount has reportedly made three gives to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery. On Tuesday, The Bros stated the firm is up on the market.
So, what does this imply for the House that Wolf Blitzer constructed – not to point out Anderson Cooper, Kaitlin Collins and Jake Tapper? Let’s simply say Kaitlin would possibly need to suppose twice earlier than snapping up one other Nantucket trip residence.
Trust me, I do know. I used to be there at the beginning of one other media phenomenon. No, not Barron Trump… MTV.
Ironically, Ellison’s firm already owns MTV. A community insider tells me that it is a query of when, not if, the model is shut down for good.
‘Everything is on the desk,’ my supply says, together with turning MTV into an all-streaming platform with zero cable actual property. Or the channel may be despatched to the nice TV junkyard in the sky, which might be completely heartbreaking.
I used to be at MTV throughout its 90s golden age, and the concept that one thing as soon as thought-about an American cultural establishment might go dark is unthinkable.
Nepo-baby wunderkind David Ellison (proper), chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance and son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison (left), sniffs a deal
So, what does this imply for the House that Wolf Blitzer constructed – not to point out Anderson Cooper, Kaitlin Collins and Jake Tapper?
MTV created moments that outlined a technology – and I used to be there for them, from Nirvana Unplugged (sure, that was me who yelled out ‘Rape Me’ when the band requested for requests) to slumber events with Nine Inch Nails and the Chili Peppers, to the MTV Beach House with bikini babes Jenny McCarthy and Daisy Fuentes.
It was a nonstop occasion that all of us assumed would go on perpetually. But by subsequent 12 months, MTV will have shut down 5 of its UK channels and – it appears to me – it is solely a matter of time earlier than these Skydance people do a jig on the channel’s grave.
Was this inevitable? Perhaps. But it actually did not want to be this manner for NCS. It is not for Fox News, which has pivoted energies to digital, streaming and podcasts (together with a pleasant present known as ‘Kennedy Saves the World’ which is an actual gem, I’m advised!).
In addition to serving present audiences, Fox News has additionally sought out new ones, whereas NCS has withered right into a little-watched parody of itself. Since final November’s election, half of NCS’s viewers has deserted them.
Was MTV’s destiny inevitable? Perhaps. But it actually did not want to be this manner for NCS
The anchors, hosts and bosses there obtained contaminated by Trump Derangement Syndrome and promised their viewers that the Bad Orange Man was unelectable. But they ended up driving their credibility straight off a cliff and it is unhappy that throngs of well-meaning journalists and producers could endure the penalties.
David Ellison has paid unorthodox editor Bari Weiss handsomely for her Free Press web site and invited her to remake the CBS newsroom (which he additionally now owns) in her picture.
Ellison is betting that she will proper the ideological wrongs which have tarnished the Tiffany Network. So, if he scores the WBD deal too, I’m extremely uncertain that he’ll fall again on the leftist Jeff Zucker/Don Lemon playbook at NCS. Or possibly Ellison swallows Warner Bros. complete however spits out NCS together with the pits. If so, the community will have to fend for itself in a quickly consolidating media trade.
Here’s the harsh fact: a lot as you may want your MTV, these media titans need a return on their funding.
Flying his freak flag
Alexander Skarsgard confirmed up to the ‘Pillion’ pink carpet final week in a white halter prime and leather-based pants so tight they almost confirmed off his Swedish meatballs.
But his subversive swimsuit was hardly the freakiest ensemble there.
He walked certainly one of his costars (dressed as a canine) on a leash.
Woof…
Alexander Skarsgard confirmed up to the ‘Pillion’ pink carpet final week in a white halter prime and leather-based pants so tight they almost confirmed off his Swedish meatballs
Nobody needs this
Kristen Bell just lately penned an anniversary tribute to hubby Dax Shepard: ‘Happy twelfth wedding ceremony anniversary to the man who as soon as stated to me: ‘I’d by no means kill you. A whole lot of males have killed their wives at a sure level.”
Fans flipped out and reminded her that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Well, Bell-Brains can prime herself throughout November’s Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.
‘Dear Dax, I forgot how a lot I really like you!’
Kristen Bell just lately penned an anniversary tribute to hubby Dax Shepard: ‘Happy twelfth wedding ceremony anniversary to the man who as soon as stated to me: ‘I’d by no means kill you. A whole lot of males have killed their wives at a sure level”
Forget about it!
Speaking of forgetful, Joe Biden’s former press flak Karine Jean-Pierre cannot appear to bear in mind what a senile catastrophe her outdated boss was.
She advised Stephen Colbert: ‘The man that I noticed almost every single day was somebody who was participating, understood coverage, and was at all times placing the American folks first.’
Yes, he put them first: proper after naps, ice cream and speaking to useless folks.
Freed Fraudster
Former drag queen and disgraced ex-congressman George Santos was sprung from the hoosegow thanks to President Donald Trump, who commuted his sentence final week.
After his launch, Santos took to X to thank family members, Trump and Jesus Christ.
Not since Washington crossed the icy Delaware river has a George been so relieved to make it to the different facet.
Face card declined
Kim Kardashian went full Kanye at the Academy Museum Gala final week when she utterly lined her face with what seemed like material fished out of the Skims dumpster.
Now their marriage is smart.
It was the blind main the blind.
Kim Kardashian went full Kanye at the Academy Museum Gala final week when she utterly lined her face with what seemed like material fished out of the Skims dumpster
Bone to decide
Another attendee in a nightmarish robe with husband issues was newly minted billionairess Hailey Bieber.
She had a corset so lengthy and unforgiving she could not sit throughout the festivities.
If solely she had Justin on a leash that tight, possibly he would not be such a public catastrophe.
She had a corset so lengthy and unforgiving she could not sit throughout the festivities
Face worth
Ashton Kutcher is boohooing about being too good wanting to be forged in critical function. ‘Sometimes it is irritating,’ he advised a New York Comic Con panel.
Apparently, it is by no means entered Ashton’s fairly little head that it is not his washboard abs which have held him again, it is his appearing.
Crapshoot
During the ‘No Kings’ protests final weekend, President Trump posted an AI-generated video of himself as a fighter pilot, sporting a crown, bombing feces over uber-lib protesters.
Cue the tiresome left reacting prefer it was napalm.
Calm down. Trolling can be protected speech.