‘We are so in love': Singer Joss Stone announces birth of fourth child
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NBC News
3 days ago
- NBC News
'South Park' mocks Paramount's settlement with Trump after creators sign $1.5B deal
Paramount announced Wednesday afternoon that the creators of 'South Park' had agreed to produce 50 new episodes over the next five years in a deal reportedly valued at $1.5 billion. Ten hours later, 'South Park' creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker excoriated Paramount — and aggressively skewered President Donald Trump — in the premiere episode of the Comedy Central show's 27th season. In the episode, Trump (voiced by Stone) sues the town of South Park for $5 billion after they push back on Jesus Christ's presence in their elementary school. The townspeople are prepared to fight back, but Jesus Christ (also voiced by Stone) urges them to settle. 'You guys saw what happened to CBS? Yeah, well, guess who owns CBS? Paramount,' Jesus Christ says at the episode's climax. 'Do you really want to end up like Colbert?' Paramount is under intense scrutiny for appearing to kowtow to the Trump administration ahead of a proposed blockbuster merger. Stone and Parker were clearly riffing on their corporate parent's eventful summer. On July 2, Paramount agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit from Trump, who alleged that CBS' '60 Minutes' had deceptively edited an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. CBS denied that claim. On July 17, CBS announced that it planned to cancel 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' in May, calling the move 'purely a financial decision.' But many of Colbert's fans cried foul, arguing that the comedian was being penalized for his years of anti-Trump humor. Both developments came as Paramount is preparing to be sold to Skydance Media, an entertainment production and finance company headed by David Ellison, the son of Oracle mogul (and Trump ally) Larry Ellison. The corporate tie-up requires federal approval. The premiere episode, titled 'Sermon on the 'Mount,' took aim at other satirical targets, including the supposed death of 'wokeness,' the rise of ChatGPT and the debate over Christian teachings in public schools. Trump and Paramount were the focal points, however. In one scene, '60 Minutes' reports on the social unrest roiling South Park amid Trump's lawsuit. The fictional hosts of the news show are visibly nervous as they introduce the segment, going out of their way to praise the president as 'a great man.' 'We know he's probably watching,' one of the hosts says. CBS is not the only network to reach a legal settlement with Trump. ABC agreed to pay $15 million as part of a settlement with Trump a month before he took office, effectively ending a case concerning alleged defamation. Paramount's settlement with Trump has drawn more attention, though. Colbert, three days before CBS announced the end of his show, blasted the arrangement as a 'big fat bribe.' Jon Stewart, the host of Comedy Central's 'The Daily Show,' also assailed the deal. Paramount owns CBS, a venerable Hollywood movie studio, a suite of cable brands (including Comedy Central) and the Paramount+ streaming platform. 'South Park' is widely known for jabbing politicians and social trends across the ideological spectrum. But the latest episode's depiction of Trump arguably went further than usual. Stone and Parker depict Trump as a petulant child, recycling the animation style they used for Saddam Hussein in the 1999 film 'South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.' They also make profane references to the president's anatomy. 'Sermon on the 'Mount' closes with an apparently AI-generated video of Trump wandering in a desert and removing his clothes.
Time Out
7 days ago
- Time Out
Revealed: The five most popular food and drink items Sydneysiders are ordering at the pub
Sydney's home to many cracking pubs – ones that bring people of all walks of life together over good times, cold ales, Sunday roasts, cheap, mid-week steaks, trivia and sunny beer gardens. But what are we all frothing on? A recent report by Tyro Payments – the team behind those handy EFTPOS machines – has revealed the top five most popular food and drink orders by Aussies. And it turns out we can't get enough of Sabrina Carpenter's boozy drink of choice, the Espresso Martini, and golden, crunchy, often-as-big-as-the-plate chicken schnittys. A high-octane cocktail made from espresso, coffee liqueur, vodka and simple syrup, Espresso Martinis are rocket fuel for a big night out. Fast-paced steakhouse Alfie's in the CBD does a spiced, creamy riff on the classic, pairing vodka and coffee with miso, custard and nutmeg. Over in Chippendale, Bar Freda's is serving a Frozen Espresso Martini with coffee tequila, salted caramel, cold brew and dairy-free whip (yum). And Uncanny Newtown – winner of Time Out Sydney's People's Choice Award 2025 for Best Bar – is shaking up a bright, citrusy take with rum, coffee liqueur, vanilla and orange bitters. As for schnittys, a few of my favourites include the one at The Bat & Ball, where the retro Redfern boozer serves chicken brined and crumbed in ancient grains, paired with a buttery mash and KFC-style gravy. Una's – an Austrian, German and Hungarian go-to in Darlinghurst – serves a massive schnitzel that ticks the crisp, juicy and downright huge boxes. And Corner 75 in Randwick is once again reeling in fans for its excellent, whopping schnitty. The report, which analysed more than 30 million food and drink orders over the past five years, shows that alongside chicken schnitzels, Aussies are also ordering parmys, steak sandwiches, Margherita pizzas and fish and chips like there's no tomorrow. As for what drinks we're ordering most at the pub, following in the footsteps of the Espresso Martini are Coronas, Aperol Spritzes, Margaritas and pints of Byron Bay's holiday-coded Stone & Wood Pacific Ale. Other interesting insights from the report include this: staying home doesn't save you as much money as you'd think – Aussies spend an average of $90 a week on takeaway and streaming services. (If you're looking to save money, our handy guide to Sydney's top affordable eats may help.) And 35 per cent say they're less likely to buy a round for mates now compared to a year ago. We all know someone who magically disappears when it's their round – don't be that person. The most popular pub food and drink orders for Aussies are: Drinks Espresso Martini Corona Aperol Spritz Margarita Stone & Wood Pacific Ale (pint) Food Chicken schnitzel Chicken parmigiana Steak sandwich Margherita Pizza Fish and chips If you're keen to read more, check out Tyro's Eat Pray Love Report here. As for me? I'm off for a parmy and a pint of Stone & Wood. These are the best pubs in Sydney right now. the best bars in Sydney.
Metro
02-07-2025
- Metro
South Park faces major blow after 2-year wait for new season
South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have released a statement after season 27's delay as talks over its future rumble on. The future of the long running animated series is yet to be decided, with the end of its Paramount deal and talks with other streamers. The show's current home, Comedy Central, had originally touted the release of season 27 for July 9 but this has now been pushed back to July 23. In a statement on X the co-creators wrote: 'This merger is a s**tshow and it's f**king up South Park. We are at the studio working on new episodes and we hope the fans get to see them somehow.' After the delay announcement, Comedy Central also released a new poster for the season with a host of returning characters including Jesus. Negotiations are ongoing to see where the iconic and controversial show will land, with Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery in the running. Jeff Shell – who will become president of Paramount if its merger with Skydance goes through – has now been accused of interfering in contract negotiations. According to a letter seen by The Hollywood Reporter, Parker and Stone's Park County entertainment company has threatened legal action. An attorney for the duo has accused Shell of trying to get Netflix and WBD to alter certain details in their offer in a 'manner calculated to benefit Paramount at the expense' of the company. One accusation includes Shell allegedly trying to get WBD to give Paramount+ an exclusive 12-month window for new South Park episodes, with a five-year deal rather than 10, which could lessen its value amid talks. In the letter, the attorney says: 'We hereby demand that you, Redbird, and Skydance immediately cease your interference. 'If these activities continue, we will have no choice but to act to both protect our rights and discharge any obligations we may have to the public.' However, a Skydance spokesperson told the Hollywood Reporter in a statement: 'Under the terms of the transaction agreement, Skydance has the right to approve material contracts.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video As it stands, there are two years left on Paramount's $900million (£661.7m) deal, and there are talks to extend that to bring South Park to Paramount+. Paramount, Parker and Stone all operate South Park Digital Studios, which is the owner of the show's streaming rights. This structure has caused issues with negotiations, along with Skydance awaiting approval for its acquisition of Paramount. Until the merger is official, the firm cannot take control or issue directives, due to federal antitrust laws. Afshin Beyzaee, general counsel at Park County, is said to have written in the letter to Shell: 'You did this behind Park County's back. 'That self-dealing would have been absolutely restricted if it were done by Paramount itself. 'So, it is simply outrageous that even before it has been granted the authority to close the merger with Paramount, Redbird and Skydance are jumping the gun and using confidential information of SPDS to purport to make demands on behalf of SPDS that even Paramount has no right to make.' The South Park Digital Studios board of managers includes Paramount's Comedy Partners, which has limited rights to act. More Trending Park County has argued that Shell 'had no right or authority to be demanding that SPDS's prospective counterparties make modifications to their proposals, especially modifications that would depress the value of their proposals'. Metro has contacted representatives for South Park, Paramount, Skydance and Redbird for comment. South Park is available to stream on Paramount+. View More » This article was originally published on June 24, 2025. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: BBC finally drops series that fans were adamant should 'never be made' MORE: 'Addictive' TV thriller is finally completely free to binge on UK streamer MORE: Major WWE SmackDown spoilers as iconic star returns on Friday's episode
