Fake ‘60 Minutes’ Episode Imagines How It Would Cover Its Own Demise Amid Paramount-WBD Merger

A nonprofit production company called Brave New Films has released a fabricated "60 Minutes" episode, intended to provide a glimpse of how the news network might cover its own demise in light of the impending Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Founder Robert Greenwald, who is associated with a group that advocates for change, expressed his outrage in a statement and penned an open letter detailing his grievances against the merger.

Greenwald’s documentary, titled "Murdering ‘60 Minutes," presents itself as a critique of the proposed merger and the transformation of CBS News under the leadership of Bari Weiss. The film begins with a statement from former correspondent Scott Pelley, who accuses Weiss of “murdering” the news program. It then proceeds to showcase clips of actress Jane Fonda criticizing the Paramount-WBD merger as a tool of authoritarian control.

Greenwald defended actor Mark Ruffalo and criticized Paramount executives for attributing antisemitism to the opposition against their proposed Warner Bros. merger. He countered that these allegations are both "disgusting and dishonest" and argued that such accusations are often used by powerful people to discredit critics and consolidate their control over media. Greenwald emphasized the importance of fighting against antisemitism, but also warned against leveraging this issue to suppress legitimate debate.

Moreover, Greenwald pointed out that Ruffalo and fellow activist Matt Stoller had encountered artists who were hesitant to publicly oppose the merger due to fear of being blacklisted. He also shared that Paramount had blacklisted Richard Rushfield, The Ankler's editorial director and chief columnist, after he was seen with "Block the Merger" buttons.

Paramount is currently embroiled in a legal battle with California Attorney General Rob Bonta, which has put a hold on the studio's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Paramount's executives, David Ellison and Makan Delrahim, have publicly called for a settlement and suggested concessions to appease Bonta. However, Bonta has urged Paramount to offer more substantial remedies, such as divestments rather than behavioral remedies like their 30-film pledge.

In recent weeks, several unions, including the Directors’ Guild of America, IATSE, Cinema United, Cinemark (the CEOs of AMC Theaters and Regal), Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer, and WME Group executive chairman, have also called for a settlement, further indicating the growing momentum behind this issue.