Stephen Colbert Celebrates National Boss’ Day with Ode to Paramount CEO David Ellison in Effort to “Buy Us a Couple More Months”
Stephen Colbert knows how to make a room laugh — even when the joke is about keeping his job a little longer. On Thursday’s episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the host kicked off his monologue with a tongue-in-cheek tribute to Paramount CEO David Ellison in honor of National Boss’ Day. But as always, there was a twist.
Standing before a cheering audience, Colbert delivered a mix of sincerity and classic self-deprecating humor that only he can pull off. “I’d like to take a moment to thank my boss, Mr. David Ellison,” he began, pausing for dramatic effect before adding, “because it’s National Boss’ Day, and if I can get on his good side, maybe we can buy ourselves a couple more months before he realizes what’s really happening here.” The crowd burst into laughter.
The moment came amid a period of transition for Paramount Global, which recently merged with Skydance Media, the company helmed by Ellison. The merger has been the talk of Hollywood, with executives and employees across various divisions waiting to see how the shake-up will affect the entertainment giant’s long-running properties — including Colbert’s Late Show. Known for his sharp wit and political humor, Colbert didn’t miss the opportunity to poke fun at the new corporate structure while keeping things lighthearted.
“David, if you’re watching this,” Colbert continued, “just know that I think you’re doing a great job. You’re young, dynamic, and probably too busy to notice if a few of us hang around the office longer than we should. And by ‘hang around,’ I mean ‘keep our jobs.’” The audience roared again, clearly enjoying the blend of flattery and irony.
As with most of Colbert’s humor, the monologue walked that perfect line between playful and pointed. He went on to joke about the corporate world in general, suggesting that National Boss’ Day was “created by bosses who wanted a free compliment without giving anyone a raise.” The line drew laughter from both the studio and online audiences, where clips of the segment quickly began circulating on social media. Fans praised the host for his comedic timing and for acknowledging the elephant in the room — the uncertainty that comes with big media mergers — without losing his trademark charm.
Colbert has long used The Late Show as a platform to blend humor with commentary, often weaving current events and pop culture into moments of self-awareness. In this case, his light-hearted tribute was as much about appreciating his new leadership as it was about making audiences laugh about the realities of modern television. “If you can’t joke about your boss,” he quipped toward the end, “you’re probably working somewhere that doesn’t have an HR department.”
Behind the laughter, there’s a hint of truth to Colbert’s words. The entertainment industry has been facing sweeping changes, with layoffs, restructuring, and uncertainty about the future of network television. But if anyone knows how to find humor in the chaos, it’s Stephen Colbert. His playful ode to Ellison wasn’t just about one man — it was a wink to everyone trying to keep their footing in an ever-changing media world.
By the end of the monologue, Colbert raised an imaginary glass to his “wonderful, visionary, and hopefully very forgiving boss.” The audience applauded as he delivered one last punchline: “To David Ellison — may your reign be long, and may my contract be longer.”
For fans who’ve followed Colbert for years, it was a classic moment of clever humor with just the right amount of truth behind it. And as one viewer commented online, “If flattery could pay the bills, Colbert just secured another season.”
