Warner Bros. Discovery co-heads of sales Ryan Gould and Robert “Bobby” Voltaggio kicked off the company’s upfront Wednesday by acknowledging the looming $110 billion Paramount acquisition. “Before we go on, we do want to address the Ellison – I mean, the elephant in the room,” Gould said, alluding to Paramount CEO David Ellison (and perhaps also his father, Oracle billionaire and merger backer Larry Ellison). “Listen, we don’t deflect. That’s not who we are. Everyone here knows that there’s change ahead, and that there’s change in our company. But there’s change across the entire media industry.” Paramount and WBD have said the deal is on track to close by September. It has already been approved by a number of regulatory agencies as well as WBD shareholders. Several state attorneys general have been reviewing the transaction and considering legal action. A petition against the deal has drawn thousands of signatures from those working in the entertainment creative community.…