CBS forced to pay licensing fee after Stephen Colbert uses Peanuts song ‘Linus and Lucy’ in gag finale | Today’s news

A musical gag that appeared on the final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert led to a real-life licensing deal, with CBS agreeing to pay for the use of the famous Peanuts “Linus and Lucy” theme after it was performed during the farewell broadcast.

CBS pays a license fee for the Linus and Lucy theme played on the final episode of Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show

The deal was reached between CBS and Lee Mendelson Film Productions, the company that oversees the rights associated with much of the Peanuts television catalog and composer Vince Guaraldi’s music. While financial terms were not disclosed, proceeds from the transaction will be donated to World Central Kitchen, a food aid charity founded by chef José Andrés.

The incident stems from the series finale of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which aired on May 21 and marked the end of Colbert’s 11-year tenure as host of the long-running late-night program. During the broadcast, Louis Cato and the show’s house band performed “Linus and Lucy,” one of the most famous songs associated with the Peanuts franchise.

As the music played, Colbert joked that he hoped the performance wouldn’t cost CBS any money. The comment was widely interpreted as a playful reference to the increasingly aggressive copyright protection surrounding Guaraldi’s catalog. According to reports released this week, the joke eventually became a reality, and CBS subsequently entered into a formal licensing arrangement.

The revelation generated considerable attention among television and entertainment watchers, especially since the license fee would ultimately support a charitable cause.

Lee Mendelson Film Productions confirmed that proceeds from the deal will go to World Central Kitchen, an organization known for providing meals in regions affected by natural disasters, conflicts and humanitarian crises. The company reportedly found the use of music on Colbert’s finale to be entertaining while also emphasizing the importance of copyright compliance.

The arrangement was also seen by some as a fitting conclusion to Colbert’s final episode, which mixed comedy, nostalgia and reflection on the show’s legacy.

The finale marked the end not only of Colbert’s tenure, but also of The Late Show franchise itself, which occupied CBS’ late-night slot for more than three decades. Colbert succeeded David Letterman in 2015 and hosted more than 1,800 episodes during his run.

In his farewell speech, Colbert thanked viewers and reflected on the program’s history, calling himself and his team lucky to have spent more than a decade at the Ed Sullivan Theater.

The final broadcast attracted considerable attention and became the most-watched weeknight episode in the show’s history with approximately 6.74 million viewers.

What started as a brief comedic aside has now become one of the most talked about moments of Colbert’s farewell. The guest’s playful warning that using ‘Linus and Lucy’ could have financial consequences turns out to be unexpectedly prophetic.

With CBS agreeing to pay a license fee and proceeds going to charity, the closing musical joke took on a second life outside of the broadcast itself, extending The Late Show’s legacy through a deal that would ultimately benefit World Central Kitchen.