In a coda to Stephen Colbert's abrupt exit from late-night television, CBS has reached a licensing agreement with the company that controls the iconic Peanuts theme music, with the proceeds earmarked for a crisis-relief charity.
The network settled with Lee Mendelson Film Productions (LMFP), which owns the catalog of jazz composer Vince Guaraldi, over the unauthorized use of “Linus and Lucy” during Colbert’s final Late Show broadcast last month. LMFP said the funds from the deal will be donated to World Central Kitchen, the nonprofit founded by Chef José Andrés that provides meals in disaster zones.
On his last night, Colbert—who had been ousted by CBS parent company Paramount after its acquisition by the Ellison family—joked about the music company’s history of litigation. He then goaded his band to play the Guaraldi classic, exclaiming, “Oh no, I hope this doesn’t cost CBS any money.”
The stunt was a pointed farewell from a host who had been a sharp critic of President Trump and the Republican Party. CBS and Paramount cited financial reasons for canceling the show, but critics saw the move as political pressure—a view echoed by late-night colleague Jimmy Kimmel, who expressed concern that the cancellation signaled a broader clampdown on political comedy.
LMFP, which has aggressively pursued infringement cases, said its litigation is “intended to halt a pattern of infringement that threatens to diminish the integrity of these protected works, the Guaraldi music legacy, and other cherished creative content.” The company did not disclose the financial terms of the CBS agreement.
Colbert’s final show also featured a $2.5 million donation to World Central Kitchen, presented to Andrés. The licensing fees now add to that charitable contribution, turning a last-minute act of defiance into a tangible benefit for hunger relief.
The episode underscores the intertwining of media, politics, and corporate ownership. The Ellisons, who also control the tech firm Skydance, are seen as allies of Trump, and their takeover of Paramount has reshuffled leadership across CBS. Colbert’s cancellation was one of the first high-profile moves under the new regime.
As the late-night landscape shifts, Colbert’s final gambit—and the charitable outcome—serves as a reminder of how even a farewell can carry political and financial weight.
