Colbert cost CBS until the bitter end, as network pays fee for unauthorized ‘Peanuts’ song

To the bitter end, Stephen Colbert cost CBS to air his not-very-funny, politically-biased late-night talk show.

“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” was reportedly burning $40 million a year, with a massive $100 million budget that included anywhere from 20 to 25 writers scripting the alleged comedian’s “humor.”

On his final show, in what can only be seen as a middle finger to CBS, Colbert had his house band, Louis Cato and the Great Big Joy Machine, play Vince Guaraldi’s Peanuts song, “Lucy and Linus,” after pointing out that Lee Mendelson Film Productions (LMFP) has been heavily enforcing copyright and licensing fees for Guaraldi’s songs.

After pointing out that CBS did not have “permission” for them to be playing the song, Colbert cheekily said, “Oh no, I hope this doesn’t cost CBS any money!”

That episode aired on May 21. On June 16, LMFP announced “a licensing agreement with CBS for the use of Guaraldi’s ‘Linus and Lucy’ in Colbert’s final broadcast.

CBS has been forced to pay a fine after Stephen Colbert played an unlicensed Peanuts song on air during his last episode.

The owner of the rights to Peanuts has donated the fee to José Andrés’ charity, World Central Kitchen. pic.twitter.com/AmBPS2q1tQ

— Headquarters (@HQNewsNow) June 16, 2026

The fee/penalty was not announced, but LMFP said the proceeds will be donated to World Central Kitchen, a not-for-profit organization that provides meals during crises.

“LMFP found the music’s use on The Late Show funny and entertaining, and is proud to support World Central Kitchen’s mission,” said Chairman Jason Mendelson. “A principal goal of our enforcement actions is to educate individuals, businesses, and government entities about the need to obtain written license agreements to use music in a commercial setting.”

Colbert supporters billed the incident as a planned “gag,” but social media users had a different take — here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story, as seen on X:

Colbert’s exit move was playing music he had no rights to and leaving CBS to eat the copyright fine. After years of moral lectures from the desk, this is how he walks off stage. The rules only mattered when they applied to everyone else. Still I’m laughing .

— The Walrus Daily News (@TheWalrusDaily) June 17, 2026

That show was a violation of sense . It was like jackass in suits . Wimps on parade is the vibe I always got . Concrete jungle pounders on screen mad that other people don’t want to live life in a shit hole .Don’t want to have to carry protection because of other jungle residents

— Olaf of Dumbfounded . (@LarryQualls20) June 17, 2026

The circle jerk of life

— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) June 16, 2026

I think the legal issue is that if he gets away with it, it sets a precedent for other people ignoring the copyright. So they are safeguarding their rights in general, and morally doing the right thing by donating the fine to a humanitarian cause.

— Karen Rachel Heckert (@RachelHeckert) June 17, 2026

This doesn’t make any sense. The show didn’t air live. They could have removed the segment if they wanted. If he brought Sydney Sweeney out and she was full tits out, they wouldn’t have aired that…

— New Burner (@daddysnewburner) June 17, 2026

They made a mistake picking a fight with someone they spent years paying for his natural ability to be the wittiest person in the room. Now they get to see him be the pettiest and I’m here for it. lol

— Dustalk (@Dustalk) June 17, 2026

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