Full Breakdown
Stephen Colbert’s Finale Stunt Triggers CBS Settlement Over “Linus and Lucy” Copyright
6/17/2026, 1:05:56 AM
Finale Stunt Sparks Copyright Settlement
On May 21, 2024, *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert* aired its final episode. In the closing “Meanwhile” segment, house band Louis Cato and the Great Big Joy Machine performed Vince Guaraldi’s “Linus and Lucy,” the *Peanuts* theme. While noting Lee Mendelson Film Productions’ (LMFP) copyright enforcement, Colbert joked, “Oh no! I hope this doesn’t cost CBS any money!” CBS settled the dispute by agreeing to pay an undisclosed sum to LMFP, with proceeds directed to World Central Kitchen (WCK).
Background & Context
LMFP owns the rights to Guaraldi’s *Peanuts* music and has recently launched a “legal blitz” to enforce licensing for commercial use, saying its goal is to educate businesses and governments about written permissions. In the months before the finale, Colbert’s on-air fundraising raised nearly $2.5 million for WCK.
Timeline
- May 21, 2024 – Finale airs; “Linus and Lucy” performed; Colbert jokes about CBS cost.
- May 22, 2024 – CBS reaches settlement with LMFP.
- Following days – LMFP says proceeds go to WCK; CBS confirms agreement.
Financial Details
The settlement amount is undisclosed; the prior fundraising raised about $2.5 million for WCK.
Official Statements & Responses
LMFP chairman Jason Mendelson said the company is proud to support WCK and that its enforcement aims to educate about written license agreements. A CBS spokeswoman confirmed the network reached an agreement with LMFP but declined further comment. Paramount Global described the *Late Show* cancellation as “purely financial.”
Criticism & Opposition
Colbert called the segment a “pre-planned gotcha” to highlight LMFP’s aggressive licensing and to extract a charitable payoff. One X user described the move as “When your last ‘F--- you’ feeds people,” framing it as a personal rebuke toward CBS.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Oh no! I hope this doesn’t cost CBS any money!” — Stephen Colbert, *The Late Show*
- “LMFP found the music’s use on The Late Show funny and entertaining, and is proud to support World Central Kitchen’s mission,” — Jason Mendelson, Chairman, Lee Mendelson Film Productions
- “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.” — Jason Mendelson
What’s Next
The settlement closes the immediate dispute, but LMFP’s broader enforcement campaign continues, indicating that future commercial uses of *Peanuts* music will likely require formal licensing. CBS’s compliance may shape how networks handle copyrighted music in live broadcasts, while WCK prepares to allocate the proceeds to ongoing disaster-relief efforts.
