Stephen Colbert trolls CBS with licensed music in his finale show.
Stephen Colbert Takes One Last Shot at CBS With Costly Music Stunt
May 22 2026, Published 11:24 a.m. ET
Stephen Colbert wrapped up his time on The Late Show by poking fun at CBS with a music joke. During his last episode, he referenced the recent copyright lawsuits involving the Vince Guaraldi catalog, which included music from Peanuts.
Colbert's final show aired on Thursday, May 21, marking the end of his 11-year run as host and shutting down CBS’s late-night franchise. In the episode, he used his “Meanwhile” segment to point out that the owner of the music from A Charlie Brown Christmas and other Peanuts specials had filed lawsuits against various parties for using the songs without permission.
Colbert takes a parting shot at CBS with licensed music.
As the house band played Peanuts music, Colbert joked, “Oh, no, I hope this doesn’t cost CBS any money.”
This joke acted as a final jab at the network, which announced in 2025 that it would cancel The Late Show despite Colbert's strong presence in late night. CBS cited financial reasons for its decision, but critics have questioned that explanation.
The moment tied Colbert’s farewell to a new legal battle over the Peanuts catalog.
Lee Mendelson Film Productions, the owner of the music from the classic specials, filed federal lawsuits this week against the U.S. Department of the Interior, GameMill Entertainment, Heritage Auctions, and Buckle-Down Inc.
These claims relate to the unauthorized use of Vince Guaraldi’s music.
The lawsuits include allegations about Linus and Lucy, a well-known jazz piece linked to the Peanuts franchise, and Guaraldi’s version of O Tannenbaum.
Reuters reported that the company accused Heritage Auctions and Buckle-Down of using Linus and Lucy in social media posts without permission. The Interior Department faced accusations of using O Tannenbaum in a digital holiday card.
The company also sued GameMill Entertainment over the 2025 video game Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club, claiming the game used music similar to Guaraldi’s without licensing the original songs. The plaintiff sought monetary damages in these cases.
Colbert did not dwell on the legal matters. His joke cleverly turned a current copyright dispute into a final punchline directed at the network, which suited a host who often criticized CBS and its parent company during his last year.
The finale blended satire with a heartfelt goodbye. Notably, President Trump, a recurring topic on the show, was not mentioned. Colbert expressed gratitude to his staff, audience, and family, referring to the show as The Joy Machine.
The episode included major guest appearances and musical performances, featuring Paul McCartney among others.
Colbert had been the host of The Late Show since 2015, after taking over from David Letterman. His version was known for political monologues, interviews, and frequent critiques of Donald Trump.
Colbert ending his show on a high note with Paul McCartney.
Colbert had been the host of The Late Show since 2015, after taking over from David Letterman. His version was known for political monologues, interviews, and frequent critiques of Donald Trump.
CBS’s decision to cancel the show attracted immediate attention, especially after Colbert criticized Paramount’s settlement with Trump. The company claimed the decision was purely financial and denied any political motivations.
In his final weeks, Colbert and his comedic guests continued to mock the network. The Peanuts joke gave him one last chance to deliver a clever line that, at least in the sketch, might leave CBS with a bill.
This episode marked the end of an era for CBS late night, which began with Letterman in 1993 and continued through Colbert’s final signoff.