Why is CBS paying an undisclosed amount to Lee Mendelson Film Productions? Use of unauthorized music on Stephen Colbert’s final episode explored

Hitched to the co-founder of Montclair Film, Evelyn McGee, TV host Stephen Colbert recently grabbed attention on social media after CBS had to write a cheque to Lee Mendelson Film Productions for a joke he pulled on the network during the last episode of his immensely popular talk show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

According to Variety, the 62-year-old comedian-turned-political commentator, Stephen Colbert, played a prank on CBS during the finale episode of his show on May 21, 2026, while explaining how Lee Mendelson Film Productions had been suing whoever used Vince Guaraldi's song, Linus and Lucy, without official permission from the producers.

However, on Colbert's talk show's finale episode during the Meanwhile segment, the house band, Cato and the Great Big Joy Machine, played the Linus and Lucy song, while Stephen joked and said:

"Peanuts is a powerful brand and corporation in and of itself, anyone illegally using that music is going to have to play through the nose."

He further added:

"Louis, is the band right now playing the same Peanuts music I just said people are being sued for using without permission? Oh no, I hope this doesn’t cost CBS any money."

As Linus and Lucy is owned by Lee Mendelson Film Productions, after almost a month since Stephen Colbert played the prank on CBS during his finale episode, the network faced instant legal consequences and exposure from the producers of the popular song.

Primarily due to the unauthorized use of Linus and Lucy on Colbert's show, in order to settle the matter, CBS had to pay an undisclosed amount to Lee Mendelson Film Productions. According to The Hollywood Reporter, as CBS had to pay up, the network partnered with LMFP under a licensing agreement. However, the proceeds of the agreement went to a non-profit food relief organization, World Central Kitchen. LMFP's chairman, Jason Mendelson, released a statement on June 16, 2026, in which he said:

"LMFP found the music’s use on The Late Show funny and entertaining, and is proud to support World Central Kitchen’s mission. 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."

Stephen Colbert opens up about the legacy of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter regarding the legacy of his long-running talk show, Stephen Colbert said:

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"I want to be remembered as a comedy show. We harvest laughter for a living, and ultimately that’s the thing I want more than anything else. I just want to make the audience laugh."

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