Stephen Colbert capped his final episode as host of CBS’s The Late Show with a pointed musical choice, playing Vince Guaraldi’s iconic Peanuts composition “Linus and Lucy” on air.
“Oh no! I hope this doesn’t cost CBS any money!” Colbert joked as the band performed the song. It was a final dig at the network; many fans believe CBS canceled the show due to Colbert’s frequent criticisms of the Trump administration.
Lee Mendelson Film Productions (LMFP), the California-based company that controls Guaraldi’s Peanuts music catalog, announced it had reached a licensing agreement with CBS for the unauthorized use of the song. The deal was for an undisclosed amount. The production company said it would donate all proceeds to World Central Kitchen, the disaster-relief food nonprofit founded by chef José Andrés.
“LMFP found the music’s use on The Late Show funny and entertaining, and is proud to support World Central Kitchen’s mission,” said Jason Mendelson, chairman of the company, in a statement. He added that “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 separately donated $2.5 million to World Central Kitchen during the penultimate episode of The Late Show, according to the report.
The rights holder has recently pursued legal actions over the unlicensed use of Guaraldi’s Peanuts music by an apparel accessories manufacturer, a video game producer, a collectibles auction house, and the U.S. Department of the Interior, according to the company.
LMFP was founded by producer Lee Mendelson, who worked with Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz, animator Bill Melendez, and Guaraldi on the animated Peanuts television specials. Mendelson’s firm is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Schulz, who was born in Minnesota, moved to Santa Rosa, California, in 1969 and lived there until his death in 2000.