CBS Signs Deal to Avoid Legal Trouble From Stephen Colbert Playing Copyrighted ‘Peanuts’ Song

The departing Late Night host jokingly hoped playing a Charlie Brown song wouldn't "cost CBS any money!" It apparently did.

Stephen Colbert jokes about costing CBS money by playing the "Peanuts" theme song on his final "Late Show" on May 21, 2026.

CBS/YouTube

A month after Stephen Colbert played copyrighted Peanuts music during the final taping of The Late Show in a joking effort to get CBS sued, the TV network has signed a licensing deal to avoid any legal issues from the incident.

Lee Mendelson Film Productions — the owner of the music to the Charlie Brown franchise that just launched a legal blitz over its rights — said Tuesday (June 16) it had reached a resolution with CBS over the episode, in which Colbert deadpanned: “I hope this doesn’t cost CBS any money!”