Nearly a month after Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” used the song “A Charlie Brown Christmas” without permission, the financial fallout for CBS is becoming clear.
Stephen Colbert ends ‘The Late Show’ after 11 years
Stephen Colbert has canceled CBS’s “The Late Show” after 11 years, ending the series that started with David Letterman.
Nearly a month after Stephen Colbert joked during the Late Show finale that the band’s unauthorized use of the song “A Charlie Brown Christmas” “I hope CBS doesn’t cost any money,” the financial impact on the network is becoming clearer.
Lee Mendelsohn Film Productions, which owns the catalog of the late jazz musician Vince Guaraldi, announced on Tuesday, June 16, that it has signed a licensing agreement with CBS to include the song “Linus and Lucy” on the May 21 episode of “The Late Show.”
“Humor Corner,” where Louis Cato and Great Big Joy Machine perform the theme song, required a music license from LMFP, the company said in a news release.
“After the show ends, we will donate proceeds from the CBS deal to World Central Kitchen after the late show chief made a $2.5 million donation to the charity’s founder and chef Jose Andres,” the company said in a statement..
USA TODAY has reached out to CBS for comment.
“LMFP finds the use of music on ‘The Late Show’ interesting and entertaining and is proud to support World Central Kitchen’s mission,” LMFP Chairman Jason Mendelsohn said in a statement. “The primary goal of our enforcement actions is to educate individuals, businesses, and government agencies about the need to obtain written license agreements to use music in commercial settings.”
The gag occurred when Colbert was on his show discussing a recent lawsuit filed by the copyright holder of “Peanuts” music. The show ended in May, more than 30 years after David Letterman debuted on the show.
“‘Peanuts’ is a powerful brand and company in and of itself, and anyone who uses that music illegally is going to have to pay through the nose,” he said as the band played music from the Charlie Brown series, before mocking the band’s leader. “Lewis, Lewis! Is that band now playing the same ‘Peanuts’ music I said people are being sued for using without permission? Is that what you’re doing?”
Colbert joked, “Well, I hope this doesn’t cost CBS money!”
Contributor: Taijuan Moorman
