Stephen Colbert’s Final Show Stunt: Band Plays Licensed Songs to Troll CBS Into Potential Lawsuit

According to a report about the final episode of The Late Show, Stephen Colbert used a well-known piece of copyrighted music during a segment in a way that seemed intentional and risky for CBS.

In the scene, Colbert joked about the legal danger of using the “Peanuts” theme music without permission. He pointed out how valuable the music rights are and suggested it could lead to lawsuits. He then turned to his band leader, Louis Cato, while the band started playing the tune.

“Louis, Louis! Is the band right now playing the same Peanuts music I just said people were being sued for, for using without permission? Is that what you’re doing?” he said on air.

Right after, he reacted as the music continued, saying: “Oh no, I hope this doesn’t cost CBS any money!”

The Late Show was canceled in July 2025. CBS and its parent company Paramount had recently settled a $16 million lawsuit with Donald Trump. CBS said the cancelation was made for financial reasons. Still, some people believed there was more behind the decision, suggesting Paramount may have ended the show to help improve relations with Trump and make the merger between Paramount and Skydance smoother.

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