Stephen Colbert definitely didn’t go away mad on the final night of The Late Show on Thursday (May 21). The razor-witted host of the highest-rated non-news show in late night — whose 11-year run ended this week, a year after CBS/Paramount said they were pulling the plug for what they claimed were financial reasons — once again led with joy and good cheer in his final, superstar-packed hour.
Though he did slip one classic, pinpoint zinger in at his now-former bosses before throwing the switch to shut it all down.
During his long-running “Meanwhile” segment, Colbert noted that the owner of the Peanuts theme song and other music from the Charlie Brown universe filed four copyright lawsuits this week over alleged unauthorized uses of jazz great Vince Guaraldi’s classic scores for the Charles M. Schultz cartoons.
“Peanuts is a powerful brand and corporation in and of itself. Anyone illegally using that music is going to have to pay through the nose,” Colbert said unsmilingly as his bandleader, Louis Cato, and the Great Big Joy Machine house band began playing the beloved, bouncy “Linus and Lucy” theme from A Charlie Brown Christmas.
“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?,” Colbert said with not-even-remotely believable shock and concern. “Yeah,” Cato said with a smile as the band continued to play the jaunty song. “That’s what we’re doing right now.”
Colbert waved his arms to stop the madness and confirmed, “Is that what they’re doing?!” And then, looking directly into camera with a straight face he lamented, “oh no, I hope this doesn’t cost CBS any money!” as the studio audience erupted into wild cheers and Cato grinned, putting his pinky up to his mouth in Dr.Evil style.
Colbert let the winky bit sink in for a few more seconds, lifting his index finger to his lips and seemingly allowing himself to contentedly muse about the idea that his parting shot could actually result in CBS incurring legal bills over the show’s swan song.
At press time a spokesperson for CBS had not returned Billboard‘s request for comment on the segment or Colbert’s joke about possible legal liability for the performance of the Peanuts song; a spokesperson for Lee Mendelson Film Productions (LMFP), which owns the Peanuts theme song and other Charlie Brown music, had also not returned a request for comment.
After weeks of tributes and special guests, including former President Barack Obama, Bruce Springsteen, David Letterman, Steven Spielberg and many more luminaries, Colbert shut things down on Thursday night with another all-star lineup. Among those who dropped by were his old Daily Show boss, Jon Stewart, as well as his fellow late nights hosts — Strike Force Five members John Oliver, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers — Paul Rudd, Bryan Cranston, Ryan Reynolds, Tig Notaro, Paul McCartney and others.
The former Beatle sat for an extended interview, during which he gave Colbert a signed, large print photo of the Fab Four performing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 in the same theater Colbert’s show aired from for more than a decade.
And, after former Late Show bandleader Jon Batiste took the stage with Colbert, Elvis Costello and the Joy Machine to perform Costello’s 1977 song “Jump Up,” the entire ensemble was joined by McCartney for a run through the Beatles’ “Hello Goodbye,” which ended with the whole Late Show staff flooding the stage for a joyous sing-along.
Watch Colbert tweak CBS one last time below.
