CBS Will Pay for Unauthorized Use of ‘Linus and Lucy’ in ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ Finale; Proceeds to be Donated to José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen

CBS has struck a deal to pay Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Inc., an undisclosed amount after “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” used the famed Vince Guaraldi composition “Linus and Lucy” in the late night talk show’s May finale. As part of the licensing agreement, Lee Mendelson Film Prods. will donate those proceeds to Chef José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen.

In a segment of the May 21 finale, Louis Cato and the Great Big Joy Machine performed “Linus and Lucy” while Mr. Colbert discussed how Lee Mendelson Film Prods. has been enforcing its copyrights for the Guaraldi song catalog. On the episode, as Cato and the band performed the song, Colbert joked, “Oh no! I hope this doesn’t cost CBS any money!”

Related Stories

The Weeknd Tops 3 Million Tickets Sold in 2026 Alone as ‘After Hours Til Dawn’ Tour Kicks Off U.K. and European Legs

World Central Kitchen is a non-for-profit org that provides meals throughout the globe during various crises, including natural disasters and civil unrest. Separately, on the penultimate episode of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” the show and Colbert had donated $2.5 million to WCK and Andrés.

Lee Mendelson Film Productions is the owner and steward of Guaraldi’s music, and has indeed been aggressively protecting its copyright as of late, filing a series of legal actions that cite an apparel accessories manufacturer, a video game producer, a collectibles auction house and the U.S. Department of the Interior for unauthorized use.

“The lawsuits are intended to halt a pattern of infringement that threatens to diminish the integrity of these protected works, the Guaraldi music legacy, and other cherished creative content vulnerable to misuse in the modern media landscape,” the company said in a press release.

In the case of “The Late Show,” Lee Mendelson Film Prods. chairman Jason Mendelson noted, “LMFP found the music’s use on The Late Show funny and entertaining, and is proud to support World Central Kitchen’s mission. 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.”