<\/p>\n
One of Stephen Colbert<\/a>\u2019s final bits as host of \u201cThe Late Show\u201d was a prank that\u2019s now costing CBS a little cash, with the money going to a good cause. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n In his \u201cMeanwhile\u201d segment during the May 21 finale, Colbert noted<\/a> that the owners of the iconic \u201cLinus And Lucy<\/a>\u201d song from the Charlie Brown TV specials had filed four lawsuits<\/a> over the unauthorized use of the tune.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cAnyone illegally using that music is gonna have to pay through the nose,\u201d Colbert said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n As he spoke, Louis Cato and the Great Big Joy Machine \u2015 the \u201cLate Show\u201d house band \u2015 began playing the song. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIs the band right now playing the same \u2018Peanuts\u2019 music that I just said people were being sued for, for using without permission?\u201d Colbert asked. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Cato confirmed. \u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019re [doing] right now.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cOh no. I hope this doesn\u2019t cost CBS any money,\u201d Colbert deadpanned. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The audience erupted in laughter. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Lee Mendelson Film Productions, which owns the music, said in a news release<\/a> on Tuesday that CBS is indeed paying up. The company didn\u2019t reveal how much it was getting, but said that it would donate the proceeds to World Central Kitchen, a charity founded by celebrity chef Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s to provide food in times of crisis. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Colbert donated $2.5 million<\/a> to the organization last month, raised via<\/span> an auction of \u201cLate Show\u201d items.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Colbert\u2019s joke about costing CBS money may have also been a dig at the network for claiming \u201cThe Late Show\u201d was canceled because it was losing $40 million a year \u2015 a number many people have doubted. Rival late-night host Jimmy Kimmel called the figure \u201cobvious lies<\/a>.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Many observers believe the real reason is that parent company Paramount needed FCC approval to complete a massive merger \u2015 and killing \u201cThe Late Show\u201d was an offering to President Donald Trump<\/a>, who often called for the show to be taken off the air. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n