Stephen Colbert always loved to have music as part of his act. He's even turned out his own gems, such as "Charlene (I'm Right Behind You)," which, if you haven't heard it, you should. Like The Late Show host, it's funny, but rocks at the same time.
While the long-running program is ceasing for various commercial and potentially political reasons, one can likely assume it will come back eventually, only not with Colbert as the host. Expect some far more boring edition, reviews be damned.
But one part of Colbert's final show, which aired on Thursday, May 21, was funny, but also a bit more sobering. While commenting on recent lawsuits brought forth by Lee Mendelson Film Productions about possible illegal use of songs from the Peanuts (also known as "Charlie Brown") series to other entities, Colbert's house band played the theme to the popular series.
Stephen Colbert's joke about CBS and Peanuts comes with cruel strings
The joke was that CBS, which was basically firing Colbert, would have to pay for the music being played. The catch, one the host almost certainly knew, is that the broadcaster wouldn't be paying for the use of the tune. The license for the music is under BMI, which CBS holds.
In other words, Stephen Colbert can't escape the long arms of CBS even when he wanted to. The joke was still funny, but would have been much more poignant if the television network had truly had to pay a fine.
The truth is, CBS would have likely never let it get that far. The Late Show is recorded live, and the network would have had a chance to review the episode before it aired. If a financial loss was potentially possible, CBS would have likely cut out the segment.
Still, the show had some brilliant musical moments, especially the finale with Colbert signing "Hello, Goodbye" with Paul McCartney. The two then turned the lights of the Ed Sullivan Theater off together. Fitting as McCartney's Beatles made their American debut at the location in 1964, changing the history of music.
Bruce Springsteen had been a musical guest on Colbert's show the night before and did a moving version of his protest anthem "Streets of Minneapolis." He also explained, in his and many others' view, why Colbert was truly being forced to leave. Music has power, after all.
Of course, Stephen Colbert obviously isn't going away. He is co-writing a script for a new Lord of the Rings film. The hope is he doesn't leave music behind, too.
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