UMVA has learned that Stephen Colbert's final episode of The Late Show was a memorable one, as he cleverly got his band to play licensed music that could cost CBS millions in royalties.
The late-night host ended his show on a high note, literally turning out the lights in the CBS studio after Thursday night's episode. This came as a surprise to many, given the network's reasoning for axing the show was due to budget pressures.
However, insiders speculate that Colbert's unwavering criticism of Donald Trump might have played a role in the decision. Nevertheless, Colbert seemed to have the last laugh, as his band played music from the popular brand Peanuts, which is known for being fiercely protective of its intellectual property.
Colbert began the segment by telling his audience, "Peanuts is a powerful brand and corporation in and of itself. Anyone illegally using that music is gonna have to pay through the nose." His band then proceeded to play the jazz music, jokingly asking the frontman if they were indeed playing the same Peanuts music that could lead to a lawsuit.
The musician replied, "Yes," and Colbert looked at the camera with sarcasm, saying, "Oh no, I hope this doesn't cost CBS any money!" This move has been hailed as a power play by fans and critics alike, with many taking to social media to praise Colbert's cleverness.
John Oliver, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jimmy Fallon showed up to support Colbert, with the former two even pausing their episodes to show reruns of his departing show. The episode ended on a high note, with Colbert signing off after 11 seasons of the show.
As Colbert took his final bow, he was joined by none other than Sir Paul McCartney. The 62-year-old host took over from David Letterman in 2015 and has been a staple of late-night television ever since.
Fans reacted enthusiastically to the episode, with one calling it the "greatest exit in television history." Another praised Colbert's pettiness, saying it deserved a lifetime achievement award.
