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Stephen Colbert turned out the lights in the CBS studio for the final time after Thursday night’s episode of The Late Show.
It comes after a shock announcement last summer, confirming the show was being axed.
Budget pressures were cited as CBS’s reasoning, but many believe the decision was made in light of Colbert’s staunch criticism of Donald Trump.
However, The Late Show host might have got the last laugh, after getting his band to play licensed music during the finale which ‘is going to cost the network millions in royalties’.
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, and jokingly asked the frontman: ‘Lewis, is the band right now playing the same peanuts music that I just said people are being sued for, for using without permission? Is that what you’re doing?’
To which the musician replied: ‘Yes’.
Host Colbert then looked at the camera and said in sarcasm: ‘Oh no! I hope this doesn’t cost CBS any money!’
Just yesterday it was announced that the ‘Peanuts’ music owner was suing the US government over the use of their songs, alleging that they used them illegally in social media posts and a video game.
The department in dispute told The Associated Press that it doesn’t comment on litigation.
Back on CBS, Colbert appeared to be using his last show on the network to rack up a hefty bill for his now-former employer.
Fans lapped it up on X. Vale Thana called it the ‘greatest exit in television history.’
She wrote: ‘He is going to cost the network MILLIONS in royalties. And he smiled through the whole thing.’
@Ab_donald agreed it was a power move. They wrote: ‘That level of pettiness deserves its own lifetime achievement award.’
Others doubted the authenticity, with Impera asking: ‘Doesn’t this have to be approved by CBS before it’s aired?’
Colbert was joined by Sir Paul McCartney for his last goodbye, signing off after 11 seasons of the show.
The 62-year-old host took over from David Letterman in 2015, who had presented the comedy series since its launch in 1993.
Others, including late night colleagues Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Steward, Seth Meyers and John Oliver showed up to wish to wish Colbert well, and the former two paused their episodes to show reruns of their fellow host’s departing show.
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