Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and Simon Cowell Launch “Truth News” — A Media Uprising That Could Reshape American Television

For years, late-night television has been dominated by corporate boardrooms, sanitized punchlines, and network-mandated safe zones. But in the fall of 2025, three unlikely allies—Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and Simon Cowell—blew the doors off tradition, igniting what some are already calling the biggest media uprising in decades.

What began as backlash to a single controversial joke has spiraled into a movement: the launch of Truth News, an unfiltered, unscripted network that vows to defy the constraints of ABC, CBS, and the legacy media empires. It is a gamble that has Hollywood rattled, Washington nervous, and audiences both exhilarated and unsettled.

The Joke That Sparked a Firestorm

It started with a moment Jimmy Kimmel likely thought was routine. Hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live! in September, he delivered a punchline about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. To Kimmel, it was another edgy quip in his long career of boundary-pushing jokes. To critics, it was a bridge too far.

The fallout was immediate. The Federal Communications Commission threatened penalties. Local affiliates hinted at pulling the show. Major sponsors quietly backed away. In a matter of days, two decades of late-night dominance seemed to hang by a thread.

But instead of retreating, Kimmel doubled down. Facing suspension rumors, he called in reinforcements from an unlikely ally—fellow late-night titan Stephen Colbert, who had just been forced out of CBS under similar political and corporate pressures. Together, they turned what could have been the end of their careers into the start of something new.

Colbert Joins the Revolt

Colbert, known for mixing satire with political firepower, had watched his own relationship with CBS sour. Executives were nervous about his sharp attacks on politicians, his blunt interviews, and his refusal to play safe. When his contract dissolved, many assumed he would retreat to stand-up tours or streaming cameos.

Instead, Colbert aligned with Kimmel. Their joint statement shocked the media establishment: they were leaving behind the protective but suffocating grip of legacy networks to launch an independent news channel.

They called it Truth News.

“No boardrooms, no advertisers, no edits,” Kimmel declared. “Just stories as they are—whether people like them or not.”

Enter Simon Cowell: The Mastermind Behind the Chaos

The plan might have ended there—a daring but risky joint venture by two comedians. But then came the twist no one saw coming: Simon Cowell.

Cowell, the British entertainment mogul behind American Idol and The X Factor, stunned insiders by not only endorsing the project but bankrolling it. His reasoning was blunt:

“Television has become weak, sanitized, corporate. It insults the audience’s intelligence,” he said in a scorching statement. “People don’t want polish. They want truth—raw and uncut. And I intend to give it to them.”

Unlike Kimmel and Colbert, Cowell had no plans to appear on-air. Instead, he positioned himself as the financier, architect, and strategist. In one move, he transformed Truth News from a rebellious idea into a legitimate threat to the media order.

Hollywood and Washington React

The announcement sent tremors through both entertainment and politics.

In Hollywood, talent agencies scrambled. Should they back Cowell’s new vision, or stay loyal to Disney and CBS? Studio executives rushed to reassure advertisers that legacy late-night was still stable, even as murmurs spread that a seismic shift was underway.

In Washington, regulators and politicians expressed unease. Could comedians and a talent impresario really build a platform outside the bounds of traditional oversight?

“Simon gives them something they’ve never had before,” one insider admitted. “He brings global reach, legitimacy, and a proven record of turning chaos into dominance.”

The Blueprint for Truth News

Truth News, according to early leaks, would not resemble anything currently on television. The lineup would blur genres—satire, investigative journalism, cultural commentary, even live comedy. Segments would be filmed without executive interference. Guests would not face pre-approved questions.

To supporters, this was liberation—a long-overdue revolt against media gatekeeping. To critics, it was a recipe for misinformation and chaos.

“Who decides what ‘truth’ means when comedians are the ones delivering it?” asked Dr. Emily Harper, a media professor at NYU. “It’s exhilarating, but also dangerous.”

Cowell dismissed the critics with his trademark bluntness. “I’ve made global stars out of nobodies,” he said. “Now I’ll do the same for truth.”

The Public Response: Excitement Meets Skepticism

Among younger viewers, the reaction was electric. Memes, mock logos, and fan art for Truth News flooded Twitter, TikTok, and Reddit. “No edits, no filter—finally!” one fan wrote. Others celebrated the union of two late-night rivals who once traded barbs but were now united in rebellion.

Older audiences and industry veterans were more cautious. Some called the project “self-indulgent,” mocking the idea that comedians and a judge could lead a news revolution. Yet others admitted unease—especially given Cowell’s history of turning unlikely formats (Idol, Got Talent) into cultural juggernauts.

The Regulators Close In

The FCC quickly weighed in, hinting that Truth News could face scrutiny if it blurred the line between journalism and entertainment. Politicians from both sides voiced concern.

Conservatives worried the platform would become an unchecked megaphone for progressive politics. Liberals feared its lack of oversight could turn it into a breeding ground for misinformation.

Yet for millions of viewers, the calculation was simple: traditional media already feels broken. Why not take a chance on disruption?

The Stakes: Revolution or Implosion

The stakes could not be higher. If Truth News succeeds, it could do more than upend late-night TV—it could redefine how Americans consume information. Imagine a nightly broadcast where Colbert’s monologue bleeds into Kimmel’s raw interviews, followed by a Cowell-designed panel debate, all without commercial interruption.

To supporters, it would be a revolution: news without corporate strings attached. To critics, it would be spectacle disguised as journalism.

But for Kimmel, Colbert, and Cowell, it is survival.

From Joke to Movement

What began with a controversial joke about Charlie Kirk has evolved into something far bigger. Kimmel struck the match. Colbert kept the flame alive. Cowell doused it with gasoline and money. Together, they’ve lit a fire that could burn down the old order of television.

As one studio executive put it, half in awe and half in fear:

“This isn’t just a late-night shake-up. This is an insurrection.”

The Future of Truth News

No one knows if Truth News will last six months or six decades. Some predict it will collapse under the weight of its ambition. Others believe it could become the Fox News of a new generation—only louder, rawer, and built for the social media age.

What is certain is that America’s media landscape will not be the same. For an industry long accused of playing it safe, the arrival of Kimmel, Colbert, and Cowell feels like the opening shot in a new war—one fought not just in ratings, but in culture itself.

“Television has been living in fear for too long,” Cowell said. “It’s time we set it free.”

And with that, Truth News was born.