Adam Carolla Show

Episode: David Arquette on How He Purchased the Rights to Bozo the Clown
Date: November 13, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Adam Carolla welcomes David Arquette to the studio for a lively, wide-ranging conversation touching on Arquette’s acting and wrestling careers, growing up in a bohemian household, and, most notably, how he came to own the rights to Bozo the Clown. The show also dives into 1970s B-movies, the state of modern pop culture, and the darker corners of true crime with references to the Green River Killer—against the backdrop of Carolla's trademark comedic riffing and banter. Arquette shares memorable stories about his family, creativity, and the challenges (and joys) of embracing diverse interests and careers.

Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. News & True Crime Banter

• Opening Banter with Jason "Mayhem" Miller:
  The episode kicks off with bawdy riffing on the capture of the Golden State Killer (03:28–13:08), focusing on the strange detail that forensic evidence was partly due to his condition (“micropenis”). Adam and Mayhem joke about gender, societal expectations, and the weird subculture of media coverage surrounding serial killers.
• Media Naming of Serial Killers:
  Adam complains about how beautiful natural landmarks (e.g., the Green River) are ruined by association with notorious crimes (13:08–19:34).

  "Do not name your serial killers after nature's wonder and beauty. Or you gotta change the fucking name of the river." — Adam Carolla (14:12)

2. David Arquette Joins: Wrestling, Movies, and Bohemian Roots

Professional Wrestling & Cult Films

• Pro Wrestling:
  Arquette describes his continuing involvement in wrestling. Adam displays growing respect for the athleticism and risk involved.

  "Once you're in the wrestling world, you're kind of always in it, I gotta say." — David Arquette (32:25)

• Cult Film 'Bone Tomahawk':
  Discussion about films that inspire "evangelical" word of mouth—Bone Tomahawk is brought up as a modern example (35:41–36:18).
• B-movies and Russ Meyer:
  The conversation veers into memories of cult classics and the now-missing era when nudity in film was a major draw.

  "Russ doesn't get his due. No, he's innovative, a big titty guy, but funny." — Adam Carolla (42:05)

Family and Upbringing

• Bohemian/Liberal Upbringing:
  Stories from Arquette about a childhood filled with nudist colonies, creative parents, and exposure to avant-garde culture (44:24–47:04).

  "I was born on a commune. We're not religious. We're spiritual." — David Arquette (74:14)

• Discovering His Mom's Past:
  Arquette shares discovering vintage Playboy spreads featuring his mother, reflecting the free-spirited, unconventional family history.

The Bozo the Clown Saga

• How He Bought Bozo:
  Arquette explains how a 15-year determination led to him acquiring the rights to Bozo after years of negotiating with the original owner's family. He now embodies the character at public events, combining a lifelong passion with business acumen (61:28–63:45).

  "I'm Bozo the Clown now. I bought the rights." — David Arquette (56:47)

• Plans for Bozo:
  Discusses future projects for Bozo (movies, shows, merchandise), the licensing process, and the challenges of monetizing nostalgia (64:25–65:05).

3. The Green River Killer Project

• Arquette’s Role:
  He’s starring as a detective in an upcoming 'Green River Killer' movie, focusing on the infamous serial murders in the Pacific Northwest.

  "There’s two detectives that stuck it through...for all those years." — David Arquette (65:47)

• Media and Serial Killer Mythology:
  The cycle of media sensationalizing names and the creepiness it adds to real places is lampooned once again (66:03 onward).

4. Creativity, Sanity, and the Artist’s Life

• Bob Ross Certified Instructor:
  Arquette shares how he became certified in the Bob Ross painting method and uses it in charity events, sometimes combining it with his Bozo persona (93:20–95:07).

  “You go to New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and you take a three-week course to become certified.” — David Arquette (93:20)

• On Getting Saner with Age:
  Adam and David discuss how age brings perspective, with Arquette crediting his wife and sobriety for grounding him (87:01–88:45).
• Sleep and Mind Racing:
  Reflections on how creative minds struggle with sleep, comparing themselves to blue-collar types who can nap anywhere (89:11–90:52).

5. Embracing Opportunities & Saying Yes

• Importance of New Experiences:
  Both host and guest champion the idea of embracing life by enthusiastically saying yes to new experiences—be it racing cars, acting, or painting.

  "People should say yes to more stuff, for sure. People sit around and go, 'Why did you do this?' and I go, I don't know. Someone asked me. I just did it." — Adam Carolla (98:04)

• Creativity and Joy:
  Arquette explains that after giving up drinking, he channels his energy into creative outlets, seeking to spread joy in unconventional ways (96:07–97:17).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Adam on the legend of Bozo and nostalgia:

  "Going from Green River Killer to Bozo, that's a lot. There's a lot of range as a performer." (65:05)

• On childhood exposure and hippies:

  "All it did was serve to kind of weird me out. Like, I wanted to say to them, 'Hey, I'm fucking nine. Just let me be nine!'" — Adam Carolla (45:29)

• On saying yes:

  "Every good experience or meaningful experience I've ever really had in my life is cause someone went, 'Hey you wanna do something?'..." — Adam Carolla (97:26)

• On creative lives and farming:

  "There's something about hauling hay... bedding and all this stuff you have to do. We just put the blankets on the horses after the first, you know, frost..." — David Arquette (92:52)

Key Timestamps

• True Crime Banter & News: 03:28–19:34
• David Arquette Joins (Acting, Wrestling, B-movie history): 31:46–44:32
• Bohemian Upbringing & Nudism: 44:24–47:04
• How David Acquired Bozo: 61:28–63:45
• Green River Killer Movie Discussion: 65:31–67:18
• On Bob Ross Painting Certification: 93:20–95:07
• Life on the Farm & Creativity: 91:44–93:20
• On the Value of Saying Yes: 97:26–100:05

Tone and Style

Adam Carolla’s signature uncensored, irreverent, and observational comedic style is on full display. David Arquette matches this with earnestness, warmth, and a sense of fun, comfortable being both self-deprecating and reflective. The episode offers a blend of candid stories, pop cultural critique, philosophical musings, and absurdist asides—making for a mix of laughter and genuine insight.

In Summary

This episode of The Adam Carolla Show dives deeply into the blend of showbiz, eccentric family legacies, pop culture nostalgia, and the perpetual necessity of saying “yes” to new adventures. David Arquette’s journey to becoming Bozo the Clown, along with reflections on his family and creative choices, provide an entertaining and thoughtful listen for those interested in Hollywood’s less-traveled paths—and the value of remaining curious and engaged with the world.