Adam Carolla Show: Dean Devlin + Phillip Keene (Carolla Classics)

Date: October 24, 2025
Podcast: Carolla Digital / PodcastOne
Guests: Dean Devlin, Phillip Keene, Joe Coy, Gina Grad, Brian Bishop, Ray Oldhoffer

Episode Overview

In this Carolla Classics episode, Adam and the team revisit memorable segments from 2015 and 2014, featuring interviews with film producer Dean Devlin ("Independence Day," "Leverage," "The Librarians") and actor Phillip Keene ("Major Crimes"). The panel dives into classic Carolla rants and wide-ranging discussions about social hygiene, absurd airline etiquette, the zombie craze, fame, and personal histories. Notable guests like Nate Burleson and Joe Coy join the banter, in an episode marked by sharp, comedic insights and unfiltered group dynamics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Smokers, Spitting, and Office Etiquette

• (01:27–09:31) Adam, Brian Bishop, Joe Coy, and Gina Grad rail on the habit of coworkers spitting loogies by the office entrance, with special criticism for “Dawson.”
  • Adam compares societal attitudes toward smokers to those toward “deadbeats,” arguing that smokers are often unfairly marginalized:

    “A deadbeat dad is a couple rungs higher on the social ladder than a smoker... Some registered sex offenders look down on you.” (02:11 – Adam Carolla)

  • Graphic accounts of finding Dawson’s “throat oysters,” leading to a debate on personal hygiene and the boundaries of acceptable behavior at work.

2. Soap, Hygiene, and “Gross” Social Constructs

• (10:38–16:22) Adam and Brian discuss their views on soap, hand sanitizer, and the role of science vs. societal “feelings.”
  • Brian proudly proclaims his “no soap” approach, using only water except for armpits and groin:

    “I just rinse. Everyone wants to know why I’m such a gross pig.” (11:56 – Brian Bishop)

  • Examination of a Today Show clip advocating minimal soap use, with Adam critiquing how media and uninformed panelists ("ditzy 27-year-olds with a bob") dilute legitimate science.

3. Booster Seats, Car Safety, and Societal Compliance

• (16:31–18:32) Adam bristles at overzealous child safety laws like booster seats, citing studies calling their necessity into question beyond a certain age.
  • “Experts, experts, experts. ... There’ll be a full fresh argument with me and society.” (17:28 – Adam Carolla)

4. Natural Body Odors and Cultural Norms

• (26:00–29:41) Lively, sometimes crude, discussion about body odor, pheromones, and attractiveness, culminating in anecdotes about Joe Coy’s encounters with fans.

5. Reclining Airplane Seats and Air Travel Meltdowns

• (82:25–89:15) The infamous in-flight choking incident:
  • Adam and Brian deconstruct a Southwest flight forced to return after a man allegedly choked a woman for reclining her seat.
  • Adam argues passengers should accept minor discomforts in exchange for cheap travel, reserving sympathy for neither party:

    “You’re paying $81 to go on a journey that used to kill people. Can you please just sit there and eat your fucking honey roasted peanuts?” (83:21 – Adam Carolla)

  • The group critiques airline overreactions, with Adam quipping about pilots' trigger-happy approach to "turning the plane around."

6. NFL Highlight Spoilers and Broadcast Annoyances

• (31:40–38:10; 59:04–62:51) Adam laments highlight shows spoiling game scores before showing the action.
  • Guest Nate Burleson (NFL Network) calls in to explain the producer’s perspective, acknowledging Adam’s frustration:

    “Nobody told you to wait until the day after to get caught up... but just because it’s you, Adam, I’ll put in a word for you.” (59:41 – Nate Burleson)

7. Dean Devlin on Hollywood, High School, and 'Independence Day'

• (63:04–76:33) Dean Devlin recounts his beginnings, including a now-legendary prank—ripping off a teacher’s toupee during high school.
  • Discussion of the melting pot at North Hollywood High, and how legacy, opportunity, and luck shaped his path.
• (79:35–110:11) Dean discusses working for Al Pacino, producing “Independence Day,” and the challenge of diverse casting:
  • He pushed to cast Will Smith, despite warnings it would hurt overseas box office:

    “We were told, ‘You'll kill the foreign on this if you put a black guy in the movie.’ ... We just kept fighting for him.” (107:49 – Dean Devlin)

8. Phillip Keene: Airline Stories, Marriage, and Acting

• (152:00–160:39) Keene, a veteran Pan Am flight purser and “Major Crimes” actor, shares airline horror stories and the changes in air travel.
  • Discusses marrying series creator James Duff, and the delicate balance of working with his spouse in Hollywood.

9. Societal Problems: Parenting, Personal Responsibility, and Eugenics

• (165:11–174:22) The group debates why some athletes (e.g., Adrian Peterson) have multiple out-of-wedlock children, pointing to cycles of poverty, lack of future-planning, and cultural inheritance.
  • Discussion veers toward social solutions for generational dysfunction, with Adam’s trademark mix of cynicism and hope.

10. Zombie Obsession and Escapism in Adult Culture

• (117:18–128:56) Adam and the team dissect why zombie shows (like "The Walking Dead") and apocalyptic tales so deeply fascinate American adults.
  • Philip Keene laments the grim future presented to kids by entertainment.
  • Ray Oldhoffer offers, “Zombies represent aging.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Adam Carolla on society’s priorities:

  “Wouldn’t you rather my grandpa kick off a massive coronary than hang on to 93 and cost the system millions?... So yes, I like smokers because they smoke and then they die.” (10:13–10:39)

• On societal health trends:

  “Eat some dirt and get some immunity. I never get sick ever. And I don’t take care of myself.” (16:33 – Adam Carolla)

• On science vs. feelings:

  “The whole reason Procter & Gamble makes $200 billion a year is because you ditzballs ‘feel’ a certain way. Could we just listen to the guy you would never fuck in high school—the scientist?” (15:32 – Adam Carolla)

• Joe Coy on attractiveness:

  “Your phlegm is what cleans your mouth. His spit is what’s cleaning his asshole... It’s coming from his asshole!” (07:15–07:22)

• Dean Devlin on career rebellion:

  “He pissed me off. I grabbed his toupee, I threw it out the window, walked to my counselor and said, I’m out.” (66:30–66:54)

• Adam on travel inconvenience:

  “You can't get overserved on a 55-minute flight where you get one light beer and then they're landing and wrestling.” (84:54)

• Dean on Hollywood’s biases:

  “I was told you'll kill the foreign if you put a black guy in... We just kept fighting for [Will Smith]... Bad Boys came out and that finally convinced them.” (107:49–108:26)

Important Timestamps

• 01:27–09:31: Office smoker/loogie rant
• 10:38–16:22: Soap and hygiene science vs. “feelings” debate
• 31:40–38:10, 59:04–62:51: NFL highlight spoilers/producer chat with Nate Burleson
• 63:04–76:33: Dean Devlin high school stories and entry to Hollywood
• 79:35–110:11: Hollywood stories, Independence Day, casting Will Smith
• 82:25–89:15: Airline in-flight choking/reclining seat debacle
• 117:18–128:56: The zombie phenomenon explained
• 152:00–160:39: Phillip Keene’s airline, acting, and marriage stories
• 165:11–174:22: Out-of-wedlock children, cycles of dysfunction, eugenics

Overall Tone & Experience

• The episode bristles with Adam’s signature blend of biting wit, nostalgia, and no-nonsense social critique. Guest segments (especially with Dean Devlin and Phillip Keene) provide depth and Hollywood insight while the panel often veers into raw, hysterically honest territory. Listeners can expect classic Carolla tangents, recurring themes of personal responsibility vs. societal laziness, and raucous banter, all filtered through candid, “un-PC” humor.

Best For

• Fans of classic Adam Carolla Show rants on everyday absurdities
• Listeners interested in old-school Hollywood stories
• Anyone who enjoys sharp social commentary mixed with crude, philosophical humor
• Those wanting a behind-the-scenes look at film production, comedy, and American culture

“You don't have to give in to all the things that sort of prey upon your fill-in-the-blank. Like you don't have to go there with everything, you understand?” (128:34 – Adam Carolla)