Adam Carolla Show (Carolla Classics) – Dennis Miller + Jo Koy
Original Air Date: January 4, 2026
Episode Focus: Clips from 2013 featuring comedian Jo Koy, the “Made Up Movie” improv game, a candid discussion with sex worker and activist Kristen DiAngelo, and a longform interview with comedian Dennis Miller. Jay Mohr and the regular crew (Allison Rosen, Brian “Bald Bryan” Bishop) join for sharp banter, riffed dialogue, and raucous games.
Episode Overview
This Carolla Classics edition takes listeners back to some of the most memorable bits and candid conversations from the Adam Carolla Show in 2013. Classic crew members join Adam in the studio for humor, improv, and unvarnished takes on everything from hot dog eating contests to sex work in America. Not one but two comedy heavyweights—Jo Koy and Dennis Miller—feature prominently, showing off their comedic chemistry with Adam and the rest of the crew. The improv game “Made Up Movie” is a highlight, alongside Jo Koy’s signature voices and riffs, a serious and revealing interview with Kristen DiAngelo about sex work, and a round of “Blah Blah Blog.” The tone swings from irreverent and absurd to thoughtful and sharp.
1. Jo Koy in Studio: Hot Dog War Riffs and Classic Banter
[01:23 – 09:14]
- Adam welcomes Jo Koy back, sharing their history working together (including Jo’s infamous “Kobayashi” voice from competitive eating).
- Memorable Segment: Jo Koy delivers an extended Kobayashi hot dog-eating bit, bantering with Adam in exaggerated accents and voices about American symbols, food, and women.
- Quote Adam (02:46): “It’s the Fourth of July. It’s Coney Island. It’s Nathan’s, and it is a hot dog. It’s a symbol. It is a symbol of America and—”
- Jo Koy (as Kobayashi): “It is the insides of a pig… Just like America.”
- The crew riffs on Japanese vs American culture, playful stereotypes, and Jo Koy’s recurring characters.
- They rehash past show gags, like Kobayashi prank-calling Joey Chestnut and Danny Bonaduce’s over-the-top reactions.
Tone: Irreverent, rapid-fire back-and-forth, affectionate roasting.
2. “Made Up Movie” Improv Game
[09:14 – 38:00]
- Listeners call in with fake movie titles; the crew must invent a plausible movie plot live on air.
- “A Man’s World”
- Envisioned as a Steve Harvey-esque or Tyler Perry ensemble film, starring Kevin Hart, Peter Dinklage, Carrot Top, and Melissa McCarthy.
- Themes: Coming out, beards, authority figures with mustaches.
- Quote Jo Koy (13:12): “Finally at the end of the movie, Carrot Top and Kevin—just say it: hey, we love each other.”
- “A Case of the Mondays”
- Becomes a riff on substitute teachers in affluent vs tough school systems, plus culture clash, with Bobby Lee as an “African American Studies” teacher.
- “Black Tie Casual”
- Action/thriller: guests lured to an island for mysterious purposes—mix of “Clue” and “Saw.”
- Quote Jo Koy (32:04): “He doesn’t torture the ones that tortured him. He’s torturing their kids. Nothing hurts the parents more…”
- “A Man’s World”
- Format allows Jo’s impressions, the crew’s inside jokes, and Adam’s love of archetypes and tropes to shine.
3. Adam and Jo Koy’s “P.F. Chang’s” Sketch
[34:00 – 41:00]
- Adam asks Jo to riff as a confused, semi-incompetent P.F. Chang’s host, repeatedly re-booking Adam’s reservation and mishearing his celebrity status.
- Quote Jo Koy (35:15): “Do you like P.F. Chang’s?”
- Adam: “Yes, we love P.F. Chang’s.”
- Jo Koy (deadpan): “Then you should wait 15 minutes.”
- Extended, escalating miscommunications around the restaurant, Adam’s attempt to use the “celebrity card,” and Jo’s mispronunciation extravaganza.
- Demonstrates both comics’ love of uncomfortable, minutiae-driven, observational humor.
4. Interview: Kristen DiAngelo of “American Courtesans”
[42:32 – 65:08]
- Topic: Sex work, stigma, survival, and dangerous clients.
- Kristen dives into her life as a sex worker, the evolution of the industry, safety issues, and her attempts to rebrand “prostitute” as “courtesan.”
- Quote Kristen (54:10): “It’s a very hard temptation. If somebody needs a job and they need money—good family, bad family… It doesn’t matter… If there’s a way you could survive—and not just survive, but survive comfortably—for many women, that’s an option.”
- Adam and the crew ask both respectfully and comically probing questions, touching on safety, client motives, violence, and the legal landscape.
- A harrowing, detailed account of a violent assault (starting at 56:21), its aftermath, and thoughts on why predators target sex workers.
- Quote Adam (61:34): “We know so much more about the human anatomy… but… with psychology, we’re fucking imbeciles.”
- Sharp commentary on social attitudes, legal hypocrisy, and personal resilience.
5. News & Social Commentary with Allison Rosen
[66:44 – 94:00]
- Key stories and rants:
- Fake therapy dog tags — Adam rails against abuse of “emotional support animal” rules.
- Quote Adam (68:44): “The only thing that keeps this society in check is shame. It really is.”
- Chris Hansen leaving NBC and To Catch a Predator — nostalgia for the show and what made it so oddly satisfying.
- Outrage over criminals, paperwork society, and the logic of plea bargains.
- Odd pet deaths (escaped python strangles kids in Canada): “You think you know a snake…”
- Fake therapy dog tags — Adam rails against abuse of “emotional support animal” rules.
- Allison’s news theme songs, running jokes about “dud” stories, and Adam’s idiosyncratic takes abound.
6. Dennis Miller Interview
[119:16 – 132:00]
- Format: Pre-taped call; Adam and Dennis trade sharp, reference-packed banter.
- Miller riffs on Jay Leno (“cars powered by steam and stopped by catgut”), old showbiz, and the neuroses of comedians following strong openers.
- The two reflect on the art of comedy, the differences in comedic style, and “punch up guys” in writers’ rooms.
- Quote Miller (124:13): “Both of us have made great hay off arcania, my friend.”
- They share respect for each other's specificity and comedic speed.
- Ends with mutual admiration:
- Miller: “You’re a proletariat hero. It’s like Kerouac meets Will Rogers, man.”
7. Jay Mohr Segment—“Blah Blah Blog” Game
[132:16 – 177:48]
- Jay Mohr joins the show for comic banter and to challenge the crew in “Blah Blah Blog”—guessing which celebrity wrote particular blog excerpts.
- The competition is filled with guesses, pseudo-strategy, and mock bravado:
- Jay: “I don’t think I’ve lost in my car with my wife driving cross country!”
- Crew discusses celebrity egos, self-aggrandizing blog content, and the failed wisdom of fame.
- Other quick bits: Adam and Jay on minor slights and social shaming (“The head shake!”), and news story riffs.
8. Show Closers & Memorable Moments
- Big Mama Got It All: Fake “agony aunt” persona dispenses advice, riffs on white/black/Asian stereotypes, and warps through a hall of comedy mirrors. (149:07+)
- Recurring bits: Allison’s “dud” stories, call-backs to earlier jokes, shoehorned sponsor reads, and group-sung musical parodies.
Standout Quotes
- Jo Koy (on hot dog competitions) [02:36]: “Joey Chestnut. You cannot eat a hot dog better than me. Joey Chestnut.”
- Adam (on “Made Up Movie” tropes) [11:03]: “He’s not the player and he’s not the owner. He’s just kind of in the middle—he starts talking back and forth, he does the arbitrating.”
- Kristen D’Angelo (on sex work) [54:10]: “Good family, bad family. It doesn’t matter… If you could survive—and not just survive, but survive comfortably—for many women, that’s an option.”
- Adam (on society and shame) [68:44]: “The only thing that keeps this society in check is shame. It really is the rules.”
- Dennis Miller (on arcania and comedy) [124:13]: “Both of us have made great hay off arcania, my friend.”
Notable Segments with Timestamps
- [01:23] Jo Koy’s “Kobayashi” routine and U.S./Japan riffing
- [09:14] “Made Up Movie” improvisation
- [34:00] “P.F. Chang’s host” sketch
- [42:32] Kristen DiAngelo interview: realities and myths of modern sex work
- [56:21] DiAngelo recounts harrowing assault and aftermath
- [66:44+] News and social rants with Allison Rosen
- [119:16] Dennis Miller’s call: Showbiz, comedy, industry nitty-gritty
- [132:16] Jay Mohr and “Blah Blah Blog” game
Summary/TL;DR
A fast-moving, old-school Carolla episode mashes up irreverent improv, classic sketches (Jo Koy, Jay Mohr), inside jokes, and thoughtful social commentary. Jo Koy’s energetic voices and “Kobayashi” bit set the tone, while Kristen DiAngelo’s frank discussion of sex work grounds the show in real-world grit. “Made Up Movie” and “Blah Blah Blog” showcase the team’s spontaneous comedic talents, while guest Dennis Miller and the ever-present news segment add polish, wit, and just the right touch of cantankerous wisdom. Whether riffing on hot dogs, sex work, or “dud” stories, Adam and crew deliver on their promise of uncensored, hilarious, and sometimes surprisingly sincere podcasting.
For Listeners New and Old:
This “Classic” episode embodies the show's DNA—quick-witted, sometimes blue comedy, honest life talk, and the best kind of collaborative riffing among comedians who know each other well. If you want the quintessential Carolla Show experience, this one covers all the bases.