Adam Carolla Show (Carolla Classics) – Dr. Drew + Elliot Gould
December 12, 2025
Episode Overview
This Carolla Classics episode revisits some of the most memorable moments from The Adam Carolla Show’s archives, featuring highlight clips from episodes with Dr. Drew Pinsky, Joe Koy, Gina Grad, Brian Bishop, and special guest Elliot Gould. The episode delivers the show’s signature irreverent humor, candid takes on relationships and pop culture, lively panel banter, and behind-the-scenes stories. Segments include comedic rants about wedding costs, household annoyances, car chases, parenting mishaps, and celebrity encounters, alongside recurring fan-favorite bits.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The Real Cost of Weddings & The Dress Debate
[02:00 – 09:20]
- Fan Question: Holly Carso asks how much weight she can gain per year after buying a $146 wedding dress.
- Adam’s Formula: He jokes that for every $100 over a $1,000 wedding dress budget, a bride should fit into the same dress for an additional year.
- “For each hundred dollars you go above it, you must fit your fat ass in it for one year... Even if you're pregnant with triplets.” – Adam Carolla [03:32]
- Rant on Wedding Costs: Criticizes overspending, especially when it comes to dresses and flowers, and pokes fun at justifying costs by referencing supposed future uses.
- Cultural Commentary: “It's their one day to really not make sense.” – Adam Carolla [05:36]
- Panel banter about family traditions, who pays for weddings, and the irrational economics of “the big day.”
Shower Temperatures & Dishwasher War
[10:17 – 18:20]
- Hot Water Showers: Listener asks Adam about his preference for hot water showers and how hot is too hot.
- "It's like cracking a safe... dialing it in feels magical." – Brian Bishop [11:24]
- Dishwasher Rant: Adam rails against household dishwashers, complaining about inefficiency and how hand-washing is often repeated before loading the machine.
- “It feels like that thing runs for two hours and could power the continent of Africa for the fucking two hours…”
- Childhood Memories: Adam reminisces about growing up with a tiny, poorly laid out kitchen and a mobile dishwasher on wheels, complete with quirky toolboxes and odd family routines.
Parenting, Lost Money, and Suspect Interrogation
[67:06 – 94:57]
- The Case of the Missing Envelope: Adam discovers several hundred dollars have gone missing from his shop, suspects a guest with mental health issues, but considers that his young son Sonny (and even the housekeeper’s son Olga) could be culprits.
- “I'm raising a thief. Or Olga is. Oh, yeah, Olga. Oh, I'm gonna have some crossovers.” – Adam Carolla [89:03]
- Live Kid Interrogation: In a hilarious and awkward call, Adam accuses Sonny live on air; Sonny denies it, then tries to negotiate a "reward" for returning the money.
- “How much is the reward?” – Sonny Carolla [89:50]
- Parenting Philosophy: Adam and the crew debate how to punish or approach a young child caught (or suspected) of theft, and reflect on parenting mishaps with humor.
News & Pop Culture Rants with Dr. Drew
[21:05 – 54:15]
- Train Derailment Story: Panel discusses a car stuck on train tracks and mocks the logic behind such dangerous mistakes.
- “The time it takes to abandon something, isn't that the time it takes to turn left?” – Brian Bishop [22:52]
- Car Chases in LA: Panel lampoons endless police chases and police procedures, including the legal constraints that prevent ‘action movie’ endings.
- Joe Koy joins with jokes about Asian drivers and culture around speed limits and traffic stops, spinning a spoof dialogue about confusion over “55 mph.”
- Legalized Marijuana: Commentary on Alaska legalizing weed, the impact on local culture, and comparisons to alcohol-related dangers.
- “If you agree to raise a family in Alaska, you should get a hay bale of weed.” – Adam Carolla [46:56]
- Dr. Drew’s Insights: Discusses studies about peanut allergies and the relative risks of weed vs. alcohol, concluding, “Marijuana is roughly 114 times less deadly than alcohol.” [50:57]
- Booze vs. Weed: Debate on the social consequences and humor around alcohol and weed, with Adam joking that most “epic fail” moments in life come from drinking, not smoking weed.
Celebrity Guest: Elliot Gould and Oscar Memories
[55:00 – 66:44]
- Oscars Behind-the-Scenes: Gould shares stories of presenting at the Oscars, attending rehearsals, and working alongside stars like John Wayne.
- “They sat me next to John Wayne... I announced the score [of the NCAA game] when they opened the envelope.” – Elliot Gould [62:13]
- Panel Banter: The group jokes about rehearsal attendance, publicists, and the difficulty of reading teleprompters live onstage.
- Old Hollywood & Impressions: Nostalgic riffing about Hollywood legends, classic impressions (John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart), and the number of ceremonies Gould attended.
Household Frustrations: The Smoke Detector Saga
[96:17 – 110:17]
- Cheap Smoke Detectors: Adam details his infuriating experience with disposable smoke detectors that chirp endlessly and cannot be silenced or repaired.
- “I literally put it in the sink and drowned it... Finally, I just open the front door and chuck them out onto the driveway.” – Adam Carolla [102:16]
- Climactic Showdown: In frustration, Adam destroys the devices in his sink, finding visceral satisfaction in their demise.
- “Nothing more viscerally satisfying. Like I was yelling 'fuck you' as I threw it and smashed it in the sink.” [106:31]
- Panel Laughter: Drew and Gina marvel at Adam’s absurd war with technology and offer practical but secondary solutions.
Fan-Favorite Bit: Megan's Law Awards
[110:35 – 123:11]
- A comedic ranking of which cast and crew live near the most sex offenders, according to public registry data.
- Tongue-in-Cheek Insight: Adam and crew lampoon the nuances and flaws of public registry labels, differentiation of offenses, and the urban density of LA crime stats.
- "This is the problem when everything is rape... That's what I like about arson—it's still arson." – Adam Carolla [113:46]
- Notable moment: Allison Rosen recounts a harrowing neighborhood disturbance leading to vandalism, sparking further banter about urban living hazards.
Musical Guest: Nick Lowe Performs
[123:58 – 128:13]
- Legendary singer-songwriter Nick Lowe joins live in studio, performing "Christmas at the Airport," with the panel bantering warmly before and after the set.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On wedding dresses:
“Nobody wants to wear the jizz encrusted, out of style... wedding dress that smells of mothballs and failure that your now-divorced mom wore in the 60s.” — Adam Carolla [03:39] -
On lost money:
“I'm raising a thief. Or Olga is... I pay you to raise my son—some of that money goes to teaching him right from wrong. You witch.” — Adam Carolla [89:06] -
On parent/child negotiation:
“How much is the reward?” — Sonny Carolla [89:50] -
On smoke detectors:
"I literally just take both of them, open the front door and just chuck them out under the driveway. I just throw them out in the front steps. And it's raining outside. I'm like, let them just sit out there and just chirp." — Adam Carolla [102:16] -
On car chases and police work:
"Cops, when someone enters a gated community... feel free to park the cruiser there. But no such luck." — Brian Bishop [35:17] -
On legal weed in Alaska:
"If you agree to raise a family in Alaska... you should get a hay bale of weed." — Adam Carolla [46:56]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [02:00] — Wedding cost and dress discussion
- [10:17] — Shower temperature and dishwasher rant
- [21:05] — News: train derailment, car chases, Joe Koy joins
- [46:27] — Legal weed in Alaska
- [55:00] — Elliot Gould on Oscars, Old Hollywood
- [67:06] — Case of the missing envelope (Sonny interrogation)
- [96:17] — Smoke detector saga
- [110:35] — Megan’s Law Awards
- [123:58] — Nick Lowe live music
Listener Takeaways
- Adam Carolla’s signature style shines through in comically exasperated rants about everyday frustrations, modern life, and family dynamics.
- The show is both acerbically honest and self-deprecating, with laughter and relatable moments in every segment.
- Celebrities are both revered and ribbed, and hard topics (finance, parenting, safety, relationships) are tackled with unfiltered candor.
- Recurring cast antics and inside jokes offer long-time fans extra payoff, but new listeners still have plenty to enjoy.
The episode captures The Adam Carolla Show’s lively, no-holds-barred group dynamic—bringing listeners the humor, chaos, and camaraderie that keeps millions tuning in.