Adam Carolla Show Episode Summary

Title: Greg Fitzsimmons & Jessi Mae Peluso on Why L.A. Needs the Governator Back
Release Date: January 15, 2025
Guests: Greg Fitzsimmons (Fitz Dog) & Jessi Mae Peluso

1. Introduction and Fire Situation in Los Angeles (00:00 - 02:49)

Adam Carolla kicks off the episode by welcoming comedians Greg Fitzsimmons and Jessi Mae Peluso. The primary topic revolves around recent fires affecting multiple areas in Los Angeles, including Pasadena, La Canada, Santa Monica, Malibu, and the Palisades.

• Adam Carolla: "The fire's gonna be the Winnebago up on blocks that the guy's selling fentanyl out of and cooking crack... that's gonna be the fire that ravages your neighborhood." (01:52)

Greg and Jessi discuss their affiliation with the "Venice 3" gang, humorously describing their neighborhood ties and spending habits.

• Greg Fitzsimmons: "Me and Jessi Mae and Annie Letterman formed a group. Well, it's a gang." (01:16)
• Jessi Mae Peluso: "It's a very Caucasian gang. We go and spend $150 on brunch." (01:27)

2. Fire Prevention and Personal Anecdotes (02:29 - 14:22)

The conversation shifts to fire prevention measures, with Adam ironically mentioning Hunter Biden's Malibu residence burning down. They delve into personal experiences and the challenges of preventing fires in fire-prone areas.

• Adam Carolla: "How much of your intervention could control that? Maybe a percentage. Like a small percentage." (03:30)
• Greg Fitzsimmons: "But if you do some last-minute weeding, that seems to help." (03:38)

Jessi Mae adds a satirical take on the availability of weeding postulated by mass deportation scenarios.

• Jessi Mae Peluso: "If a mass deportation happens, there's not gonna be anybody to do weeding." (03:49)

Adam shares his personal history attempting to join the Los Angeles Fire Department, encountering issues related to diversity initiatives.

• Adam Carolla: "When I turned to the woman behind me who looked like Paula Abdul at 19... that's my white privilege kicking in." (06:00)

Greg provides historical context on the dominance of Irish individuals in firefighting roles.

3. Reflections on Personal Life and Relationships (14:23 - 32:59)

The discussion becomes more personal as Adam recounts his upbringing in a household with heavy smoking, leading to health issues like asthma. Greg shares memories of his father's smoking habits and their impact on family life.

• Greg Fitzsimmons: "He smoked three and a half packs a day... I was dying in this smoke." (14:19)
• Adam Carolla: "I have been on my inhaler for the last six days. Like I'm dying in this smoke." (14:20)

Jessi Mae opens up about her experiences with a gambler father, highlighting financial struggles and emotional turbulence.

• Jessi Mae Peluso: "My dad was a gambler and he used to go back and forth between my sister and I... I kept all those notes." (53:21)

Greg shares his emotional journey, including traveling alone in Europe and dealing with his father's death.

4. Shared Stories and Comedic Anecdotes (33:00 - 61:35)

The trio exchanges various humorous and sometimes outrageous stories about their lives, including mishaps with roommates, failed stunts, and wild travels.

• Adam Carolla: "I grabbed it and I got my feet up. And then I got my feet, like, on the ceiling... and I tacoed myself." (34:54)
• Greg Fitzsimmons: "We tried... to go the year that Family Guy put out the bit. Prom night dumpster baby." (85:07)

They discuss their numerous roommates, sharing tales of quirky and problematic living situations.

• Adam Carolla: "I've had about 11 or 12 roommates." (83:10)
• Greg Fitzsimmons: "When I was a sophomore... we started drinking until five in the morning." (81:00)

5. Political Commentary and Satire (61:35 - 87:27)

The conversation takes a satirical turn towards politics, especially focusing on Governor Gavin Newsom and the iconic figure Arnold Schwarzenegger ("the Governator"). They humorously debate the effectiveness of political figures in crisis management.

• Jessi Mae Peluso: "You don't want to be a homo or poop on you're gonna get the, a little extra craft." (31:48)
• Adam Carolla: "A blackface? A brown nose?" (121:30)

They mock the idea of Adam potentially taking over political roles, blending fictional scenarios with real political figures.

• Greg Fitzsimmons: "Jeff Ross wants his joke back." (61:35)
• Adam Carolla: "If you make a public apology, we will give you $15 million a year to take over Kimmel's spot." (121:25)

6. Closing Remarks and Promotions (87:28 - End)

As the episode wraps up, Adam and his guests promote their respective shows and platforms, including Pluto TV, Substack, and personal websites. They engage in light-hearted banter about costumes, Halloween memories, and future plans.

• Adam Carolla: "Pluto TV has thousands of movies and shows, all for free." (89:50)
• Rudy Pavich: "Check out RudyPavichComedy.com and Instagram, RudyPavich." (127:10)

The episode concludes with humorous exchanges about past antics, emphasizing the camaraderie among the hosts and guests.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Adam Carolla (01:52):
  "The fire's gonna be the Winnebago up on blocks that the guy's selling fentanyl out of and cooking crack... that's gonna be the fire that ravages your neighborhood."

• Greg Fitzsimmons (01:16):
  "Me and Jessi Mae and Annie Letterman formed a group. Well, it's a gang."

• Jessi Mae Peluso (01:27):
  "It's a very Caucasian gang. We go and spend $150 on brunch."

• Adam Carolla (06:00):
  "I was like, when did you sign up? And she goes, Wednesday. And I was like, oh, that's my white privilege kicking in."

• Greg Fitzsimmons (14:19):
  "He smoked three and a half packs a day... I was dying in this smoke."

• Jessi Mae Peluso (53:21):
  "I kept all those notes. There's like a hundred of them. This is the last time I'm giving you money. Don't tell the family. I have all the notes."

• Adam Carolla (121:25):
  "If you make a public apology, we will give you $15 million a year to take over Kimmel's spot."

Insights and Conclusions

Throughout the episode, Adam Carolla, along with comedians Greg Fitzsimmons and Jessi Mae Peluso, blend humor with candid discussions about personal struggles, societal issues, and political satire. The recurring theme emphasizes the need for strong leadership in crisis situations, humorously illustrated through references to Arnold Schwarzenegger's tenure as Governor of California. Personal anecdotes about family dynamics, financial hardships, and past experiences add depth to the conversation, making the episode both entertaining and relatable.

The guests' willingness to share vulnerable moments juxtaposed with their comedic interjections creates a dynamic and engaging dialogue, resonating with listeners who appreciate unfiltered and genuine conversations.

Note: This summary focuses on the main content and key discussions of the episode, excluding advertisements, promotional segments, and non-essential chatter to provide a clear and comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened to the episode.