Transcript

Adam Carolla (0:01)

A Mochi moment from Tara who writes for years all my doctor said was eat less and move more. Which never worked. But you know what does? The simple eating tips from my nutritionist at Mochi. And after losing over 30 pounds, I can say you're not just another GLP1 source, you're a life source. Thanks Tara. I'm Mayra Amit, Founder of Mochi Health. To find your mochi moment, visit joinmochi.com Tara is a mochi member, compensated for her story Foreign.

Narrator/Host (0:45)

Welcome to Coral Classics. I'm your host super fan Giovanni. This is the podcast we play the best moments, highlights and fans like the clips from all 16 years of the Adam Carolla Show. Check out podcast One plus for exclusive access to the Corolla Classics feed that features all the episodes of this entire show ad free. And if you like ad free archives of the Adam Carolla show, the Adam and Dr. Drew show, or you'd like to get access to the brand new podcast Beat it out, check out Adam Carolla's substack adamcorla.substack.com and if you'd like to request a clip, please email us classics@adamkurolla.com now onto the clips. In light of the recent news and the video of Adam explaining his history and connection to Jimmy Kimmel, it struck me that a lot of people who listen to the show now might not be that aware of Adam and Jimmy's history. Yeah, of course, you know, they did the man show together, but they may not know how it all kind of ties together. So they thought I'd play some of his earliest clips on the podcast this weekend to refresh everybody on Adam and Jimmy's connection and the simplest way to explain it. While doing blue collar work in construction, Adam Caroll had nearly a decade in improv comedy and wanted to get into the comedy world some fashion professionally. One of his improv buddies told him he just needs some sort of format or venue where he can just talk at people as opposed to having perform live or do other venues of improv comedy. He was a listener to Kevin and Bean. He heard about some kerfuffle involving Michael the maintenance man and Jimmy Kimmel, who was Jimmy the sports guy. He had a little bit of an affected accent. He's playing a character on the show and he said something that Michael found offensive and they were gonna have a boxing match as like a radio stunt and Adam Carollo was like, oh, this is my opportunity to get in, possibly get on air, just see if something happens. And he actually Wanted to train Michael, the maintenance man. So he showed up at the radio station. It was right after Kurt Cobain's death, so everything was kind of chaos. And he couldn't get in past the security doors to meet anybody. So he waited all day. And then at the very end, after he finally told someone he was out there, Jimmy Kimmel came out. He met him. He agreed to train Jimmy. We actually have audio of that that aired as, like, a Kevin and Bean archive that Adam Carolla played on air. I'll play some of that at the end of this weekend. You'll be able to hear some of it because Adam covered it on the show. Adam Sandler did the announcing for the boxing fight. Blida and Reseda. Adam started hanging out with Jimmy. Eventually, Jimmy saw how funny Adam was and wanted to help him get on air and do something. So he came up with the character of Mr. Burcham, started doing those bits on Kevin and Bean. They became a huge hit. Dr. Drew heard those bits. They had Adam Carolla in character as Mr. Bertram on Loveline. Then a television deal came up, and Ricky Rackman was being difficult, and Drew wanted to do this deal with somebody. And he thought, who else could be added to the show that we could do a TV show with potentially? And he thought of the guy who played Mr. Bertram while he was on a run. Adam Carolla was even resistant to getting that job because he was on tour with Jimmy for a Kevin and Bean thing. They were out of state, and he didn't think he'd get back in time. He actually even suggested they audition Mark DiCarlo. And then when he actually showed up for his interview, he saw Mark DeCarlo there. So they actually took his advice. Adam and Jimmy then started working on a screenplay called Hot for Teacher with Ivan Reitman. Simultaneously, I believe, to them, pitching their idea for the man show, which originally was gonna be an ABC television pilot. Isn't that weird? It got pushed for the show Cupid with Jeremy Piven, which then, I think was brought back. And they tried to do Cupid again with the same creator but a different cast. And it also didn't seem to work. Man show eventually went to Comedy Central. They did 100 episodes, four seasons. They left of their own volition. Jimmy got his talk show, of course. 2003, Adam Kroll appeared on the talk show. People remember he was on many episodes, kind of as, like, Jimmy's comfort. Co host for several times, Adam used to carry a towel around his neck. He still does every time he appears on the show. He has over 50 appearances. So Adam's been a huge part of Jimmy Kimmel Live. Jimmy's been a huge part of Adam Carolla's radio career that led into podcasting. When the radio show started for Adam in 2006, after he left Loveline, Jimmy Kimmel was actually brought on as a consultant, producer, some people on staff. This is a little oral history for you were expecting Jimmy Kimmel to be there like every day, but that was never contractually agreed to and it was never actually even implied. It's just kind of a presumption. Despite him having a late night talk show for three years at that point and no ability to appear on a morning show at 6 in the morning, it didn't make sense. Although despite all that, he did heavily influence the show. And the 2006 Adam Croll Morning show was unlike any other era of the radio show or the podcast. They tried to actually emulate some of that stuff, but they really were trying to emulate more of the 2008 era of the radio show. 06 had like some stern elements, some whack pack type stuff, a lot of original stuff, and Jimmy was a huge part of that. He even guest hosted the show while Adam was busy with his wife and the kids were being delivered. Those are some classic episodes all around. Great dude. Integral to Adam Carolla's career and Adam Carolla's, you could say, is just as integral to his career. Very important duo. Still great friends to this day. Coming up first for the clips, we have Jimmy Kimmel's first appearance on the podcast back in 2009. This is Adam Carolla show, episode 21. Hope you guys enjoy.

Summary

The Adam Carolla Show: Carolla Classics – Jimmy Kimmel + Carson Daly

Date: September 19, 2025
Podcast Network: PodcastOne / Carolla Digital
Host: Adam Carolla with Donnie, Mike August, and guests
Highlight Guests: Jimmy Kimmel, Carson Daly
Episode Format: Retrospective compilation, focusing on classic moments and key guest segments

Episode Overview

This Carolla Classics episode is a celebratory compilation highlighting Adam Carolla’s long-standing friendships and collaborations with Jimmy Kimmel and Carson Daly. It’s structured as a walk down memory lane, featuring classic clips from early podcast appearances (primarily from 2009), behind-the-scenes stories, and the raw chemistry between Carolla, Kimmel, and Daly. Central themes include the unlikely rise of blue-collar guys in Hollywood, showbiz survival, nostalgia for old-school comedy/porn, and brutally honest takes on pop culture, parenting, and personal growth.

Fans get a unique look at how Carolla and Kimmel’s comedic partnership developed, why their friendship endures, and how figures like Carson Daly drifted into radio/TV fame. The tone is unfiltered, improvisational, fast-moving, and laced with Carolla’s signature rants, running gags, and observational humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Origin Story: Carolla & Kimmel's Path to Showbiz

[00:46–05:30]

Host Giovanni sets up a mini ‘oral history’ about Carolla and Kimmel: both had blue-collar beginnings; Carolla in construction, with years in improv comedy, and Kimmel as “Jimmy the Sports Guy” on LA’s Kevin & Bean radio show.
Their first real meeting was over a radio boxing stunt where Carolla (hoping to break into broadcasting) volunteered as a trainer. The two connected immediately.
Key Insight: Their rise involved a mix of hustle, timing, and relentless self-deprecation.

“Eventually, Jimmy saw how funny Adam was and wanted to help him get on air and do something… They became a huge hit. Dr. Drew heard those bits... and that's how Loveline happened.” — Giovanni [00:45–05:00]

2. Carolla & Kimmel Banter: Unfiltered Friendship

[05:30–61:00]

Life at the Carolla House

Jimmy Kimmel and Adam share absurd stories about gift exchanges (animatronic pony scares), child-rearing, and ridiculous punishments.

“If my kids went, 'I came home from school and the animatronic pony Jimmy Kimmel gave us was making love to my mom,’ I feel like everyone’d have to go, you know what? That’s nowhere near as bad as being called 'Briefcase Joe.'” — Adam Carolla [08:17]

Children’s Literature Roast

They mercilessly lampoon “Where the Wild Things Are,” poking fun at clunky prose, weak themes, and children's book logic.
Noteworthy comedic riffing on Dr. Seuss and simplistic subject matter.

"That's a page, right?" — Donnie reading the famously sparse text.
"It's kind of creepy. So far, it sucks, right?" — Adam Carolla [09:55–10:55]

Parenting, Privilege, & Overcompensation

Adam’s mega-garage obsession and childhood lack of resources: “Life just turns into this. You have something you want to do when you're young, don't get to do it, then you spend the rest of your life overcompensating.” [41:08]
Honest talk about raising privileged kids and fearing they'll be “ruined.”
Running joke: Adam’s Batman-like garage is overkill and possibly hiding criminal activity.

3. Nostalgia for Early Porn, Comedy, and Strip Clubs

[16:42–31:35]

Riffing on how old porn was more appealing (more “civilian” and real), contrasting “retro” porn with present-day, extreme, “X Games”-fueled productions.

"I want to roll it back. I want a simpler time. I want civilian porn. I want no tats. No fake boobies..." — Adam Carolla [31:19]

Creatively (and hilariously) speculate on opening a strip club with “normal” women in regular clothes as a more exciting fantasy.

4. Growing Up, Bizarre Jobs, & Ralphing on Stage

[32:56–63:37]

Tales of odd jobs (e.g., Carolla’s friend overseeing a Pussycat Theater, Daly’s first radio gigs) and the absurdity of finding community in odd places—like the old porn theaters.
Nostalgia for pre-internet resourcefulness: “Our minds were our DVRs back then.” [36:39]
Extended riff on animal mishaps onstage, leading to long Seigfried & Roy/Siegfried and Roy being gay gags, and a priceless description of elephants urinating on Japanese businessmen. “People were diving under tables. I mean, it was really like a Japanese horror monster film.” — Donnie [63:26]

5. Jimmy Kimmel Drop-Ins – Radio Days & Handcrafted Vomit

[101:17–188:09] (Clips from Adam Carolla Show episodes 106 & 107, 2009)

Kimmel provides ‘inside baseball’ on TV/late-night mechanics: late night as “restaurant world”—if you stay open, you’re winning.
Ratings demo talk: “After 49 [years old], you don’t exist to advertisers.” [103:30]
Anecdotes on DIY sound effects: Kimmel is proud of his in-studio “vomit sound,” crafted with buckets and water.

"I made that vomit sound effect in the studio. I got two garbage pails, filled them with water... It really was a horrible sounding and very graphic sounding vomit sound effect." — Jimmy Kimmel [82:57]

Discussion on how little production tech in radio had changed for 85 years, then went digital overnight.

6. Carson Daly’s Comedy of Errors Origin Story

[67:19–99:30]

Daly explains his accidental entry into entertainment, failed aspirations as a pro golfer ("I made a nine on a par five. And that was that.” [70:44]), and serendipitous friendship with Jimmy Kimmel (their first meeting: a Catholic priest-hosted mass on a Maui beach when Carson was 12, Jimmy 17).
Insight into radio’s old-school grind and the necessity of “air check tapes,” making vomit sound effects, and sending tapes written in crayon as a prank.

“That's the only thing I've done on my own. I would...make radio, as you well know.” — Carson Daly [77:30]
“If you could learn to edit this tape by splicing it together, you will be very helpful around here.” — Jimmy Kimmel [79:45]

7. Pranks, Pizza Ovens, & Citizen of the Month

[123:26–139:43]

Classic Jimmy Kimmel prank: fakes an official “Citizen of the Month” letter to friend Mike August, complete with a voicemail and setup at Burbank City Hall, only for August to attempt to double-cross Kimmel via the police.
Extended riff on pizza oven one-upmanship and which LA pizza is best.
Playful ribbing over Adam’s “man show” chair, ostentatious garage, and “burnt orange Lexus.”

8. Call-In Questions, Stand-Up Advice, & The Importance of Preparation

[151:47–179:27]

Fans Skype in: best advice for aspiring young standups—Carolla and Kimmel stress “hunger,” stage time, and not getting a girlfriend too soon (lose the “eye of the tiger”).
Panel notes why some comics stay sharp (Steve Martin, Will Ferrell) while others rest on old material (Jeff Altman).
Both joke about the lack of preparation in showbiz/real life (“I used to love watching People's Court...you didn’t know that you were attending court this morning?” — Adam Carolla [177:52]).

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

Carolla on parenting/privilege:
"Life basically just turns into this. You have something you'd like to do when you're young, you don't get a chance to do it, and then you spend the rest of your life overcompensating.” [41:08]
Mocking ‘Where the Wild Things Are’:
“So far, no lessons learned, nothing interesting, and nothing even rhymes.” — Adam Carolla [11:44]
Jimmy on the late night game:
"I'm number one now." — Jimmy Kimmel [102:39]
On aging TV audience:
"After 49 you don't exist to the world of advertising." — Donnie [103:30]
Kimmel’s pride in his DIY work:
"The thing I was most protective of was my vomit sound effect." — Jimmy Kimmel [82:52]
Carolla on porn's 'evolution':
"I want to roll it back. I want a simpler time. I want civilian porn. I want no tats. I want no fake boobies." [31:19]
On the thrill of a great prank:
"If Mike was really being presented with the Citizen of the Month award in Burbank, there's no way I would miss it." — Jimmy Kimmel [132:28]
Advice for new comics:
"Try it out and see if you like it…If you've got a girlfriend already, there's not nearly as much a reason as for you to go to all the crappy little clubs in town." — Donnie [162:07]
On the cocktail of hardship and creative hunger:
"The genesis of comedy is loneliness and misery...when you're nailing everything, you're happy. And when you're happy, you don't think, I gotta write a joke about getting laid too much." — Adam Carolla [164:21]

Highlighted Segments with Timestamps

0:45–5:30 — Origins: How Adam met Jimmy/Kevin & Bean/Loveline backstory
5:30–15:42 — Carolla & Kimmel roast children's books, adulting, and upbringing
16:42–31:35 — “Retro” porn and strip club fantasies
32:56–63:37 — Tales from the old porn theaters, Siegfried & Roy, animal mishaps
67:19–99:30 — Carson Daly's accidental entry into radio and Kimmel’s mentorship
101:17–188:09 — Kimmel’s showbiz insights, radio pranks, Citizen of the Month scheme
151:47–179:27 — Call-in standup questions, showbiz preparation, and comic hunger

Overall Tone & Takeaways

The episode is a window into the authentic, loose, and anarchic chemistry between Adam Carolla and his close circle. It’s packed with playful mockery, “inside baseball” on showbiz and radio, candid admissions about failure and insecurity, and a celebration of the absurdity of the entertainment business. Beneath the relentless riffing, there are sharp observations about creativity, ambition, and how true friendships form the backbone of any successful career.

Fans and first-timers alike will laugh, cringe, and come away with a sense of how much serendipity and self-sabotaging honesty have propelled Carolla, Kimmel, and Daly from the fringes of LA down into podcasting legend.

Episode Closing:
[188:26] – Giovanni wraps with a tease of more Kimmel content in upcoming episodes and Carolla's signature “Mahalo. And get it on.”

wavePod

Jimmy Kimmel + Carson Daly (Carolla Classics)