Adam Carolla Show – “Carolla Classics: Jimmy Kimmel + David Alan Grier”

PodcastOne / Carolla Digital
Date: September 21, 2025
Featured Segments:

• Adam Carolla Show #1161 (2013): Jimmy Kimmel, Dennis Prager, Alison Rosen, Brian Bishop
• Adam Carolla Show #1502 (2015): Jimmy Kimmel, David Alan Grier, Bill Simmons, Cousin Sal
  (Overview below focuses on the Jimmy Kimmel and David Alan Grier highlights as per episode description.)

Episode Overview

This special "Carolla Classics" episode pulls together two of the Adam Carolla Show’s most memorable guest appearances by TV host Jimmy Kimmel and comedian David Alan Grier. Packed with behind-the-scenes stories, irreverent humor, and banter about showbiz, sports gambling, pranks, and personal anecdotes, the episode showcases the deep friendship and comedic chemistry between Adam, Jimmy, and their guests.

Listeners get insight into viral video pranks, Super Bowl bets, late-night TV creativity, and the camaraderie underpinning years of collaboration. Notable moments range from Kimmel dissecting the anatomy of a perfect YouTube hoax to a Super Bowl night party roundtable with Carolla, Grier, Simmons, and Sal, riffing on celebrity barns, football heartbreak, and “Menendez brothers-style” parenting gags.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Inside Jimmy Kimmel’s Viral Twerking Prank (Show #1161, [03:15]–[21:55])

• The Viral Video Contest:

  • Jimmy Kimmel discusses orchestrating the infamous “twerking fail” viral video:

    “It was a contest that I set up between the writers. I said, whoever can make a video that gets the most views on YouTube will win.” – Jimmy Kimmel ([04:35])

  • The original idea mashed up YouTube keywords: “twerking,” “sexy,” “fail,” and “fire.” The resulting clip showed a woman (a stunt performer) catching fire while twerking.

• Authenticity & Production Tricks:

  • Adam and Jimmy riff on how minor, unnecessary details boost credibility in staged videos:

    “Do something that's slightly unnecessary, always makes it look real...like when she danced near the bookshelf before getting on the door.” – Adam ([14:16])
    “You have a block of frozen coffee in there. What's in that mug?” – Adam, on TV shows with empty coffee cups ([16:45])

  • Jimmy’s pet peeve: actors in TV and movies pretending to drink from obviously empty cups.

• Media Response & Reveal Strategy:

  • The team timed the reveal for maximum media impact—waiting for the news cycle to die down.

    “Once the news gets hold of them, there's like really a one day window... We figured once that day had passed that we would just go ahead and reveal it.” – Jimmy Kimmel ([12:20])

  • No real backlash:

    “You’d think you’d be embarrassed if you run a news organization and you were tricked...but they really don’t care. It’s just a never-ending cycle.” – Jimmy Kimmel ([19:40])

2. Super Bowl Party at Jimmy Kimmel’s House (Show #1502, [21:56]–[1:10:29])

(A) Setting the Scene: House Party Vibes & Family

• Adam records post–Super Bowl with friends, kids, and notable guests in Jimmy Kimmel's music room.
• Adam’s daughter Natalia and her friend Cami (with unique allergies) pop on mic for a slice-of-life intro.

(B) Super Bowl Breakdown & Bets ([25:40]–[38:00])

• David Alan Grier and Bill Simmons join to dissect the Seahawks’ infamous decision not to run the ball at the goal line:

  “How can you not run the ball with the best running back in that condition? …All of a sudden, I went dead inside.” – Bill Simmons ([31:48])

• Adam confesses to winning $5,000 betting on the Patriots, while Cousin Sal talks about losing $17,500.

(C) Football, Gambling, & Generational Fandom ([36:00]–[47:45])

• Lively debate over Tom Brady’s place among the quarterback greats (Montana comes up often).
• Cousin Sal shares prop bet losses and Vegas' tough night courtesy of the Patriots win.

(D) Celebrity Barnyard, Stand-Up Lifestyles, and Reflecting on Friendship ([48:10]–[54:00])

• Adam and DAG (David Alan Grier) marvel at Jimmy’s “humble” barn for chickens:

  “He built a barn, it’s so humble. Just to house a few chickens to get fresh eggs.” – David Alan Grier ([48:35])

• Warm ribbing about performing at “Sally Tomatoes” club, Adam’s kids, and podcast/friendship origins.

(E) Late-Night TV Bits: Production Secrets ([57:18]–[1:02:30])

• Jimmy details how Ben Affleck and Matt Damon pitched, then hurriedly executed, their “Deflategate” bit for Jimmy Kimmel Live:

  “John Krasinski and Matt Damon had the idea. They called me on Wednesday and asked if we could do it...we got it edited moments before the show started.” – Jimmy Kimmel ([1:01:30])

(F) Freewheelin’ Banter: Race, Generational Change, Parenting, and Lifestyle

• Grier reflects on his father’s old-school views on dreadlocks:

  “He feels it’s unmanly. …Just like everyone’s father.” – DAG ([55:15])

• Adam and Jimmy riff on the “Menendez brothers” parenting metric, sleepovers for grown men, and car talk with Adam’s son Sonny.

(G) Showbiz & Sports Tangents: Bruce Jenner, Boxing, and Barns

• Speculation about Bruce Jenner’s transition (with the group trading both sincere and off-color jokes).
• Hilarious stories about Adam and Jimmy’s fishing trips and Adam being the “Spirit of the Mariner.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“You gotta do something unnecessary because that’s what makes it believable.”
—Adam Carolla, [14:20] (on viral videos)

“One of the things that drives me nuts… is people in movies and on television drinking out of coffee cups when there’s nothing in the cup.”
—Jimmy Kimmel, [16:50]

“How can you not run the ball with the best running back in that condition?”
—David Alan Grier, [29:15]

“To throw there...it’s just—”
—Cousin Sal, [40:39] (on Seahawks' interception)

“The notion you would try to create you, to have sex with you, is insane.”
—Adam Carolla, [1:04:20] (on celebrity transformations)

“He built a barn, it’s so humble. Just to house a few chickens to get fresh eggs.”
—David Alan Grier, [48:35]

“How old is your father? He was a slave and he freed himself!”
—DAG, [55:29], joking about his dad’s age

Important Timestamps

• [04:35] — Kimmel explains origins of the twerking fail video
• [12:20] — Discussion on timing the reveal of the prank
• [16:50] — Jimmy’s rant about empty coffee cups on TV
• [19:40] — Kimmel on lack of media backlash
• [25:40] — Patriots win, Adam’s big bet, post-game reactions
• [31:48] — Bill Simmons “dead inside” after the goal line play
• [48:35] — Jimmy’s humble barn discussed
• [1:01:30] — Kimmel on producing Deflategate video with Damon & Affleck
• [55:15] — Grier narrates his father’s views on dreads

Tone and Style

As ever, the episode is defined by Adam Carolla's unfiltered wit, the playful ribbing of close friends, and digressive but revealing conversations. Whether recounting TV stunts or sharing family moments, the humor is sharp, candid, sometimes off-color, and deeply personal, giving listeners a window into both public personas and authentic camaraderie.

For Listeners New to Carolla Classics

This episode is an extended party—part roast, part behind-the-scenes confessional, part sports-radio therapy. It delivers exactly what regular listeners come for: real friendships, legendary show business tales, and a ton of big laughs.

Note: Ads and non-content segments have been omitted per instructions.