The Adam Carolla Show – Carolla Classics

Episode: Joel McHale + The Sklar Brothers

Date: November 15, 2025
Guests: Joel McHale, The Sklar Brothers, Jeff Cesario
Regulars: Adam Carolla (Host), Gina Grad, Brian “Bald Bryan” Bishop

Episode Overview

This Carolla Classics episode features two of Adam’s favorite comic guests: Joel McHale (Community, The Soup, Netflix’s The Joel McHale Show) and the Sklar Brothers (comedians, podcast hosts). The first half is a high-energy, improvisational interview with Joel McHale, packed with riffs, industry stories, Hollywood absurdities, and a running mock-feud about adultery and Adam’s “mistress” Janine. The second half spotlights the Sklar Brothers and Jeff Cesario (as "Chet Waterhouse"), diving into comedy, documentaries, sports, and memorable bathroom tales.

The main themes are show business camaraderie, the weird realities of fame, old school radio memories, and the value of authentic comic banter. The tone is fast-paced, sarcastic, and full of in-jokes—the classic Carolla style.

Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Joel McHale Interview and Riff Session

[01:45 – 41:07]

• Joel McHale’s New Projects:
  Joel plugs A Futile and Stupid Gesture (Netflix film about National Lampoon), as well as The Joel McHale Show on Netflix.

  • Adam commends Joel’s “bulging biceps,” which kicks off a run of physique jokes.

• Chevy Chase Stories and ‘Community’ Days:

  • Joel discusses what it’s like to portray Chevy Chase and work with him as a castmate.
  • On Chevy’s infamy: “You always hear people go, well, that's Chev being Chev... He hated the hours being there, and that would take its toll.” (Joel McHale, [06:51])
  • Adam theorizes that Joel is the “latter-day Chevy,” the tall, rangy heartthrob in a sea of regular comic types.
    • “Normally comedians are a little more Patton Oswalt—you know what I mean?” (Adam Carolla, [07:58])

• Humorous Tangent: Adam’s 'Stepmom Movie' Bit:

  • Adam spins a surreal tale about being repeatedly asked to play his own stepmom in a film, with absurd references to bundles of cash and Kevin Hart.
  • “I go by bundles. How many bundles do you get?” (Adam Carolla, [04:48])

• Adam’s Wedding Ring and ‘Mistress Janine’ Bit:

  • An extended, running joke begins about Adam’s silicone wedding ring (due to a knuckle injury).
  • The conversation devolves into a wild game of telephone, with Joel and Adam accusing each other (and Adam’s fictional mistress Janine) of salacious road stories.
  • Notable moments:
    • “Why would I be—well, could you take it back? Because Lynette listens to the show.” (Adam Carolla, [30:46])
    • “You hear him say ‘plow a stranger’? See, you said it!” (Joel McHale, [36:28])
    • The cast repeatedly ‘rewinds the tape’ for comic effect.

• Camaraderie in Hollywood & Losing Touch:

  • Adam laments that career success means less time to hang out with friends like Joel, Jimmy Kimmel, etc.
    • “The only lament of becoming successful… is the Joel McHales and the Jimmy Kimmels—you just don’t get to hang with them as much as you used to.” (Adam Carolla, [12:40])
  • Joel agrees: “You see the parents at the school, you know, and then you're like…I guess we're hanging out because you're the parents of our kids.” ([13:26])

2. Pop Culture, Movies, and ‘Made Up Movie’ Game

[41:07 – 1:11:04]

• Aliens & Paul Reiser:

  • They praise Paul Reiser’s versatility, specifically his performance in Aliens.
  • Sound design rabbit hole (Brian’s attempt at a “deep cut”).
    • “If you're gonna watch it, maybe with a more trained eye, that sound design's gonna get you.” (Brian, [12:17])

• ‘Made Up Movie’ Segment:

  • The crew improvises movies based on silly titles suggested by callers.
  • Recurrent Janine jokes: “Never have I ever finished in Janine's hair!" (Adam Carolla, [45:39])

• Security Guards & Gatekeepers:

  • Adam’s rant on overzealous security guards not letting him into The Soup taping—exposing "power trip" types in showbiz.
    • "Security guards act like it’s their building... anyone who's tried to get onto a lot…the lowest person on the totem pole is the one in charge of the gate." (Adam, [25:01])

3. Sklar Brothers, Jeff Cesario ("Chet Waterhouse"), and Comedy Industry Tales

[1:08:39 onward]

• Sklar Brothers ('Poop Talk'), Cesario as "Chet Waterhouse":

  • Talk of their new documentary, Poop Talk, featuring Adam, Dr. Drew, and others, discussing bathroom humor.
  • Adam’s “Hobo Power” scale for ranking levels of stink.

• Comedy’s Old School Days:

  • Cesario recalls stand-up auditions for Letterman and The Tonight Show.
    • "Back then Letterman and The Tonight Show were it. If you wanted to do anything as a stand up comic, you had to get on Letterman..." (Chet/Jeff Cesario, [139:20])

• Riffs on 80s/90s TV (Hart to Hart, Bad Ronald, Murder She Wrote):

  • Adam and the Sklars dissect the formulaic nature of old detective shows.
  • Hilarious breakdown of the TV-movie Bad Ronald:
    • “It’s a movie where this kid who was a nerd lived with his sickly mom…invited to a pool party, just so he could be made fun of…then he lives under the stairs.” (Adam, [177:02])

4. Sports with Chet Waterhouse & Pop Culture Satire

[1:34:23+]

• Sports Satire:

  • Chet Waterhouse delivers absurd, pun-laden sports news (“Hello again everybody—Chet Waterhouse here, brought to you by Main Course Chewing Gum...”).

• DJ Khaled, Jay-Z, and Modern Rap:

  • Adam parodies DJ Khaled’s simplistic catchphrases and the self-seriousness of modern pop music.
  • “Put your hands up! Major Key Alert!” (Chet/Sklar/Adam, [149:24])

Notable Quotes, Moments & Timestamps

• Chevy Chase Stories:

  • "Sometimes we would physically fight each other. Other than that…it was always intense horseplay." (Joel McHale, [07:12])

• Adam's Road Life & ‘Janine’ Bit:

  • “All I know is you're throwing out random names and when you come out with those kinds of accusations…” (Adam, [33:08])
  • “Take Janine from behind. That's all I can think.” (Adam, [37:54])

• Gatekeeper Rant:

  • “Anyone who's tried to get onto a lot…the person that gets paid the least is the one manning the gate. But they act like they own the lot.” (Adam, [25:01])

• Sklar Brothers on Parenting & Comedy:

  • “Parents were good. Never had money but…gave a crap about us. Even though my dad was on the road…he sold Velcro and shoulder pads and alteration supplies. We sell ourselves.” (Jason Sklar, [151:40])

• Bathroom & Hobo Power:

  • “We have everything—BTUs, fathoms and yards. But we don’t have a measurement for stink.” (Adam, [165:40])
  • “Delivered milk…to the Salvation Army home. Six or seven guys sleeping in this heated entryway…weaponized hobo power.” (Pat, caller, [167:10])

• Old Radio/TV Executives:

  • “Jack somehow hit the trifecta of the most popular movie, TV and stand up comedians at that time—then labeled each one ‘radio death’.” (Adam, [60:47])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:45] — Joel McHale segment begins
• [06:40] — Chevy Chase horror stories & Community tales
• [13:00] — Adam’s “lost camaraderie” laments
• [30:40] — Start of “Janine”/wedding ring bit
• [45:25] — “Made Up Movie” segment kicks off
• [68:38] — Sklar Brothers + Cesario segment begins
• [74:24] — Cesario/stand-up TV stories
• [128:17] — DJ Khaled song satire (“Major Key Alert”)
• [150:15] — Sklar Brothers discuss “Poop Talk”
• [165:40] — “Hobo Power” (stink measurement) game

Original Tone & Speaker Attributions

• Adam steers the show with absurdist stories, blue-collar wisdom, and his trademark rants, poking Hollywood’s hollow core.
• Joel McHale matches Adam’s self-deprecation with equal wit, gamely diving into running bits with deadpan delivery.
• The Sklars bring O.C.D.-level observational detail, generously sharing the spotlight.
• Cesario, as “Chet Waterhouse,” performs energetic, manic sports satire.
• Gina Grad and Bald Bryan keep the show moving, serving as both comic foils and support.

For New Listeners

This episode exemplifies The Adam Carolla Show’s signature style: irreverent banter, deep irony, fake feuds, quick improvisation, roasting, and nostalgia. At its heart, it’s a celebration of comic community, the highs and humiliations of showbiz, and how laughter can be squeezed from anything—be it a humiliating camp dance memory or a commode rescued from the streets of Glendale.

Memorable Segment – The “Janine” Saga

[From 29:00+]

The wedding ring bit morphs into an elaborate, absurd, meta-comedy riff. Adam and Joel keep escalating, riffing on the fictional “Janine,” and who did what to whom on the road, with the rest of the team interjecting mock outrage, confusion, and deliberate “rewinds.” This long improv stands out for its married-guy, showbiz-insider humor and relentless callbacks.

Memorable Lines

• “I realized that I needed to take the ring off...to hit the heavy bag, or fuck a groupie. No! I meant...throw some weights around...” – Adam [31:18]

• “If those aren't six enough examples for you…why you have to stray into this world…” – Adam [33:08]

• “Plow a stranger. That's all I can think.” – Adam [37:54]

• “This is called straight line theory. You can assess very quickly, and say: here's the easiest, most efficient way to get to this point—but people need to…wean themselves out of their own bad ideas.” – Chet Waterhouse/Jeff Cesario [124:13]

Conclusion / Takeaways

If you’re new to Carolla, this episode is a crash course in his no-BS, comedians-first ethos. It’s a mix of backstage revelation, goofball fantasy, workplace skewering, and competitive riffing—a must-listen for fans of contemporary American comedy and podcasting culture. The interplay between Adam, Joel, the Sklars, and Cesario captures the anything-goes, self-mocking spirit that keeps people returning to the show.

This summary features only the core comic content—adverts, extraneous intros, outros, and non-content segments have been omitted for clarity and flow.