The Adam Carolla Show — "Katie Couric + Bob Saget (Carolla Classics)"

Date: November 16, 2025
Host: Adam Carolla
Guests: Katie Couric, Bob Saget, Adam Ray, Gina Grad, Brian Bishop

Episode Overview

This "Carolla Classics" episode revisits two memorable interviews from 2018 with iconic guests Katie Couric and the late Bob Saget. The show delivers Adam Carolla’s signature unfiltered humor, sharp takes on pop culture and politics, and candid discussions about media, technology, and society. Highlights include Couric reflecting on journalism, interviewing presidents (and Bill Cosby), the psychology of fame, tech’s impact on kids, and much more—followed by Saget and Carolla sparring over comedy, scandal culture, and cancelation. Peppered throughout are Adam’s rants, rapid-fire banter, and the crew’s comedic takes on news and everyday life.

PART 1: Katie Couric in Studio (Starts ~02:41)

Relaxing People as an Interviewer (04:16–05:22)

• Adam praises Couric’s ability to make interviewees feel comfortable.
  • Katie Couric: "I think people can sense when you’re naturally curious… and I think you can smell that a mile away… So much of it is emotional intelligence, your ability to read a room, help that person feel relaxed." (03:17)
  • Katie stresses the importance of authentic curiosity; preparation balanced with flexibility.

Interview Preparation & Following Up (05:22–06:40)

• The blend of preparedness and adaptability in a good interview.
  • Katie: “I think you do a hybrid… do your homework… but you have to be able to go and take scenic routes.” (05:58)

Family & Parental Influence (06:40–10:58)

• Couric corrects Adam's Wikipedia facts about her parents' backgrounds, shares that her journalist father influenced her, and discusses her sisters’ careers and family pride.
  • Touching on loss—her sister’s cancer, husband’s death.

Interviewing the Famous & Powerful (11:13–15:46)

• Couric details experiences with Clinton, Obama, Trump, Cosby, Palin, Meryl Streep, etc.
  • Revisiting rumors about Cosby’s character before scandals broke.
  • Discussing how certain figures (Clinton, Cosby, Obama) have skills in putting people at ease.
• Adam jokes about the “beer with the president” litmus test.

Celebrity Politicians & the Role of Fame (16:18–21:40)

• Adam inquires if Oprah will run for president.
  • Katie: “I think Oprah Winfrey’s values are probably more consistent with most Americans…but I don’t know if she has the managerial experience…it remains to be seen.” (19:29)
• Discussing the increase in celebrity impact on society and politics.

Public Engagement & Political Discourse (21:40–23:53)

• Noting both positives and negatives of increased political engagement.
• Katie: “People are very engaged…I have to think this has been a tremendous wake-up call…Voter participation is really pathetic… and I think people now realize, hey, if we don’t, your vote really matters.” (23:15)

Modern Journalism Appreciations (27:15–29:31)

• Couric praises print journalists (Maggie Haberman, David Fahrenthold, others), Tapper, Maddow.
• Adam wonders about Maddow’s presentation style and teleprompter use; Katie offers to investigate.

National Geographic Series & American Divides (32:00–33:58)

• Couric previews her Nat Geo docu-series "America Inside Out," tackling:
  • Being Muslim in America.
  • Confederate monuments and history.
  • Technology’s social impact.

Technology & Youth Narcissism (33:58–39:44)

• Exploring the effects of smartphones and social media—
  • Adam: “We are all guinea pigs in a brand new experiment…Nobody takes a step back and says, ‘Hey, hold on, let’s look at this and think about it.’” (34:18)
  • Both discuss tech-driven social anxiety, suicide rates in teens, perpetual comparison and pressure.

Sex Robots & Alarming Trends (39:44–45:44)

• Couric describes filming at a sex robot manufacturer for the series.
  • “I met a man who had four of them. He had a harem… But it’s this whole notion of artificial intelligence and how real…” (40:58)
  • Crew jokes about gender differences, the psychology of sexual gratification, and the diminishing returns of tech-enabled satisfaction.

Health & Colonoscopies (47:50–49:57)

• As Adam jokes about mid-life health, Katie reminds him and men listening to get screened for colon cancer.
  • “Colon cancer is the #2 cancer killer… but it’s easily preventable if you get properly screened.” (48:34)

PART 2: Bob Saget Interview & “Blah Blah Blah” Game (from 1:30:42)

Comedy, Career & Cancel Culture (1:50:09–1:55:50)

• Bob and Adam reflect on the safety net of stand-up, Hollywood jobs, and the need for laughter in turbulent times.
  • Bob: “I needed to make people laugh… because of what happened in the past two years, the way the world’s gone.” (1:1524)
• Discussing recent political scandals, MeToo, and media trial-by-fire.
  • “I wish this actually went to trial. All these cases are being tried on talk shows and the media… It’s not being tried in a court.” (1:157:37)

Scandal, Zero Tolerance, & Shades of Gray (1:158:20–1:160:39)

• Adam: “We have zero tolerance for… whatever Harvey Weinstein did and whatever Al Franken did, it’s all the same… and they both need to go into the pit.”
• Bob acknowledges the danger and confusion between criminal and misunderstood behaviors.

Candid Comedy: Offending vs. Intention (1:185:17–1:187:44)

• Bob and Adam discuss unapologetic humor, purity of heart, and why their intent keeps them unafraid of “saying whatever.”
  • Bob: “I’m pure of heart… I just needed to make people laugh.”
  • They riff on telling off-color jokes, why context matters, and being free from malice.

Notable Quote

• Adam Carolla: "When it comes time for me to talk about race or culture or women or gay or straight… I don't have any hatred in my heart at all. That's why I feel free to say whatever I want all the time." (1:186:21)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Katie Couric, on interviewing:
  “I do think it’s a bit of a skill or something you’re born with… but then you have to work the game, which you’ve done, and your game is excellent.” (05:01–05:22)

• Brian Bishop (joking about Katie’s interviewing skills):
  “Your wingspan is indefensible.” (05:22)

• Adam Carolla, on debating candidates:
  “It’s almost like saying, ‘Would your thoracic surgeon be the kind of guy you’d like to have a beer with?’” (14:42)

• Katie Couric, on technology & kids:
  “Kids don’t have [cell phones]… and they’re growing up in different ways than kids in New York City… a lot of the things you see in kids constantly on their phones aren’t happening to these kids.” (39:45)

• Bob Saget, on cancel culture:
  “I don’t understand why this doesn’t just go to trial. All these cases are being tried on talk shows… not in court.” (1:157:37)

• Adam Carolla, on being pure of heart:
  “When it comes time for me to talk about race or culture or women or gay or straight… I don’t have any hatred in my heart at all. That’s why I feel free to say whatever I want all the time.” (1:186:21)

Show Structure & Timestamps

• 02:41 – 47:50: Katie Couric Interview (family, media, fame, technology, health)
• 47:50 – 1:51:03: Miscellaneous banter, news, audience calls
• 1:51:03 – 1:97:22: Bob Saget Interview (comedy, cancel culture, “Blah Blah Blah” game)
• 1:97:22 – end: News roundtable, closing, sponsor plugs

Final Thoughts

This episode encapsulates the Carolla Show at its best: brisk, irreverent, sometimes profound, and always self-aware. Couric’s segment is rich with insights about journalism and cultural currents, while Saget’s visit leans into comedic catharsis and a pointed look at contemporary media outrage. Both interviews weave humor and humanity through current events, keeping listeners informed, amused, and—most importantly—invited to think for themselves.