Adam Rose and Kevin James Thornton - Wrong Turns with Jameela Jamil

Transcript

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Of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes if network's busy, taxes and fees extra. See mintmobile.com. Hello, and welcome to Wrong turns. This is a podcast where dignity goes to die. It's where we celebrate the mistakes that we've made without needing to dress them up as something inspiring or wisdom bearing. You know, sometimes life gives you lemons. You don't make lemonade. Sometimes it's just piss, I was gonna say. And I was like, that doesn't make any sense at all. So I've started with a wrong turn. Looks so unsure of me now. Yeah, I think I'm nervous because I like you both so much. I invite my favorite funny people off of the Internet, off of podcasts, off of comedy stages, off of TV and film, to join me to tell me their most miserable tales. Joining me today is a writer and actor with a huge following across YouTube and social media for his comedy videos. You will definitely recognize him everywhere you go. He's also appeared in shows like Merry, Happy Whatever, la's Finest, and the Santa Clarita Diet. It's Adam Rose.

Wrong Turns with Jameela Jamil

Episode: Adam Rose and Kevin James Thornton
Date: December 18, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode of "Wrong Turns," host Jameela Jamil invites comedian and actor Adam Rose and comedian Kevin James Thornton to share their most embarrassing, humiliating, and cringeworthy stories. The trio revel in the hilarity and awkwardness of their personal disasters, emphasizing that not every mistake needs to be redeemed with a positive spin. Listeners are encouraged to celebrate their own wrong turns, with no morals attached—just pure, uncensored schadenfreude.

Key Discussion Points and Notable Stories

1. Introduction & Theme: Disaster as Comedy

Jameela sets the tone: sharing mistakes for the joy of it, not for the lessons.
- "Sometimes life gives you lemons. You don't make lemonade. Sometimes it's just piss.” (01:01, Jameela)

2. Childhood Humiliations & Micro-Disasters

Adam Rose: The Off-Broadway Incident

Adam shares his early acting nightmare: on stage in “The Gathering” at age 11, desperate to pee during a one-hour scene, leading to an accident in front of the audience.
- "That small bladder just had to let go on stage… and I leaned over to the woman playing my mom and I just said, ‘I just peed.’” (06:00, Adam)
Jameela relates with her own recent “public accident” story post-Glastonbury involving COVID, dehydration, and a desperate sprint (and ultimate loss) in Hyde Park.
- "In the middle of Piccadilly Circus... I fully empty my bladder in front of absolutely everyone.” (11:01, Jameela)

Kevin James Thornton: Maxi-Pad Mishap

As a kid, Kevin, confused by his mother’s pads, sticks one (adhesive side up) into his underwear—resulting in an excruciating struggle to remove it at school.
- "I was a hairy nine year old… I couldn’t get it off. And then the teacher came in to check on me…” (13:29, Kevin)
Another early humiliation: a college voicemail outs his attempt to “come out of homosexuality” via a Christian book, played loudly on the house answering machine.
- "The last one is for me... 'Kevin, the book you ordered, Coming out of Homosexuality, is here.' ...Everyone in the kitchen was just like staring at the floor." (15:22, Kevin)

3. Wrong Turns: Their Defining Stories

Adam Rose: Rollerblades, Marijuana, and Unexpected Jail (19:59–31:28)

At 16, Adam is caught smoking a blunt with friends in Central Park on the day of an undercover cop convention.
He’s arrested, his Rollerblades confiscated, and is placed in a holding cell with hardened criminals.
When inmates learn he’s a dance teacher, they demand he perform or face being squirted with a mayonnaise packet.
- "If you don’t dance, man, I’m gonna squirt this mayonnaise at you.” (26:23, Random cellmate)
- Adam does the robot, the entire cell applauds.
- Ultimately spends a night in jail; the judge dismisses the case.
- Humiliation, brief fame at school, but no real trauma.
- Memorable moment: “No mayonnaise was thrown at me.” (32:35, Adam)

Kevin James Thornton: The Cosmetology School Lie (33:15–45:15)

Working at Olive Garden, Kevin enrolls in “New Directions” cosmetology school to change careers.
Hates it immediately, tries to get a refund, but only extreme circumstances qualify.
On a whim, claims he’s gotten a record deal; director Miss Nancy erupts in excitement, tells everyone.
- "The moment it came out of my mouth, Miss Nancy lets out a scream of excitement… and announces to the whole fantastic lot of New Directions that Kevin got a record deal." (38:12, Kevin)
Two days later, Miss Nancy spots him working at Olive Garden; Kevin nervously asks her to keep it secret (“I haven’t told anyone yet.”).
A year later, she celebrates her birthday at Olive Garden, realizes the truth, and calls out Kevin during the staff’s birthday song:
- "This server is a liar and not a man of God.” (44:28, Miss Nancy)

Jameela Jamil: The Bully and the Applause (45:47–52:44)

Tells her own “round of applause” story: at UTA, arguing with agents about quitting TV, sees her childhood bully walk in.
Panics, confides in her team, who—bonded by shared trauma of being bullied—ask what she needs.
She requests "a round of applause" for herself, which they deliver, helping her regain composure and resulting in her eventually auditioning for, and landing, her role in “The Good Place.”
- "They gave me a standing ovation. And I felt so humiliated. And I started doing what Kevin did, which was being like, 'Oh, no, stop it. Ah, shucks.'" (50:32, Jameela)

4. Listener Wrong Turn: Pet Squirrel Edition (53:07–54:48)

Listener Lizbeth shares a story: during a one-night stand, bitten on the ankle by a man’s pet squirrel, Chester, who apparently “bites but does not draw blood.”
- "No one sells pet squirrels. This means that this man stole a squirrel, domesticated a fucking squirrel from the street." (54:02, Jameela)

5. Final Reflections & Plugs (54:48–55:44)

The guests share where to find them:
- Kevin: kevinjamesthornton.com, Podcast: “Call Kevin”
- Adam: @ealdamrose on all platforms, teasing upcoming podcast “Small Stupid Stuff” with Ryan Eggold

Notable Quotes by Timestamp

"Sometimes life gives you lemons. You don't make lemonade. Sometimes it's just piss." — Jameela (01:01)
"That small bladder just had to let go on stage… and I leaned over to the woman playing my mom and I just said, ‘I just peed.’” — Adam (06:00)
"If you don’t dance, man, I’m gonna squirt this mayonnaise at you.” — Random Cellmate (26:23)
"This server is a liar and not a man of God.” — Miss Nancy (44:28)
"They gave me a standing ovation…I started doing what Kevin did, which was being like, 'Oh, no, stop it. Ah, shucks.'" — Jameela (50:32)
"No one sells pet squirrels. This means that this man stole a squirrel, domesticated a fucking squirrel from the street." — Jameela (54:02)
"You could save someone's wrong turn, give people their props. They saved me with that moment." — Jameela (51:57)

Timestamps for Important Segments

[01:01]–[03:42]: Introductory remarks, episode theme, and guest introductions.
[04:40]–[07:04]: Adam Rose’s “peed on stage at 11” story.
[08:15]–[11:41]: Jameela’s “post-Glastonbury COVID pee disaster.”
[12:15]–[14:21]: Kevin’s "maxi-pad mishap."
[15:22]–[16:33]: Kevin’s “voicemail outing.”
[19:59]–[31:28]: Adam Rose’s “Central Park rollerblade arrest” and jail dance story.
[33:15]–[45:15]: Kevin’s “New Directions record deal lie.”
[45:47]–[52:44]: Jameela’s “standing ovation to defeat a bully.”
[53:07]–[54:48]: Listener submission: pet squirrel one-night stand.
[54:48]–[55:44]: Guest plugs, episode wrap-up.

Tone & Atmosphere

Irreverent, candid, and confessional.
No self-improvement necessary: “There are no morals and no silver linings…”
Guests and host cheerfully roast themselves and each other, with a focus on camaraderie through embarrassment.
Groove of mutual support—laughter is the best response to disaster.

Summary Statement

A wildly entertaining episode where embarrassing mistakes, public disasters, and childhood humiliations are not just shared—they're celebrated. Adam, Kevin, and Jameela turn personal cringes into communal comedy, reminding us that sometimes all you need after a wrong turn is a laugh, a round of applause, or at least the comforting knowledge that you’re not alone with your misfortune.