The "Adam Carolla Hates the Holidays" show might be just the ticket for people already fed up with nonstop yuletide music and the Christmas shopping blitz.
Carolla, of course, doesn't really hate Santa and the holiday season. But anyone who is familiar with the media personality knows that his stand-up shtick is typically loaded with a heavy helping of hysterical complaints.
It's that sarcastic sense of humor that has helped keep Carolla at the top of the comedy broadcasting world since he first gained national attention alongside Dr. Drew Pinsky on "Loveline," the Los Angeles-based radio show that Carolla joined in 1995 and eventually took to MTV. Carolla also brought his unique brand of humor to Comedy Central as co host of "The Man Show" with Jimmy Kimmel and the puppet-based "Crank Yankers."
Today, fans of the snarky Carolla can see him hosting Speed TV's "Car Show" and hear him daily when they download "The Adam Carolla Show." With 59,574,843 unique downloads from March 2009 to mid-March 2011, Carolla holds the Guinness record for most downloaded podcast.
Q: You've said some things that have landed you in hot water. In August, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) called for an apology after you riffed about the movement for "Sesame Street" characters Bert and Ernie to marry each other. What do you think about comedians who find themselves being asked to apologize for their material?
A: It's pretty ridiculous that we're now holding people accountable for every syllable they say onstage. For God's sake, is there no sanctuary? Look, if I'm onstage and someone shouts out Howard Stern's name and then I start to go off, most likely it's going to get right back to him and seem like this really personal attack or something. It's like taking the very worst line of a politician's interview about immigration and running that in a completely different context.
Q: Do you think some of that has to do with the immediacy of the technology? A bit you deliver on stage can be on blasted on social networking channels before you're even done with the set.
A: I think that if people took the time to actually look at the whole scenario -- like if it's me, once people really get to know me, they'll know that I'm a thoughtful, funny and caring guy. Really.
Like the Insane Clown Posse, they're from your parts. I like those guys, and they're always misunderstood. I may have been guilty of prejudging these crazy guys who are running around with grease paint on their faces and professional wrestling gear or whatever. I met those guys like 10 years ago while I was doing "Loveline."
I understand that the reality, for the good and the bad, is that people don't really have a whole lot of time to do any research, and there's always this race to be first when it comes to getting stuff up online. Some people are judged in a positive (way) that's not always rightfully so, or they're getting judged negatively and there's a lot of good behind them. The truth, that takes time. Unfortunately I think it's easier for people to just see something, most likely not in its right context, and people just are quickly rushing to judgment.
Q: What was it like to work with Eminem on "Crank Yankers" (the Comedy Central show that ran from 2002 to 2005), which featured outrageous puppets who made crank phone calls?
A: Oh man, I probably shouldn't be saying anything regarding Eminem. But we heard he was a pretty big fan and wanted to do some calls, so it (became) this situation where we brought the mountain to Mohammed and came out there.
I remember thinking how cool this guy was. He made like $65 million or something that year alone and sprung for Taco Bell for everyone.
Now, I gotta say -- and I don't mean to sound like some comedy snob and everyone else is just a civilian -- but Eminem did a very solid job with "Crank Yankers." Believe it or not, calling people and being funny in that situation is not an easy thing to do. There are many comedians who can't do it, and Eminem was great.
Q: You're hosting Speed TV's "Car Show," a kind of "Top Gear" on American soil that features humorous high-speed reviews and all sorts of other fueled-up mayhem. How'd you get so into cars?
A: I have no idea. It's not like my dad was big into it. He didn't like cars at all. Well, I remember him liking a Ferrari. But no one in my family was big into cars, and they also wouldn't let me near any tools. Which is probably why I have more tools and cars now than anyone should.
Q: Do you have to be a holiday hater to enjoy your show?
A: No, just I hate the holidays. Look. I don't mind spending money on presents for the kids. I'll wrap them, sure, but does it really have to take three hours? I mean the stuff these days, it's like you need directions to just open up what's in the package. Shrink wrap, pin snaps, box cutters. It seems like I spend more nights just trying to get this stuff open than anyone spends playing it. There should really be some kind of a disclaimer on the package that it's not for people who don't have a set of micro screwdrivers or aren't competent with an Allen wrench. Is that too much to ask?
But regarding the show, you can come if you like the holidays. But be prepared to hear me talking about some of those things I happen to hate about the holidays.
