Listen to Dori Monson weekdays on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM
 Dori Monson


adam_carolla_ap.jpg
When it was time to get to work a lack of security might have made Adam Carolla better off. (AP Photo/File)

Unemployment was great motivation for Adam Carolla

BY Alyssa Kleven  on November 30, 2012 @ 6:30 am (Updated: 5:32 am - 12/2/12 )

At some point, many of us will find ourselves out of a job. What we do with that time? Find or create work. It depends on who we are and what interests we have. But for outspoken comedian Adam Carolla, his reaction was to panic.

For a time, Carolla had nearly four jobs. By day he would host "The Man Show," by night he would host "Loveline" on the radio, then there was the Loveline television show and his Muppet like puppets that would pull phone pranks on "Crank-Yankers."

After getting the boot from the last of those gigs, Carolla found himself out to pasture.

"For the first time ever, career wise, I was concerned. I'm not a spring chicken. There was nothing on the horizon," Carolla told The Dori Monson Show.

He said he didn't hang onto his Hollywood riches. He wasn't blowing his income on those big mistakes passing celebrities often make.

"I bought real estate. I bought cars, old race cars. But I spent [my money] along the way."

It was time to get to work and his lack of security might have made him better off. He went into business for himself.

"I probably overcompensated."

He started writing and doing more live shows. He hit the podcast game hard. Now he's even developed a cocktail called "Mangria."

Carolla told Dori that if someone said they were going to guarantee his income, he would gladly stay home. When left to his own devices, and uncertainty, he sometimes more than triples what he used to make in a month.

Of course, that means he's busy too. Carolla was in Seattle on Saturday to perform at The Paramount Theater with Dennis Prager. He also celebrated the launch of Mangria on Saturday at The Edge Grill in Downtown Seattle.

Alyssa Kleven, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Alyssa Kleven is an editor and content producer at MyNorthwest.com. She enjoys doting over her adorable dachshund Winnie - named for Arcade Fire front-man Win Butler.
More Dori Monson

MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (6)


  • Add A Comment

  • Cougsfan34 wrote...
    Way to go
    November 30, 2012 11:27 am
    Adam Corolla seems like a real stand up guy. I remember listening to Loveline in high school and Adam always seemed to have his head on at least somewhat straight compared to the rest of Hollywood.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 2112 wrote...
    Corolla
    November 30, 2012 5:42 pm
    is a seriously funny guy. Should have asked him about left lane campers and people afraid to make a turn on a red light.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Op TK wrote...
    I like Carolla, I've liked him for a long time
    December 1, 2012 4:01 pm
    I listened to the radio show when Stern went to satellite. I listen to the podcast almost every day but this article is a bit misleading. When the radio show went off the air, he had time remaining on his contract so he still got paid for a while and he created Ace Broadcasting while he was still in that period. Then you have to consider that an entertainer's version of having no money is different than normal people's. In this economy, millions of people have lost their jobs but when average working class folks become unemployed having no money literally means no money. You're talking apples and oranges here. Let me ask this, how many of the Hostess employees who just lost their jobs have can create a podcast network out of pocket that goes tens of thousands of dollars in the red for months on end?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    Op
    December 2, 2012 5:19 am
    Well stated.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Nickatnyt wrote...
    More guys need to have a bit of the Ace attitude
    December 1, 2012 6:02 pm
    Specifically all you video game playing, long-hair wearing, unhappily married, non-high school graduating, and overweight pizza eating fools.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }