The Man Show

Former radio deejays Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla say the aim of their deliberately politically incorrect sketch series, The Man Show, is to save their gender from the scourge of daytime TV divas. Oprah Winfrey, Rosie O'Donnell and their like, they argue, are dictating to today's women what they should read, eat, and think. Enough, already. The Man Show was the highest-rated debut show ever for Comedy Central when it launched in the U.S. last year, even beating out South Park. Now the Comedy Network is playing catch-up, launching that first season in Canada starting Thursday, Aug. 31 with a tongue-in-cheek invitation to all average guys, the ones who are "fat, hairy and bad in bed." And where better to hold a kick-off media event than at what's commonly perceived as another bastion of male chauvinism, a Hooters restaurant?

Flanked by a bevy of Hooters servers, Kimmel and Carolla held court at a downtown rooftop bar Wednesday, and quickly launched into the kind of sexist patter that has made them a hit with both male and female viewers in their home country. "We've come to save Canada from Oprah," Kimmel declared. "We'd like to eradicate her, like a pied piper leading the rats out of the city," Carolla chimed in with a rhythm the pair has obviously mastered. Kimmel said he doesn't know about Canadian males, but in the U.S. they're starting to go soft. "Men are turning into women. They're wearing earrings, they're shaving their legs, they're wearing really tight bicycling shorts, and that sort of unisex perfume or cologne. And we will not have it!" Instead, The Man Show proudly offers fart and masturbation jokes, and the Juggy Dancers, a scantily clad cheerleading squad that ends each episode by jumping on trampolines, for obvious reasons. A recurring bit also offers homemaking tips from porn actresses.

In one memorable sketch, the boys set up a sidewalk booth to sombrely accept signatures to help put an end to the "suffrage of women." They were attracting a pretty good crowd of female supporters, too, until a passing male advised the crowd that suffrage meant the right to vote. Asked if they'd be taping some future episodes in Canada, the pair ventured that they might not leave, that they might even move here. "My penis isn't even half that big!" Kimmel quipped after glancing over his shoulder at the CN Tower in the background. Except, they said, Canadians had chosen a pathetic national symbol in the beaver, despite its potential for crude double entendres. "It's like the gang member of the animal kingdom," Carolla proposed. "It tears stuff down and blocks rivers." While admitting to an admiration for radio bad boy Howard Stern, the pair have no patience for that other "sexist" entertainer, comic Andrew Dice Clay. They insisted Clay, who isn't seen much on TV these days, was not scuttled by the forces of political correctness, but was his own worst enemy.

Bios

Jimmy Kimmel As co-host and co-creator of Comedy Central's "The Man Show", Jimmy Kimmel makes no apologies for being a guy. As the show enters its third successful season, Kimmel, along with co-host Adam Carolla, have created a phenomenon that delights men and disgusts women of all ages. "The Man Show" has been Comedy Central's second highest rated show since it's debut, trailing only the "South Park" juggernaut. The New York Daily News said of the 2000 season, "Too witty to dismiss…clever…funny in execution as well as premise." Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Las Vegas, NV, Kimmel began his career in morning radio. Fired from stations in Phoenix, Seattle, Tampa, and Tucson, Kimmel's luck finally changed as "Jimmy the Sports Guy" on KROQ-FM Los Angeles' "Kevin and Bean Show", where his popular comedy sportscasts never even got him fired once. While at KROQ, Kimmel met friend and future "Man Show" co-host Adam Carolla.

In 1997, Kimmel became co-host of Comedy Central's popular game show "Win Ben Stein's Money." He has been nominated for an Emmy twice, winning the award for Best Game Show Host in 1999. For three seasons Kimmel co-hosted the show, which garnered much critical acclaim and was chosen by numerous television critics for their year-end "Top Ten" lists.

For the last two years, Kimmel has also served as on-air prognosticator for FOX. "Jimmy's Picks" air every week during football season on "Fox NFL Sunday", where he makes game predictions and relentlessly mocks announcers Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long. Much to the dismay of many football "experts", Kimmel's record over the last two years is the best of any sports personality on television. Not limiting his talents to television, Kimmel appeared as himself in the romantic comedy "Down to You" and lent his voice to "Corky the Dog" in the box office hit "Road Trip."

Most recently, Jackhole Industries, which consists of Kimmel and his production partners, Carolla and Daniel Kellison, have inked a one-year, first look development deal with Comedy Central, in which the three would serve as executive producers for any project green lit by the network. Kimmel currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife Gina and two kids, aged 9 and 7.

Adam Corolla After three successful seasons as co-host and co-creator of Comedy Central’s "The Man Show" Adam Carolla has become somewhat of an expert on men. Carolla with counterpart Jimmy Kimmel have created a show that simply celebrates all things male. "The Man Show" has become Comedy Central’s second highest rated show behind "South Park." Carolla's career path has been anything but conventional. Carolla began working as a carpenter and boxing instructor in Los Angeles. It was his knowledge of boxing that introduced him to radio. An opportunity presented itself when LA-based radio station KROQ-FM announced they were looking for a trainer to prepare "Jimmy the Sports Guy" (Jimmy Kimmel/Man Show co-host) for an on-air boxing event. Carolla's many calls to the station were never returned. Frustrated, he drove to the building and sneaked in with a delivery guy. Luckily for Carolla, at that moment Kimmel went for a bathroom break. Fittingly, Adam met Jimmy outside the men's room. Kimmel lost the fight, but despite that, the two quickly became best friends. Carolla developed the character "Mr. Birchum, Wood Shop Teacher" for KROQ's "Kevin and Bean." show. "Mr. Birchum" soon became one of the hottest and most listened to segments on morning radio. His success on KROQ led to a hosting job on the radio show "Loveline", with Dr. Drew Pinsky, which is currently entering its sixth year of national syndication, heard in 70 markets. Due to the enormous success of "Loveline", MTV developed a television version of the show, which Adam co-hosted with Dr. Drew for four seasons. The popularity of the show led Adam to co-author "The Dr. Drew and Adam Book: A Survival Guide to Life and Love" which is now in its second printing.

Carolla has also appeared as himself in the Miramax film "Down to You" and can be seen in the film "Frank McClusky, C.I" which is slated for release in 2002. Most recently, Jackhole Industries, which consists of Carolla and his production partners, Kimmel and Daniel Kellison, have inked a one-year, first look development deal with Comedy Central, in which the three would serve as executive producers for any project green lit by the network. A native to southern California, Carolla currently resides in Los Angeles.