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Dr. Drew and Adam Carolla are the Masters and Johnson of the new millennium. The two have journeyed from radio to television, and now, with their new publication, "The Dr. Drew and Adam Book," they try their hand at print.
Drew and Adam have become well- known for their amusing and helpful commentary on questions about sex and life - with an emphasis on sex. Drew is actually a medical doctor who specializes in addictions. He is the straight man of the couple while Adam, a former stand up comedian, is the funny one. Whereas Adam tries to shock people with his brutally honest and sometimes crass opinions, Drew tries to remain the voice of reason. But thanks to Adam, Drew has become much less uptight over the years.
The book does a wonderful job of capturing the relationship between the two. Since Drew and Adam are accustomed to performing in front of an audience, the print medium presents challenges of answering questions while still coming across as funny. Fortunately, the dialogue that made them famous has been preserved. Both Adam and Dr. Drew show their personality through the book and they have even more freedom of speech because absolutely no one is listening.
While Adam in constantly injecting humor into his answers, the questions themselves often do not need any comic relief. Adam's sarcastic commentary simply brings out the irony. Examples of some highlights are: "Can I get pregnant if I have sex in a Jacuzzi?" and "Is there a psychological reason not to use a contraceptive?"
Obviously Adam and Drew have some interesting material with which to work. Adam expands on the ordinary answers with several self tests, some of which determine both one's attractiveness to other people and if one is homosexual. Though the tests are not necessarily reliable, they do make the reader laugh. In addition, Drew contributes with his "Myth Busters" which dispute popular myths about sex.
Adam and Drew play off of each other extremely well in the book and even seem to be getting more alike. Maybe the years of working together has been a positive influence on both of them. In the book Adam is less obnoxious and Drew is less anal. Print could be their best medium yet.
In addition to being extremely funny, the book is helpful. Drew and Carolla give accurate advice and explain their answers in a non-intimidating way. They use humor to make light of things that are often taboo. The book makes embarrassing subjects much more accessible and even, at times, hilarious.
-Caitlin Hall
11-11-98
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