Adam Devine: Believing In Himself and Moving to LA | Forward Progress

Workaholics star Adam Devine details moving to California to pursue comedy, passing on UCLA, and enrolling in Orange Coast Community College after being inspired by the film “Orange County.” Devine reflects on watching standup as a child and explains why the comedians “who weren’t that great” inspired him the most.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Hey, it's Thursday, which means we're coming at you with a short
feel good story from a past guest.
Hope you enjoyed the clip this week, Adam Devine.
Senior year of high school you get into UCLA but family can't
afford it. How does that affect you at the

(00:23):
time? I didn't.
I couldn't care less. Oh, you couldn't care less?
No. No, no.
Why not? I I didn't even want to go to
school. Oh, you didn't?
OK, So what are you thinking then?
Well, I was thinking, I have to get to California.
That was like a a path to get toCalifornia.
And then I was like, I'll go to the Community College and then

(00:44):
I'll at least be close to California.
And I chose Orange Coast Community College in Orange
County because I watched the movie Orange County with Colin
Hanks and Jack Black. And the whole premise of the
movie is Colin Hanks wants to goto Stanford and get out of
Orange County because there's nothing but hot chicks and

(01:07):
Stoner dudes. And he's trying to get it.
He's more than that. And I'm like, that's all I want
to be is a Stoner dude surrounded by hot girls.
And so I went to the Community College.
And tell you what, man, it was the best decision I ever made.
So then I moved out here and I'mit was awesome because that's
where I met Blake and Kyle BlakeAnderson and Kyle New check who

(01:29):
I created Workaholics with and we met day one of improv class
at Community College. And the rest is that obviously
and the. Rest is history in.
What ways do you think Robin Baker impacted your decision to
move to LA? Yeah, Robin was.
She was my high school drama teacher and it was cool.

(01:50):
She was like the first person that was legitimately said that
I had it. She was like, you have it.
You couldn't go and have a career in in LA.
And you're thinking what at the time?
I'm thinking this lady gets it. I'm like, she's a smart woman.
She understands, she sees what I'm bringing.

(02:11):
But she, she also like, knew people like she had.
She had friends in LA. I understand she had some
conversation with your parents that made kind of all the
difference and. Yeah, she essentially told them
that I have what it takes and that that I could move out

(02:33):
because I think my mom was like,like, does he like, are we
crazy? We think he's funny and
talented, but like, are we crazy?
And your dad was more hesitant. Right, yeah, my mom was was
always like he's going to be a star, delusional, that Lady.
But my dad, he's just more of a realist.

(02:54):
He was like, well, like what arethe odds?
You know, because the odds are crazy.
And my mom kind of instilled in me and I and it's something I
believe and I'm like, why can't it be you?
Right. Like it someone has to make it
like there are people that are working in TV and movies, like
why can't it be you? It could you know where it's

(03:17):
worth giving it a shot? Because then I don't want to be
an old person and being like selling real estate or whatever.
I did, you know, and go. I wish I would have taken the
leap and and actually try to follow my dreams.
Your mom was telling me the other day on the phone she had a
bit of a, a panic attack after they dropped you off in

(03:37):
California. She, I think they made it to
about Colorado and she like broke down was like, what are we
doing? Rightfully so my my roommate and
I got drunk night 1 and climbed a fence and he slipped while
climbing the fence and the IT was like a metal fence with a
sharp point. It stabbed him in the right in
the shin and split open his shinand you could see the bone.

(04:01):
We had to go to the emergency room that night, night one of us
getting in town. The evening at the Improv
influenced you how? Yeah, evening at the Improv,
which was a show on I think A&E or something.
And it was a stand up show that my dad and I used to always
watch. And especially after my
accident, I couldn't walk. I couldn't go play sports or get

(04:25):
out of the house or do anything.So my dad and I would just watch
stand up all the time. And it wasn't the great
comedians that really inspired me.
Like, obviously they inspired mebecause they're fantastic and
they're super funny. But it was the comics that
barely made it on that weren't that great.
What? Because I was like, well, I

(04:45):
could do that. Like I can be just OK.
And J. And B on.
TV. You're thinking that?
Yeah. It's like, you know, it's like
12 years old, thirteen years old.
And I was like, I can be that funny.
Like that guy's not that good. What would your dad say?
Nah, my dad was. He was always like, yeah, you
know, you're funny, but you're not that funny.

(05:08):
Like, you're not like, make it on TV funny.
And I'm like, you're an idiot, dude.
But that almost weirdly motivated you in a.
Way for sure, yeah. I would say like just to prove
him wrong. He wasn't doing it to be mean.
He was just like he in his thought, 'cause we're just
people from the Midwest, We've never even been to Los Angeles.

(05:31):
Like we don't know the comedy scene or what it takes or how to
actually make it or be a success.
So for him, he's like, you're a funny guy, but you're not a
stand up comedian. Like these people are like the
funniest in the in the world. You know, we're we're come from
a funny family, but we're not bad.
And I think that's what he was trying to say.

(05:52):
And but in my head, I'm like, yeah, I am.
Thanks for listening. We'll be back next week and
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