PASADENA, Calif. — To say that the hosts of Comedy Central's "The Man Show" are feeling rather cocky these days would be an understatement.
Not only is their show a success on the cable channel, but Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla have just signed a production deal with Comedy Central that may (or may not) put another show on the air in early 2002.
"They've given us a lot of money to come up with another show," Kimmel said. "We have no idea what we're going to do."
Whatever it is, it won't feature Carolla and Kimmel on camera.
"No, I think America is sick enough of us already," Kimmel said. "This'll be us just producing and writing the show."
Which is almost sort of funny, given that so little writing or production seems to go into "The Man Show" — a show that, by any measurement, is leering, sophomoric, sexist and often just plain stupid. (It airs Sundays at 8 and 8:30 p.m., Tuesdays at 10:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 9 p.m.)
But, according to the hosts, they're just giving their audience what it wants.
"They see a bikini, they go crazy," Kimmel said. "Right," Carolla added. "Not real evolved."
For the stars of a show that never gets any more intellectual than closeups of jiggling breasts, these guys almost sound intellectual as to what their program is all about.
"I think the reason our show succeeds is that it's sort of real to us and it's sort of our reality," said executive-producer Daniel Kellison.
"Television sort of creates expectations of how men should behave. And they're not based in any sort of reality. I mean, as much as our show is sort of crazy. It really is Adam and Jimmy. It really is sort of how they believe and how they think and what makes them laugh — what makes guys laugh."
Dumb guys, apparently.
"On television, there's a presentation of how men are supposed to behave and how women are supposed to behave — how husbands behave and how wives behave," Kimmel said.
"And, with the exception of a few shows, it's not really an accurate representation.
"For instance, you don't hear cursing on television — at least not on regular television — and we curse all day long. It's just not natural." (What could possibly be more unnatural than men who don't swear all day long?)
"I believe that men are this way and have always been that way. Otherwise, I don't think we would find an audience," Carolla said. "I don't think we're convincing them of anything they don't believe. I think they believed it before we got on the air and now they're identifying with it."
And they reject the notion that "The Man Show" has any sort of deeper significance.
"The media, especially, but people in general, have to sort of make sense and categorize things and find out what the angle is," Carolla said. "But, really, the angle is, it's a funny show."
"It's weird when you see, like, someone from the New York Times write 'cultural developments like "The Man Show" ' and attach us to the fabric of America," Kimmel said, "when, really, just like we're in our car and thought — 'Hey, wouldn't it be great to have a show where girls jump on trampolines, and we get to audition them?' "
And they also reject the idea that "The Man Show" show is part of a trend.
"I think it was just a couple of, maybe, copycats jumping on board what they thought was a good idea," Kimmel said. "And they've since gone away."
So, why did FX's "The X Show" fail?
"Because it sucked," Carolla said.
Not that that has driven "The Man Show" off the air.
Of course, in this 100-plus channel TV universe, there's all sorts of programs for all sorts of people.
"I'm sure you all have your own opinions, but we think it's a funny show, and the people that watch our show think it's a funny show," Kimmel said.
Those people are why we all should worry at least a bit.
E-MAIL: pierce@desnews.com