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| Genre |
|
|---|---|
| Running time | Approximately 93 minutes (Two hours, including commercials) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Home station | |
| TV adaptations | Loveline (1996–2000) |
| Hosted by |
|
| Created by | |
| Produced by | Ann Wilkins-Ingold |
| Original release | 1983 |
| Website | lovelineshow.com |
Loveline is asyndicated radiocall-in program in North America that features medical and relationship advice, often with guest appearances by actors and musicians. For most of its original run until ending in 2016, the show was hosted byDrew Pinsky, who was paired with a radio personality. Several relaunches of the show with new hosts have occurred since that time. As of March 2025, new episodes of the show are no longer being produced.
At the height of its popularity,Loveline was also adapted into a weekly live television program onMTV, also titledLoveline. The television version was hosted byPinsky,Adam Carolla, and a rotating third co-host.
Loveline follows a call-in, question-and-answer format, primarily aimed at helping youth and young adults with issues related torelationships,sexuality, anddrug addiction. The program combines the medical expertise of Pinsky, aninternist andaddiction medicine specialist, with the perspective and humor of a comedic co-host.Adam Carolla described his role as a "sheep in wolf's clothing".[1] Humor is often used to keep the tone approachable, even when discussing serious topics such as addiction,sexual abuse, anddomestic violence.
The show occasionally addresses general medical questions, especially during slower segments or when the topics are atypical. Listeners are also invited to participate in various games featured onLoveline.
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Loveline began in 1983 as a Sunday night dating and relationships segment onLos Angeles radio stationKROQ-FM, hosted byDJJim "Poorman" Trenton, DJ"Swedish" Egil Aalvik, andScott Mason.
The show aired live Sundays through Thursdays from 10 p.m. to midnightPT (Mondays through Fridays from 1 to 3 a.m.ET).[2] Itsflagship station wasKROQ-FM in Los Angeles. It was syndicated primarily on rock, alternative, and adult talk radio stations.
In 1984, Trenton introduced a segment called "Ask a Surgeon," hosted by his friendDrew Pinsky, then a fourth-year medical student at theUniversity of Southern California. A prior legal segment had featured a lawyer known as "Lawyer Lee." As the show gained popularity, Pinsky emerged as a regular presence and became known informally as "Dr. Drew."
Mason departed following a breakup, and the legal and Swedish Egil segments were discontinued. Trenton continued with Pinsky as co-host. In February 1992,Loveline expanded to five nights a week. Trenton was replaced in August 1993 by formerMTVVJRiki Rachtman.
Adam Carolla joined the show in October 1995, coinciding with its national syndication. Carolla and Rachtman often competed for airtime, leading to Rachtman's departure in January 1996.[3] Carolla and Pinsky remained co-hosts until Carolla's departure in November 2005.
During their decade-long partnership, the show's popularity grew significantly. Carolla's humor and Pinsky's medical expertise created a distinctive dynamic. Together, they refined the format, toured, hosted a television version on MTV from 1996 to 2000, co-wrote a book, and made cameo appearances across various media. Carolla left to launchThe Adam Carolla Show in January 2006.
Following Carolla's departure, the show featured a rotation of celebrity guest hosts. Pinsky later revealed that the shortlist for a permanent co-host includedCarson Daly,Joel McHale,Danny Bonaduce,Steve-O, andDaniel Tosh.[4] On July 23, 2006, KROQ-FM DJStryker was named co-host.
Stryker left the show on April 22, 2009, citing budget cuts at Westwood One. Another round of guest hosts followed untilMike "Psycho Mike" Catherwood fromThe Kevin and Bean Show became permanent co-host on March 11, 2010.
Simone Bienne, who had guest-hosted extensively, was introduced as co-host in December 2011. Presented by Pinsky onLifechangers, she became the show's first female co-host,[5] but departed in November 2012.
On December 7, 2012, Carolla and Pinsky launched a "Reunion Tour" to promote their podcast,The Adam & Dr. Drew Show.[6]
On January 5, 2015, Catherwood and Pinsky launchedDr. Drew Midday Live with Mike Catherwood onKABC in Los Angeles.[7]
Catherwood announced his departure on March 16, 2016, to focus on family. His final episode aired March 31.[8] On April 21, Dr. Drew confirmed thatLoveline would end after the April 28 broadcast.[9] Carolla returned for the final episode. The radio version concluded in April 2016.
After a hiatus, the show returned on September 8, 2016, as a weekly podcast hosted byAmber Rose and sex therapistChris Donaghue, with Ann Ingold as producer.[10] The podcast ended on March 8, 2018.
On November 1, 2018,Loveline was revived on theLGBTQ networkChannel Q, hosted by Dr.Chris Donaghue. It aired Monday through Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m.Eastern Time, broadcast viaAudacy's streaming service andHD Radio subchannels in about 20 markets includingNew York City,Los Angeles, andChicago. Although no cancellation was officially announced, new episodes ended in December 2022 before the show's next iteration began in 2024.[11]
A third version launched onKROQ-FM on December 15, 2024, hosted by Kevan Kenney and Tara Suwinyattichaiporn, who holds a doctorate in human communication.[12] The showed aired only on KROQ Sunday nights from 10pm to midnight. Amid layoffs at parent companyAudacy, the show ended in March 2025 after 12 Sunday broadcasts.[13][14]
For Pinsky (in the case of medical physicians) or Psycho Mike (in the case of usual comedic co-host)
The show has had many engineers throughout the years who have developed their own on-air presence. Whether it be conversations with hosts and guests or specific "radio drops" that they have produced usually from clips of previous shows.
ATV version ofLoveline, also titledLoveline, aired on MTV from 1996 to 2000 and was produced by Stone Stanley Entertainment. It followed a similar format to the radio program but featured a live audience and a rotating female co-host alongside Pinsky and Carolla. The co-host role was filled during the show's run by MTV VJIdalis, actressesKris McGaha,Catherine McCord,Diane Farr, and comedianLaura Kightlinger. The show was filmed atHollywood Center Studios.[15]
The Dr. Drew and Adam Book: A Survival Guide to Life and Love, an advice book written in a tone similar to the radio program, was released in 1998.[1]
The series also inspired several games mentioned on the show.[16][17][18][19]
A thinly veiled reference toLoveline appears in the 1988 filmHeathers in a scene featuring a fictional radio call-in show titledHot Probs, hosted by Jim Trenton, the then-host ofLoveline.[20]
