Adam Ruins Everything

Adam Ruins Everything is based on a CollegeHumor web series of the same name, and stars comedian Adam Conover. Each episode begins with an ordinary person going about their daily lives before stating a common misconception regarding a certain topic. Usually the person in question is recurring cast member, comedian Emily Axford. Adam appears seemingly out of nowhere and introduces himself, and informs the other character and the audience about the misconceptions related to the character's statement. This dialogue serves as a springboard to a more in-depth discussion of commonly-held beliefs and falsehoods related to that topic, in which Adam provides historical background to explain how the ideas in question became popularized, introducing real-life experts who explain these details, and citing peer-reviewed science studies and other empirical sources from which the information is derived. When he does this, the citations briefly appear onscreen. This information is presented via the use of sketch characters, time travel, and animated segments, sometimes to the annoyance of the other character. At the end of the show's third act, the other characters' frustration will reach a critical point, prompting them to feel demoralized and disempowered. In the fourth act, however, Adam responds with a "positive takeaway", explaining how the new knowledge that has been provided can provide a solution to the situation, and explaining how the characters and views can do their part to improve society and their lives.

In 2016, truTV aired "The Adam Ruins Everything Election Special", which took a historical look at the American presidency and election system, and which was filmed before a live audience in Los Angeles, California.[12]

The first season featured interstitial segments titled "Ever Wonder Why?" which briefly explored subjects unrelated to the episode's main topic. The second season replaced these segements with extended, out-of-character interviews with the show's experts. In season three, these were replaced with new segments in which Emily talks about other subjects related to the main topic.

• Adam Conover as himself, the series protagonist who serves as the guide for the audience and the secondary character of the episode. The reason he ruins popular ideas for people is because he believes that knowing the truth is always better. His social skills are somewhat limited by his need to bring up uncomfortable facts, and he constantly annoys Emily and other people with his "ruins", but Emily nonetheless becomes his friend and confidant, as seen in "Adam Ruins the Future", in which she counsels him on his relationship with Melinda, and he improves his judgment on when to not to ruin an idea expressed by a complete stranger.
• Emily Axford as herself, a high school teacher who is Adam's friend despite being a frequent target of his debunking and is more on Adam's level: she will occasionally preempt Adam in debunking a false idea, such as in "Adam Ruins Sex" and "Adam Ruins Malls". In "Emily Ruins Adam," she hosts the episode that corrects past episodes' Adam's mistakes. She also has her own personal segments.
• Amos Vernon as Uncle Sam, a reoccurring character in Adam's explanations who resides in Americatown when not needed. He once ends up on the receiving end of Adam's debunking over his views on American greatness in "Adam Ruins America".
• Brian K. Murphy as Murph, a high school PE/health teacher who eventually marries Emily and is a friend to Adam. His personal life events provides fodder for Adam's "ruins".
• Hayley Marie Norman as Hayley, Emily's friend who dates Adam before she is killed off in "Adam Ruins Death".
• Veronica Osorio as Veronica, One of Emily's friends and an animal lover.
• Rhea Butcher as Rhea Conover, a public defender and Adam's younger sister, with whom Adam temporarily lives after he loses his home. The character debuted in "Adam Ruins Football".
• Nicole Roberts as Kendra Perkins, a former prisoner and a friend of both Emily and Adam. She acted as Adam's co-host in her debut episode "Adam Ruins Prison".
• Punam Patel as Melinda, Adam's girlfriend starting at the end of "Emily Ruins Adam". She and Adam met online while editing the same Wikipedia page. In "Adams Ruins Conspiracy Theories", she expresses credence in Moon landing conspiracy theories, which Adam then "ruins". She and Adam end their relationship in "Adam Ruins the Future".
• RuPaul as Gil, Melinda's boss at a luxurious water fountain company. He is introduced in "Adam Ruins His Vacation" and reappears in "Adam Ruins the Future".
• Chris Parnell as the narrator of the six-part animated Reanimated History episodes.

Adam Ruins Everything has received positive reviews from critics. Reviewing the series premiere, The New York Times reviewer Neil Genzlinger wrote, "Adam Conover's new television series isn't the first dedicated to the fine art of debunking, but it's one of the most entertaining."[13] Reviewing the second season, The Wall Street Journal critic John Anderson wrote, "In short, he's irritating. But he owns it. Which makes his quasi-educational comedy series so goofily endearing."[14] Writing in Fast Company, Christine Champagne described Conover as "the lovechild of Debbie Downer and the coolest, most contrarian college professor you ever had."[15]

truTV president Chris Linn stated in a 2018 interview that the show is "a breakout hit" for the network, and that truTV's research has found that viewer "sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, even for people who don't agree with [Conover]. They appreciate his approach."[16]

Reviews have praised Adam Ruins Everything's ability to encourage critical thinking and change its minds using comedy and facts, even when viewers have strongly-held beliefs to the contrary. Writing in the Pacific Standard, Andy Dehnart said:

While one show may not singlehandedly slow society's metastasizing ignorance or save critical thinking, it does offer a highly effective model for overcoming the roadblocks between our brains and reality... There is so much resistance to having our ideological and filter bubbles popped that we protect them and fight off any perceived threats. But instead of coming at our bubbles with sharp swords of facts and judgment, Adam Conover sidles up in his own bubble, tells us a story, mocks himself, and lays out some facts. He's humble, informed, and human. With that combination, he's demonstrating a formula we might all use to attract, not repel, each other.[16]

Adam Ruins Everything has found use by educators in the classroom. In a paper entitled "Adam Ruins Everything, Except Economics", Pennsylvania State University teaching professors Jadrian Wooten and James Tierney wrote that "Adam Ruins Everything touches on many economics topics that are relevant to introductory-level courses" and went on to describe how segments from the show could be used to teach concepts in economics.[17]

In Canada, the series premiered on January 12, 2017 on Much.[24] The series is broadcast on SBS Viceland in Australia.[25] The series premiered on Netflix for the United States on September 30, 2018.[26][27]

• Official website
• Adam Ruins Everything at IMDb
• Adam Ruins Everything on Twitter