In the first scene of Tuesday’s episode of truTV’s “Adam Ruins Everything,” a jolly Uncle Sam figure marches through a town square, proclaiming his love for the U.S.A. to a crowd of patriotic archetypes — Lady Liberty, Johnny Appleseed and Rosie the Riveter.
“Dang, I love America! It’s the most fair, democratic, perfect country on earth!” he says, only to be cut off by the host, Adam Conover, flying above and letting out a long “actually” before landing in front of Sam. True to the show’s title, Adam is intent on ruining everything, and that “everything” includes Uncle Sam’s — or at least some of the societal myths he believes in.
After two full seasons of tackling common misconceptions about everything from gun laws to hygiene, “Adam Ruins Everything” is setting its sights on the good old U.S.A. for its midseason premiere August 13. Conover told TheWrap that this is a subject that the informational comedy show might not have been able to handle in its earlier seasons.
“We’re always looking to go into topics more deeply, to be able to do topics that are, for lack of a better word, more controversial or more difficult to do. The sort of double Black Diamond topics,” Conover said.
But even as the show wades into loaded topics like economic mobility and the Constitution, it maintains its basis in fact and research. Citations are clearly displayed on-screen and real-life experts in science, history and politics make frequent appearances in the cartoonish world of the show. These experts do add to the show’s credibility, but Conover admits that they also add to its entertainment value.
“The audience can tell instantly that they are not trained actors,” he said. “The fact that they’re game and giving it an effort is what makes them funny and charming.”
“On TV, I only get talk to them for a couple of minutes, but…we would have these incredible conversations on set, in between takes or over lunch,” Conover said.
These behind-the-scenes conversations inspired his new podcast, “Factually! with Adam Conover,” a sort of companion to the TruTV show that allows the professors, activists and researchers featured on the show to discuss their field in depth. Recent episodes on the Earwolf-produced show have explored the perceived link between video games and violence, the science of sleep and the legacy of the American Civil War.
Conover has built a career on what he calls “investigative comedy,” a combination of education and entertainment that focuses on dispelling false cultural narratives and uncovering hidden truths about everyday life. He found this niche while writing for CollegeHumor, where he wrote and starred in the “Adam Ruins Everything” web series, playing a heightened, know-it-all version of himself who shares facts with good intentions, but without much tact.
“The Adam character is based on a younger version of myself, because I’ve always collected the kind of information that I tell on ‘Adam Ruins Everything,” he said. “The way that I correct people on the show, I don’t advise people do in their real life. It’s rude. What I say in the writer’s room is that he’s always factually correct, but socially incorrect.“
Still, there are certain virtues to being someone who ‘ruins everything,’ Conover says. “I think that at the end of the day correcting misinformation and questioning what we think we know as a habit of mind is incredibly important…one of the purposes of the show is to make people feel inspired, make them feel curious and remind them that they have the power and ability, I think responsibility can make change in the world.”
New episodes of “Adam Ruins Everything” air Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on truTV.
Hollywood's Most Dangerous Job: 12 Stunt Performers Who Died on Set (Photos)
A look back at some of the daring stunt performers who have passed away on set.
John Bernecker/Facebook
Jose Marco died in 1969 while filming an underwater sequence in the film "Shark." He was mauled to death by one of the sharks, which had been improperly sedated.
Excelsior Pictures Corp.
A.J. Bakunas died in 1978 while filming "Steel." Although he performed his falling stunt correctly, his landing pad was faulty, and he died a day later from injuries.
NBC
Jack Tyree died in 1981 while filming "The Sword and the Sorcerer." While performing an 80-foot fall, Tyree missed the airbag below and died on impact.
Group 1 International Distribution Organization Ltd.
Paolo Rigoni died in 1981 while filming one of the James Bond movies, "For Your Eyes Only." He was pinned under a sled during the ski chase scene.
United Artists
Joseph Leonard Svec died in 1982 on the set of "The Right Stuff." He was knocked unconscious before he was able to eject himself from a plane.
Warner Bros
Chris Lamon died in 2000 in Toronto while performing a stunt for the movie "Exit Wounds." He hit his head when rolling out of an upside-down van and died from his injuries six days later.
Warner Bros
Harry L. O'Connor died in 2002 when performing a stunt for the Vin Diesel movie "XXX." He was a retired Navy Seal who was being pulled on a paraglider that hit a bridge pillar.
Columbia
Lu Yanqing died in 2008 in a fire on set caused by two boats crashing into one another while making the movie "Red Cliff" in China.
Magnet Releasing
Kun Liu died in 2012 in an explosion on the set of "The Expendables 2" while filming in Bulgaria. His parents sued Millenium/Nu Image for wrongful death.
Millennium Films
John Bernecker died in July 2017 after falling from a 25 foot balcony while filming season 8 of "The Walking Dead" on Wednesday.
IMDB
Motorcycle road racer and stunt performer Joi Harris was killed in August 2017 on the Vancouver set of "Deadpool 2" while doubling as Zazie Beetz' Domino during a motorcycle scene in the film that went horribly awry.
Warren Appleby, a stunt coordinator on the DC Universe series "Titans" died in July 2019 after being hit by a piece of equipment that unexpectedly came loose during preparation for a shoot at an offsite special effects facility in Vancouver.
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These stories are tragic
A look back at some of the daring stunt performers who have passed away on set.
19 Coolest Ice Cream Scenes in Movies, From 'It's a Wonderful Life' to 'Wonder Woman' (Videos)
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
George Bailey bonds with his future love an ice cream parlor.
Roman Holiday (1953)
Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck enjoy a sweet treat on Rome's Spanish Steps.
Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
Bette Davis clutches two ice cream cones on a Malibu beach.
Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
John Carpenter's shocker includes a surprise killing of a girl.
The Muppet Movie (1979)
Bob Hope and Fozzie Bear bond over ice cream.
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
Justin Henry acts out over ice cream with Dustin Hoffman's divorced dad.
Mad Max (1979)
Max's wife (Joanne Samuel) fends off a bad guy with an ice cream cone -- and a knee -- in this dystopian classic.
The Shining (1980)
"How'd you like some ice cream, Doc?"
My Girl (1991)
Anna Chlumsky's Vada joins a grown-up writing class and recites an adorable ode to "vanilla, chocolate, Rocky Road, even with pie a la mode."
Forrest Gump (1994)
"The only good thing about being wounded in the butt-ocks."
Pulp Fiction (1994)
John Travolta and Uma Thurman bond over a milkshake.
Girl, Interrupted (1999)
Angelina Jolie makes quite an impression ordering a hot fudge sundae.
Miss Congeniality (2000)
Sandra Bullock reminds us why a woman's best male friends are sometimes named Ben and Jerry.
The Princess Diaries (2001)
Anne Hathaway demonstrates the dangers of brain freeze from too big a spoonful.
City Slickers (2001)
Josh Mostel's Barry is tested on his ability to choose the perfect ice cream to follow any meal.
The Notebook (2004)
Kisses always taste better after ice cream is smashed into your lover's face.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Abigail Breslin's Olive learns what "a la mode" means -- as well as how to combat body shamers.
Zootopia (2016)
This Oscar winner proves that elephants make the perfect ice cream servers.
Wonder Woman (2017)
Gal Gadot's very sheltered heroine discovers some of what she's been missing on her remote island home.
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Over the years, Hollywood has licked up America’s favorite frozen treat
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
George Bailey bonds with his future love an ice cream parlor.