This is a terrific concept and would have been groundbreaking in competent hands. Unfortunately, the production company was unable to distinguish fact from partial fact from fiction. Further, the interpretation of genuine data was often misguided.
Specific problems, using the business episode for examples (though I could have chosen any episode):
1) non-credible sources. Citing some journalist's interpretation of research is not the same a citing the peer-reviewed article. Picking and choosing academic sources who have failed to convince their colleagues is misleading at best.
2) assertion without evidence. "Henry Ford said..." is not proof of anything other than one man's belief.
3) supposition in abstract. To be successful, many of the proposed changes would require everyone to agree. "Shorter work hours will make everyone richer, happier, and..." unemployed unless the entire world agrees to the scheme. Otherwise companies will relocate to regions where productivity is the most cost efficient.
4) lack of experience. What sounds good in abstract is rarely so in the real world. "Paying workers more is a great for business". Sure it is in theory. Problem is "more" is never ending desire of human beings. Eventually the business becomes unprofitable fails.
5) failure to learn from the past. Many of the show's proposed changes sound great, but have demonstrably failed in practice in modern times. A better presentation would be to admit the concept has problems in the real world and cite specific proposed solutions that would make it worth attempting again.
6) wishful thinking. Some of the conclusions are straight out of fantasy land. They are like the nonsense politicians would like us believe is possible when they are running for office, but somehow never seem to be enacted once in office. The reason is the problems the promises would create would dwarf any benefit derived from the promise itself.
These problems plagued a similar show, Penn & Teller Bullsh!t!
The result was a show that simply could not trusted. Adam did indeed ruin everything, including his own show. Five stars for the concept, the genuine factual data, and logical interpretations of genuine facts. No stars for the specific failures mentioned above. Five stars.
