Smart, funny, and informative like Last Week Tonight (Jon Oliver is a producer on this) but with its own style and tone. I'll definitely be back for more.
19 Reviews
Solid informative comedy
johnmullen2317 April 2018
All mess & misery deserve a little Wyatt Cenac.
marxistdog21 August 2018
This show is delightful and heartbreaking. I dare say that these reviews declaring this show boring must be written by some boring-ass people (or, I don't know-by a bunch of sore-sport cops?). Wyatt Cenac is a joy to behold, to laugh with, to cry with, all of it. Problem Areas is nuanced & informative without being preachy or oversimplified; it's stylistically engaging & original; it deftly balances feeling comfortably conversational & endearingly nostalgic while digging in on critically important & most-often maddening issues, keeping it just breezy enough to entertain us along the way to ever more righteous rage. Policing in America c. 2018 cannot EVER be questioned too much-because it's a multilayered convoluted freaking atrocity, people-but taking a dose of our bitter pill with a side of Wyatt Cenac is pretty delicious.
Support the topic, but Dark Humor doesn't work for me
johnnymonsarrat4 June 2019
I believe in criminal justice reform so much that I literally moved to Washington DC to work for a criminal justice non-profit. And I love edutainment shows such as The Daily Show, Adam Ruins Everything, and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. I've enjoyed Wyatt on The Daily Show and on podcasts.
Unfortunately, Wyatt Cenac's jaded and cynical approach just isn't engaging, and the cutaways and digressions seem to muddy the topic instead of adding to the fun. Of course, society's problems can certainly lead to cynicism and anger. He is right to feel that way! But it's just not enjoyable to get brought down, and putting full stops in the show to sigh and make snarky comments destroys its momentum.
The show tends to assume audience support rather than building support through argument, and the topics meander. More structure is needed, and as a super-liberal I would even question some of the points being made. Is Wyatt seriously suggesting that Hollywood movies should cut back on gun violence? Or that we should be recycling our chicken bones? If so, why should these topics take precedence?
Finally, I'm sorry to say that the show seems underfunded. The direct-to-camera approach walking in a small studio with no audience, and the strange decoration, are hard to get a grip on. The editing of the field pieces into a coherent narrative isn't as top notch as we expect for a scripted show. Creative risks take courage and should be appreciated, but in this case, it just didn't work for me.
It's a 5-star show, but I have given 6 stars because of its important topic.
Unfortunately, Wyatt Cenac's jaded and cynical approach just isn't engaging, and the cutaways and digressions seem to muddy the topic instead of adding to the fun. Of course, society's problems can certainly lead to cynicism and anger. He is right to feel that way! But it's just not enjoyable to get brought down, and putting full stops in the show to sigh and make snarky comments destroys its momentum.
The show tends to assume audience support rather than building support through argument, and the topics meander. More structure is needed, and as a super-liberal I would even question some of the points being made. Is Wyatt seriously suggesting that Hollywood movies should cut back on gun violence? Or that we should be recycling our chicken bones? If so, why should these topics take precedence?
Finally, I'm sorry to say that the show seems underfunded. The direct-to-camera approach walking in a small studio with no audience, and the strange decoration, are hard to get a grip on. The editing of the field pieces into a coherent narrative isn't as top notch as we expect for a scripted show. Creative risks take courage and should be appreciated, but in this case, it just didn't work for me.
It's a 5-star show, but I have given 6 stars because of its important topic.
A good idea in need of serious sharpening
jazfro26 April 2018
I thought the first episode was somewhat underwhelming. It was a nicely researched documentary with a couple of touches of humor and irony.
But coming from a Daily Show alumni, with the support of John Oliver, I expected so much more. The show lacked the goofiness of the Daily Show's correspondents' segments on the road (no absurd interviewing) or the devastating irony of John Oliver's long segments (no one is likely to register a church in this show). It was watchable, but any serious documentary maker or journalist could have delivered Wyatt's piece, which was low key, and flat.
Making 'serious' comedy about societal issues is difficult, you have to find an angle, be thought provoking, at times provocative or ironic, or downright outrageous, in order to make the audience think and laugh.
Wyatt Cenac's problem area is that he has not yet found the original/distinctive voice that will make this program compelling viewing.
Chuckle, cry, laugh, cry, chuckle
eliheinz13 June 2018
This is not a comedy show. It is an informative documentary series on the current state of our public system in the U.S. And it is beautiful A honest piece, that uses humor to break the tensions of analyzing very serious and real problems affecting many in the country today. I just wish one didn't need a HBO subscription to view it.
This is a dry, bland, boring, low energy show, but it works
kendallschristopher-4870317 May 2019
This show reminds me a lot of Joe Rogan's podcast. The primary differences being that the humor is flat, no one's smoking weed on the show, the interviewer actually goes out into the field and the interviewer just happens to be Black. The show gets your attention during the opening, with graphics straight out of the seventies that take you back to PBS circa 1971 and great jazz music, which just sticks with me now whether I'm watching the show or not. Even the set looks like your great grandfather's set.
But what feels like a nice sunny afternoon watching a community access program back in the day quickly transitions into serious conversation about hard hitting issues, dispersed with jokes so dry even the British might miss out on them. Which is completely different from what we expect from shows like "Last Week Tonight" or the Vice programs we have come to expect from HBO. It is a shame that I have to pay $15.99 a month to watch this show. But that is the magic of HBO in an age where Netflix has shows for everyone young and old, and aliens on Mars and network TV is trying to figure things out without insulting anyone's sensibilities, occasionally taking risks like ABC does with Black-ish and Young-ish or "Fresh Off Of The Boat" but for the most part keeping things mundane.
A nice, subtle, laid back show that isn't turned up, lit, or amplified like so many other news shows feel the need to be in this day and age. Like the news shows from the seventies. I guess that is the point.
But what feels like a nice sunny afternoon watching a community access program back in the day quickly transitions into serious conversation about hard hitting issues, dispersed with jokes so dry even the British might miss out on them. Which is completely different from what we expect from shows like "Last Week Tonight" or the Vice programs we have come to expect from HBO. It is a shame that I have to pay $15.99 a month to watch this show. But that is the magic of HBO in an age where Netflix has shows for everyone young and old, and aliens on Mars and network TV is trying to figure things out without insulting anyone's sensibilities, occasionally taking risks like ABC does with Black-ish and Young-ish or "Fresh Off Of The Boat" but for the most part keeping things mundane.
A nice, subtle, laid back show that isn't turned up, lit, or amplified like so many other news shows feel the need to be in this day and age. Like the news shows from the seventies. I guess that is the point.
Excellent and informative! Great show
gmorri431 May 2018
First off, what the hell is wrong with people rating this show? This is a great show. What part don't you like? True stories? New ideas? Another way of looking at things? Multiple expert opinions. I don't get it. This is so well do. Wyatt is really good
Typical Safe Politi-Comedy Journalism
boohoogland15 April 2019
Wyatt Cenac's Problem Areas is the typical pandering biased current event show presented as journalism that has devolved and deformed from the John Stewarts legendary, The Daily Show. This is a show so safe, it must have been conceived by an artificially intelligent algorithm crunching twitter buzzwords, HBO demographics, and CNN headlines.
Issues are presented so unevenly and with so much moral weight to one side, that any ounce of journalistic integrity is destroyed immediately. Instead of presenting both sides to viewers and letting them decipher the truth for themselves, Problem Areas spends equal time presenting the facts and preaching morality to it's viewers. This show's arguments are so poorly conceived and full of logical fallacies, it ultimately lacks any power to change any viewer's perspective or behavior.
Problem Areas not only fails at journalism, but also fails at humor. Wyatt Cenac's jabs are sluggish, dull, and devoid of any novelty with jests so played out and stale that they would make for better bingo cards than jokes.
Issues are presented so unevenly and with so much moral weight to one side, that any ounce of journalistic integrity is destroyed immediately. Instead of presenting both sides to viewers and letting them decipher the truth for themselves, Problem Areas spends equal time presenting the facts and preaching morality to it's viewers. This show's arguments are so poorly conceived and full of logical fallacies, it ultimately lacks any power to change any viewer's perspective or behavior.
Problem Areas not only fails at journalism, but also fails at humor. Wyatt Cenac's jabs are sluggish, dull, and devoid of any novelty with jests so played out and stale that they would make for better bingo cards than jokes.
you laugh, you cry
tom-2208011 June 2018
I'd rather watch Win A Date With Tad Hamilton
jhogg-6256825 April 2018
I watch a lot of HBO. It's not uncommon for me to watch each Game of Thrones, Westworld, Last Week Tonight, etc. episode 4 or 5 times the week it airs, so I'm no stranger to reruns. I watched most of what I believe is the first episode of Problem Areas and it was the most boring, unfunny thing I've seen on HBO.
This is my first IMDB review, which I was inspired to write after realizing that I'd rather watch Win A Date With Tad Hamilton than give Wyatt Cenac's Problem Areas another shot.
This is my first IMDB review, which I was inspired to write after realizing that I'd rather watch Win A Date With Tad Hamilton than give Wyatt Cenac's Problem Areas another shot.
Seen all of them
bendygirl27 June 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Recorded and watched multiple times.
It's something you either love or hate. But I need to note that if you're expecting the Daily Show, you clearly don't know Wyatt Cenac. I learned a lot from each episode and I loved that. It made me question how I think of policing. Looking forward to see what the main common thread will be next season. I especially appreciated the content around sexual assault by the police. I learned a lot about how easy it is for police to get away from sexually harassing their female coworkers and women targeted because they won't tell or won't be believed. Excellent episode.
It's something you either love or hate. But I need to note that if you're expecting the Daily Show, you clearly don't know Wyatt Cenac. I learned a lot from each episode and I loved that. It made me question how I think of policing. Looking forward to see what the main common thread will be next season. I especially appreciated the content around sexual assault by the police. I learned a lot about how easy it is for police to get away from sexually harassing their female coworkers and women targeted because they won't tell or won't be believed. Excellent episode.
Informative, original, hilarious
momadden9 July 2018
A show that knows what it is suppose to be
ScrappyBiscuit2 June 2018
It has a little humor, which is fine, but where the show shines is the information and conversations happening on a very serious subject. I love last week tonight for the light it shines on various important subjects, however, you can not try to talk about the issues we have with policing in this country in a 30 minute format, even an hour would not even scratch the surface. The fact it is spread over the entire season, allows for a better examination of the (MANY) flaws that have over taken this public service. I look forward to the rest of the season and looking forward to next season and what topic will be broad stroked.
Laughing at him, not with him.
skippingskippy27 April 2018
Master Class on what Defund Police really means
tyndaris27 June 2020
Amazing show, well put together, researched, and interviews with people from all sides and walks of life. Slightly different humor than John Oliver, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Samantha Bee, but it's in the same vein of political information mixed with a comedies point of view.
Season one was a Masters class on what Defund Police really means, looking forward to season twos focus.
Season one was a Masters class on what Defund Police really means, looking forward to season twos focus.
A Modest Proposal...
owen-watts16 March 2021
Uncancel this show.
No? Okay then I'll continue. Wyatt's two season HBO docuseries is like the holy grail of formats for me - being a semi-sarcastic, searingly investigative and wholly constructive look at pragmatic solutions to societal problems. The first season is dedicated to policing (which turned out to be quite prescient and is hardly going to get less relevant as time goes by) and the second education. There's a notable attempt to be more overtly comedic in the second season as well, which is welcome but didn't help it much. The overall vibe is all wood-pannelling, gentle flute musical interludes and the perpetually laconic Cenac who seems to have an easy rapport with everyone he talks to.
I can see why the thing didn't necessarily take off - but it felt so specifically crafted for me that frankly I can't quite believe it exists in the first place. I learned a huge amount from this - it can be easy to see the US from the outside mainly negatively but in going and talking to the empathetic passionate people on the ground, educators, activists, craftspeople - and doing it in a warm and slightly silly way the show opened a whole other side of that country up for me. It's sad that the show has gone, but that the humans it highlighted persevere somewhere is a lovely thought.
No? Okay then I'll continue. Wyatt's two season HBO docuseries is like the holy grail of formats for me - being a semi-sarcastic, searingly investigative and wholly constructive look at pragmatic solutions to societal problems. The first season is dedicated to policing (which turned out to be quite prescient and is hardly going to get less relevant as time goes by) and the second education. There's a notable attempt to be more overtly comedic in the second season as well, which is welcome but didn't help it much. The overall vibe is all wood-pannelling, gentle flute musical interludes and the perpetually laconic Cenac who seems to have an easy rapport with everyone he talks to.
I can see why the thing didn't necessarily take off - but it felt so specifically crafted for me that frankly I can't quite believe it exists in the first place. I learned a huge amount from this - it can be easy to see the US from the outside mainly negatively but in going and talking to the empathetic passionate people on the ground, educators, activists, craftspeople - and doing it in a warm and slightly silly way the show opened a whole other side of that country up for me. It's sad that the show has gone, but that the humans it highlighted persevere somewhere is a lovely thought.
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