I love John Oliver!
I am not against assessment; neither am I against standardized tests. However, based on my current knowledge, state exams required by the No Child Left Behind Act benefit test publishers instead of students or teachers. The teachers I’ve talked to say that the tests don’t provide any useful information about student performance, and they strike horror into the students. I think we can find a better way!
On his May 3, 2015 show, John Oliver eviscerated state exams:
Marliyn Gardner Milton's Wordpress Blog 
I love John Oliver, too! He’s so funny – and so smart!