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    The TV Professor

    There’s so much TV, and even if you’re watching carefully, some really interesting history and life lessons can fly past you. This website, which mostly focuses on classic TV but also sometimes the new stuff, digs into what we can learn from TV shows if we really pay attention. Consider The TV Professor a happy-go-lucky how-to guide for improving your life by watching television.

    History
    Self Improvement
    Personal Finance

    The TV Professor's Latest Lessons

    What historical gems, personal finance tips and self improvement hacks can we pick up from the TV reruns and shows we watch every day? Check out The TV Professor’s most recent posts.

    • A photo of Wendie Malick, Mickey Rooney and Meg Ryan in the 1982 sitcom, "One of the Boys."
      Streaming Time Capsule: "One of the Boys"
    • This a photo of the cast of the 1970s and 1980s TV series, "The Love Boat."
      "The Love Boat" TV theme song: A History
    • Gomez Addams always had eyes for his wife, Morticia Gomez, in the 1960s TV series, "The Addams Family."
      How to Build Wealth like "The Addams Family"
    • If you want to look at the history of aging, all you have to do is turn on the TV.
      The History of Aging, As Seen on TV
    • Charlie Brown (Peter Robbins) and Linus (Christopher Shea) lament how Christmas has become commercialized.
      A Charlie Brown Christmas and Some of the History In It
    • Mr. Drummond, on "Diff'rent Strokes," epitomized the idea of wealth.
      How to be Rich: Tips from TV's Wealthiest Characters

    See the TV Professors latest posts →

    History Lessons From TV

    Sometimes TV shows are time capsules. Other times, TV characters comment on the past – offering up insight into a character’s own history. And that’s what these posts are all about – the history we can learn from watching TV.

    • A photo of Wendie Malick, Mickey Rooney and Meg Ryan in the 1982 sitcom, "One of the Boys."
      Streaming Time Capsule: "One of the Boys"
    • This a photo of the cast of the 1970s and 1980s TV series, "The Love Boat."
      "The Love Boat" TV theme song: A History
    • If you want to look at the history of aging, all you have to do is turn on the TV.
      The History of Aging, As Seen on TV
    • Charlie Brown (Peter Robbins) and Linus (Christopher Shea) lament how Christmas has become commercialized.
      A Charlie Brown Christmas and Some of the History In It
    • A lot of work went into creating the theme song for "Three's Company."
      How the Three's Company Theme Song Came About
    • Actors Billy Sands, Phil Silvers and Paul Ford, in "The Phil Silvers Show."
      Did the "High Five" Begin on "The Phil Silvers Show"?

    See more History Lessons from TV →

    Self Improvement Lessons from TV

    Can watching TV help you go on a diet? Break a bad habit? Become a better person? Maybe! There’s a lot we can learn from our favorite TV characters about improving ourselves, if we look hard enough. Fortunately, The TV Professor is looking for you.

    • TV's best healthiest role model was Chris Traeger, from "Parks and Recreation."
      Parks and Recreation's Chris Traeger and the Path to a Healthy Life
    • William Katt starred in the 1980s TV series, "The Greatest American Hero."
      How to Be the Greatest American Hero
    • It's easy to dismiss the Ropers as pop culture fluff, but the actors really did create a portrait of a realistic, often unhappily married, couple.
      The Ropers -- and Their Tips for a Better Marriage
    • Joe Mannix, TV detective on the series, "Mannix," was famous for getting into fist fights in just about every episode of the show.
      7 Self Defense Tips From Joe Mannix
    • "Monk" is a fantastic detective show, but it also has a lot to say about finding the right therapist.
      Watching "Monk" and What to Look for in a Therapist
    • Land of the Lost wasn't just an adventure show but essentially a weekly seminar on how to survive out in the wilderness.
      "Land of the Lost" -- 10 Tips for Surviving in the Wild

    See more Self Improvement Lessons from TV →

    Personal Finance Lessons from TV

    Get rich quick. Barely get by on nothing at all. Live well. TV characters do it all, and if you take notes, you can learn how to become rich – or poor – very quickly.

    • Gomez Addams always had eyes for his wife, Morticia Gomez, in the 1960s TV series, "The Addams Family."
      How to Build Wealth like "The Addams Family"
    • Mr. Drummond, on "Diff'rent Strokes," epitomized the idea of wealth.
      How to be Rich: Tips from TV's Wealthiest Characters
    • Rachel looks irked in this scene on "Friends" because Ross doesn't seem to realize how broke some of the friends are.
      7 Financial Lessons from "Friends"
    • In the "Happy Days" episode, "Two Angry Men," the Fonz sues Howard Cunningham.
      Happy Days – and Solving a Financial Disagreement
    • The cast of "The Facts of Life."
      The Facts of Life – and Small Claims Court
    • The characters in Taxi were all trying to get by and live better lives, teaching the TV audience a few life lessons along the way.
      Taxi’s rules for better financial living

    See more Personal Finance Lessons from TV →

    About The "TV Professor"

    I’m not really a TV professor. But I am professing to tell you what the shows you watch can teach all of us. It’s probably more than you think.

    Learn more about me →

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    About "The TV Professor"

    I’m not a TV professor. But I am professing to tell you what the shows you watch can teach all of us. It’s probably more than you think.

    Learn more about me →

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