When TV Teaches Self Improvement

Can watching TV help you go on a diet? Break a bad habit? Become a better person? Maybe! It isn’t only the morning news programs and talk shows offering self help and self improvement tips to viewers. If you look hard enough, you’ll see that often our favorite TV characters can show us how to live our best lives, and our worst lives.

Problem-Solving: Analyzing the Murderers in "Columbo"
Living Your Best Life, the "Matlock" Way
Parks and Recreation's Chris Traeger and the Path to a Healthy Life
How to Be the Greatest American Hero
The Ropers -- and Their Tips for a Better Marriage
7 Self Defense Tips From Joe Mannix
Watching "Monk" and What to Look for in a Therapist
"Land of the Lost" -- 10 Tips for Surviving in the Wild
Richard Kimble of "The Fugitive": TV's Best Role Model
Wild Animals as Pets; TV Characters as Cautionary Tales
Afraid of Dentists? A "How to Not Be" Guide
Quantum Leap and Staying Calm Under Pressure
TV Tips on How to be a Better Roommate
Watching "The Office" Can Teach You How to Do CPR
The Brooklyn Nine-Nine Bird Watching Guide
Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Its Texting Tips
"Nip it in the Bud" -- Possibly the Best Advice Ever?
5 Ways Watching "Columbo" Can Improve Your Health
Anger Management Tips from Calm TV Characters
Parenting Tips from Some of TV's Best Fathers
Cooking Tips From TV Characters in the Kitchen
How to Fight City Hall, a Guide Through Your TV Set
Vacation Tips from "The Middle" and Much More
Need Study Tips? Turn to Family Ties for Inspiration
How to Make Friends: A TV Western Lesson From Cheyenne
How to be Organized: Find the Right TV Role Models
A TV Self Improvement Lesson: Make a Big Change