Good manners were prized in the 1950s. One of the earliest shows tackling etiquette on TV was "Captain Kangaroo." From 1955 to 1984, star Bob Keeshan taught kids respect and proper behavior while also entertaining them.
Shows designed around decorum are still popular. For example, "Can You Teach My Alligator Manners?" is a Disney Channel show for pre-schoolers, and The Wealth Channel's "Etiquette 101" offers expert advice for adults.
Etiquette segments can often be found on various types of shows. Daytime favorites such as "Today" and "The Martha Stewart Show" sometimes feature segments on manners and good living, while kids' shows, makeover shows and even dramas offer etiquette-related episodes.
Etiquette TV shows can be entertaining. "Modern Manners," a 2000 TV show out of Canada, used hidden cameras to capture people in testy situations. And "Ladette to Lady," a 2005 British TV contest, showed young women changing from trashy to polite.
Etiquette can be found in films airing on TV, such as 1964's "My Fair Lady" or 2001's "The Princess Dairies." Both focus on transforming an awkward young woman into a polite young lady.