Mind Your Manners

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Mind Your Manners
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Mind Your Manners focuses on teaching people how to be responsible and self-sufficient individuals who are confident in themselves and respect others. The show's host, Sara, emphasizes the importance of etiquette and self-acceptance, and often addresses serious issues such as bullying and trauma. However, it should be noted that the show also contains sexual innuendos, references to oral sex and condoms, as well as the use of explicit language like "t--ties out," "s--t," "ass," and "slutty." Additionally, the people featured sometimes wear revealing clothing that Sara refers to as "stripper wear" and "slutty."
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What's the Story?
Sara, the host of MIND YOUR MANNERS, is an international etiquette teacher who has a method that involves tutoring people in 6 areas: How to win friends and influence people, how to look good and feel good, how to dress to impress, how to eat anything with confidence, how to get ahead at work, and how to have more meaningful relationships. She promises, "Come with me and you'll know what to do with anyone, anywhere, in any situation."
Is It Any Good?
Though this new reality series isn't breaking any molds, fans of shows like Queer Eye will find a lot to love. The host of Mind Your Manners, Sara, is a refreshingly open and funny woman who's not easily shocked. Teens will enjoy the ridiculousness of segments like learning to cut a banana properly with a knife and fork, but be aware that it's not all innocent fun -- Sara isn't afraid to hit viewers with the occasional racy comment. The transformations of the clients are interesting to watch and genuinely seem to benefit them, although the before "bad behavior" is obviously exaggerated in order to make the eventual transformation more dramatic.
That being said, there are some antiquated and potentially racist ideas presented in the show, such as when Sara tells her first client, a Black woman, that she needs to work on her enunciation and diction to be taken seriously. It's also hard not to cringe when Sara praises how Parisian women dress "sexy but not slutty." Despite the show's shortcomings, viewers won't be able to help cheering on the people featured while doing a little self-reflection as they watch. This is a show that will provide parents and teens with lots of talking points on what it means to be true to oneself while putting your best foot forward.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how one of the clients on the show was criticized for the way she spoke, with the suggestion that she needed to work on her enunciation and diction to be taken seriously. Have you ever felt like you were judged based on the way you spoke, and if so, how did you handle it?
What do you think is the most important lesson that the show is trying to teach? How do the characters in the show demonstrate this lesson?
How does Sara demonstrate compassion and empathy? Why are these important character traits?
TV Details
- Premiere date: November 16, 2022
- Cast: Sara Jane Ho
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Reality TV
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Empathy, Perseverance
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: December 16, 2022
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