How to Be a Gentleman (American sitcom, 2011–2012)

Premise and characters

The premise centered on the tensions that arise when two adults with contrasting styles of life and work attempt to share time and navigate modern social expectations. One character was a professional etiquette writer whose public persona and rules for proper behavior often collided with the private realities of friendships, dating and career pressures. The other was a relaxed, blue-collar type who resented rules and preferred spontaneous, less formal solutions.

Production and broadcast

The series was produced for American broadcast television and presented in the standard sitcom runtime, with episodes structured around individual situations that tested the leads' relationship and the etiquette columnist's principles. The program was scheduled as part of a network comedy lineup and, despite promotional efforts, did not return after its initial season.

Reception and cancellation

Critical response to the show was mixed to unfavorable. Reviewers commonly noted that the central fish-out-of-water idea had potential but that execution and tone were uneven. Audience ratings were modest, and the series was cancelled after its debut season; some episodes were later aired in off-peak times as the network completed its run.

Themes and significance

The series explored themes of manners and masculinity in a contemporary setting, using the etiquette-writer conceit to examine how traditional notions of civility fit (or do not fit) with modern life. It is an example of early-2010s network sitcoms aiming to update older character types—such as the straight-laced professional and the lovable slacker—for a current audience.

Key facts

• Format: half-hour American sitcom
• Original run: September 29, 2011 – June 23, 2012
• Network: broadcast television (major U.S. network)
• Status: single-season series that was not renewed