Who's The Best TV Dad of All Time?
January 8th 2008 21:32
From Mike Brady with his groovy clothes and fortune cookie advice to Howard Cunningham of Happy Days fame - everybody loves TV dads.
After all don't we all wish we could solve our kids' problems in 30 minutes or less?
A prerequisite of course is wisdom and sage advice.
From Don Porter who played Sally Field's father in Gidget to Fred Gwynne as Herman Munster, Brian Keith in "A Family Affair" to Fred McMurray in "My 3 Sons" - TV dads (in the most part) have taught us that with a positive attitude anything is possible.
It wasn't until I started to think about just how many TV dads there were - that the notion of a "Best Of" almost became too much.
Enter - Charles Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie, Tony Soprano from "The Soprano's" Andy Taylor from The Andy Griffith Show, Ward Cleaver from "Leave It to Beaver", Jed Clampett from "The Beverly Hillbillies", Ben Cartwright (Bonanza), Tim Taylor (Home Improvement), Gomez Addams (The Addams Family), George Jetson (The Jetsons) - the list goes on and on and on.
So just who is the best TV dad of all time?
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Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
My first thought was the dad in Family Ties. He was approachable, had a sense of humour and pretty liberal.
I think more dads will come to me through the day, but that's a good start (I think anyhoo),
Byee
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
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Fat Cult
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Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Yeah - he was pretty cool - a legacy of his former hippy lifestyle I seem to remember.
Was a great launching pad for Michael J Fox and the chick that played Malorie too.
Thanks - I'm sure you'll be back with a few additions later on
Cheers
MNG
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
A secret love child perhaps?
Skippperrrrr . . . . .
Cheers
MNG
Comment by Aimzster
Health and Beauty
Reality TV
The Jeepney Stop
Howard Cunningham is up there for me. I used to always watch Happy Days, wishing I could step over into their living room and be embraced by the Cunninghams. I'd have to give Mr Walsh a thumbs-up as well for fighting the urge to strangle the spoiled brats he has hanging around Casa Walsh all the time.
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
Red Forman is my favorite (That 70s Show). My son says that he and I were separated at birth! HAHA
Mis
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Also like Niles' and Frasier's dad, Samantha's Dad in Bewitched, Joe Dubois in Medium is very cool, Kevin and Bob Jelly from Seachange. Couldn't stand the dad from Kingswood Country.
Michaelie
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Fear not - Howard Cunningham and the sage advice was a fav in the Nice Guy household too - whether or not he was wearing his Leopard Lodge hat
Richie and Joannie turned out OK - but whatever happened to Chuck - the older brother?
Cheers
MNG
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
I was hoping someone would come up with Red!
He's the modern day version of Archie Bunker from All In The Family - what a scream.
Three points from outside the key - all net, no rim for you girl!
Cheers
MNG
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Mrs Nice Guy and the Nice Guy kidlettes think Joe Dubois is just the coolest dad too - even in his ill fitting Tees and jammy's.
I'm a bit of a fan of Niles and Frasiers dad too - though I'm a bigger fan of his dog
Thanks for dropping by
MNG
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Boy - wasn't that a show built round one liners?
Cosby regailed in it and was absolutely in his element.
Didn't mind it the program - but just couldn't stand the little girl for some reason.
Cheers
MNG
Comment by Nathan P. Mahney
NerdBlog
The Comic Nerd
If the show is anything to go by, Chuck Cunningham went out to play basketball AND WAS NEVER HEARD FROM AGAIN! I think the Fonz knocked him off so he could live in his room.
Anyway, the best TV dad is Al Bundy. But if we're talking father figures? Optimus Prime all the way.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Al Bundy was almost the ultimate disfunctional father until Homer appeared on the scene and took the parenting trade to a whole new level.
As for Chuck - you could be right - though it was interesting to see him return in season's 2 and 4 in cameo's - but looked surprisingly different?
Cheers
MNG
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Aboslutely Mr Cunningham (Happy Daze) and Mr Robinson (Lost in Space).
Lilla ...
Comment by Morgan Bell
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Comment by Two Guys Sports
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Fred Flintstone...he really loved that Pebbly-Poo.
I agree with Mr. C having to be near the top of the list.
Danny Tanner from Full House.
Jason Seaver of Growing Pains, although being a psychiatrist he got annoying at times.
Phillip Drummond of Diff'rent Strokes.
Peter Griffin of Famil...wait this is the wrong list for him.
Ben Cartwright...sure he "got around" with the ladies, but he took good care of Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe
I will end with a couple of my true favorites
Joey Taylor and Michael Harris from My Two Dads, and Graham Lubbock from Just the Ten of Us...which was a much better show due to the daughters.
Gene
Comment by Two Guys Sports
Baseball Slate
Wrestling Wrapup
Pro Sports Wrap
As far as Chuck Cunningham goes...
I hear they will uncover the secret on CSI: Milwaukee. Rumor has it that Ritchie accidentally killed him and Mrs. C helped him cover it up. They either buried him in the basement, or stashed him in one of those trash cans The Fonz jumped over.
Gene
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Great to have you on board old boy.
If you look very closely in the episode where the Fonz jumps the barrels in the carpark at Al's - a hand can be seen jetting out of the top of the one third along the row.
. . . yes I suspect it's Chuck.
Cheers
MNG
Comment by Anonymous