When I posted my list of the top 5 best TV dads last Father's Day many of you commented that I missed a few really good patriarchs. This included Keith Mars, Keith Mars, Keith Mars, and, oh yeah, Keith Mars. So, there was no doubt in my mind that a new list of TV dads needed to be compiled for this Father's Day. I mean, you dads out there need something else as a gift other than the glow-in-the-dark tie your kids purchased at the dollar store. So, without fanfare, here are five more of the greatest TV dads. And, guess who's first?
Keith Mars (Veronica Mars): Commenters have mentioned that Veronica's dad, Keith (played by Enrico Colantoni), was one of the most real and believable fathers on television. He was also very loving and supportive of Veronica in her side hobby of solving crimes, big and small. If the series had gone to a fourth season with (as rumors stated) Veronica leaving her friends and family in Neptune behind in order to become an FBI agent, the presence of Keith Mars would have been sorely missed.
Charles Ingalls (Little House on the Prairie): An honorable mention in last year's list, the father of Laura, Mary, Carrie and Albert was the personification of good parenting. He was loving, yet stern, peaceful, yet would be willing to fight to defend himself and his family. He would do anything for his children, even if it meant finding work away from Walnut Grove. I don't think that there are many more fathers like him on television anymore.
Red Foreman (That 70's Show): Sure, he was always threatening to place a lower appendage up someone's rear end, but he did love his family. If anything, Red personified the father of the 1970's: tough exterior yet something sensitive inside. Like Charles Ingalls above, all Red wanted was to see his children do better than he did.
Danny Tanner (Full House): Don't hold it against him that he had to have his brother-in-law and best friend move into his house to help raise his three girls. This just meant that Danny was smart enough to realize that he needed help. That didn't mean that he left all the parenting to them, though. Most of the time he was the one doling out the advice and receiving the hugs from his girls (and the 'ahhhs' from the audience).
Homer Simpson (The Simpsons): Sure, what the heck. Ninety-nine percent of the time Homer may be working on only one cylinder, but there are those moments where you can see the love he has for his children (even if he forgets how many of them he has or what their names are). Plus, you have to give him credit for all of the crap Bart gives him.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-17-2007 @ 11:10AM
bd said...
Jake Sisko?
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6-17-2007 @ 11:10AM
bd said...
Er...Ben Sisko.
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6-17-2007 @ 11:41AM
Dave said...
Jack Bristow!
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6-17-2007 @ 11:59AM
Jeff said...
Philip Bauer! *giggle*
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6-17-2007 @ 12:50PM
Lacey said...
Oh man, Red is one of my favorite TV dads, though he reminds me more of my grandfather than my father, lol.
2 of the ones I suggested in the comments last year on on this list (Red and Danny) So, this year again I'm gonna throw in
Paul Hennessy (8 simple rules)
Tim Taylor (Home Improvement)
and
Alan Matthews (Boy Meets World)
Here's hoping they make next years list, lol
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6-17-2007 @ 12:53PM
slutty_whore said...
No George Jefferson? The same logic you applied to Red Foreman could be applied to him, as well.
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6-17-2007 @ 1:22PM
Rob said...
What about Bill Cosby? [Cosby Show]
or General Bill Adama? [BSG] (ok,.. so he's probably not the best example, but I wouldn't mind having him as a father)
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6-17-2007 @ 1:38PM
Mel said...
I'd totally put HRG aka Noah Bennett from Heroes at the top of my TV Dads list. His interactions with Claire are one of my favorite things about the show, and I tear up every time he calls her Clairebear.
While he may not be the best of fathers, I'm pretty fond of John Winchester from Supernatural. At least he always tried to keep the family together, and he even crawled up from hell to help out his boys. And he makes yelling loveable, somehow.
Also, as an afterthought, Stephen Trager from Kyle XY. Yeah, he's pretty good too.
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6-17-2007 @ 1:46PM
Jeff N. said...
Let's go old school on this subject.
1)Jim Anderson(Father Knows Best character played by Robert Young)
2)Ward Cleaver(Leave it to Beaver character played by Hugh Beaumont)
3)John Walton Sr. (The Waltons character played by Ralph Waite)
4)Bentley Gregg (Bachelor Father character played by John Forseth)
5)Ben Cartwright(Bonanza character played by Loren Green)
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6-17-2007 @ 2:36PM
Dawn said...
Where is Joe Dubois? He has to be the BEST father and husband on television now, hands down.
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6-17-2007 @ 2:47PM
C C said...
I loved James Broderick's Doug Lawrence on "Family".
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6-17-2007 @ 2:47PM
MrsEldubya said...
Joe Dubois is one of my favorite TV Dads. I do agree that Keith Mars is one of the best but as far as a more realistic Dad is concerned, Joe has him beat. Maybe it's because Joe's kids are much younger so there is more chaos and more every day chores on Medium. But both have a great sense of humor and support their daughters completely. But Joe is the main reason I watch Medium and Veronica is the main reason I watch VM.
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6-17-2007 @ 3:04PM
Goats said...
What about Michael Bluth?!
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6-17-2007 @ 4:25PM
Curt said...
Uh, no mention of Ken Titus (played by Stacey Keach) on Titus? A GREAT father...
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6-17-2007 @ 5:57PM
Griff said...
Those are pretty good, but we're forgetting one of the all time greats......Brian Keith in Family Affair (the original single dad)
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6-17-2007 @ 6:09PM
Fraser said...
Woot! Keith Mars definately deserves this #1 spot. Go Keith!
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6-17-2007 @ 6:22PM
Mel said...
Know I already commented on this, but I can't believe I forgot this guy.... Michael Bluth!! This Arrested Development dad cared for his son George Michael more than anything, and their occasional little father-son moments were just so sweet. I guess Tobias could be counted too, we didn't see it much, but he always tried to make daughter Maebe happy. Heck, even Oscar seemed pretty fond of Buster. The Bluth family maybe be known for its disfunction, but there always were those little moments of love that made it all worthwhile for them.
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6-17-2007 @ 7:19PM
Justin said...
Steven Keaton. Family Ties. Shame on all you.
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6-17-2007 @ 7:51PM
La-di-dah said...
Sorry, can I knock Homer S. off the list (his d'oh's irritate me to somewhere and back). Danny Tanner's ok too, but I would slide in HRG and Joe Dubois any day, any time, just bring it. If my real dad weren't so wonderful....
What the heck, even Jack Bristow, I would take and knock off the oldie Charles Ingalls.
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6-17-2007 @ 8:15PM
thinkingthought said...
Lol to the person who said Michael Bluth was a good dad. Thats what made AD so funny...he was a horrible father to George Michael.
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