Art of Manliness - Latest Comments in The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

Hasher — Fri, 30 May 2014 07:19:28 -0000

To be fairer to him than he probably deserves, Archie Bunker was less horrible than his British original, Alf Garnett.

Plus, in both cases it is the horrible old bigot (Alf/Archie) who bothers to go out to work to support the family, the less bigoted, kinder-hearted son-in-law (Mike/Meathead) being a professional unemployed layabout.

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

Andy — Thu, 29 May 2014 22:38:48 -0000

Interesting list, but the top three dads in my book are not on your list:
- Charles Ingalls of "Little House on the Prairie"
- Lucas McCain of "The Rifleman"
- Tom Corbett of "The Courtship of Eddie's Father"

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

Marie — Thu, 29 May 2014 22:29:19 -0000

How could you leave off the best tv dad of all time: Jonathan Ingalls of "Little House on the Prairie."

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

Tim — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 13:05:42 -0000

Where's Darth Vader???

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

Keith — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 04:17:39 -0000

I do not agree with your view of Archie Bunker. He represents the city dweller of the time. He worked hard all his life to provide for his family he was just caught between the fast changing liberal views and everyday life living in a racially diverse metro area. Remember all the characters in this show are stereotypes. Everyone always forgets that George Jefferson was just as bigoted against white people. If you watch closely the aim of the show was to be funny, to everyone. In order for this to happen basically everybody gets offended. White,Black,Jew,Catholic,Protestant,Polish,Women's Lib, Gay,Hispanic,even gun control, these are just episodes I can think of off hand. I suggest watching with a more open mind.

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

Faris — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 18:01:29 -0000

OK i know the dads in comedies have to do or be funny, so comparing them to those in more serious drama is unfair. But that dad from My Wife and Kids really should be high up on the Worst dads. Implacable in imposing his will, but even as his kids struggle vainly to make him listen to their view, he turns the situation into a game for his own amusement (and the only source of supposed humour in the show). Alright, he is an honest man who provides for them. But real children brought up by an insensitive self indulgent clown like that would grow up with serious character flaws

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

ED — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 05:19:52 -0000

Just 2 words "Fred Sanford"

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

Sencho — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 01:59:20 -0000

Hank Hill was not a good person, let alone a good father. He was a controlling, bigoted, homophobic, sexist jerk whose character never evolved one iota over the span of more than a decade. Even when it appeared in any given episode that he'd achieved some shred of enlightenment, particularly with regard to his son, he'd backslide right back into his usual behavior by the very next episode.

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

G. Blume — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 11:37:19 -0000

What about Alan Matthews on Boy Meets World?

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

Neil Haskins — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 18:54:12 -0000

I'm just surprised you put Ray Barone on the bad fathers list without even a mention of how much more horrible his father was.

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

efrain vega — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 15:50:30 -0000

differents strokeshas a good father, a lot old show has a good father performed like a lost in space Guy Williams,

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

efrain vega — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 15:47:02 -0000

Bonanza show has a good father and the Ingalls Family on the house of praire Michael Landon was a great father over there also

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

David Kahoun — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:47:15 -0000

I know I'm way late to this convo, but I just have to say about an earlier poster, that it was Jason Seaver on Growing Pains, not Mike Seavers, Mike Seaver was the oldest kid, not the Dad. As for Dan Connor being one of the best Dads, I agree in some instances he was a great Dad. He did love his kids, but he never did things with them. The episode where DJ has to take pictures for a class project, all Dan was shown doing was sitting in a chair drinking a beer. Also, he didn't take care of himself and then ended up dying from a heart attack. He also didn't talk to Becky for months when she ran off and got married to Mark. Although he did love his kids and tried his best, a lot of his actions do not make him one of the best Dads. Not the worst, but not one of the best.

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

Tyler — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 22:51:37 -0000

I'm amazed that Ken Titus didn't make the list. Using his children to pick up women, blaming his son for heart attacks, making his 10-year-old son drive him home from the bar multiple times, and purposefully refraining from complimenting his kids to make sure they grew up tough. "Quit being a wussy!"

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

Alexander — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 19:31:16 -0000

It would be worth considering some of TV's best non-kin father figures; often, they do a better job than some actual fathers. Two extraordinary ones that come to my mind are Jean-Luc Picard (captain and father-figure to Wesley Crusher, whose father died under Picard's command) and Rupert Giles (watcher and father-figure to Buffy "the Vampire Slayer" Summers, whose father abandoned her family). Giles is especially notable because one of the pervasive themes of that program is that even strong women still need manly men.

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

Will — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:17:01 -0000

Tim the Tool man Taylor

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

Mattsui — Fri, 31 May 2013 06:33:01 -0000

Red Foreman and Tim Taylor should be on the best dads list. Tim may have been a bumbling fool at times, but at least he had the sense to try and improve. Red Foreman was a hardass, but he reminds me of my grandfather. He worked his butt off his whole life and was a little crass about it, but it was in an effort to keep those around him from making the same mistakes. The best dads on the list are the idealized fathers that we'd all like to see, but are the exception, not the rule.

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

dude — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 21:13:27 -0000

The list was originally in 2008. So here is a nomination for an update: Phil from duck dynasty. A God believing Christian, hard worker all of this life, who is well grounded in reality. Wealth has not gone to his head. Has not been "suburbanized". Adores his wife. Helps the kids whenever they ask. He still tries to teach his adult sons lessons of life and is teaching the grandkids morals and a good work ethic. Although I give him a de-merit for abandoning his son when the game warden showed up.

Another new show. The walking Dead. Rick is shown with good and bad features typical of a real person., Searches for his family against all odds. Fights for his wife and family against a rival. makes mistakes along the way. Making tough decisions in tough times.

I note that there are slim pickings from the 2000's on. Since men are now portrayed as complete idiots. I would not want any of the "men" in friends or big bang theory to sire any children -- ever.

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

Jeremy — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:03:55 -0000

what about Ricky Ricardo?

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

BenB — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 04:09:13 -0000

One that I think should have been mentioned was Tim Taylor in Home Improvement. He may have been a clutz, but he taught his sons good values and spent time with them and learned more throughout the series about both his sons and himself.

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

Kamilo. — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 20:10:28 -0000

` It’s tough to be raised by a professional criminal who knocks off people, including your boyfriend, with little remorse. ` Isnt this supposed to be a men`s site? :)

And Will Smith maybie not been have playing a dad on TV, but any lists loses credability if it doesnt have him on someway about beaing a great father, and a great male rolemodel. He himself was raised without a dad, and had all the possibilities (we all do) to turn out `bad`. How he worked to become who he is now, and everybody thats been raised without a dad, will see strenght in him. Incredible guy.

Im glad you changed your mind about Homer, as I see exactly what you mean. Im sure Al Bundy cares about his kids too, but yeah, the goal you would like to live up too, probably not. But one of the best TV shows, ever.

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

Vic Arious — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 05:46:05 -0000

Best Father on TV= Coach taylor from 'Friday Night Lights' for mine

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

KT — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 23:34:20 -0000

I agree on quite a few of the good dads. I do think that Alan Mathews, Dan Connor, Mike Seaver and Danny Tanner should be on the best list.

What about Tony Micelli from Who's the Boss. What he did to provide a better life for his daughter was excellent.
Also what about Henry Warnimont from Punky Brewester. The way he fought for her when they took her away and put her in a orphanage. Just my thoughts.

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

BG — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 02:04:49 -0000

Why the hell isn't Red Foreman on the best dads list?

Re: The All-Time Best (And Worst) TV Dads

Matt — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 01:11:21 -0000

Re: King of the Hill location

Chad - I bet the origins of Arlen is a play on words - Mike Judge grew up in Temple, TX, and based the show on towns like Humble, TX (near Temple), Richardson, and Garland, TX (both Dallas suburbs).