Even though it was corny, I think Mike Brady of the Brady Bunch was a very good father. Also, even though he never was a father, I think Matt Dillon of gunsmoke was a role model to look up to. I actually liked sheriff Andy Taylor, he was a decent honest fellow anf a very good dad to Opie.
I think it's worthwhile to note that in many ads on TV today, the father is the one who has either done something stupid, or is cooking, cleaning, or the passenger in the front seat.
Good list. I’m particularly intrigued by the distinction to be made between Tony Soprano and Joe Biden. There is one, to be sure, but articulating it could turn into a doctoral dissertation.
Merry Christmas, Glenn. My brother was the TV fan and I remember many of these dads being part of the background of my youth but I always thought my dad was the best. I always loved Atticus Finch. Another film that I love has 2 strong parents. I Remember Mama. Wonderful Irene Dunne.
Some strong, opinionated and loving dads I recall from TV were Chuck Conners from The Rifleman, Fred McMurray from my three sons and "Grandpa" (Walter Brennan) from The Real McCoys, and the fathers on the Donna Reed Show and The Father Knows Best. Another group are the wacky, but funny fathers like Redd Fox on Sanford and Son, Ed Guinn on The Munsters and last but not least, Archie Bunker (Carol O'Conner) on All in the Family. The original "not PC" father of all time. My dad loved All in the Family and was greatly amused by Archie.
I liked the way fathers were often referred to as 'Paw". Enjoy!
The Christmas Divorce
A father in Jacksonville calls his son in San Diego a few days before
Christmas and says, 'I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you
that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough.’
'Pop,.... What are you talking about!?!' the son screams.
“We can't stand the sight of each other any longer,' the father says. 'We're sick
of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in
Denver and tell her.'
Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. 'Like
heck they're getting divorced,' she shouts, 'I'll take care of this!'
She calls and screams at her father, 'You are NOT getting divorced!! Do not do a single thing until I get there. I am calling my brother back, and we will both be there tomorrow. Until then,
don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME!?!' and hangs up.
The father hangs up the phone and turns to his wife. 'Okay, it’s done.' he says,
'they're all coming for Christmas, and this time they're paying their own way.'
Y’all be safe out there and have a blessed Christmas!
(The story works just as well with Thanksgiving)
I found this story in a 2009 office computer file. In 2015 (I think), this story was incorporated into a movie starring Rob Petrie, aka Dick Van Dyke, Matthew Modine, Valerie Harper, titled Merry XMas. I haven't seen it, but it might be nice to watch.
Landman featuring Billy Bob Thornton depicts a divorced dad in Midland, TX who is trying to provide guardrails for his late teen daughter and early 20s son. It's a tough job, compounded with the storyline that gets the two parents back together (for now).
My wife and I would agree with your Frazier rating.
Although I loved the show as you did, "Frasier" was an awful dad. He was an insufferable narcissist who left his kid with his equally wacky mother and fled across the continent to escape. The real dad of the show was his dad who moves in with him as a contrast to his snobbishness.
Even though it was corny, I think Mike Brady of the Brady Bunch was a very good father. Also, even though he never was a father, I think Matt Dillon of gunsmoke was a role model to look up to. I actually liked sheriff Andy Taylor, he was a decent honest fellow anf a very good dad to Opie.
I think it's worthwhile to note that in many ads on TV today, the father is the one who has either done something stupid, or is cooking, cleaning, or the passenger in the front seat.
Good list. I’m particularly intrigued by the distinction to be made between Tony Soprano and Joe Biden. There is one, to be sure, but articulating it could turn into a doctoral dissertation.
Merry Christmas, Glenn.
Merry Christmas, Glenn. My brother was the TV fan and I remember many of these dads being part of the background of my youth but I always thought my dad was the best. I always loved Atticus Finch. Another film that I love has 2 strong parents. I Remember Mama. Wonderful Irene Dunne.
I have always wondered what Hoss Cartwright's mother looked like. Maybe Ben got really desperate one snowy winter.
That background information went to the grave.
Well said and sad that I have to watch war films and westerns to find anyone who measures up to my dad.
Merry Christmas, and I'm happy you included Jim Anderson!
Some strong, opinionated and loving dads I recall from TV were Chuck Conners from The Rifleman, Fred McMurray from my three sons and "Grandpa" (Walter Brennan) from The Real McCoys, and the fathers on the Donna Reed Show and The Father Knows Best. Another group are the wacky, but funny fathers like Redd Fox on Sanford and Son, Ed Guinn on The Munsters and last but not least, Archie Bunker (Carol O'Conner) on All in the Family. The original "not PC" father of all time. My dad loved All in the Family and was greatly amused by Archie.
I liked the way fathers were often referred to as 'Paw". Enjoy!
The Christmas Divorce
A father in Jacksonville calls his son in San Diego a few days before
Christmas and says, 'I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you
that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough.’
'Pop,.... What are you talking about!?!' the son screams.
“We can't stand the sight of each other any longer,' the father says. 'We're sick
of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in
Denver and tell her.'
Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. 'Like
heck they're getting divorced,' she shouts, 'I'll take care of this!'
She calls and screams at her father, 'You are NOT getting divorced!! Do not do a single thing until I get there. I am calling my brother back, and we will both be there tomorrow. Until then,
don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME!?!' and hangs up.
The father hangs up the phone and turns to his wife. 'Okay, it’s done.' he says,
'they're all coming for Christmas, and this time they're paying their own way.'
Y’all be safe out there and have a blessed Christmas!
(The story works just as well with Thanksgiving)
I found this story in a 2009 office computer file. In 2015 (I think), this story was incorporated into a movie starring Rob Petrie, aka Dick Van Dyke, Matthew Modine, Valerie Harper, titled Merry XMas. I haven't seen it, but it might be nice to watch.
That reminds me of the old joke where a woman is asked how long she's been married. She replies, "seven wonderful years and 22 in all."
A must watch:
Thanksgiving, with Father Knows Best
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DC1zZlePgow/?igsh=ZnVmOHdjbmJwODV1
John Wayne's character in "The Cowboys." A childless man whose tombstone read "Loving Father."
Landman featuring Billy Bob Thornton depicts a divorced dad in Midland, TX who is trying to provide guardrails for his late teen daughter and early 20s son. It's a tough job, compounded with the storyline that gets the two parents back together (for now).
My wife and I would agree with your Frazier rating.
Although I loved the show as you did, "Frasier" was an awful dad. He was an insufferable narcissist who left his kid with his equally wacky mother and fled across the continent to escape. The real dad of the show was his dad who moves in with him as a contrast to his snobbishness.