TV dads

Two of them would be Ward Cleaver and Andy Taylor. I know that this will probably date me, but I seldom watch any of the newer so-called family sitcoms.

While I vaguely remember watching "Leave It to Beaver" or "Andy Griffith" when they were actually prime time shows, I do enjoy watching their re-runs on the TVLand cable channel.

One trait that I find in common with both of these TV dads was their willingness to admit to their sons when dad made a mistake. Many fathers either have too much self pride or are too stubborn to admit to their children when they (the dads) were wrong. IMHO this type of attitude many times has a tendency to drive children away from wanting to listen to or confide in their father (and thus "honor" him).

No human father is perfect of course, but with age and experience usually comes a certain degree of wisdom that needs to be passed on especially to their sons. Of course the greatest responsibility of a Christian father is to pass on to his children a genuine love for God and a desire to obey and serve Him. (Deut. 6:4-7)

 

Rev. Eric Camden from 7th Heaven, Charles Ingalls from Little House...and Homer Simpson

 

1. Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith Show)

2. Charles Ingalls (Little House)

3. Jim Anderson (Father Knows Best)

4. Ben Cartwright (Bonanza)

5. Ward Cleaver (Leave It To Beaver)

Wow...I'm really dating myself here!

 

I'm surprised no one has selected the obvious choice: Hank Hill. Hank is the former football star, the humorless salesman and Bobby is the athletically-challenged, gym-hating, prop comic. Whether Bobby is poised to take succeed Dali Lama or whether he is toying with Wicca. Whether he is boycotting Halloween or whether he giving Hank environmental tickets, Hank's long suffering with and unconditional acceptance of his quirky, unconventional son has got to make him the number 1 TV dad of all time.

 

I would also say he's a bit of a father to other characters on the show as well: (Mr. Strickland - his boss, Cotton - his father, Dale- neighbor/buddy, and Bill - neighbor/buddy), all the while maintaining his love for his dear wife Peggy (as well as her spegpetti and meatballs), the Dallas Cowboys, his yard/mower, and his greatest love of all "propane and propane accessories". Quite an interesting and complex character. :laugh:

 

(1) Jed Clampett - Well Doggies!!
(2) Andy Griffith
(3) Fred McMurray (Steven Douglas) - My Three Sons
(4) Rocky - The Rockford Files
(5) Ward Cleaver - Leave it To Beaver

 

Nope, something just aint right bout that boy :laugh::laugh:

 

I agree with Gwen's list, but, while I watched these shows, I can't remember their names.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Besides the obvious problems with the filth/garbage on the new shows, sadly the father figure is made out to be a bumbling idiot (Homer Simpson, Ray- Everybody Loves Raymond, etc.) just part of the feminization of America. Part of the problem with our society, IMHO, we need more men to be men/fathers, we need more John Wayne, Chuck Norris types. :tear:

 

"You failed English? But, Bobbie, you speak English!" :thumbsup:

 

Homer Simpson????????????????

Homer Simpson????????????????

Mine would be

Cliff Huxtable

Lucas McCain

Ben Cartwright

Charles Ingalls

Jed Clampett

 

Fred MacMurry I know. He was the star of the original Absent Minded Professor and The Shaggy Dog movies. But I have never heard of My Three Sons until I read this and found an episode on You Tube.

Just the other day, I was commenting on how high coffee was to the clerk at the grocery store (an elderly woman) who said "It looks like Juan Valdez has been unionized." I asked, "Who?" She said "You know--Juan Valdez." I said, "Oh." Then I looked it up on Wikipedia when I got home.

 

I'm surprised that no one mentioned Bill Cosby. He was one of the better dads, and at times even smarter than his kids.

Dads have taken a bad rap on sitcom television for years. Even some of the better ones listed above were without wife on their shows. They portrayed good dads, but the family was still abnormal. Most modern sitcoms portray dear old dad as incompetent, unable to outsmart his wife or kids, anything but a leader in the home, or worse, abusive, liberal, drunk, sleeping with every other woman on the show, or absent all together. Not a good track record for dads in Hollyweird.

 

I heartily concur with the sentiments expressed by Thousand Hills (Post #11) and with glfredrick (Post #15)!! :thumbsup:

 

I'd say Ben Cartwright, Lucas McCain, and Andy Taylor.

Afterthought- It just occurred to me that all three were widowers and had boys.

 

Homer for comedic relief and aging...not parenting

 

Great list!:thumbs:

 

I'm not sure we can give the TV dads the credit for having such great kids since the kids were simply following a script that told them how to act or react to any situation. Reality is not a TV show; no one follows a script.