Make Dads Smart Again!

There is a trend on television over the past few decades in which shows depict the father characters as goofy and incompetent. This is very common in Disney shows and other children's shows.
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[@aidenlosh9518]

Shoutout to Phineas and Ferb for portraying great, loving parents. The children were always respectful to their parents and never disparaged them. Even the evil scientist cared deeply for his daughter and wanted to be an active participant in her life.

[@dibsdibs3495]

Yeah one of the few Disney channel shows I’m willing to show my children when I have them.

[@colleen4ever]

They even called their stepparents Mom and Dad.

[@dibsdibs3495]

@@colleen4ever yeah it was the first blended family on Disney channel so that was cool

[@subhamraj5365]

Except said evil scientist's parents who made his life miserable.

[@dibsdibs3495]

@@subhamraj5365 yeah but it still shows how he tries to correct those mistakes with his own daughter even if he goes too far because he still sees her as a baby but he’s just trying to give her what he didn’t have

[@minakelly158]

I love Phil’s character. He definitely made Claire better. He was assertive when he needed to be. He was clueless sometimes but he was an amazing family man. I see all the time where the dad im the story is this sport obsessed abusive man or just stupid. Like not all dads are like that. Phil was a breath of fresh air. He brought light to the show. Him and Gloria carried.

[@CounterClaws]

Hank Hill is a great example of an excellent TV dad, he is wise, loyal, a hard worker and extremely handy.

[@tbp_Nxon3727]

All the good characteristics

[@bigmyke2008]

Dammit Bobby

[@SweetOrangeGirl]

@@bigmyke2008 That boy ain’t right.

[@Mike-ul1xn]

Imagine if Hank Hill and OG Uncle Phil combined their tv dad powers

[@Me-uv6kc]

Why do drugs when you could just mow a lawn

[@AWDTH1111]

Allen Matthews from Boy Meets World was probably the last great TV dad that I remember watching. He was such a good blend of strong and disciplinary, while flawed and imperfect, yet loving and loyal and wise. Realistic version of a great father.

[@Superbatmanbro]

Red Forman from that 70s show was my favorite

[@Sahmlife37]

Allen Matthews is a treasure. I loved his character.

[@davidwit7749]

Maj. John MacGillis from "Major Dad" was a good one. He was always shown to be a devoted father and highly-competent individual.

[@teaghandueck9620]

we need more realistic dad's like Allan Matthews!! I also remember watching a few episodes of girl meets world... Cory wasn't an idiot dad in that show, was he? At least not from what I saw. Anyway, Allan Matthews was one of the best dad's in any show I've ever watched.

[@person2194]

​@Superbatmanbro that's scary he was horrible and never showed love to his son

[@CRC-257]

I recently started watching Bluey as an adult and it is so entertaining and wholesome. The characters are all so great and the parents are the most patient and understanding people in the world. Also they have some pretty good jokes that have made me laugh out loud.

[@bram5123]

Blueys dad is a frickin saint

[@oneinamillennial687]

Yes! Someone else that watches it! I have nieces that do, but I'll admit we purchased it just for ny husband and I 😂. But yes! It's so relatable with what the kids do and the parents still have their moments of mess ups and getting frustrated. Brilliant show.

[@theboywonder3011]

Yeah it's a pretty good show with a loving and caring family

[@Bloody_Ingenious]

My favourite part of Bluey is: Yes, the adults and parents are understanding but they also value DICIPLINE. They aren't doormats to their children, they teach the kids some common manners. Reminds me of my own family: Sweet, soft but doesn't let you disturb the public. It honestly is the best kids show you can find today, because it sets a good example to both parents and kids. If you told me that I'd be admiring a show for preschoolers as a teen, I'd laugh in your face, but here I am lol

[@Neo24931]

Uncle Phil changed my life. A positive black male role model who can often be goofy, but also the man you look up to in a moment of crises. Rest in Peace, James Avery.

[@HolgerDanske]

Even as a white kid I liked him too. Fun, but serious and loved his family.

[@NLBusiness391]

Uncle Phil was just…superb. Such a towering figure and excellent example of a strong man.

[@shanekeenaNYC]

@@HolgerDanske Uncle Phil is exactly who black men ought to look up to.

[@leeking6939]

He is the goat. Been saying this for this ages.

[@neophytealpha]

Don't forget Cliff Huxtable.

[@riyasingla6138]

Honestly I still love Modern family considering they showed Jay as this strong emotionless dad, which contrast to Phill. Also I believe Phill is still a great dad!

[@colleen4ever]

Well, Jay grew up in the 40's and 50's, and many Dads did act like that.

[@tbp_Nxon3727]

Jay and phill are the messi and ronaldo of TV dads

[@HariSeldon913]

Al Bundy may have changed his name and remarried, but he is still the guy who scored four touchdowns in one game.

[@TeenageDirtbag8]

yep exactly

[@colby_ybloc]

While Phil could definitely be considered immature in many aspects, it's also important to note that he wasn't stupid. The female characters weren't exactly painted as perfect either. Claire had an obsession with trying to make everything perfect, Haley was unrealistic about life and expected everything to come without effort, Sal was an alcoholic who was clearly shown to be incredibly irresponsible, etc.. All the characters in this show have their own issues, and the show constantly points out that they wouldn't be able to function as whole family without each other. Everyone played their part, and they were all important ones.

[@jayerickson4369]

Phil Dumphy is a National treasure I will not stand any slander towards him

[@alexei6604]

Neither will I.

[@austinduke8876]

I like to imagine I will be a father that is a healthy blend of Jay and Phil.

[@user-st6zh5rg6u]

Was looking for this one

[@tbp_Nxon3727]

We shall protect him at all costs

[@johnfriday5169]

Phil was dorky, yes but he was not weak or stupid.

[@Mostly_Safe]

We need more Uncle Phils. He was the butt of the joke most of the time but he was also strict, a loving parent, and a great role model for both men and women on how to be a good person. He's easily the best example of what a dad should be. Plus he throws DJ Jazzy Jeff out a door like no other man

[@ethanl4931]

No Role Modelz boutta be stuck in my head for hours now, thank you

[@LoserUser72]

A good recent show that didn't do the dumb dad trope is The Middle. Neither parent is stupid; they are both well-rounded characters with strengths and flaws. And the ultimate message of the show is that family comes first. That and it's hilarious.

[@katelynevans8100]

Yess such an underrated show. Literally my favorite tv sitcom of all time. It’s so relatable and so funny

[@masonpyle5929]

The Middle was amazing.

[@Moredhel83]

@@masonpyle5929 it's because dad is Dr. Jan Itor

[@Superbatmanbro]

I watch the show Blackish and oh man I stop watching because It was so depressing and mentally draining and my soul left for a week because the Dad is a pussy and a crybaby a lot

[@michaelmappin4425]

At the end of your post, I looked down and whispered, "Hilarious."

[@darkXwolf_15]

Bandit from Bluey is a pretty cool dad. He can be funny and be goofy without being an idiot. He's not the stereotypical dumb dad

[@quiffy_mar]

Saw the title of the video, and Bandit came to mind like immediately!! Bandit is truly the best in every way!!

[@jimmyintheswamp]

HE. IS. A. DOG.

[@darkXwolf_15]

@@jimmyintheswamp So? He's a dad in a dog cartoon 🤦‍♀️

[@darkXwolf_15]

@@quiffy_mar That's who I thought of immediately too

[@mmoVSmmo]

@@jimmyintheswamp”I’m not taking advice from a cartoon dog.” -Bandit

[@BecauseImBatmanFilms]

This one of the reasons I loved Last Man Standing. Tim Allen's Mike Baxter disagreed regularly with everyone in his family and friend group but he was rarely portrayed as an idiot. There was conflict from Mike not understanding something but the joke was rarely, "Dad just doesn't get it"

[@erikfm77]

Home Improvement's Tim Taylor was definitely more clumsy but he still had his moments with family and friends.

[@bigshoe84]

I always enjoyed Tim Allen in shows

[@HennessyVallejo-mi1yx]

I love last man standing

[@erikfm77]

@@HennessyVallejo-mi1yx how awesome would it be if Last Man Standing came back for at least another season so that Tim could give some Biden jokes 😄

[@izzieluv]

I totally agree! I was thinking about Last Man Standing the whole time!

[@SomeJesusStuff]

My dad has been talking about this since I was a kid. Dads are heros.

[@AdamPruett]

Yeah my dad is awesome.

[@tbp_Nxon3727]

Yeah my dad is awesome

[@SomeJesusStuff]

Something else they don't talk about in those shows... how the dad, as goofy as they portray them, always goes to work and provides a good life for his family. I talk about mine in my videos every chance I can.

[@thelemon597]

And for the people without dads, I hope yall have an awesome father figure in your lives 👍

[@namantherockstar]

Nicki inspires me.. My parents said if i get 40K followers They'd buy me a professional camera for recording..begging u guys , literally Begging...

[@rmcclure21]

This is exactly why everyone loves Bluey so much. The dad is a goofball, but he’s not treated like a moron. He’s the one who brings fun into the family more than anyone, but he can also discipline his kids and has a great, respectful relationship with his wife.

[@Imissnormal]

Charles Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie is a wonderful portrayal of a dad. He was hard-working and loved his family with all his heart, but Laura saw him as a real person with emotions too.

[@rationalcynic8416]

God, I love that man. My mom watches The Waltons and Little House on repeat. Charles Ingalls makes my heart melt. He is so loving, even to those he doesn't know, but he is also strong when he needs to be.

[@Imissnormal]

@@rationalcynic8416 Charles is the dad I wish I had growing up.

[@dillonvandergriff4124]

​@@rationalcynic8416Yes! Kind and generous enough to give you the shirt off his back, but you lay one finger on his family and there will be hell to pay!

[@Xxgxxaxx]

Given that it’s based on real life events it makes sense

[@annareesee]

I think that Modern Family has an amazing blend of TV dads. They write each ‘type of parent’ really well in my opinion, and show that they all have their strengths and weaknesses.

[@ashleyrogers1930]

True! Jay was your typical mashismo dad. Phil was the goofy silly dad. Mitch and Cam kind of ping ponged between gender roles.

[@colleen4ever]

@@ashleyrogers1930 But they adopted the daughter from hell.

[@ashleyrogers1930]

@@colleen4ever 😂 you know Lily was a sweetheart

[@colleen4ever]

@@ashleyrogers1930 Would it have killed her to smile? Just once?

[@ETibbs11]

Totally here to praise Bluey, like many other comments, because Bandit is an incredible example of a positive father character. However, I also want to say that even the side character dads in Bluey are all great! There's Stripe, Pat, Fido, Jack's dad, Rusty's dad, and Chloe's dad. And he's not a dad (yet), although I'd be remiss not to throw Uncle Rad's name in there, too. Bluey just has awesome male characters overall, actually. It's so refreshing not only for my sons watching, but hell, even for me!

[@EpoRose1]

Rumor is, Bluey’s bonus episode will be Rad and Frisky’s wedding.

[@ellenvandevoorde8943]

Couldn't agree more! Bandit are dad goals

[@TastyJester]

Boy Meets World - my all time fav show, Cory's father, Allen, was not written as dumb, neither were the teachers and of course Mr Feeny wasn't. This was very much different than most made for kids/teens/family shows, but the writers wanted the men to be strong, masculine, leaders, and people you respect. They were written as men who set boundaries and rules and discipline when you messed up. I stand by the first 3 seasons of Boy Meets World being timeless and one of the best family shows ever made.

[@colleen4ever]

God bless Mr Feeny. I dunno about Cory's dad. He may have been smart but he didn;t encourage his kids too much to do better in school, he let Eric get away with his bullying of Cory, and he didn;t get Eric Tested for drugs when he was in college (when a kid gets that dumber in college, something is up!)

[@TastyJester]

I named my cat Mr Feeny, that's how important he was to my life while growing up.

[@TeenageDirtbag8]

yep boy meets world is great

[@1omarella]

@@colleen4everAllen was a great dad, but they made him real by giving him flaws. There was an episode about him babying Eric and not pushing him to live to his potential where he addresses that. The first born, the one that teaches you to be a parent, the one you are terrified of not getting it right, ect. He said he “never took the protective gloves off”. Which to a parent with multiple children, this is so so relatable. Watching the show growing up, I longed for a dad like him.

[@big0514]

That episode where Corey dad brought him to the shop he used to clean up was deep

[@michaelsingletary6056]

I feel so very fortunate that I grew up in the 60s and 70s. Shows like "Leave it to Beaver", Father knows best", and Family Affair. Those shows and others portrayed strong traditional family units and kids were actually respectful to BOTH parents.

[@Superbatmanbro]

The Andy Griffith show was a good show to

[@worldsmostaveragemagician2246]

I think Mike Heck from the middle is one the best TV dads in history. He's strong and provides, while still willing to do just about anything for his family.

[@mkeogh76]

How fatherhood was described in a 1960 movie: "Well, your fathers are much braver because they carry responsibility, for you, your brothers, your sisters, and your mothers. And this responsibility is like a big rock that weighs a ton. It bends and it twists them until finally it buries them under the ground. And there's nobody says they have to do this. They do it because they love you, and because they want to. I have never had this kind of courage." Anyone think a modern Hollywood scriptwriter would even consider honoring fatherhood in such a manner?

[@haworthlowell805]

They'd be run out of Hollywood.

[@TomEldredge-gq5sp]

Charles Bronson in the magnificent 7. Very good movie

[@quiffy_mar]

I love that I’m seeing so many comments about Bandit from Bluey. The impact Bluey has had on teenagers continues to floor me. Bluey not only depicts a functional family, but a truly loving one. The parents are the foundation for the children, and the father is truly considered a hero. I’ve seen so many young men and women express their desire to have a real, intact family because of that show. That’s what I call the fruit of true art!

[@NatalyF17]

Went to see a Bluey play & the parents were having more fun that the children. Myself included lol.

[@gracieluke]

@@NatalyF17 they have I bluey play?????

[@izzieluv]

I am literally watching Bluey with my 4 year old right now.

[@auroratime7379]

I literally watched all of Bluey know what my nephews are talking about and love watching it with them.

[@quiffy_mar]

@@auroratime7379 W aunt!🙌

[@damoenjohnson8701]

Shameless is a terrible example cause it showed that both parents were terrible and that even though he was a terrible person Frank was actually a better parent by a landslide, Monica left and he stayed, when he tried he was actually a good dad.

[@TeenageDirtbag8]

yep

[@illusionlb]

i think it was talking about the uk shameless

[@agt1234567890]

Fiona was technically their parent

[@jamieholland742]

I’m British and grew up watching the British one cus it was funny and what it’s like on a council estate and frank wasn’t dumb he just had drug issues… the American one is crap took all the comedy out of it and dumbed frank down more than he was in the original

[@seeya205]

Frank tried once in a blue moon. Real dads are dads all the time. Not just when they feel like it! If it wasn't for Fiona, those kids would be on the street or in a group home years ago.

[@prestonhall964]

I'm very glad you're out here teaching people to respect family so much. I honestly (as a 17 year old now) regret the last few years where I was causing arguments with my family all the time. A lot of the issues I'm seeing in society even now seem to just be put through the TV and stuffed down everyone's throats. I just wish more people could listen to people like you and channels like Think Before You Sleep as well. Keep up the great content :)

[@colleen4ever]

I bend over backward for my Mom now in order to make up for how I was as a teenager, especially when I was 16. What a year THAT was....

[@RachelHS825]

Tim the Toolman Taylor is a prime example of goofy dad but there to lead his wife and kids 100%. Also loved Boy Meets World for Mr. Feeny and other excellent strong male father figures. Don’t make wholesome shows like they used to anymore 😔

[@mint2marie]

lead? how? lol Jill definitely lead that household.

[@BishopWalters12]

It just depends on how it's done, Tim had a big heart, was a good man to his sons and wife even if he was a screw up at times.

[@clarksavage1952]

Dan on Roseanne made a great TV dad. Peter Griffin not so much.

[@bradleykirkland247]

I just started watching Home Improvement lol. Love it lol.

[@6topcat]

Gotta love Home Improvement, great reference to a TV dad. My dad was very similar to Tim Allen's character, goofy dude, trying to have the best things in the house; he would also reference Home improvement at times. This was one of my favorite TV dads on a TV show. There was Full House and Family Matters as well, but Tim "the Toolman" Taylor was the best, well rounded of them all.

[@toddqueenan3477]

Yeah I’ve noticed this so much the dads are written so horribly. Dads aren’t capable of being inspiring characters anymore. I’m going into film so I’ll try to fix this

[@tbp_Nxon3727]

Hopefully you fix this

[@tbp_Nxon3727]

@@dogbreaththe3rd851 yeah the TV dads being like that is the standard nowadays I guess

[@toddqueenan3477]

@@dogbreaththe3rd851 nah I’ll be fine I’m not making a political statement I’ll just write and make characters that show strong characteristics of both male and females.

[@vitormenezesdemattos967]

That's why i, like so many others enjoy superman and lois' clark. A strong, protective, loving and tough father figure, and loving and caring husband. A breath of fresh air when it comes to families on TV and movies. (Fun fact. Ppl didn't cry over superman's death in Batman Vs superman bc Zack snyder turned him into an emotionless god. If they kill superman next season PEOPLE WILL CRY cuz they will have killed a loving and beloved husband, father and friend)

[@haworthlowell805]

​@@toddqueenan3477 Doesn't matter.

[@Red_Four]

Growing up as a kid in the 80s and 90s, TV dads were men like Carl Winslow, Uncle Phil, and Danny Tanner. We need that caliber of man back.

[@TeenageDirtbag8]

true

[@erikfm77]

Carl Winslow went back to being a TV dad for Progressive insurance 😄

[@inertian4723]

Definitely. Those were men I aspired to be like when I was a kid.

[@347Jimmy]

Carl Winslow was one of the best TV dads ever

[@melissayoung7270]

Michelle in Full House was in charge of that entire house by 3 years old. Uncle Jesse even made his family live in an attic, so Michelle wouldn't cry.

[@Phd366]

I loved Phil’s character. He was emotionally smart. He made Clair a better person and I loved that. 😅

[@proudmornings5788]

me too 😭 I don’t know what’s up with the comment section today

[@NLBusiness391]

I will say, you DEFINITELY see Phil’s masculine, assertive side whenever someone overtly disrespects his daughters. He’s capable of being a real man when he needed to be.

[@anuph.3806]

he was also the main breadwinner, I think he remained so, Claire was a housewife fro the most, and he was generally smarter

[@celian.6577]

@@NLBusiness391 Phil is always a real man. There isn't one single way to be a man that every boy has to comply with, and being a natural goofball doesn't make you less of a real man.

[@Malum09]

I think that the “Dumb Dad” trope really took hold when shows like Married with Children and The Simpsons became huge hits. Of course people forget those shows were made as an Answer to more wholesome shows like The Cosby Show (ironic In hindsight I know)

[@Xepheria1441]

This is one of the reasons that I love Bobs Burgers. It's not perfect but when I first found it, it was so refreshing to see an adult animated show where the family actually loves each other (I know now that there are others but at the time it was my first taste of it) and a Dad who will do anything for his family.

[@madsolea]

Love how you brought up Disney. The 90’s/2000’s shows changed the game for portrayal of parents dynamics with their kids . The parents were competent and sometimes silly but also took time to listen to their kids and guide them. That’s why those shows are aging so well these days I think.

[@colleen4ever]

The last one to do that was Good Luck Charlie.

[@MJAYZ007]

​@@colleen4evergood luck Charlie was a good one actually.

[@Susan_K]

My mother also banned a lot of different shows when my sisters and I were growing up for this reason. She hated seeing the father or both parents being complete idiots (often negligent of their kids too) while the kid characters were just unabashedly rude, horrible, spoiled brats. The dynamic so many shows seem to favor now is having a brilliant girl boss mom who belittles and emasculates her moron husband. What message does that send kids of both genders? Girls are being taught not only to settle for a partner who can’t truly be a partner (then abuse him!) while boys are being taught that they’re morons, and girls deserve to run the world and treat them like crap. I hate it. It’s so toxic. I’ll be glad to see what sort of kids content the Daily Wire ends up producing.

[@colleen4ever]

The craze started with The Simpsons.

[@charlesmartinjr3971]

And it has repercussions for husbands in the real world, because wives who grew up consuming these shows just assume their husband's are like the idiots on t.v.

[@proudmornings5788]

idk I watched all those shows growing up with my siblings and I think we turned out fine… 😅

[@pphg5625]

I can attest that as a guy is affected me negatively, it's not the only factor in my life but watching how many TV dad's/husbands were just cut down on a regular basis I wound up thinking stuff like "wow girls are kinda mean once you're a couple", the lack of positive imagery there has contributed a lot to me just having no inclination to seek out a relationship because "if "that's" a relationship I don't want one"

[@qwmx]

She couldn't have a talk or just incessantly reminding if that's her fear? That generally works. You're missing good shows like that. I had a stay at home dad. I didn't think he was stupid I grew up on the dumb dad trope.

[@iceman_210]

Gone are the days of TV dad's Dany Tanner. His character is so different compared to other TV sitcom dads. He truly exemplified what it meant "to be there" as a father.

[@colleen4ever]

Eh, I dunno. He displayed a LOT of favoritism toward Michelle (he had his reasons, I know) and didn;t seem to reign in Stephanie when she became a teen.

[@namantherockstar]

Nicki inspires me.. My parents said if i get 40K followers They'd buy me a professional camera for recording..begging u guys , literally Begging...

[@elyssacorbaley8133]

Yes!! I loved Full House growing up because of this exact reason. Even though it portrayed how the adults could be wrong sometimes, they obviously had much more maturity, wisdom, and self awareness compared to the kids. They weren't perfect, but they were human. 😊

[@therooster3478]

Sure but in a comedic sitcom I could care less about real parenting

[@gregdrake5069]

Eh, he spoiled Michelle rotten, to a pretty offensive extent. Hes overrated.

[@user-ly8gn4tg7l]

I miss Boy Meet World. Not only did it have great male(and female)characters, it also was about a boy becoming a man. And it dealt with serious topics with delicate care and the parents actually talked about it with Matthew. Nowadays, it's about teenage crappy love lives. Mr. Matthew and Mr. Feeny are prime examples of TRUE men.

[@dani_1234]

Yep, my mind instantly went to this show as well. I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought of it.

[@lovelylotus8787]

For those who’ve seen Smallville, Johnathan and Martha were great parents. They weren’t always right (who is?) but they definitely helped shape Clark’s moral compass as he grew more into being Superman.

[@thenobody4122]

Phil is one of the best dads on the internet, he has his 'tough dad' moments, but mostly inspires not just his kids but everyone around him to be the best version of themselves..by being genuine. He's fun and goofy yes, but that's just his personality. He's a great Father figure to luke, is one of the few in the family to aspire to grow closer to alex and keeps Haley's terrible sex life in check. Not to mention him and Claire are a wonderful couple.

[@TeenageDirtbag8]

yep agree love Phil

[@colleen4ever]

He let his teen daughter go have sex?!?! (hardly ever saw the later seasons)

[@scruffd0g193]

@@colleen4everuh did u not see the episode, he had no idea about Haley.

[@Viktoria-Nikole]

I thought it was just me. I'm African, Mothers may be the heart of the household, but Dads ae our rocks. Whatever disagreement I may have with him, I'll never see my father as this bumbling fool portrayed by Disney

[@quiffy_mar]

Bluey is such a good children’s show that’s making waves, among literally all ages. Bandit is the father and one of, if not the, central heroes of the show. Literally a piece of art that shows a beautiful representation of what it means to be a man, and father.

[@jimmyintheswamp]

Bandit is great. BUT he's not a man portraying fatherhood in a positive light. He's a dog....a great dad, to be sure....but he's still a cartoon DOG.

[@quiffy_mar]

@@jimmyintheswamp Yeah, he’s a dog, but a humanoid dog. He has human consciences, and the feelings and virtues of a human. Heck, that show has a greater understanding of what it means to be human than a lot of shows these days😂 But I totally get that having a human father as the representation could be impactful too. It would be wonderful to see human fathers like him in television!! All I know is, fathers like Bandit do no end of good

[@jgmez98]

​@@jimmyintheswampYeah but getting bogged down in the details of this character being a dog, is unnecessary. The point is, Bandit is a character that represents a positive father and male influence for the cartoon family, providing young children (and apparently teens and young adults as well) with an example of how to be a loving and supporting father/parent

[@25meip]

The interesting thing is, it's not a difficult thing to portray. It's not rocket science. The people making these other shows just don't care

[@shereeh94]

Totally agree! The shows creator is a father of daughters so that definitely shines through in Bandit’s characterisation

[@theywererightaboutus]

Good luck Charlie was a cute representation of big families. And I think Bob was a good dad. He was funny, in tune with his kids and he was a provider.

[@Superbatmanbro]

Good relationship with his wife to.

[@dani_1234]

I love this show, but it falls in this category too. The kids have no respect for him, especially Gabe. He’s seen as a funny punching bag

[@zellalaing5439]

This is why i love parks and recs, Ben, Chris and Ron are all very different people, different type of dads, but all great role models, none of them are perfect, but this is worked on throughout the show and they are able to shine. Truly love all these characters. Also, i will forever love them for casting Lucy Lawless as Rons wife (no.3/4) just brilliant.

[@WarHammerWH]

One of my favorite TV dads was Mike Brady from the Brady Bunch... Very sensible, smart man. I was lucky to grow up in earlier times...

[@colleen4ever]

He;s one of the best!

[@ProfDragonite]

And this is one of the more prominent reasons why Bluey is awesome. Bandit is the TV dad we should have ALL THE TIME.

[@quiffy_mar]

AMEN!!! Bluey is literally a game changer

[@hanzohasashi9439]

I think Hal from Malcolm In The Middle is a great dad to have on screen. He was silly and at times just as much a goof as his children, but he was always there to be reliable. Even in episodes where he would go crazy (like the killer robot episode) he showed he was competent with his hands and mind. He may not have been a perfect father but he always struck me as someone who would do anything for his family and make sure they had a good future even though they did not live in luxury like in Modern Family. Malcolm In The Middle I feel was truly a family positive show about middle America.

[@colleen4ever]

So was The Middle

[@warpedreflection3650]

@@colleen4ever I watched both The Middle and Modern Family. The Middle was far more relatable for me personally and I enjoyed it way more than Modern Family.

[@Jeracraft]

Curious, which male role models do you guys aspire to? 👀↓

[@specialunit0428]

I take inspiration from old black and white photos and recordings of the old Imperial days of the British Empire. As someone who misses the empire and is commonly vilified for stating my opinions, I have modelled myself on the way they (particularly Victorian) used to stand, walk, act etc. That is the only source of actual masculinity these days.

[@iamjoshuaiam]

Bob Belcher.

[@Superbatmanbro]

Red Forman but try to be more caring and nice

[@tumelo5421]

Michael Kyle from my wife and kids was a good example of a TV dad. A family man who loved his wife, loved his children and worked hard. Super hilarious too!

[@amberrymer5014]

I'm glad to hear my mom wasnt the only one to prevent us from watching kid shows solely based on how they portrayed the parents.

[@rachelatwater7576]

As a mom to boys I am raising them to know they are more then what the media portrays them as.

[@TeenageDirtbag8]

good job

[@pphg5625]

You're a good mom to do that, I think it will help them a lot to have you there to teach them that

[@vincerussosux]

Homer Simpson from seasons 1-9 was a good tv dad, he hated working for Mr. Burns but still worked to provide for his family.

[@mikam_dev]

As a 29 y.o. Dad with 3 young kids, I have a glimmer of hope when I see the success of Bluey and the impact it has on people who watch it; especially the adults that watch it. If I can be half as good of a dad as Bandit, I’ll be okay 😅

[@oneinamillennial687]

Bandit gives new inspiration to be more involved and not care what anyone thinks! Kids love it when you get to their level of creativity.

[@zackstetson7243]

As a youngish dad of small children, this is part of the reason I love Bluey so much. Bandit Heeler is creative, strong, loyal, gentle, and he’s not a pantywaist pushover. And he obviously really likes his wife. The show is fantastic.

[@osmanyousif7849]

I think a good example of the “dumb dad” trope done right, is in the animated series, Jimmy Neutron. Jimmy’s father Hugh, while not very bright, is a loving father and husband and knows when to put his foot down if Jimmy’s actions get out of line. Not to mention his dialogue is extremely funny to hear.

[@domesticdragonwaffle]

Also Mr. Turner in Fairly Odd Parents

[@osmanyousif7849]

@@domesticdragonwaffle , eh not really. Timmy's parents are more neglectful to him.

[@BaldwinVoice]

Bandit (from Bluey) and Carl Winslow (from Family Matters) are two incredibly inspirational father figures to look up to

[@Drewp2231998]

My favorite TV dads are Uncle Phil and Red Forman. Two great manly figures with great morals

[@MJ-ns1uc]

We really need more Gomez Addams in this world. I don’t know if you ever watched the old TV show, but I loved his character so much, because not only was he allowed to be weird and quirky, but he cared a ton about his family and was often compelled to try to figure out how to make things cooler or funner or better for his family. What I love about his character so much is that you could look at it on a surface level and say oh he’s just a dumb dad, but the more you watch the more you learn that he’s actually very intelligent and cares so much about his family. He just has his own way of doing things. Just a thought that I had while watching.

[@colleen4ever]

He's definitely goth and dark, but dumb he never was!!

[@chaneykane3828]

Maury Goldberg from the goldbergs is also a good father on TV. In a lot of the episodes he comes off as being really harsh and judgement to his kids but in the end he always opens up about how he just is concerned for them and doesn’t know how to express it. I think a lot of people can relate to that with their own dads and it’s a good message.

[@melissayoung7270]

That show was so good during the first 5 seasons.

[@thegreatattactor]

Morons!

[@saunderss25]

I'm glad I grew up watching one of the best tv dads, Uncle Phil. RIP James Avery.

[@RyRy_941]

Tim Allen as Tim Taylor in Home Improvement and in Last Man Standing was the perfect TV dad. A hard worker, knowledgeable and yet can be a goof.

[@wesleyashley99]

Seems like I remember everything Tim the tool man tried with tools went wrong and that's what most of the laughs were about.

[@jeffb.6642]

@@wesleyashley99 That, and him "fat shaming" Al all the time, which while it was hilarious at the time would be enough to keep it from airing today.

[@taylorpierce6279]

We need a show with parents that have a Morticia and Gomez dynamic, not necessarily the darkness, but the loving, passionate, intelligent parents who care about their children.

[@TeenageDirtbag8]

yep

[@herculesreyes]

Try Bluey! It's a dog cartoon that is very popular not only with kids, but also with parents. I would even dare say it's more popular with parents than kids themselves.

[@Imissnormal]

The original show is great for that.

[@mishalmalik8474]

i'm confused, the shows i watched on Disney Channel like Hannah Montana and The Wizards Of Waverly Place had great parents in them. What shows do people mean when they say these things.

[@jensenjorshina9945]

Literally not the point of Addams family

[@emmagracemichael]

I love Phil Dumphy! He is one of my favorite character in modern family besides Gloria! I actually find the tv dads funnier and I actually like them more than the moms

[@BillCeller]

Phil Dunphy is hilarious 🤣🤣. Also, whoever edits in the funny little clips like “my brain hurts” deserves a raise. They kill it every time.

[@user-zv8jk4wo3h]

Glad more people are standing up for dads, and I love that your mom would have an active part in what you watched and would limit accordingly. I remember telling my dad I hated him as a kid while angry because that's what I saw kids doing in movies/tv shows, and figured it was okay to express myself in the same way despite it being highly disrespectful. However, you mentioned going over friends' house and watching some shows that she wouldn't have supported, so I'm wondering if there's a way to help avoid this, since your mom likely couldn't limit what shows other households would let you watch. I don't have any kids, but wanted to know what other parents would do in this scenario, in case I ever get any kids in the future. I imagine being active in which friends your kid interacts with is a good solution, but sometimes even the best of kids influence each other negatively

[@colleen4ever]

Did your Mom smack you after you said that to your Dad? I know mine would!

[@GracefulTalksCP]

I do love the family dynamics of Wizards of Waverly Place though. Yeah, the kids kept things from their parents, but they went to them when they were in trouble and needed help and I love the guy who plays the dad.

[@amybcys]

tru

[@rationalcynic8416]

Jerry from Wizards of Waverly Place was one of my favorite modern show dads. He was goofy, but he was loving and actually pretty intelligent. He was a good, loving, supportive, and protective father. Momma Russo was also a great mother. Bob from the Incredibles is also one of my favorite modern media dads.

[@nartnugget]

Off the top of my head: Hank hill, Bob Belcher, and Bandit Heeler are all examples of great tv fathers.

[@gabrielosiuhwu5903]

What about Uncle Phil, and Andy Griffith.

[@nartnugget]

@@gabrielosiuhwu5903 both good dads, but I feel like Andy Griffith doesn't count because he predates the trope.

[@SuperBrownieB]

Ted lasso is an amazing father who does as much as he can in his situation.

[@geobloxmodels1186]

This is why 'Wonder Years' has always been one of my favorite shows. The father is a grumpy cuss, but good at heart and he teaches his sons good values. The male teachers are portrayed as being honorable. The young boy matures through his interactions with these men. My favorites are when the kid realizes his dad deliberately lost at golf to his boss so he could keep his job and feed his family. In another, the kid stands up for his crazy gym teacher, even though he dislikes him, because the gym teacher is doing something good.

[@FIatts]

They may be making the dads look dumb but it’s funny. I remember Bob Duncan from good luck Charlie broke his butt while trying to catch his baby he accidentally threw down the stairs, and I don’t care how dumb he looked that’s comedy gold.

[@colleen4ever]

At least he caught her, you'd never see Homer Simpson do that.

[@TeenageDirtbag8]

yep love that episode

[@MichelleK-m6w]

people who play dumb in general just piss me off

[@souldrum86]

Nothing is better than the 90's dads. Boy meets world, family matters, fresh Prince etc. They were real fathers. The scenes where they put their kids on punishment or taught them life lessons felt so real and it was mostly never comedic. I still remember the way Cory got in trouble for being drunk on boy meets world. Nowadays you might as well put clown suits on the parents in these new shows.

[@Quincy_Morris]

One of the things I liked about American Dragon is that it appears they are doing the “dumb dad” trope but as it progresses you realize that the dad is actually incredibly intelligent, wise and competent. He just sort of SEEMS zany to the protagonist and one of the main arcs of the show is the protagonist learning to trust and listen to his dad.

[@toamatoro570]

As beloved of a show as Gumball was, this was an area they really dropped the ball in.

[@forlorndream1400]

I play 'spot the positive white male character' while watching any film or TV show made after around 2015. I rarely score above zero.

[@kumeoii]

lol ima do that now

[@ashmaster802]

Even rarer if you add straight to the criteria

[@someordinarydude9147]

I learned this as a little kid: men are physically scary but women are way scarier in every other way. Their ability to hold a grudge and make your life a living hell knows no bounds. Crossing a woman, especially your mom, grandma, sister, etc. in any way is like stepping on a black mamba.

[@colleen4ever]

Especially if she's a grade A 100% Italian like my own Mama. She ruled with an iron hand. Of course my Dad is a 100% Sweede, and they got just as hot tempers. Don't wanna cross them either.

[@tbp_Nxon3727]

Nah for me mexican dad's are the most mentally and physically menacing figures the moms for me don't even compare

[@nodangles6983]

​@@dogbreaththe3rd851Let's hear the story!

[@themarauder6108]

@@dogbreaththe3rd851 That's petty and pathetic and nothing to be proud of.

[@melissam597]

​@@colleen4everIrish and Scottish moms/grandma's too 😂

[@NiaLaLa_V]

My dad worked long days in the hot sun (always more than 10 hours) never knowing when he was getting to come home. Then he drove at least an hour to get home. And then he spent time with us until it was bed time. I am sick of tv portraying them wrong too.

[@hendyallen5993]

This is why Tom Selleck took the role on Blue Bloods. The males of the show were not portrayed as stupid.

[@jonathanbouthillette753]

Danny Tanner, Phil Dumphy, Uncle Phil and Hank Hill are good examples of good tv dads, even Homer Simpson makes an attempt

[@MLJ7956]

The TV dads from the 50s, 60s, 70s 80s, & 90s were good...however around the 2000s the majority TV dads have been going downhill ever since.

[@garyuntermeyer7976]

Ben Cartwright from Ponderosa, Steven Douglas from My Three Sons, Andy Taylor from The Andy Griffith Show, Mike Brady from The Brady Bunch, the list goes on and on when thinking of good TV dads from the 1960s and 70s. It is so true, they just don't make them like that any more.

[@Samueltoucan2022]

Phil is hilarious! I aspire to be that goofy with my wife and kids.

[@timopper5488]

Guys, it’s important that if you’re going to make a girl laugh, it should be because you know what you’re doing, not because you don’t know what you’re doing. Girls want a guy who makes them laugh because he’s smart and clever, not because he keeps falling through the same hole in the floor.

[@suryamgangwal8315]

Personally, I really like how in Castle, he is really shown as a good father. Watching so many modern shows, i expected him to be a neglectful dad who just got custody because he is famous, but to my surprise, he turned out to be a very loving and caring father who loved spending time with her so much so that the interaction between him and alexis became the main driving force for me watching the show.

[@geeger19]

Danny Tanner was my favorite TV show Dad. I always looked up to the fact that he lost the love of his life yet, Stepped it up & took on both roles of being a parent on top of taking control of a Chaotic house with everyone helping each other out in so many ways to balance the family household.

[@colleen4ever]

Too bad that he saw so much of his wife in his youngest child he basically pampered and spoiled her to no end while not being about to reign in his middle child when she became a teen.

[@geeger19]

@@colleen4ever if you have 3 kids. One of them is always the mistake of the family 🤣

[@hotdot10]

Phil Dunphy is my fave! One of the funniest dynamics is between him & Jay (portrayed as a successful cocky, sarcastic yet loveable alpha) - Jay makes Phil look even goofier as he tries to live up to Jay's expectations - a common theme for many inlaws, so in my opinion... VERY accurate!

[@openlybookish]

Love those scenes. Also love Gloria and Manny.

[@candiseward3871]

There's only 1 exception to the Disney rule on parents and that's Phineas and Ferb. Dad was quirky but smart. Mom was a happy homemaker and obviously loved her kids.

[@colleen4ever]

And Good Luck Charlie. Granted the mom wasn;t a housewife, but still....

[@TeenageDirtbag8]

yep exactly

[@evelynjoy4466]

I’m so glad someone else brought up Phineas and Ferb, that show was truly a diamond in the rough

[@slingshotwaffles]

He knew what was going on, he just turned a blind eye

[@colleen4ever]

@@slingshotwaffles The boys really weren;t doing anything wrong anyway.

[@stefffie78]

Yeah this has always annoyed me! I grew up in the 80s and 90s and the running joke for my dad while watching pretty much every tv show was "men are stupid" - as the media would have us believe!

[@colleen4ever]

And commercials too!

[@davidchambers44]

I think it might have been comedy at first, but more and more it has become vindictive.

[@victorcates9330]

There can be a difference between intent and reception. In some occasions, the bumbling dad might be a comedic inversion of the father as a respectable figure (for instance, Al in Married with Children, where the show was conceived as 'not the cosbies'). In some cases, it might have been feminist overcompensation, such that it could be interpreted as expecting men to be able to engage in the level of self-deprecation to laugh at themselves. In comedy, the star of the show that actors would fight to play might well have been the incompetent male. But children are going to have a naive interpretation. They aren't going to think "oh, it's satire". As a child of the 90s, I was aware that all the intelligent characters in media I consumed were women. You can capture the dynamic in the Simpsons. Lisa and Marge are the voices of reason. But Homer and Bart have more fun. I did an image search and Homer seems to appear in more memes than other characters.

[@winterfire1097]

I'm in the middle of another rewatch of The Walking Dead and I think yet another reason I love this show so much is the portrayal of a father. You have Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) a hell of a father who went through everything for his family. Even his unfaithful wife. It still blows my mind Andrew Lincoln never was nominated for an Emmy. I still get such a thrill out of when Rick tears that man's jugular out with his teeth when his son is threatened. The true meaning of fatherhood, doing ANYTHING to protect your family and especially your kids.

[@matthewskipworth28]

I was waiting for someone to mention TWD. I think of Hershel and Aaron as good parents as well. There are a few in the mix on that show. :)

[@winterfire1097]

@@matthewskipworth28 right? Even on the spin off Dead City it shows how Maggie hasn't been a good mother to her son meanwhile Negan seems to be everyone's dad. Lmfao.

[@Kat-pr9nv]

brett brings her mom up almost as much as ben brings his doctor wife up and I love it

[@yulialomidze4515]

I feel like the best father in all of tv is Bob Belcher from Bob's Burgers - he's not a punching bag like Jerry from Rick and Morty, for example. He's actually smart, capable, talented, but not in a way that belittles other characters.

[@rogerfreels2642]

Despite all the crap Homer gets he deeply cares for his family.

[@89sirmonk]

Often this stuff is claimed to be "rooted" in early sitcoms like "Bill Cosby Show" or "Home Improvement". When really these onscreen characters were excellent Dads. Dads can be goofy and excellent. But they deserve respect not humiliation.

[@shelly4055]

Good Luck Charlie is the one show Disney got right! It was my favorite one growing up because of how the family was. It was so refreshing having a well-functioning family in a kid's show with actual competent, good parents. The parents were goofy and had their quircks. But they were also still parents. The Dad was the provider of the family. He was the one who made the decisions. He was the anchor for the family. Their portrayal of the parents and family was such a breath of fresh air, I can't believe it had come from Disney.

[@spacemetalande]

THANK YOU! This is a huge pet peeve for me. This is one of the reasons I love Bluey so much, the dad is funny but not because he is the joke. He's fun, involved, he has a great relationship with his wife and kids. This blue cartoon dog dad is an awesome example of fatherhood for fathers and for kids.

[@IanTalksHotTakes]

I’ve noticed that a lot of these TV shows want this boss bitch Mom, and so in order to do that they have to dumb down the Dad literally to compensate. Sometimes it works but most of the time it’s just weird. Likewise, I had most Disney shows banned from the house because my parents noticed how I started to behave after watching them. The only one we were allowed to watch was Phineas and Ferb.

[@haworthlowell805]

Deborah on Everybody Loves Raymond; they wrote her character as the worse wife possible.

[@colleen4ever]

@@haworthlowell805 I always wondered why the hell she didn;t get a divorce if she was so miserable!! Girl, do you love your husband or not?! And of you don;t, leave!!

[@darrenloftin]

It’s so weird how Hollywood just likes to belittle men not publicly so much but more physiologically with the younger generation

[@parkerthies2088]

It always puzzled me why tv dads were that way. Real life dads are way smarter than this.

[@Tom_McMurtry]

Copying Homer Simpson?

[@tbp_Nxon3727]

Real life dad's look like albert einstein compared to tv dads

[@Meg-zf7qx]

@@Tom_McMurtryomg never thought of that

[@TeenageDirtbag8]

some it depends on the dad

[@SepticFuddy]

@@Tom_McMurtry 100%

[@izzieluv]

This is for a totally different age group, but this is one of the things I really like about Bluey! Bandit is exactly the right kind of goof. He is silly and in touch enough with his inner child to play with his kids, but he is still the adult in the room.

[@anna.kubiak]

I think what you said about goofs and how it’s okay to be goofy as long as you still support and protect your family is why I love Phil Dunphy. Yes he was goofy, sometimes to an extreme, but when push came to shove he always rallied for his family. He was always there to support Claire and his daughters especially which I think is so important for young girls to see. And also, importantly, when he messed up he always apologized and made things right to the best of his ability which is a great example of masculinity and how it can be vulnerable while still being protective and supporting those you love.

[@JohnDoe-wj3lv]

The Dads on Cobra Kai are great examples of fathers on TV

[@Itslauraokay]

Danny yea but not Johnny he wasn’t the best even tho his character development was pretty amazing 😬

[@thebatmanwholaughs7877]

The dad on good luck Charlie is the 🐐

[@colleen4ever]

That's why I liked that show. Finally a dad portrayed as competant, smart, and loving!

[@lookonthebrightsideoflife5200]

That started with Homer Simpson and to a degree Al Bundy. By the late 90s, dads on TV or in sitcoms were either abusive bastards or amiable morons.

[@erikfm77]

The great thing with Homer is that you can still tell that he loves his family 🙂

[@roycehuepers4325]

I'm actually glad you brought Goofy in at 2:40 He's a goof of course but he's always been shown to be a competent single father. It took empty nest syndrome to actually get him fired at work. For me, I always love Uncle Iroh from Avatar as to a male role model to live by. Dad was in jail and the Uncle that was supposed to raise me wasn't exactly a strong male. (To be fair, my dad was a biker and I'm definitely his son.) But Iroh showed me it's OK to be powerful and strong and that if it means doing the right thing you should be violent, but that you should be a loving goofball that cares about everyone and just be there when they need you. A lead by example, not by force.

[@RobertBrownieX]

The smile Brett has at the end when she rolls into frame at the end always gets me 😂