10. Howard Borden
Show: The Bob Newhart Show
After he played the goofy neighbor on I Dream of Jeannie Bill Daily went on to play the even goofier next door neighbor on The Bob Newhart Show. While most might remember Howard as a dim-witted navigator, he was also a stellar single dad. Despite being a little slow, Howard was always genuinely concerned with his son Howie’s welfare, seeking child-rearing advice from his neighbors and dealing with the sometimes painful repercussions of divorce and co-parenting. He was a man ahead of his time, and not nearly as dumb as people thought him.
Episode to Watch: “Sorry, Wrong Mother”
Howard’s new girlfriend tries to win his son Howie’s affection, but Howard himself interferes.
9. Jake Morgendorffer
Show: Daria
Jake Morgendorffer was a man of contradictions: ex-hippie, corporate drone, sensitive and yet full of rage. Quick to anger and quick to cry, Jake often played up his haplessness by simply drifting off to sleep in mid-argument with his wife and daughters. And while the women definitely ruled the roost, Jake strived hard to provide his daughters with the kind of receptive, affectionate parenting that he was denied by his strict, emotionless father. Despite his myriad faults Jake was a good guy and a great dad.
Episode to Watch: “Monster”
Jake falls into a funk when he repeatedly watches a home movie of himself as a child falling off a bicycle and not being ignored by his father.
8. Jack Arnold
Show: The Wonder Years
Jack Arnold was the archetypal dad, or maybe it just seems that way to me because he reminds me so much of my own father. Hard-working and a bit gruff, Jack isn’t super forthcoming with conversation or his emotions. He made sacrifices for his family and though he sometimes disapproved of their actions, he always welcomed them back into the fold. He truly loved his wife and provided for his family, a man of his times and a dad we would all be lucky to have.
Episode to Watch: “The House That Jack Built”
Tempers flare when the family visits daughter Karen at her new house and meet her new boyfriend.
7. Dan Conner
Show: Roseanne
Dan is the fun dad, the kind of dad who will wrestle with you, clown around and order pizza for dinner when Roseanne was out of the house. He slaved away at menial jobs just to make ends meet but he also remained a big kid and the good cop to Roseanne’s more strict bad cop role. When he need to, though, Dan could become rather fearsome, such as when he was defending his sister-in-law from an abusive boyfriend. What a lovable lug!
Episode to Watch: “Like A New Job”
With Roseanne busy at her new waitressing job, Dan takes over parenting, with mixed results (it involves clothes being thrown onto the front lawn).
6. Burt Hummel
Show: Glee
I almost resent how the character of Burt Hummel was written, because he’s so engineered for maximum likeability. He’s the salt of the earth type, a blue collar man’s man and yet a big softy underneath. His gradual acceptance of his teenage son’s coming out remains some of Glee’s most poignant moments. And for added fatherhood points, actor Mike O'Malley also played another admirable TV dad on Yes, Dear!
Episode to Watch: “Preggers”
Kurt comes out to his dad and joins the football team—all this plus a performance of “Single Ladies.”
5. Luke Danes
Show: Gilmore Girls
Luke Danes is a father three times over: surrogate dad to Rory, uncle to errant nephew Jess, and eventually a biological dad to his own long-lost daughter. He fulfilled all three roles admirably, encouraging Rory in everything she did and bemoaning her poor eating habits, exercising tough love with Jess and standing by April even when her own mother tried to keep him out of the picture. Luke is a stand-up guy—and he can cook, making him the complete package.
Episode to Watch: “A Family Matter”
Luke must deal with both his flaky sister Liz and the reappearance of Jess—and admits to stealing Jess’ car.
4. Cliff Huxtable
Show: The Cosby Show
I have to admit that despite growing up watching The Cosby Show I’m not the show’s biggest fan. However there is no denying that when you think of “TV Dad” Cliff Huxtable immediately springs to mind. With his wry sense of humor and ability to bond with kids of all ages, Cliff was an accomplished professional (an OBGYN, appropriately enough) but also the ultimate sage at home, dispensing advice in all situations to his many kids.
Episode to Watch: “Father’s Day”
The Cosby kids band together to provide a special Father’s Day for Cliff—six months early.
3. Rupert Giles
Show: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Giles is the only non-biological dad on my list (unless you count Professor Utonium, but that’s kind of a gray area). But Giles proves that biology does not an excellent father make, as he mentored and cared for not only Buffy but the entire Scooby Gang. Wise, stuffy, and always brave in the defense of his “kids,” Giles cemented the sense of surrogate family that was such a strong theme throughout Buffy’s run.
Episode to Watch: “Band Candy”
Giles reverts to his teenage self, showing Buffy and the Scooby Gang a decidedly different version of their mentor.
2. Louie C.K.
Show: Louie
Louie is one of those characters who always seems to say and do exactly the wrong thing, blundering his way from one awkward situation to the next. But one of his redeeming qualities is his love for his two young daughters. He often admits truths that other parents would hesitate to voice out loud, but whether he’s letting his daughter dress up as Frederick Douglas for Halloween or trying desperately to repair a broken doll, fatherhood is one area of his life where he’s able to rise above his own foibles and do something right.
Episode to Watch: “Lily Changes”
Louie goes crazy when he discovers that his daughter Lily is missing, leading him on a mad dash to find her.
1. Michael Bluth
Show: Arrested Development
The whole premise of Arrested Development lies in its wildly self-involved characters, a family who is quick to turn on one another for their own self-interests. In the midst of this familial insanity Michael, however reluctantly, was the rock that his entire family relied on, including his own father. Above all Michael strived to be a good dad to his son George Michael, instilling in him the same “family first” values that he practiced. Once could argue that the most recent season of Arrested Development messed somewhat with Michael’s character (the season does end with George Michael punching his dad in the face, after all) but in my estimation Michael will always be the ultimate dad.
Episode to Watch: “Pilot”
Michael decides to finally turn his back on his family after one betrayal too many, but he finds himself invariably drawn back to the fold.
That’s all folks! Don’t forget to show your dad (or Watcher or surrogate dad or dad-like loved one) some love this Father’s Day!
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