In honor of Father's Day being just around the corner, today we're paying homage to 10 of our favorite TV dads of both past and present, all of whom have inspired our own parenting in one way or another. From the dads whose shows we tune into week after week to those whose names take us on a trip down memory lane, these 10 guys topped our list. Which TV dad do you think is top dog?
Surely you remembered that this Sunday is Father's Day (and if you didn't, well consider this your reminder!), and in honor of the yearly day for dads, test your knowledge of some of television's best, worst and most interesting fathers.
Father's Day is fast approaching, so what better time to honor some of the most memorable television fathers? I've compiled a list of my top 10 dads (and a few father figures) to go along with my great movie dads list from the other day. There were so many stern, sweet and just plain goofy men to choose from, ranging from Sandy Cohen on "The OC" to George's dad on "Seinfeld" to Al Bundy on "Married with Children," so be sure to let me know your favorites. Here's who made my final cut:
No. 10: Philip Drummond, "Diff'rent Strokes"
Philip Drummond often went around with an expression of good-natured surprise. He was utterly patient with his one natural child Kimberly and his two adopted boys Arnold and Willis. The three kids somehow found their way into crazy stressful situations (riding in cars with strangers, bank holdups, learning how to "just say no" to drugs, etc.), and then there were the hand-wringing moments, like when Philip was in the hospital after a car crash and had amnesia! But the sweet, even-tempered Philip Drummond always bounced back, and provided a supremely healthy living environment for all his kids — both adopted and natural.
No. 9: Joey Harris and Michael Taylor, "My Two Dads"
Nicole's hot city apartment with its spiral staircase and giant high-heeled chair more than made up for her strange and awkward situation: With her mother deceased, joint custody was awarded to both Joey and Michael, both of whom had had a thing with Nicole's mom. The way I saw it, Nicole had the best life, living with two dads who were remarkably opposite. There was the hot, free-wheeling dad (Greg Evigan) who could totally show her how to lighten up and party, and the uptight nervous dad (Paul Reiser) who could help her with school and who was great for anxious comedic relief. Plus, if Nicole ever needed womanly advice, "Night Court"'s Judge Margaret W. Wilbur was there to lend a hand. Besides having lost her mother, she had an awesome arrangement!
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