Father's Day: 5 Best TV Dads

So, ridiculously long story short, I lost both my father and stepfather at young ages and never had a strong male influence in my life.  Any other male family members were older and all died when I was young.  I watched a lot of television growing up and was always fascinated by the father-daughter dynamics portrayed.  It affects me greatly to see an amazing father on television because I never really got to experience anything like that.  I thought it would be nice for Father's Day to celebrate those wonderful (albeit fictional) TV dads that I absolutely love and sometimes watch with tears in my eyes.  In a weird way, they have been there for me.

Honorable Mention  

Rupert Giles (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Giles wasn't actually Buffy's father, but he was the closest thing she had for a long time.  As a Watcher, he was supposed to guide, but not protect, in her Slayer journey.  He was fired from the Watchers Council after saving Buffy from the test they forced her to endure on her 18th birthday.  Her birth father bailed on taking her to the ice show, but she found out who truly loved her that day.  And any Giles fan knows the best episode is "Band Candy" where he and her mother Joyce become teenagers again.  On the top of a police car.  Twice.   

Quote

Buffy: "Does it ever get easy?"
Giles: "You mean life?"
Buffy: "Yeah. Does it get easy?"
Giles: "What do you want me to say?"
Buffy: "Lie to me."
Giles: "Yes, it's terribly simple. The good guys are always stalwart and true, the bad guys are easily distinguished by their pointy horns or black hats, and, uh, we always defeat them and save the day. No one ever dies, and everybody lives happily ever after."
Buffy: "Liar."

This is his song "Standing" from the musical episode "Once More With Feeling."  Sing it, Tony Head.  Sigh.  It represents everything about their relationship and how he needs to leave so she can continue growing up and being strong.  Well, it's a little more complicated than that in the Buffy world, but still.  TEARS EVERY TIME.  Wish I could embed the actual clip, but here's the link if you wish to watch.

5. Phil Dunphy (Modern Family)

Oh Phil.  Phil, Phil, Phil.  Phil Dunphy is the self-proclaimed "cool dad" who is really the most overeager nerd.  He's so adorable, and Ty Burrell plays the oblivion so beautifully.  Phil just wants everyone to be a big happy best friend family.  He tries so hard, and it's so endearing.  He has such a great relationship with his dad and desperately tries for his father-in-law to accept him.  

Quote

"I'm cool dad, that's my thang.  I'm hip, I surf the web, I text. LOL: laugh out loud, OMG: oh my god, WTF: why the face."

As the seasons go on, you see a more serious side slip out now and then, and he had some beautiful scenes with his children this past season.    

I absolutely loved this one with him and Haley because he was just fuming with frustration and anger, and that's something rarely seen.  It's also something that Haley needed to see.  

4. Sandy Cohen (The O.C.)

The funny thing is that I didn't like Peter Gallagher when I first started watching The O.C.  I don't even think I was done the second episode before saying  OMGSANDYCOHENFOREVER.  Sandy Cohen may be the most warm, welcoming, and understanding father on TV.  He just rolls with the soap opera drama that goes on around the Cohen-Atwood-Cooper-Nichols abodes, and that can't be easy to do.  He and his wife Kirsten have a loving relationship that's not often threatened, and they work on any problems that arise.  His snarky rapport with his son Seth is amazing, and he takes in Ryan (kid from the wrong side of the tracks in Chino) and welcomes him as one of his own.  

Quote

"Since the minute you were born, I knew I would never take another easy breath without knowing that you were all right."

Ok, after watching this clip of Seth and Sandy having "the talk," I want to marathon Season 1 all over again.  Such amazing TV.  I am literally laughing out loud.  If this doesn't sum up why he's one of the best, I don't know what will.

Ok, maybe the art of schmearing a bagel.  I really can't leave that out.

3. Jonathan Kent (Smallville)

Oh, Papa Kent.  The human man who’s truly a father to Clark Kent traditionally dies in the Superman legend.  This should have been no surprise on Smallville, but normally, we see older versions of Ma & Pa Kent.  Smallville showed us good looking middle-aged versions of Jonathan and Martha Kent raising Clark as a teenager.  I fell in love with Papa Kent (my term) and his loving, hard working ethic.  In any other hands, this role could have been overly earnest and a bit cheesy, but John Schneider gave it a goldenly rugged charm with a sense of humor.  I might have gone a bit giddy and started calling him Ryan Seacrest's father (not an insult in my world, love the Ry) and then had the best experience with him at Comic Con where I have the biggest squee smile ever on my face in our picture.  Might have.  I'm not exactly a Dukes of Hazzard fan, but I'm just truly in love with his Papa Kent.  There are no words.  He's just SUCH a good father and husband, up through his fateful day.  

Quote
Jonathan:  "Clark, your mother and I both know that you are gonna save a lot of lives in this world, even more than you have any idea."
Clark:  "The only life I'm interested in saving is yours." 

Jonathan:  "You do.  You save my life every day that you're with us.  And we wouldn't trade that for a single moment without you."

I’m not big on fan videos, but I think this one is really well done. 

2. Keith Mars (Veronica Mars)

Keith Mars is a newly single dad, former sheriff, and current PI.  He and Veronica are the black sheep of the town for awhile, and she helps him with his cases, oftentimes against his wishes.  Keith treats his daughter like a mature individual, but he's also right there for her whenever she needs her dad.  He gives her privacy but stays involved and up-to-date on her life.  Yet, he's not afraid to activate that GPS tracker or any other gadget if he feels something's wrong.  It seems intrusive, but his instincts were usually correct.  Veronica may be mature, but she's still a teenager for the first half of the series.  He has put his life on the line in many ways for his daughter, and they have a loving and fun relationship despite all the crazy noir going on around them in Neptune.  

In the pilot, there's a "who's your Daddy" moment that only he can get away with without getting punched.  He knows it drives Veronica crazy, and it just makes it all the more fun for him.  I can't embed it, so here you go.  That clip shows Kristen Bell and Enrico Colantoni's chemistry from day one.  The video below shows a moment from season 3 where they have dinner with Logan for the first time.  Logan had a messed up celebrity family life, and you see the wistful happiness on his face as he watches Keith and Veronica banter.  

1. Dan Conner (Roseanne)

It's pretty obvious that everyone listed have been from shows airing from the late 90s through the present.  I watched tons of family sitcoms as a kid (Full House, The Cosby Show, Growing Pains, The Wonder Years, Fresh Prince, Blossom, Family Matters, Boy Meets World), but none of those fathers stuck out for me as strongly as Dan Conner.  

I grew up in a working class house, and Dan Conner was everything I wanted in a father.  He persevered despite his limitations in education and skills.  He provided for his family and just wanted a hot meal, cold beer, and the game on in return.  He loved his children and tried to spend time with them.  It was harder for him if they didn't have anything in common, but he never ignored them.  He loved his wife and found her desirable no matter what.  He was goofy and funny but his temper would immediately go into protective mode if his loved ones were threatened in any way.  He never harmed his family, but say your prayers if you tried to hurt them.  He was far from perfect, and he knew it, but it never stopped him from being a devoted father and husband.  The show was very realistic until the last season, almost gritty for a situation comedy, and John Goodman's performance was sublime.  I cry during the last episode without fail.  

Quote

"Remember our family motto:  We're Conners, we gotta eat."

Dan beats up Jackie's abusive boyfriend Fisher and ends up in jail 
3:17 is Darlene bailing him out, which is absolutely priceless.
7:30 is the "Hey honey, We're officially poor white trash!" dance

8:29 is Jackie overwhelmed with conflicting emotions over Dan's actions.  It's truly sweet.

Becky and Darlene ruin Roseanne's Mother's Day, and Dan punishes them for once.

The epic talk about masturbation with DJ.  His reactions are so perfect.  

The Halloween episodes were always the most memorable out of the late 80s-early 90s sitcoms, and the first one is just perfections.  Why look for clips?  The whole episode is gold and timeless.