Top 5 TV Dads

Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer

     In honor of Father's Day on Sunday here is a list of the Top 5 TV Dads.  There was no criteria for this list as all of the contenders made the list for different reasons.

And here we...go:

#1.  JACK BAUER- 24

     Of the all time total bad A** dads, Jack Bauer takes the cake, beats the hell out of it, gets every piece of vital information out of it and then makes sure it knows who it crossed before he ever lets anyone have a piece.  Seriously, if you had a problem and needed help getting out of a jam, who better to go to than the former Counter Terrorism Unit leader?

     Since 24 began in 2001, we have seen what has to be at least seven of the worst days of this guys life.  He's been betrayed, shot, stabbed, kidnapped and tortured by rogue Chinese government officials, shot some more and has died at least three times.  Does it ever stop him?

     Of course then again, he was never  home and he did get his wife killed and I'm sure Kim lived in fear every day that she was going to be kidnapped because of whatever here dad was into that day...or at least mauled by a cougar.  But she did repay him by donating stem cells to save him from the radiation he was exposed to last season, so Happy Father's Day, Jack Bauer!!

Dan Castelnetta as Homer Simpson

     Ya have to give Homer Simpson some credit.  He's been a TV dad longer than anyone in the history of television.  When the Simpsons begins this fall it will be the 21st season of the show, making it the longest running sit-com ever.

     Homer may not be the smartest dad, or the best parent.  In fact, he's really not the smartest or the best at...well, anything.  But usually, and I say usually, he is there just in time when his family needs him.  He coaches Bart's football team, even though he gets his son to fake an injury so he can play a better player.  He takes Lisa to a museum exhibit, even though he has to physically break into the museum to do it.  And for the most part he remembers Maggie's name or at least remembers he has three kids and not two.  Most of the time.

     And as opposed to someone else on this list (see above), his wife is still with him and seems to be with him by choice.  Except he did try to shoot her in the face with a shotgun/ make up sprayer... But he's always loved her and I think that she knows deep down he loves her and the kids at least as much as a chili cook off with free Duff beer.  It's close anyway.

     But hey nobody's dad is perfect and Homer is the perfect example, so Happy Father's Day Homer Simpson!

 #3.  Dr. HEATHCLIFF HUXTABLE- The Cosby Show

Bill Cosby as Heath Huxtable (middle)

     Finally a father with some structure, and he's a doctor to boot.  Besides, who has ever heard of a father who is a doctor and is home more than he is at the hospital, or his office, or a golf course?

     Besides, you can't argue with having a dad who not only brings in the doctor salary but can also throw down a joke with the best of them.  He was always there to talk to his kids or make them a sandwich...or at least make himself a sandwich while they talked to him.  And how many kids go to their friends dad for advice as much as Theo and Denise's friends went to Cliff?  I know it was in the script, but you gotta give the dude some credit.  He could parent with the best of them.  Plus, I bet he had a freezer full of Jello pudding pops and those things were AWESOME!!

     Now, some would say that like all good men, the real power in the house comes from the mother, or wife; in this case Claire Huxtable.  But it was the Cosby Show and not the Phylicia Rashad Show and this is a list of fathers and not mothers.  Also that's just a silly superstition.  So Happy Father's Day Dr. Huxtable!!

  #4.  RED FORMAN- That 70's Show

Kurtwood Smith as Red Forman

     Here is a father I think we can all relate too.  He's grumpy, yes.  He would probably not have kids if he had it to do over, knowing all the un-necessary stress they would cause him.  Probably, maybe.  And he would rather Eric's friends not be at the house constantly stealing his beer and filling his basement with "smoke".

     But at the end of the day, Red is a family man, whether he likes it or not.  He knows deep down that he'd miss his family if they just up and vanished.  And he would much rather sit and listen to them whine than be forced to listen to his neighbor Bob whine.

     So Eric, it's okay to be a little cry baby about Donna now because Red's only hard on ya to squeeze whatever manly-ness resides inside of you.  And Laurie, it's okay to be a trampy college flunky because no matter what, a daddy always loves his little girl.  Plus he's a guy that when he says he's gonna put his foot in your a**...you believe him.  So Happy Father's Day Red Forman!!

 #5.  HANK HILL- King of the Hill

• Drive a truck?  Yep.
• Immaculate yard?  Yep.
• Beer drinking buddies?  Yep.
• Patience of a saint?  Yep- um, no
• Abilities to over-look his son's differences? Eh-no...

     Okay, he might not be cool or hold any high school football rushing records any more, but Hank Hill always tries.  I mean he really, really tries.  He might not approve of his son Bobby wanting to be a stand up prop-comedian instead of following in his foot steps and selling propane and propane accessories.  And sure he wishes Bobby would be more of a football stud and less of a mascot.  And maybe he wishes he'd never let the boy paint those white puffy clouds in his room, because, really. what kind of boy wants white puffy clouds on his bedroom wall? 

     But his heart is in the right place.  Again, unlike someone (ahem, J.B.) he has never let any harm come to his wife.  Well, except for the time she fell out of the airplane trying to sky dive and her chute didn't open and she smacked to the ground.  She survived, luckily, despite fracturing her back.  But that wasn't his fault, was it.  Anyway, Happy Father's Day to you, too Hank Hill!!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all of you Father's out there!!