The Ideal TV Dad

Compiled by Elisabeth Morse -- A perfect dad is supposed to be strong and big and loving and forgiving. He should know when to lend you the car and when to explain the dangers of unbridled lust. A good dad will stick around when things are tough and help make them better.

Alas, the ideal father is hard to find, both in the real world and on TV. In honor of Father's Day, we propose ignoring (momentarily) the downside of TV dads. Instead, let's celebrate what makes them good, fun, lovable. They may not be overall role models, but they do possess some of the qualities we'd want in an ideal dad.

The good intentions of Homer Simpson (voice of Dan Castellaneta) on The Simpsons Despite his drinking, cursing, binge-eating, Flanders-hating ways, Homer actually has his heart in the right place. Yes, he screws up, but he really hates himself for it. From attempting to procure a pony for Lisa to climbing the Murderhorn to impress Bart, Homer has proven again and again that, while he may not be the most competent Dad, he unreservedly loves his kids. — Elisabeth Morse

The "mommy" skills of Daddio's Chris Woods (Michael Chiklis) While most TV dads can't change a diaper, Chris' parenting skills are on par with the other members of the Mommies Group he attends. The other "mommies" don't always take him seriously, but this TV dad deserves credit for being a fun-loving stay-at-home father who is more than capable of tending to his offspring. There ought to be more dads like him on primetime. — Christine Champagne

The muscle of Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) on The Sopranos It never hurts to have a dad with some pull when you get into trouble at school. Although we don't condone Mafia capo Tony Soprano's choice of profession, let's just say that the school bullies were reluctant to bother Anthony Jr. (Robert Iler) after they found out who his father was. Capisce? — Len P. Feldman

The wisdom of Martin Crane (John Mahoney) on Frasier When your problems seem too big to handle, it helps to have a seen-it-all ex-cop of a dad like Martin around to put things in perspective for you, and to call in a favor from his buddies on the force once in a while. — Len P. Feldman

The playfulness of Hal (Bryan Cranston) on Malcolm in the Middle Hal is just a kid at heart. This roller-boogie champion of a dad frequently joins his kids in stirring up trouble. He's helped them build killer robots; allowed them to ditch school for the stock-car races; wreaked havoc by throwing everything imaginable into a wood-chipper. Hal is a fun-loving dad who lets the boys be boys. — Kristen Remeza

The money and clout of Jack Gallo (George Segal) on Just Shoot Me Sure he's manipulative. Sure he's played dirty tricks on his daughter (Laura San Giacomo). Like the time he sent her out to talk to a group of feminists knowing she'd be attacked for the rampant sexism in "Blush." But Jack bailed her out when she was broke and needed a job. And who wouldn't appreciate a father who could hand out cushy jobs at a national magazine? — Kristen Remeza

The medical knowledge of ER's Dr. Benton (Eriq LaSalle) He's an arrogant S.O.B., but in the last season, Benton has mellowed a little. After initially being freaked out about the hearing problems of his son, Reese, Benton got down to business and researched his son's options. Benton listened to arguments for and against surgery from both sides of the nonhearing community and has worked tirelessly to get the boy the care he needs. — Kristen Remeza

The devotion of NYPD Blue's Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) Despite having lost his son Andy Jr., his wife Sylvia, and his partner Bobby, Andy still isn't known for his sensitivity. In fact, he seems to actually thrive on his cynicism and sarcasm. But all of that anger and negativity vanishes when he's tending to the needs of his 4-year-old son, Theo. The scene of Andy and the boy tenderly reading a book together in bed or carefully feeding their fish illustrates how committed he is to being a good single parent. Also, who else but a devoted dad would get his ex-wife, whom he isn't overly fond of but trusts, to provide day care for his child? — Jenny Higgons

The strength of Now and Again's Michael Wiseman (Eric Close) Fathers are good at doing lots of stuff around the house, like mowing the lawn, fixing a leaky faucet and changing the oil in the car. But let's face it: Just about any dad can handle that. After the U.S. government secretly put his brain into a biologically engineered body, Michael Wisemen gained the strength of 10 men. You literally and figuratively can't beat a dad who, after jewel thieves barge into his home, saves his loved ones' lives (and Thanksgiving dinner) by performing phenomenal feats that include ripping apart a pair of handcuffs, hanging from the upstairs-hall ceiling, and pounding the bejesus out of the crooks. Now that's handy! — Jenny Higgons

The leniency of the fathers on Roswell Teenagers are a demanding bunch, for sure. One thing they crave most is the freedom to come and go as they please, a concept that most fathers aren't too hot on. But high-schoolers Max, Isabel, Liz, Maria and Alex (Michael's bum of a foster father barely gave him notice) are sure never bothered by some pesky curfew. Their dads let out nary a peep when their progeny are off gallivanting around town at all hours of the night and day. It's not that the fathers don't care about their kids, it's just that ... well, we don't exactly know why they're so cool about it, but it's great that they are! — Jenny Higgons

The good looks of Rick Sammler (Billy Campbell) on Once and Again Let's face it: The man is fine. Dimples, piercing eyes and we know from the nude scene he did early in the game that he's totally gorgeous. What kid wouldn't want a dad that has every other kid (at least the girls) thinking he's a total babe? — Cheryl Everette__Gist.comtv (June 12, 2000)