Dysfunctional TV Dads

From unclebarky.com

Another Father’s Day comes and goes, prompting a not-so-fond look back at TV’s big batch of bad dads.

Sure, we appreciate the tube’s more pristine pops, including Ward Cleaver, Jim Anderson, Cliff Huxtable and Ozzie Nelson. But dysfunctional dads are outnumbering them as prime-time marches on. Here’s our rogues gallery of fathers from hell:

10. Jock Ewing (Dallas) — Hard-driving Ewing patriarch shot just one for three, with good angel Bobby outflanked by prodigal, embittered Gary and diabolical J.R. Jock set the tone by double-dealing ex-partner Digger Barnes out of a share of their oil company and from the arms of true love Eleanor “Miss Ellie” Southworth. J.R. then tried no end to please his daddy, which to him meant a life of cheating, swindling and womanizing. Jock sure looked good smokin’ a cigarette, though.

9. George Jefferson (The Jeffersons) — Volatile pipsqueak kept raging at one and all, including grown son Lionel. “Movin’ on up” made him a semi-rich dry cleaning magnate. But he was mostly a washout as a father, husband and human being. Definitely not a people person.

8. Martin Crane (Frasier) — Bitch, bitch, bitch. Imperious in his ratty, patched easy chair, he used an old cop injury as a crutch and his mouth as a battering ram. On the receiving end were oldest son Frasier, who took him in, and second son Niles, who quivered a lot. The old man had a solid relationship, though, with his entitled dog Eddie.

7. Red Foreman (That ’70s Show) — Sourball, working class ranter spent most of his time finding fault with son Eric and his ever-present posse. Treated wife Kitty a little better as long as she catered to his constant needs and happily absorbed his guff. Never at a loss for discouraging words.

6. Frank Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond) — Lived and loved to bicker, with sons Raymond and Robert, and wife Marie his principal targets of opportunity. Always filled to the brim with bile, he specialized in condescending demands and reprimands. Butter his stinkin’ toast wrong and he’d fester for a week.

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