Television is rife with dysfunctional dads, mainly because we all have that instinct to laugh at other people’s misfortune. Television writers and producers capitalize on this schadenfreude to create a bevy of characters that we love to hate, or hate to imagine what they’d be like if they were part of our family. And while sometimes these dads can generally be supportive and positive, like in Modern Family, generally that’s not the case.
In my completely subjective opinion, please find my list of the top worst dads in television history. This list is in no particular order, and I’m sure I missed a dad here and there, so feel free to tell me in the comments who you think is the worst television dad. Some of these shows may be newish, so spoilers could be ahead. Be warned!
William H. Macy as Frank Gallagher in Shameless
1. Frank Gallagher in Shameless, as played by William H. Macy. A single dad of six children, Gallagher spends most of his time drunk and absent, only coming home when his disability check is supposed to arrive. He headbutted one of his sons in the face, tried to give away another when he found out his son wasn’t his, had sex with one of his son’s girlfriends and her mom, and steals money from anyone he can. The only redeeming factor for this television dad is that his genes managed to produce a crop of smart, independent, motivated kids. The show itself is fantastic, though, and was on of my favorite shows on television last year for more reasons than just the beautiful Emmy Rossum.
Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan in Dexter
2. Dexter Morgan in Dexter, as played by Michael C. Hall. Who wouldn’t want a dad who is a sociopathic serial killer? Dexter knows that he’s supposed to love his son, and he might actually feel something towards him, but his paternal instincts are completely washed out by his call to murder. Since he only picks victims that he thinks deserve it, you might consider him an anti-hero, but this television dad is not one you want to run to with problems of bullies or a girl who was mean to you, lest he cut them into little pieces and dump them in the Atlantic Ocean.
Jeffrey Tambor as George Bluth, Sr. in Arrested Development
3. George Oscar Bluth, Sr., in Arrested Development, as played by Jeffrey Tambor. This dad goes to jail for creative accounting practices, was guilty of “light treason”, created the “Cornballer” which caused injuries worldwide, and throughout it all, he continuously belittled and berated every single one of his children. He wouldn’t trust Michael Bluth to run the Bluth Company and undermined every move. He pretended that Buster didn’t even exist, insulted Gob’s intelligence and ability to function as an adult, and dismissed Lindsay as a flake. As far as television shows go, Arrested Development is one of the funniest out there, but as far as dads go, George sucks a big one!
Danny DeVito as Frank Reynolds in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
4. Frank Reynolds in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, as played by Danny DeVito. Jesus Christ, where to begin! Frank may well be the absolute worst dad in television history. Beyond the usual litany of insults and belittling that goes on between Frank and his children Dennis and Dee, Frank has also fed Dee a tapeworm and made her think she ate human flesh and pimped out Dennis for sexual favors. In one of my favorite episodes and a perfect example of his terrible fathering skills, Frank cuts his kids off financially and when he later comes across them in an alley where they have become crack addicts, mocks them mercilessly. Nobody would want Frank to be their dad, but you might want him on your side in a fight. Maybe.
Jon Hamm as Don Draper in Mad Men
5. Don Draper in Mad Men, as played by Jon Hamm. This is a man who will end up with a stripper daughter who cuts herself and sleeps with older businessmen and a son who goes into the Vietnam War and kills babies because it makes him feel something. Don Draper isn’t a bad television dad because he insults or belittles his children. He’s a terrible dad because his kids are almost non-existent to him unless it’s convenient in his selfish world-view. It’s likely that he may be an even bigger sociopath than Dexter Morgan.
Who do you think is the worst television dad?
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