Top 10 Most Entertaining TV Dads

There are many lists of the best dads on TV. But the lists are always pretty much the same. Bill Cosby this and that bla bla. It is easy to pick out the dads that fit the perfect image of what a dad should be but that is boring.

Instead I wanted to make a Top 10 list of dads who are  the most entertaining right now. Whether it be funny, or dramatic or just gripping to watch on the small screen. Many of you will argue and have your own suggestions and that is the whole idea. Let’s start a discussion and at the end, a true list will be generated.

This is also based on the TV shows that I watch, so some very obvious dads will be left out simply because I do not watch the show.

So here is my first go at the Top 10 TV dads right now.

10. Arlo Givens – Justified

Good ol’ Arlo. If there was ever a dad you just wanted to hide from society. Arlo would do anything to make a buck and that is not the best plan when your son is US Marshal. But he was entertaining and a real son of a bitch, so he makes the list.

9. Jeff Greene – Curb Your Enthusiasm

Now Jeff on Curb does not always come across as the best dad but how can you when you have a wife like Suzie. Always in fear of messing up. But in the end Jeff does show some strong parenting skills if you excuse the cursing. I could watch Jeff all day and if that means hanging out with Larry, then that is a bonus.

8. Stephen Holder – The Killing

Ah Holder, the tough guy/caring dad. He so wants to be apart of his kid’s life even if the marriage did not work out. Then he transfers that caring onto his partner’s kid. Yes, The Killing is in limbo, but Holder was one of my favorite parts of the show. Messed up? Yep. But he has his heart in the right place and that puts him on the list.

7. Adam Braverman – Parenthood

Adam Braverman is one of the dads on TV that I kind of relate to the most. Working guy, trying to keep it all together. What I don’t have is his giant family to either add or take away some of the pressure. He has had some of the best scenes in the history of the show and he entertains and makes me laugh at least once each episode. Therefore, on the list.

6. Marshall Eriksen – How I Met Your Mother

Even though he is a recent dad on How I Met Your Mother, we really have been imaging this for years. He is the ideal TV dad. Young, still has fun, everything spins into comedy and there is very little sadness (other than when his dad died). Adding a kid to the show was going to happen at some point, so it is perfect that he was the one to be the first dad, at least in present day.

5. Rick Grimes – The Walking Dead

Poor, poor Rick. Talk about thrown into the fire. Wakes up in a hospital and the world is full of Zombies. What is a dad to do? Find the family and then protect, that’s what. The guy has not had five minutes of relaxation in three seasons and it is not about to get any easier. Now he is a dad to two (sorry for the spoiler). But his character is awesome and I think is one of the best on TV.

4. Don Draper – Mad Men

Don Draper, anti- dad. To be fair he is portraying a man from the generation where men did not parent. They worked. And he does that and then some. In the few episodes I have seen, his parenting is not on display other than coming home to the dinner table, leaving and smoking while Betty cleans up. But nonetheless, Don is one of the greatest characters ever on TV, even if he is not the best dad. Entertaining gets him on the list.

3. Phil Dunphy – Modern Family

Phil is the dad that every guy wants to be or thinks they are. Funny, cool in his own mind and has the perfect modern family. The thing is, so many of us are not Phil at all. It is hard to be that guy without the TV script. Phil entertains me and actually makes me realize even more how awesome it is being a dad. I am glad that I have just sons though as having teenage daughters looks pretty hard. Keep going Phil.

2. Nicholas Brody – Homeland

We mentioned Rick from the Walking Dead has a lot on his mind. So does Brody. Double agent, terrorist, Congressman. The guy has a lot going on. Not to mention a best friend after his wife and a daughter who loves him/hates him. But even with all that, we love the guy. He is a great character and even if it seems hard to believe, we want him to win. The fact that he cares so much for his family, makes him an entertaining as hell dad.

1. Walter White – Breaking Bad

When I was making this list, there was never any doubt who number one would be. You can’t go wrong with Walter White. Caring dad, loving husband and Kingpin of the drug world. Everything he does it is for his family. Buying cars, storing cash and killing drug leaders. All in a day’s work for Walter. It wil be sad when this show comes to an end and even sadder not to have Walter around anymore.

Honorable Mentions

• Dexter Morgan – Dexter
• Jay Pritchett, Mitchell Pritchett, Cameron Tucker – Modern Family
• Alan Harper – Two and a Half Men

Who is your favorite, who is not on the list, who should not be on the list? Leave a comment or let us know on Facebook.