Throughout television history, TV dads have served as a reflection of American society. Some, intentionally or not, have even become role models for fatherly behavior.
Those from the ’50s and early ’60s tended to be wise and compassionate. Think Jim Anderson (actor Robert Young) on Father Knows Best and Steve Douglas (actor Fred MacMurray) on My Three Sons.
In the late ’60s and ’70s, dads became more rough and tumble, especially those inhabiting the Wild West, a home large enough for an extended family on a mountain top or a little house on a prairie.
By the late ’70s and ’80s, the focus was back on family life but in a new kind of way, with “meathead” son-in-laws, urban reality spinoffs, and retro humor that turned Fonzie into an adopted son. Soon, dads faced a new reality—as the women’s equality movement gained momentum, wives like Edith Bunker, Roseanne Conner, and Peggy Bundy had more say in family affairs.
Most recently, cartoon comedy has been in vogue, offering fictional settings such as Peter’s place on Family Guy in Quahog, Rhode Island, Homer’s habitat from The Simpsons in Springfield, or Hank Hill’s suburban hideaway in Arlen, Texas on King of the Hill, where dad’s struggle to navigate the nuances of modern life.
No matter which dad you think you are—or which dad you think you have—you’ll want to take our Father’s Day quiz to see if you’re lost in the ’50s, lost in space, movin’ on up, or just keeping it all in the family. In case you missed it, you can still take our Mother’s Day Quiz as well!
WHO’S YOUR TV DAD? TAKE THE QUIZ:
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