Captain’s Log. Daddy Chronicles. Diaper Date 1669B. So I have done some thinking. I may be destined to fail as a father. No, I don’t dislike my kids. No, I haven’t put them in harms way nor do I intend to.
I have just had bad role models.
I’m not talking about my father, or my grandfather, or any of my uncles – they have all been good role models. I am talking about a different influence. The television. The Captain has enjoyed his fair share of television and has noticed some of the characteristics of the fathers are not always the most commendable.
Here are a few examples:
1. Cliff Huxtable, The Cosby Show — Certainly Cliff is a family man. He adores his children, his wife, his job. You can’t go wrong there. The fashion? That is where Cliff has led me astray. Who doesn’t know the Cosby sweater? Hopefully, my fashion sense will not embarrass my children when they are old enough to care. 
Also, he taught me how to make the bacoburgerdog – thus ruining my arteries for years to come.
2. Homer Simpson, The Simpsons – Do I really need to say much here? Not exactly father of the year material. Homer has the attention span of a gnat, the intelligence of a donut, and the grace of a bull in a fine china shop. The good thing about Homer is that he has set the bar low.
3. Jack Bauer, 24. Jack taught me a lot of things – all of which could land me in prison. His influence would have me “interrogating” all boys who came to date The Eldest. Somehow I think torture is frowned upon when fully vetting young suitors for one’s daughter. On the plus side, I could constantly ask Chloe to download specs to my PDA.
4. Victor Newman, Young and the Restless- (You know you are humming the opening tune. It will be stuck in your head all day. You are welcome.) Although this “Victor-ious” New Man made his way from the orphanage in Buffalo, New York all the way to one of the wealthiest tycoons in Genoa City, he is a cold hearted ruthless man. And he speaks in a monotone. He has hired and fired his own children. Disowned his children. The list goes on. 
5. Al Bundy, Married With Children- I don’t think this one needs an explanation. Does it?
6. Fred Flintstone, The Flintstones – Yeah, he is a hard worker. While it is not easy bringing home the brontosaurus, what does Fred do in the house but raise havoc? Seriously. He hollers at Wilma, gets kicked out the house, and sets Barney up to do his dirty work. Plus he is not a great role model for driving…
7. Phil Dunphy, Modern Family – In reality, I am probably a crazy mix between Cliff Huxtable and Phil Dunphy. I laugh when I watch Modern Family because I think I am supposed to, but I times I feel for Phil. I understand his plight, adore his puns (never thought I would say that about another dad), and equal his might as a handyman (I wouldn’t fix that step either). Cam gets an honorable mention here (it is the random singing/performing which I do), but clearly Phil is the worst influence for me.
8. Godzilla, Godzilla – Ummm. While he does eventually help his son breathe fire, Godzilla destroys cities – not a good role model for anger management.
9. Fred G. Sanford, Sanford and Son – And the G stands for Gregarious. Mr. Sanford may have been my grandfather. They had the same laugh, strut, and affinity for someone else’s junk. However, Fred always solved problems with his drawer full of reading glasses, pinto beans, and fake heart attacks. Again, not a good role model.
10. Darth Vader, Star Wars – He cut off his own son’s hand, destroyed an entire world, killed countless innocent imperial officers, not to mention the younglings before he became “more machine than man”, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. He did turn good at the end, but he is not a good role model.
So these are the ten fathers that may contribute to my ultimate failure. Their voices and influence ring in my head from time to time: kind of like the angel Tom and devil Tom that sit on his shoulders and urge him to chase Jerry or leave the poor mouse alone. Imagine say 50 years from now and a boy comes to take The Eldest out on her first date. Here is what might occur in my head:
Boy: Mr. Captain, I’m here to take out your daughter.
Phil: You are a young strapping lad. You remind me of me.
Fred Sanford: How about 5 across yo lips?!? (laugh track)
Jack: I know these type of men, Captain, whatever you do don’t let him in the door. You need to get answers from him. You might have to get your hands dirty, but it is the interest of your home security.
Homer: Doh!
Cliff: Young man. I didn’t bring you in this world, but I can take you out!
Vader: Don’t make me destroy you.
Victor: I’m Victor Newman. I do as I d%$# well please. I always have and I always will.
Godzilla: (Godzilla Scream) HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEUGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. (Breathes fire and smashes boy’s car.)
Al: No one takes out your daughter. No one. Tell him you played high school football.
Fred Flintstone: That does it! WILMA!
Boy: I promise to have her back by 9.
Jack: Chloe, send me the coordinates of their route for this date to my PDA. I am attaching a GPS locator to the boy and his car. Send that signal to my PDA too. I need a visual at all times of this car. License plate number…
Cliff: Is that Central or Eastern Standard Time?
Phil: You guys are young kids. I remember those days. So young and full of excitement. We should have coffee some time and hangout.
Fred Sanford: It’s the big one. Elizabeth, I’m coming to join you honey!
Captain:…
I don’t think I could handle that situation with all those possibilities running through my head. And that’s just one example. The moral of the post is that you have to choose your role models carefully. Ya big dummy.
Who is your favorite, or least favorite t.v. dad? Leave a comment.
Captain Out.
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I do not have to deal with the complex issue that gets wrapped up in “I’m here to date your daughter.” That said, my concern is more along the lines of preparing my boys to show up at your door (or the door of any other father blessed with a daughter) and, more importantly, to teach them to respect women, particularly those they may be dating.
So, looking at your T.V./Movie fathers from that perspective:
Cliff Huxtable: Theo seems like a stand up boy. However, he grew up in a house dominated by women, so he learned to respect them at an early age or face the consequences..
Homer Simpson: Would you want Bart to show up at your doorstep?
Darth Vader: Luke chose the right path, but got his hand cut off in the process.. Not sure corporal punishment is the way to go.
Jack Bauer: Has no sons, but if he did, I’m pretty sure they’d be able to break necks by age 8. Again, not sure I need a warrior prince, although it would be fairly badass.
Al Bundy: Again.. Bud Bundy showing up to your house?
Fred Flintstone: No boys.. Barney had Bam Bam, who, really just seems like a meat head, but I could be wrong. I would think Bam Bam would grow up to be Ogre in Revenge of the Nerds.
As for your others, well, I cannot speak to them because I don’t really watch those shows. My current favorite show is NCIS, and no one on that show is really a parental role model in any fashion.
This is perfect! Love this comment.