by Michael Lyons
Put down that spatula, Dad. It's Father's Day, your day, and our turn to grill for you.
Fathers do so much for us, and in addition to wisdom and love, there's also a lot of laughs.
Sitcoms know that, especially classic sitcoms. And there have been a lot of them that have celebrated dads, each in their own unique, humorous way.
"Bud Takes Up the Dance," Father Knows Best, October 3, 1954
One of the best sitcom dads (just look at the title!).
In this, the debut episode of the series, father Jim Anderson (Robert Young) discovers that his son, Bud (Billy Gray) is nervous about going to a school dance because he can't dance. Jim also finds that Marcia (Susan Whitney), the girl Bud asked to the dance, also can't dance.
What's a father to do? Well, Jim teaches both of them to dance.
Pure innocence, and definitely of another time. However, the show's lack of cynicism and genuine spirit is refreshing and comforting to watch. It's no wonder Robert Young's Jim Anderson is still one of TV's most beloved dads.
"Father of the Year," The Brady Bunch, Jan 2, 1970
It's a very "Brady Bunch" episode of The Brady Bunch. Marcia (Maureen McCormick) wants to nominate Mr. Brady (Robert Reed) for a local Father of the Year award but wants to keep it a secret and a surprise.
However, to do this, Marcia has to break some household rules, which gets her punished. But, all is forgiven when...
SPOILER ALERT!
Thanks to Marcia's essay, Mr. Brady is named Father of the Year, which makes a nice statement about blended families. When Dad and daughter reconcile at the end, only a hardened cynic would scoff at this Brady Bunch's earnest sentimentality.
"Good Boy, Bad Boy, The Odd Couple, Feb 11, 1972
Felix (Tony Randall) becomes a big brother to a young man at a reform school and believes that these troubled youth should be given a second chance...until one of them asks out his daughter, Edna (Pamelyn Ferdin). Felix has to cloak his hypocrisy.
This leads to some hysterical, overprotective Dad moments and dialogue:
Oscar (Jack Klugman): "Would you feel better if she knew the facts of life?"
Felix: Well, I...I...
Oscar: All right, get Gloria [Felix's ex-wife] to tell her.
Felix: No!
Oscar: Why not?!? Gloria told you!
"Daddy's Little Middle-Aged Girl, Cheers, Dec 10, 1992
Rebecca's (Kirstie Alley) tough-as-nails father, Naval Captain Robert Howe (Robert Prosky), comes to visit. While in Boston, he tells Rebecca that he feels that she has screwed up her life and should move back home. If Rebecca doesn't, he will cut off the allowance he still gives her.
However, there's a very humorous twist...
SPOILER ALERT
...Rebecca and her mother are in cahoots to ensure that Rebecca keeps her adult allowance, which Dad relents at the end of an episode that shows we never stop being a parent.
"Frank's Tribute, Everybody Loves Raymond, Feb 8, 1999
Ray (Ray Romano) and his brother Robert (Brad Garrett) are trying to put together a tribute for their father, Frank (Peter Boyle), at his lodge. They attempt to get testimonials from Frank's lodge buddies. The only problem? None of Frank's fellow lodge members like him!
The lengths the brothers have to go to splice together snippets of what the lodge members say to create something positive is hysterical. There's also a touching sequence at the end between Frank and Marie (Doris Roberts).
With this, and every episode, Everybody Loves Raymond reveals what we already know - nobody loves and "gets" our father and family better than we do.
So, like these sitcom episodes teach us, take some time to laugh with and love your dad!
Happy Father's Day!
This summer, check out my website.Words From Lyons for more articles, podcasts and to learn more about my new book, Magic Moments!
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