Small Screen Girl's 7 Favorite TV Dads

Since I think of everything in terms of television, I could help but wonder about my favorite television papas. I've watched everything from the original Lassie (for you youngins, it's an old TV show about a beautiful collie that rescues an accidental prone little boy) to Empire.  Narrowing down a list of favorites is almost as hard as finding the perfect "Thank you for giving me life" present for my own stubborn father.    

Here are my 7 Favorite TV Fathers...

Jackson Avery
If there's ever a contest for the happiest father in the universe, Grey's Anatomy's Jackson Avery's (Jesse Williams) paternal joy just might eke out every other contender because his road to fatherhood has been so traumatic.  After losing his first son mere hours after birth, he was blindsided to learn that he would become a father just weeks after getting divorced.  Through resurfacing grief, horrible fights with his well-intentioned yet controlling ex-wife, April, and a misguided restraining order, Jackson finally became the proudest of papas to a baby girl in Grey's season finale.  Judging by the sheer love in the gif above, Jackson doesn't need anything other than his beautiful daughter this Father's Day.

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President Obama
This may be cheating since President Barack Obama isn't a fictional character, but the Commander-In-Chief can do whatever he wants.  An technically, he's on television all the time.  He may be finishing up his history-making presidency, but during the seven and a half years in office, he's proven to be a dedicated dad to beautiful first daughters, Malia and Sasha.  Mr. Obama famously declined giving a commencement address at eldest daughter graduation, because he knew he would be too emotional.  He's totally forgiven for the dad jeans.

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Rogelio de la Vega
One of my favorite television characters and fiercest new crushes is Jane The Virgin's Rogelio de la Vega. Even though he just recently discovered that he has an adult daughter, the overwhelming overachiever and new mother, Jane, he has sacrificed a lot to get to bond with her, all in his signature lavender, of course.  Part narcissistic telenovela star, part big-heated softie, Rogelio (Jaime Camil) has insinuated himself in Jane and Mateo's life, and has only improved it for the better, thanks to his irresistible charm, trademark theatricality and tweetable wisdom.  One of the best moments was Rogelio and Jane's father-daughter adorable hip hop dance at her wedding in the season 2 finale. 

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Andre Johnson
Admittedly, he may be a high-strung mama's boy, but the root of black-ish's Andre Johnson's anxiety stems from his concern that he's not being a good father.  With four unique kids and a surprise baby on the way, Dre's (Anthony Anderson) fears turn into hilarious lessons for black fathers in modern America...  

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Uncle Phil
Phillip Banks (the late James Avery) was one of the trailblazers of that path that Andre Johnson now walks. During The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air's iconic run from 1990-1996, Uncle Phil was not only parents to three spoiled children, he also was a surrogate father for is quick-witted nephew, Will Smith, and a successful black lawyer living in the uber-rich community of Bel-Air.  Unlike other timid and clueless TV (and real-life dad's) Uncle Phil doled out hard knocks and strict guidance, but wasn't too cool to have fun with his family, especially his son and nephew.

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Joe West
The Flash's Joe West (Jesse L. Martin) may be a gruff detective in a city overrun by superpowered humans, but behind the gun and the glower, he's one of the best and most experienced fathers on television.  His fatherly experience extends to Iris, his biological daughter he raised from birth; Barry, a white child he adopted when his mother's murder and father's incarceration left him an orphan; and Wally, his biological son he didn't discover until he was an adult.  And even though he protects all of his kids like an irate lion, their struggles also reduce him to a tear-eyed puddle of goo.  For Father's Day, Joe West deserves all the ties and handmade mugs on Earth-1 and Earth-2! 

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Elliot Stabler
As a detective investigating sexual crimes, Elliot Stabler has one of the most emotionally grueling jobs in the world.  During his 12 seasons on Law & Order: SVU, Stabler (Christopher Meloni) did his best to separate the rigors of his job from his home life with five children, though he didn't always succeed.  The pitbullish detective with the heart of gold did everything to give his children the best life possible, including risking his life on the beat and in multiple dangerous undercover jobs to make their world safer.  Though I miss him, one of the best things he did for his family was leave the rigors of policework behind.  Here's hoping Stabler's pulling down a fat paycheck as Head Of Security for a posh resort in the Hamptons.

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