TV’s Funniest Dads of the Year (2017 Edition)
Jane the Virgin (The CW)
Styled like a telenovela, the story of Jane and her traditional Latin-American family brings the laughs and tears.
Phil Dunphy (Ty Burrell) – Modern Family
Although ever father tries to be the “cool dad” and fails, that doesn’t deter Phil Dunphy. His clumsiness and happy-go-lucky attitude make him lovable and memorable. And maybe one day he’ll succeed at becoming his kids’ best friend.
Memorable Quote: “I always said if my son thinks of me as one of his idiot friends, then I’ve succeeded as a dad.”
Andre “Dre” Johnson (Anthony Anderson) – Black-ish
Dre wants nothing but the best for his children, and that means ensuring they don’t neglect their culture. Dre will go above and beyond to maintain his blackness in a world where everyone assimilates, including dressing up as Black Santa for the annual office Christmas party.
Memorable Quote:“Rainbow is the name white people give cocker spaniels. Devante is a great name, it has cultural significance!”
Rogelio de la Vega (Jaime Camil) – Jane the Virgin
Rogelio wasn’t around as Jane (Gina Rodriguez) was growing up, but that doesn’t stop him from being in her life now. Rogelio would do anything for his darling Jane, including reaching out to Oprah, to make Jane happy.
Memorable Quote: “I want to thank God…for giving me all this talent”
Murray Goldberg (Jeff Garlin) – ABC’s The Goldbergs
Murray spends most of his time sitting in his tattered chair watching TV until one of his kids bothers him; he cannot wait for his kids to move out. His hotheaded cynicism towards his children hits close to home for many viewers and serves as a reminder of the times our parents ignored us.
Memorable Quote: “It’s my responsibility to make you face whatever dumbass decision you made head on, even if it kills you. I’m a good dad!”
Louis Huang (Randall Park) – Fresh Off the Boat
Louis Huang’s naïveté and kindness makes him the classic, goofy TV dad. He’s trying his best to achieve the American dream and be a good parent, but as one would expect on a sitcom, things go comically wrong. From a teeth-whitening experience gone wrong to bad dating advice, Louis is constantly caught in sticky situations.
Memorable Quotes: “Sometimes you have to spend money you don’t have to make it seem like you have the money you don’t spend.”
Joe Carmichael (David Alan Grier) – The Carmichael Show
From the first moments of the pilot, it was clear Joe Carmichael isn’t the type of parent afraid to tell his kids how he really feels. Joe never thinks twice about being blunt or cracking a corny dad joke, but his family loves him anyway. His honesty and firm opinions spark many of the thought-provoking conversations about race, sexism, and celebrity on the show, but he also adds the bit of levity necessary to keep the laughs coming. Plus, his loving and laugh-out-loud relationship with his wife Cynthia (Loretta Devine) is #RelationshipGoals.
Memorable Quote: “After I go and your momma goes, somebody has to step up and take over this family. Will it be you [to Bobby], the chubby, brave one? Or you [to Jerrod], the skinny one who forgot where he comes from?”
Frank Reynolds (Danny Devito) – It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Probably one of the worst dads on television (besides Frank Gallagher of course—there seems to be a pattern among Franks), Frank Reynolds’ schemes that involve his children are manipulative, but nonetheless hilarious. Frank once convinced his daughter Dee (Kaitlin Olson) to help him fake an engagement in order to get back at his dead ex-wife/Dee’s mother. He’s twisted—and the absolute center of what makes It’s Always Sunny entertaining.
Memorable Quote: “If you’re dealt a bunch of lemons, you gotta take those lemons and stuff ’em down somebody’s throat until they see yellow.”
Ricky Sanchez (Justin Rolland) – Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty
Despite his alcoholism, violent demeanor and strong opinions regarding ordinary conventions, Rick Sanchez is the crazy grandfather we all (okay, maybe not all of us) wish we had.
Memorable Quotes: “You’re young, you have your whole life ahead of you, and your anal cavity is still taut yet malleable.”
From Ward Cleaver to Homer Simpson, television has always given viewers dads that made us laugh, cringe and ‘aw’ throughout the years. That’s why this Father’s Day, TV Insider would like to recognize the funniest fathers of 2017. Although they might not be the best or most typical fathers around, these dads are still the glue that holds their TV families together.
Click through the gallery above for our list of the funniest dads of 2017.
