Toughest TV Dad

[WhatTheHeel?]

I posed this question years ago on a nostalgia based website called Yesterdayland. It might make a good 16 character bracket if someone wants to tackle the challenge. It's basically Fight Club for TV dads, who would be crowned toughest in a tournament?

I'll throw out some names if anyone wants to add names and then someone can do a bracket (or a rank 'em.) Feel free to use or remove any of the names. Keep in mind that this is not the "best" dad, just who you'd pick in a brawl (no weapons.) Don't include cartoon characters and movie dads, just TV.

James Evans, Sr. - Good Times (this was my pick)
Dan Connor - Rosanne
Ben Cartwright - Bonanza
John Walton, Sr. - The Waltons
Herman Munster - The Munsters
Al Bundy - Married with Children
Charles Ingles - Little House on the Prarie
Tim Taylor - Home Improvement
Tony Soprano - The Sopranos
Walter White - Breaking Bad
Tony Micelli - Who's the Boss

 

[JuleZ '02 HEEL]

Did you stop watching TV in 1990?


I know, I know, you've got Tony and Walter in there ...

 

[TarHeelMark]

Frank Murphy - F is for Family (animated show on Netflix, with Bill Burr voicing the dad)

Archie Bunker

 

[tarheel0910]

So no Danny Tanner?

 

[toophly1124]

Jack Arnold

 

[cletusnow]

Going with Charles Ingalls. Dude brought his family halfway across the country, built his own house, and found a way to feed everyone.

 

[cletusnow]

Frank Murphy - F is for Family (animated show on Netflix, with Bill Burr voicing the dad)

Archie Bunker

+1 for funniest tv dad

 

[heelbent]

I posed this question years ago on a nostalgia based website called Yesterdayland. It might make a good 16 character bracket if someone wants to tackle the challenge. It's basically Fight Club for TV dads, who would be crowned toughest in a tournament?

I'll throw out some names if anyone wants to add names and then someone can do a bracket (or a rank 'em.) Feel free to use or remove any of the names. Keep in mind that this is not the "best" dad, just who you'd pick in a brawl (no weapons.) Don't include cartoon characters and movie dads, just TV.

James Evans, Sr. - Good Times (this was my pick)
Dan Connor - Rosanne
Ben Cartwright - Bonanza
John Walton, Sr. - The Waltons
Herman Munster - The Munsters
Al Bundy - Married with Children
Charles Ingles - Little House on the Prarie
Tim Taylor - Home Improvement
Tony Soprano - The Sopranos
Walter White - Breaking Bad
Tony Micelli - Who's the Boss

You really think Evans could take out Herman Munster?

 

[coolwaterunc]

Randy Marsh

 

[gunslingerdick]

Going with Charles Ingalls. Dude brought his family halfway across the country, built his own house, and found a way to feed everyone.

James Evans, Sr. - Good Times (this was my pick)

Both of these are great choices. But for my money, I'm going with:

 

[coryfly]

 

[heelz2345]

Well, Cliff Huxtable would probably take them all out if he provided refreshments before hand.

 

[heelz2345]

I think the obvious choice here is Jack Bauer

 

[heelz2345]

I wouldn't want to mess with either dad that Terry Crews has played on Everybody Hates Chris or Brooklyn Nine Nine because that dude is huge.

 

[tarheel0910]

Oliver Queen, aka the Green Arrow, technically has a kid on his show. That would probably be a tough guy to go against.

 

[heelz2345]

I wouldn't say these two are traditionally "tough" but they were cops, so that's something.
Andy Taylor (The Andy Griffith Show)
Martin Crane (Frasier)

Other tough dads:
Rick Grimes (Walking Dead)
Jaime Lannister (Game of Thrones)
Seth Bullock (Deadwood)
Raylan Givens (Justified)
Martin Hart (True Detective)

 

[heelz2345]

Of course, Frank Reynolds aka The Trashman would be pretty tough, largely due to his unpredictability, total lack of shame, and a willingness to fight dirty.

 

[coolwaterunc]

Rick Grimes (Walking Dead)

I think this wins the thread since I don't believe anyone else on this list has ever killed a man by biting off a portion of the guy's throat to save his son from rape.

 

[tarheel0910]

I think this wins the thread since I don't believe anyone else on this list has ever killed a man by biting off a portion of the guy's throat to save his son from rape.

Can't argue with that.

 

[heelz2345]

I think this wins the thread since I don't believe anyone else on this list has ever killed a man by biting off a portion of the guy's throat to save his son from rape.

That one was pretty gnarly, but Jack Bauer once broke a guy's neck using his ankles so I think they both would be high up on the list for guys I don't want to piss off.

 

[heelbent]

That one was pretty gnarly, but Jack Bauer once broke a guy's neck using his ankles so I think they both would be high up on the list for guys I don't want to piss off.

Chuck Norris as a dad in anything is the meanest SOB in the history of history. He would just walk up to any one of them, snatch his head off, face the camera and drop it like a mic.

Even Ahnald.

 

[TarHeelMark]

 

[Louigi]

Ward Cleaver

 

[heelz2345]

Chuck Norris as a dad in anything is the meanest SOB in the history of history. He would just walk up to any one of them, snatch his head off, face the camera and drop it like a mic.

Even Ahnald.

Was Chuck a dad in Walker? I haven’t seen enough to know

 

[tarheel0910]

Was Chuck a dad in Walker? I haven’t seen enough to know

Chuck is everybody's daddy.

 

[TarHeelMark]

Ward Cleaver

 

[uncboy10]

Until another dad rips a guys throat out with his bare teeth to save his son from being raped, I think Rick Grimes has to take the top spot.

 

[MWHeels]

Carl Winslow

 

[MWHeels]

Phillip Banks