TV Freak Scott Goodings is crazy about TV. Scott's first TV memory is an
episode of "Matlock Police" called "A Piece Of Cake". His first experience of
the medium in colour was seeing a Hector The Cat road safety commercial through
the window of the CBA bank in Cheltenham in 1975. Catch his regular reviews at
Quickflix
.
TV's Greatest Dads
When I was young, Mike from "The Brady Bunch" was my ideal TV dad. It was
probably the wood-panelled station wagon and the trips to the Grand Canyon and
Hawaii. But tastes change as a TV Freak matures. Now I look for individuality
and slight eccentricity in my TV fathers. So have the dog bring you the pipe
and slippers, and sit back and celebrate Father's Day by checking out some of
these paternal role models.
- Scott
Captain William Scully (Don S Davis) : X-Files
Check out the episode "Beyond The Sea" on
X-Files, The-Season 1 - Episodes 12-15 (1993)
Davis follows up his great work as Bobby's father Major Briggs in "Twin Peaks"
by playing Agent Dana Scully's dad. A death row inmate Luther Lee Boggs claims
to be psychic and have the power to 'channel' Scully's recently departed
father. Will Scully 'believe' and cut a deal with Boggs for information on a
serial killer case?
Rabbi Hyman Krustofski : The Simpsons
Check out the episode "Like Father Like Clown" on
Simpsons, The-Season 3 - Disc 1 (1991)
At dinner with the Simpsons, Krusty reveals his devastation over his father
disowning him for choosing clowning rather than the traditional family male
occupation - rabbi. Can Bart and Lisa orchestrate a Krustofski reunion on
Krusty's show using an ancient Hebrew text mixed with words of wisdom from
Sammy Davis Junior? Nice cinematic plot nod to "The Jazz Singer".
Frank Spencer (Michael Crawford) : Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
Check out the episode "Jessica's First Christmas" on
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em-The Specials (1973)
Frank Spencer, the accident-prone character who inspired hundreds of would-be
impressionists, somehow ends up stuck in the church roof after helping Father
O'Hare organise his daughter's first nativity play. Revisit Michael Crawford's
comic genius prior to "Phantom" and all those Ray Martin specials in the 90s.
Red Forman (Kurtwood Smith) : That 70's Show
Check out the episode "The Good Son" on
That 70's Show-Season 1 - Disc 4 (1998)
Cantankerous, sardonic Red's old army buddy Bull visits town offering a job
selling hot tubs - so why should Red and wife Kitty be shocked when Bull wants
them to join the swingers' scene?!! Great ‘Brady Bunch football in house leads
to vase smashing’ sub-plot homage involving son Eric and friend Hyde smashing
the TV while bouncing a bowling ball off the couch.
Maurice (Maurice Evans) : Bewitched
Check out the episode "Just One Happy Family" on
Bewitched-Season 1 - Disc 2 (1964)
Brilliant Shakespearean actor Evans (Dr. Zaius in the original "Planet of the
Apes") makes his first appearance as Samantha's disapproving but loving warlock
father. Endora warns Samantha that Maurice won't be happy Sam's married the
mortal Darrin. Soon enough the debonair Maurice has made Darrin disappear, a
precursor to later ‘spelling’ which will see Darrin sent to the top of the
Eiffel Tower, turned into a donkey, and frozen into a mirror.
Peter Griffin : Family Guy
Check out the episode "Mind Over Murder" on
Family Guy-Season 1 - Disc 1 (1999)
Whilst doing the parenting thing at a soccer game, the father of Meg, Chris and
Stewie (and master of singing cocktail drinking pooch Brian) punches a pregnant
woman he thinks is a man. Placed under house arrest, in a nod to "Field Of
Dreams", Peter has a vision of the Pawtucket Patriot from his beer bottle label
and opens a bar in his basement. Look out for the TV showing "Sesame Street's"
Ernie and Bert 'guesting' in an episode of "Homicide: Life On The Streets"
Brett Craig (Peter Rowsthorn) : Kath & Kim
Check out the episode "The Mango Espadrille" on
Kath & Kim-Series 3 - Disc 1 (2004)
Kath and Kim hit the races, fascinators on, Fleur De Lys Picolos in hand.
Meanwhile, Brett is left holding the baby, literally, at work. With Epponnee
Rae in a baby harness strapped across his chest, Brett becomes a chick magnet
and computer-selling dynamo with the ladies like never before at ‘Computaciti’.
Martin Crane (John Mahoney) : Frasier
Check out the episode "The Good Son" on
Frasier-Season 1 - Disc 1 (1993)
In the pilot episode of the "Cheers” spin-off, psychiatrist Frasier Crane moves
back to his hometown of Seattle to work in radio. Things don't go to plan as
Frasier is informed his father and his bad hip will have to join him in his new
apartment. Sibling Niles also suggests a live-in therapist from Manchester,
Daphne Moon, and then there's Martin's Jack Russell terrier - check out the
very first time Eddie's staring at Frasier made him very uncomfortable.
Albert Edward Ladysmith Steptoe (Wilfrid Brambell) : Steptoe And Son
Check out the episode "The Bird"/"The Holiday" on
Steptoe and Son-Series 1 (1962)
Having worked on the brilliant "Hancock's Half Hour" in the 50s, writers Ray
Galton and Alan Simpson developed this series about a father and son 'rag and
bone' business. Son Harold wants to better himself, but Dad Albert and his
disgusting habits continually ruin things. Two classic episodes here - in "The
Bird", Albert sets about ruining Harold's romantic date by putting all the
clocks in the house forward, and in "The Holiday" he ruins his son's overseas
holiday by faking a heart attack.
Professor John Robinson (Guy Williams) : Lost In Space
Check out Lost
In Space-Season 1 - Disc 1 (1965)
How selfless and noble was the Professor? It's the year 1997, the world's
rapidly overpopulating, so he volunteers to establish a human colony on Alpha
Centauri – a sort of 20th century version of Governor Phillip and the First
Fleet. He also involves his wife and three kids (and potential son-in-law Major
Don West) in his mission. Unfortunately things go awry for the Space Family
Robinson when stowaway Doctor Smith sabotages their mission, thrusting them
into battles like 'The Great Vegetable Rebellion', where large carrots try to
turn them into plants.