Television sitcoms and dramas typically depict the life of a family in some way, whether the parents are present in their children's lives or merely there as background characters. For shows whose premise is based on the dynamic of a family, like Parenthood or Modern Family, dads are usually front and center.
Some shows of course have lackluster dads, Mike's father from Stranger Things may come to mind, or the absence of parents altogether while their teenage children engage in adult-like situations (Dawson's Creek, Pretty Little Liars). However, when TV dads are good, they're great.
Adam Braverman (Parenthood)
As the eldest Braverman sibling, Adam spent all of the NBC series being not only a dad to his own three children but also one to his three younger siblings.
Adam was the man that everyone turned to for help, he stepped in as an uncle/dad for Drew, helped Crosby grow from man-child to man, and took whatever unpredictable changes life threw his way in stride, like Kristina becoming pregnant right as he lost his job. Adam was the ultimate dad; supportive, kind, and really bad at dancing.
Keith Mars (Veronica Mars)
Private investigator Keith Mars raised a witty, determined daughter in Veronica, and inspired her to be everything that he was.
When Veronica's mother left them, Keith made the most out of being a single parent and made it so that Veronica never felt like she needed her runaway mom. He taught his daughter to be patient in searching for the truth, never doubt her instincts, and to be naturally curious.
Randall Pearson (This is Us)
NBC drama This is Us gets a lot of attention for how great of a father Jack Pearson was before his untimely death, but his fatherhood is nothing compared to the work of his son, Randall.
Not only has Randall been a loving, supportive husband to Beth, but his dedication to his children is award-worthy. His relationship with adoptive daughter Deja is inspiring, and the journey they've had since Season 2 proves that familial love can be built and grow. Randall would never give up on his kids and makes a conscious effort every day to choose family over everything.
Phil Dunphy (Modern Family)
Modern-day TV's funniest father, Phil Dunphy, had nothing but love for his three children, who mostly found him to be uncool and a total dad personality.
Phil's best trait was perhaps his ability to be genuinely himself at all times, teaching his children to never hide facets of their personalities or try to please others when it wasn't worth it. He was unapologetically himself, loved with his entire heart, and was a surprisingly dedicated magician. There's not much else the Dunphy kids could've asked for.
Jim Hopper (Stranger Things)
Jim Hopper always seemed to harness dad energy, running through Hawkins, Indiana as the father figure nobody asked for, but everyone needed.
The death of his young daughter, Sarah, from cancer and his subsequent divorce, made him a little rough around the edges and lonesome. When he took in Eleven in Season 2, the two forged a bond so strong, it made fans forget they're not blood-related. Hopper was the perfect surrogate father for El, giving her everything she needed to survive, including lots of love.
Jack Bristow (Alias)
When viewers first meet spy-dad Jack Bristow, they don't know whether or not to trust him; his daughter Sydney sure doesn't. But as the two get to know each other better despite years of estrangement, Jack becomes a fan-favorite holding a special place in Sydney's and fans' hearts.
Much of Jack's fatherly love came in the form of shielding his only daughter from truths that might hurt her, something she initially and repeatedly resents him for. However, his motives were almost always pure, and though he was a man of few words he showed up for Sydney when it counted.
Eric Taylor (Friday Night Lights)
Eric and Tami Taylor from Friday Night Lights are one of television's most beloved couples for their own love story, but also for being fantastic parents to daughters Julie and Gracie.
As well as being a father to his own children, Eric's fatherly instinct was brought out on the football field as a coach. He was protective and responsible for the kids on his team like Saracen and Riggins and gave them the father figure they were lacking. His love for kids that weren't even his own was admirable, and he was just all around a good guy.
Tony Micelli (Who's The Boss?)
Tony Micelli from Who's The Boss was a lot of things: a former baseball player, a widow, a housekeeper, and a single dad to daughter, Samantha.
Tony proved to not only be a fantastic father to Samantha, but also a good role model and step-father of sorts to his employer's (and love interest) son, Jonathan. Tony was a man of many talents, one of which included being great with kids. His relationship with the children was always strong and a fundamental part of the series.
Sandy Cohen (The OC)
From the very first episode of The OC, Sandy Cohen proved to be the world's best father. From taking Ryan to constantly supporting Seth, Sandy was meant to be a dad and was far better than any of the other Newport fathers viewers met throughout the series.
There was nothing Sandy wouldn't do for his family, including taking cases to protect his evil father-in-law and advocating for his adoptive son at every turn.
Philip Banks (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
Not only was Philip Banks the father of four of his own children, but he also took in his nephew Will and proved to be a better dad than Will's biological one ever was.
Uncle Phil was no-nonsense and could be pretty strict at times, but above all, he was a loving and honorable family man. He was the father that Will always needed, and supported and treated all of his children equally. He always believed in his kids and made them feel loved and protected at all times.