Growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, I watched a lot of sitcoms. The TGIF lineup on ABC was a mainstay. As I watched those 1990s TV shows, I naturally identified more with the children. I’d see little pieces of me when Stephanie Tanner got bullied at school or Robbie Sinclair questioned the meaning of life. Now, I’ve been a dad for almost a decade. And the role of father plays such a central part of my overall identity. Unsurprisingly, as I look back, I see more and more of myself in these ’90s sitcom dads.
But who was the best TV sitcom dad from the 1990s? I had to find out.
Just as I did to rank the top cartoon dads of all-time, I devised a tournament bracket for ’90s TV sitcom dads too. I started with TV dads who immediately came to mind and fleshed out the list with dads from top sitcoms (based on other internet lists) to come up with a group of 16. This made for a nice and tidy single-elimination bracket. Seeding was randomized, polls were posted on Instagram, and now the results are in.
Eliminated in the First Round
Given that he’s the only non-human character here, I had hoped that Earl Sinclair from Dinosaurs would make it further along in the bracket. Alas, he’s not only “not the mama,” but he’s also not even in the top 10 of sitcom dads. Sadly, Floyd Henderson didn’t even get a single vote in the first round. We can probably chalk that up to the relative obscurity of Smart Guy. And while Frank Costanza has plenty of memorable lines — he has a lot of problems with you people — maybe he’s not the best representation of a TV dad either. Other dads to adult children eliminated here are Martin Crane and Jack Geller. And Dick Solomon, sort of.
- 16. Floyd Henderson (Smart Guy)
- 15. Jack Geller (Friends)
- 14. Earl Sinclair (Dinosaurs)
- 13. Dick Solomon (3rd Rock From the Sun)
- 12. Jason Seaver (Growing Pains)
- 11. Martin Crane (Frasier)
- 10. Alan Matthews (Boy Meets World)
- 9. Frank Costanza (Seinfeld)
Eliminated in the Second Round
Moving on to the top 8, we start to see the representation of less traditional family dynamics. From stepchildren and stepparents to uncles and friends moving in to help out a widower “temporarily,” we see father figures navigating different challenges their own way.
8. Frank Lambert (Step by Step)
Emerging as the victor in the battle between TGIF dads, Frank Lambert blended his family with Carol Foster’s family with humility and aplomb. In many ways, Step by Step was our generation’s Brady Bunch. Step by Step aired on ABC from 1991 to 1998.
- Defeated Alan Matthews in Round One
7. Danny Tanner (Full House)
Honestly, I’m really surprised that one of the best-known TV dad role models didn’t win this whole thing. I feel like Danny Tanner had to be the heavy favorite going into this thing, as the character really epitomized the trope of the TV dad. It was only much later that I’d learn how different the Full House character was from Bob Saget who played him. Full House ran from 1987 to 1995 and was followed up by Fuller House in 2016.
- Defeated Jason Seaver in Round One
6. Dan Conner (Roseanne)
Even though many TV shows put on the same kind of curated gloss we see from Instagram filters, the 1990s also delivered more depictions of “real working-class families.” Dan Conner in Roseanne is a prime example of that dynamic, quietly doing the dad thing while raising kids under modest means. Roseanne ran from 1988 to 1997.
- Defeated Martin Crane in Round One
5. Red Forman (That ’70s Show)
Whereas Danny Tanner approached fatherhood from a place of compassion and unconditional love, Red Forman took a no-nonsense approach in That ’70s Show. The war veteran always seemed grumpy and annoyed. Even so, under that hard exterior, he still cared and did his best to impart wisdom to his children. That ’70s Show ran from 1998 to 2006.
- Defeated Dick Solomon in Round One
Final Four TV Dads From ’90s Sitcoms Ranked
Four heavy hitters of TV fatherhood entered the semi-finals, but only one would emerge as the top sitcom dad of the 1990s.
4. Al Bundy (Married… With Children)
The dads on this list are many things. But, only one of them can claim to have scored four touchdowns in a single game. Was it Danny Tanner? No ma’am, it’s Al Bundy of Married With Children. And while he may share a similarly gruff exterior, he’d always be quick to defend the honor of his little princess. Let’s rock. Married… With Children ran from 1987 to 1997. Ed O’Neill would go on to play another father figure in Modern Family.
- Defeated Earl Sinclair in Round One
- Defeated Frank Lambert in Round Two
3. Carl Winslow (Family Matters)
Did he do that? No. But along with putting up with a remarkably annoying neighbor, Carl Winslow did an impeccable job as a solid role model and father for his children. Family Matters ran from 1989 to 1998. Along with playing a cop in the TV sitcom, Reginald VelJohnson also famously played an LAPD sergeant in Die Hard and Die Hard 2.
- Defeated Floyd Henderson in Round One
- Defeated Dan Conner in Round Two
2. Tim Taylor (Home Improvement)
DMX isn’t the only one who barks and grunts. Along with seeking sage wisdom from his wise neighbor Wilson, Tim Taylor also hosted the highly popular Tool Time show-within-a-show with Al Borland. From the Man’s Kitchen to the Man’s Bathroom, he always wanted more power. Arr arr arr. Home Improvement ran from 1991 to 1999.
- Defeated Frank Constanza in Round One
- Defeated Red Forman in Round Two
- Defeated Carl Winslow in Round Three
1. Philip Banks (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
Most of us know Philip Banks better as Uncle Phil. And the late James Avery takes the crown as the best TV sitcom dad of the 1990s for his portrayal of the lawyer and Superior Court Judge. From raising his Philly hooligan of a nephew Will as one of his own, Philip Banks rose from humble origins to a lifestyle of the rich and famous in Bel-Air. For me, two scenes really stand out: that time Phil and Viv got Will and Carlton out of jail and that time Phil consoled Will after his dad left again.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ran from 1990 to 1996. Geoffrey, break out Lucille.
- Defeated Jack Geller in Round One
- Defeated Frank Lambert in Round Two
- Defeated Al Bundy in Round Three
- Defeated Tim Taylor in the Finals
Where Have All the Sitcom Dads Gone?
For the most part, the concept of the traditional TV sitcom doesn’t exist anymore. Thankfully, there are a few glimmers of hope for those of us seeking the wisdom and insight of sitcom dads. There was Appa on Kim’s Convenience and Phil Dunphy on Modern Family. But who else? Which TV dads can modern fathers look up to as role models now?
Share your recommendations in the comments below!
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