Most dads would die for their kids; so why are they 'idiots' on TV?

"Even Bandit messes up going to the beach - it doesn't do dads justice."

I grew up with two dads. I saw the second dad every Saturday morning for about three hours. 

He wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. He was bald and, if I’m honest, pretty lazy and dumb most of the time.

He was funny; I’ll give him that, always getting into the most ridiculous situations, like when he got a crayon lodged in his brain.

Oh, and he’s American. You might have met him: Homer? Homer Jay Simpson?

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Bandit is 2024's version of Homer

Aussie kids are growing up with their version of Homer in the form of a blue heeler who walks on two feet: Bandit Heeler.

While he is very hands-on with his imaginative play, he is still pretty hapless, like the episode that revolves around him forgetting all the essentials when taking the kids to the pool (sunscreen, snacks, floaties), only to be rescued by Chilli Heeler, the smart wife.

Homer Simpson, Bandit Heeler, and Phil Dunphy can hardly rub a brain cell together - it just doesn't reflect reality.

Image: ABC/The Simpsons/Modern Family

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"Father’s Day is a good reminder to celebrate all the dads"

We’ve all been dragged through a pandemic that completely reshaped family life, it’s time for an update.

Dads got to experience how it feels for the women who straddle home life and work life, with many people finding a more egalitarian mode of sharing the load.

Feminism has done great things for women, but the whole either-or scenario between sexes is getting old; making fun of the boys to boost girls is what we teach five-year-olds not to do.

Sure, there are some bumbling, useless dads out there, but there are also some brilliantly inspiring dads who are smart, funny, switched on, and, say it with me: competent.

The one redeeming quality, even in the buffoon dads, is that they would do anything for their families.

Homer had some beautiful moments, like when he gave up his seat on the Duff blimp and used the money to help Lisa enter a beauty contest to boost her self-esteem.

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Most dads would jump in front of a bus for their kids, so it's a shame the dumb dad stereotype persists on TV.

Fathers make huge sacrifices for their kids. We know the sacrifices women make, but perhaps our dads' sacrifices are less seen, known, or lost in the stereotypes.

Father’s Day is a good reminder to celebrate all the dads, no matter where they are on the spectrum of buffoonery.

Originally published as Most dads would die for their kids; so why are they 'idiots' on TV?