Father’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate fathers from all walks of life, including our favorite sitcom dads. They were able to bring laughter into your house on a weekly basis and they might even be someone you look up to now.

A Brief History of Father’s Day

Father’s Day in the U.S. dates back to 1910 when Sonora Smart Dodd, inspired by Mother’s Day celebrations, wanted a way to honor her father. Dodd’s father was a Civil War veteran and single parent who raised six children. Dodd pitched the idea for Father’s Day to her local church and community organizations to honor fathers for their sacrifices and dedication to their families. 

The first celebration was held in Spokane, Washington, on June 19, 1910. In 1916, President Wilson honored the day using telegraph signals to unfurl a flag in Spokane with the push of a button. 

In 1924, President Coolidge officially recognized Father’s Day, though it would take time for the holiday to gain in recognition and popularity. 

In 1972, President Nixon signed Father’s Day into law and made it a national holiday to be celebrated annually on the third Sunday in June. In modern times, Father’s Day has become a worldwide holiday. 

Top 5 Handy TV Dads

There are an abundance of wonderful tv dads out there so to narrow it down we wanted to hear from our Frontdoor Experts!

#1 Tim Taylor 

Tim Taylor is a character on Home Improvement famously played by Tim Allen and known for making manly grunts and fixing things around the house to limited success.

“Tim the toolman Taylor wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty to work on his projects or learn something new,” Frontdoor Electrician Expert, Brandon Kidwell.

#2 Dan Conner

Dan Conner from the popular 90’s sitcom, Roseanne, is a hardworking contractor played by John Goodman. He is known for being an easygoing, caring family man who works his hardest to balance family and work life.

“He is extremely relatable being a blue-collar worker and down to earth guy trying his best to raise a family,” Frontdoor Electrician Expert, Nicholas Furness.

#3 Floyd Henderson

Floyd Henderson from Smart Guy is single father who a runs a roofing company called Floyd Henderson Contracting. Floyd showcases a strong work ethic, resilience, and dedication to his kid’s upbringing, serving as a positive role model and imparting valuable life lessons.

#4 Red Forman

Red Forman from That 70’s Show might have appeared a little rough around the edges with his dry sense of humor and no-nonsense attitude but was always the one delivering a good lesson to his son, Eric and his friends. 

“Red always kept the workings of the home operating and told you exactly what was on his mind,” Frontdoor Plumbing Supervisor Expert, Ian Thomas

#5 Phil Dunphy 

Phil Dunphy on Modern Family, played by Ty Burrell, is both a real estate agent and overconfident handyman who tends to get into shenanigans in his attempts at home repairs. 

Life Lessons From Sitcom Dads and Real-Life Dads

While sitcom dads are great at teaching us life lessons by balancing goofiness and groan-inspiring reactions of dad humor with what it means to be a supportive father figure, our Frontdoor Expert dads can give you some valuable advice when it comes to your home.

“Constantly keep up on maintenance. Don’t put repairs off because they will stack up and will cost more to replace versus maintain,” Frontdoor Electrician Expert, John Bell.

“I have learned that you can never be prepared enough. There is always something unexpected just around the corner. My advice is to prepare for as much as you can. Prepare for the unexpected emergencies, accidents, mother nature, and things breaking. This will relieve stress when things do go wrong, and the peace of mind will give you better quality time with your family,” Frontdoor HVAC Expert, Gary Campbell.

 

At Frontdoor, we aim to simplify homeownership for hardworking families and ensure you’re equipped with the knowledge to make decisions for your home. The Frontdoor app offers live video chat with an Expert who can help answer all your home repair and maintenance questions. 

Download the app if you haven't already to chat with a helpful, friendly Frontdoor Expert and get your home to-do list done.

From our house to yours, Frontdoor wishes you and your loved ones a happy and healthy Father’s Day.

Frontdoor assumes no responsibility, and specifically disclaims all liability, for your use of any and all information contained herein.