Entertainment
Alan Thicke Gets His Own Show: What Other '90s TV Dads Should Get Shows?
After all the Robin Thicke controversy, another Thicke seems to have something he can be proud of again: Alan Thicke got a new show on the TV Guide Network. Called Unusually Thicke, it's a faux-reality show that follows the former Growing Pains actor, his wife and son, and a host of their celebrity friends. Already, Wayne Gretzky, David Hasselhoff, Magic Johnson, Tom Green, Minnie Driver, the cast of How I Met Your Mother, John Stamos, Robin Thicke, and Bob Saget are scheduled to appear on the show.
Which got us thinking: which other '90s TV dads would we want to see on TV again, and how different are they now from the dads they played back then?
Bob Saget
As a TV Dad: Bob Saget was Danny Tanner, the neurotic widower of Full House.
As a real dad: Saget is divorced with three kids, and continues to make adults who watched Full House as children uncomfortable with his stand-up. Just listen to his voice on How I Met Your Mother and pretend he’s the Danny Tanner we all once knew and loved.
Tim Reid
As a TV dad: Was the uptight limo company owner Ray Campbell, father of twins Tia and Tamera on Sister, Sister.
As a real dad: Married with four kids (two from a previous marriage), but seems to fallen off the face of the Earth as far as the entertainment business goes. Say with me, in a Jackee Harry voice: “RAY!”
William Russ
As a TV dad: Alan Matthews, Cory’s sporting-goods-store-owning, baseball-loving, advice-giving dad on Boy Meets World.
As a real dad: Married with a daughter and son, and occasionally takes a guest role or two on television.
Image: ABC Family
Charles Shaughnessy
As a TV dad: Played Maxwell Sheffield, the cool British playwright dad of a bunch of rich kids who eventually fell for the dulcet nasal tones of Fran Fine on The Nanny.
As a real dad: Married with two daughters, also he inherited some sort of title in England? He still works in the theater, often appears on television to play “the British guy”, and still hangs out with Fran Drescher. So, basically, I would definitely watch that show.
Reginald VelJohnson
As a TV dad: Played Carl Winslow, a police officer and father who was constantly put on edge by Steve Urkel, on Family Matters.
As a real dad: Apparently, no one knows anything about VelJohnson’s personal life, although there’s a lot of gay rumors floating around the Internet (although that’s pretty much typical for any celebrity). He still continues to act, although mostly in terrible movies (you’re so much better than You Again, dude).
