Let's chat: Who is your favorite Jewish dad on TV?
Back in 2019, Kveller ranked the best Jewish TV dads, crowning Johnny Rose, iconic "Schitt's Creek" dad, as #1 out of over 20 Jewish dads on TV. As Father’s Day approaches, we want to know, who should top the list in 2024?
Let’s open that discussion up here! In the comments, tell us about your favorite Jewish TV dad. We’ll start:
Lior: I still agree with our 2019 ranking — Johnny Rose deserves the title of best Jewish TV dad all these years later. It's the combination of the riches-to-rags dad who also learns to better connect with his adult children as they move to a middle-of-nowhere motel in Canada and the actor who plays him, Eugene Levy. Thinking of this real-life Jewish dad working with his son day in and day out of a brilliant and warm comedy show that makes us believe in the power of familial love and humanity and ALSO laugh our butts off, just brings me such joy.
But also, since I can't answer these questions with just one TV character (will I ever understand the assignment?!) an honorable mention goes to Sol Kurc, the indefatigable patriarch from "We Were the Lucky Ones." Lior Ashkenazi, just like Levy, is a total mensch and a really introspective dad in real life — I spoke to him about fatherhood off and on screen for Kveller.
Molly: I’m going to have to go with The Pines of Mar Gable’s disgraced former tenant board president, Morty Seinfeld. Is he a caricature of an old Jewish man? Yes. He’s kvetchy, he is quick to assume his wallet is stolen, he claims to have invented the beltless trench coat, he hates the sound of Velcro. He’s also incredibly proud of his son Jerry, will defend him to the bitter end, and knows how to enjoy the finer things in life, like a Chips Ahoy cookie. Played by the dearly departed (Irish Catholic) Barney Martin, Morty Seinfeld is a warm, slightly schvitzy hug of a #1 Dad.
Daci: As much as we love to poke fun at Ross Geller in this Substack, I have to admit that his commitment to making Hanukkah fun for his son Ben does tug at my heartstrings a little now that I'm a parent. Very weird that the Holiday Armadillo didn't catch on!
OK, your turn. Let us know who your favorite is in the comments!
I'm with Molly on this on - it's Morty Seinfeld for me. And Jerry's mother Helen, played by Liz Sheridan (who I just learned from imdb was a quarter Ashkenazi!), was the best Jewish mother with the best Jewish mother line ("How could anyone not like you?"), which she said incredulously to Jerry on more than one occasion.
Johnny Rose definitely. I am also very partial to Abe Weissman