Sitcom Dads may come and go, but the best ones tend to stick with their audiences long after the final credits roll on their television shows. Good TV fathers are often sources of comic relief; even while dealing with heavy subject matter, they also tend to provide some much needed empathy in times of turmoil. They also have a way of teaching some tough lessons to their onscreen families and the audience alike. The most memorable television dads of all time do a little bit of all three, though, making us laugh, cry, and learn in equal measure. There have been a lot of phenomenal fictional fathers to grace the small screen over the years, so to celebrate some of the TV pops that have earned a permanent place in our hearts, here’s a fond look back at some of the very best sitcom dads in TV history.