History Main / BumblingDad

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': The page image, quote source, and TropeCodifier himself, Homer Simpson is almost certainly the most iconic example of this trope - an [[AlcoholicParent alcoholic]], lazy, disgusting, [[ItsAllAboutMe self-centered]], insensitive, occasionally [[AbusiveParents abusive]] TooDumbToLive JerkAss who constantly neglects his job, for which he is entirely unqualified for, and spends a solid chunk of the series having to haphazardly deal with problems he's caused that puts his family - and occasionally, ''the entire town'' - in danger. That said, [[DependingOnTheWriter although how big of an asshole he is can vary wildly]], one thing that remains relatively consistent is that he [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold does deeply love his family]], is extremely faithful to his wife, and can be one hell of a PapaWolf when the situation calls for it, often to the point of ChronicHeroSyndrome.

* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'': [Characters/RickAndMortyJerrySmith Jerry Smith]] is a rather dark deconstruction of this trope. He's not especially bright even when compared to his kids, but his wife is a great deal smarter than him and his father-in-law is an outright OmnidisciplinaryScientist. His incompetence and relative lack of intelligence do provide some comedy, but they've also left him extremely insecure, resentful of his entire family, and have caused some severe problems with his marriage.

* Hunson Abadeer is Satan in the ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' universe. When it comes to Marceline his daughter, he reverts into a light parody of the trope.

* Bluey's father Bandit from ''WesternAnimation/{{Bluey}}'' is a very {{downplayed}} case; although Bandit tends be goofy and act quite brashly at times, a lot of his bumbling tends to come from him being BornUnlucky than any foolishness. He is overall portrayed as being a lot more down-to-earth and understanding than most other examples of this trope. He's also a highly competent dad and can even be a StealthMentor at times through the games he plays with his daughters.

* The titular character of ''WesternAnimation/{{Clarence}}'' doesn't live with his dad, but his stepfather Chad can play this role, being a total ManChild.
* Monty Uno in ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'' is the most prominent parent of the main characters, and his various quirks are a constant source of embarrassment to his son Nigel/Numbuh 1. [[spoiler:In the BigDamnMovie, it's revealed that he is in fact Numbuh 0, a legendary hero to the KND, and his bungling nature are a result of [[LaserGuidedAmnesia decommisioning]].]]

* Jack Fenton of ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom''. One good look at him and you can tell he's not meant to be treated seriously... at least until he [[LetsGetDangerous gets dangerous]] (especially when [[PapaWolf his family is at risk]]). He is also something of a GeniusDitz, having invented at least half the Fenton gadgets, which go between being useless (The Fenton Ghost Gabber) and [[GoneHorriblyRight working a little]] ''[[GoneHorriblyRight too]]'' [[GoneHorriblyRight well]]. (Fenton Ghost Catcher, Ghost Peeler, Ectxo-Skeleton).

* In ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'', both parents, though their primary flaw was being clueless to ''Dexter's Laboratory'' (and he has a memory erasing gun, so it's more like they look stupid by comparison to their supergenius son.) Also, Dexter's father turns out to be a stunt biker when his job is finally revealed (up to then, he left every day dressed for an office job), making him much cooler and more competent than the typical example.

* WesternAnimation/ElTigre's father Rondolfo Rivera, AKA the legendary hero White Pantera, isn't as bumbling as most examples, but he comes off as way too goody-goody, especially for his AntiHero son and CardCarryingVillain papi.
* Cosmo and Mr. Turner of ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents''. The show is fair enough to show that Mrs. Turner isn't that much brighter... That may explain Timmy. It should also be noted how Wanda used to be not much brighter than Cosmo, who had gone through severe {{Flanderization}}, and in fact in the pilot episode, they describe themselves as "two halves of a whole idiot".

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'''s Peter Griffin is often this at best while being a PsychopathicManchild at his worst.
* Both Fred and Barney from ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'' were bumbling dads when Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm came along. They'd been bumbling husbands since the start of the show, though, so it wasn't really new for them.
* Dexter's father in ''WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}'' takes it to [[TheDitz ditz levels]]. When imprisoned, he can't even learn to do ''tally marks'' correctly.
* Deconstructed in ''WesternAnimation/InsideJob2021'' by Rand Ridley. On the surface, he's a perfect example of this trope: a lazy, hedonistic stoner who mooches off of and constantly embarrasses his daughter Reagan with his {{ZanyScheme}}s, but seems to genuinely love her. However, his erratic behavior is the result of decades of hard drinking and drug use that have been unchecked, and it becomes gradually clear that he's an abusive father who genuinely abused Reagan throughout her childhood and serves as a constant toxic influence on her. It culminates in the first season finale, which reveals [[spoiler:he erased her OnlyFriend from her memory so he could force her to [[GradeSkipper skip grades]] so he could fast-track her to success]], making it clear he only ever saw her as a meal ticket at best.
* WesternAnimation/{{Goofy}} in ''WesternAnimation/GoofTroop'', ''WesternAnimation/AGoofyMovie'' and, earlier, in [[WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShorts his '50s cartoon shorts]] where he attempted to play a StandardFiftiesFather named George Geef. A perfect example of this trope in action is "Father's Day Off", in which Goofy, as Geef, [[ADayInHerApron assumes his wife's duties while she goes out for the day]]. However, it's easy to forgive Goofy for being bumbling as a family man, because bumbling has always been part of his overall personality.

* Billy's dad in ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy''. Like his son, he often doesn't care about anything and has a small IQ. Interestingly he was originally the more sane member of the family due to his wife's mental breakdown around Grim, then Flanderization hit in.

* Hugh Neutron from ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius''. Many times, Hugh would screw up one of Jimmy's inventions.
* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' downplays this trope with Kim's father, who is a rocket scientist and is more an AbsentMindedProfessor than a real bumbling dad, and who has often dispatched sage advice, even if he does still refer to her as "Kimmy-cub". Ron's Dad, on the other hand, once showed up in public wearing a cape.

* Not just the father, but both parents in ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'' seem to shift between this, being GoodParents, and ParentsAsPeople, depending on the episode.
* Downplayed with Leo Callisto from ''WesternAnimation/MilesFromTomorrowland''; he may be a bit more laid-back and goofy than his wife Phoebe, but he's certainly no idiot.

* The ''WesternAnimation/OhYeahCartoons'' short "That's My Pop" starred a ChildProdigy bear girl named Naomi whose father was a complete imbecile who could barely read.

* Professor Utonium of ''Franchise/ThePowerpuffGirls'' , despite having a talent for science and inventing, as well as his mostly loving nature to his three superhero little girls, still falls victim to this trope, [[AdultsAreUseless because almost every adult in Townsville is an idiot for the sake of plot sake of plot]].
* Oscar Proud from ''WesternAnimation/TheProudFamily.'' Oscar Proud is an unsuccessful inventor of snack foods. He regularly engages in, and loses, competitions with his {{Rival}} "The Wizard." He is the frequent victim of cartoon-slapstick mishaps. His mother, the "cool" grandmother Sugar Momma, insults him constantly. And to top it all off, many episodes portray him foolishly overprotective of his daughter Penny.

* [[Characters/RickAndMortyJerrySmith Jerry Smith]] of ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' is a rather dark deconstruction of this trope. He's not especially bright even when compared to his kids, but his wife is a great deal smarter than him and his father-in-law is an outright OmnidisciplinaryScientist. His incompetence and relative lack of intelligence do provide some comedy, but they've also left him extremely insecure, resentful of his entire family, and have caused some severe problems with his marriage.

* Vijay Patel from ''WesternAnimation/SanjayAndCraig'' is more of a dork rather than an outright idiot.
* The page image, quote source, and TropeCodifier himself, Homer Simpson from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' is almost certainly the most iconic example of this trope - an [[AlcoholicParent alcoholic]], lazy, disgusting, [[ItsAllAboutMe self-centered]], insensitive, occasionally [[AbusiveParents abusive]] TooDumbToLive JerkAss who constantly neglects his job, for which he is entirely unqualified for, and spends a solid chunk of the series having to haphazardly deal with problems he's caused that puts his family - and occasionally, ''the entire town'' - in danger. That said, [[DependingOnTheWriter although how big of an asshole he is can vary wildly]], one thing that remains relatively consistent is that he [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold does deeply love his family]], is extremely faithful to his wife, and can be one hell of a PapaWolf when the situation calls for it, often to the point of ChronicHeroSyndrome.
* Randy Marsh in ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' has [[{{Flanderization}} drifted in this direction]] over the years; in the beginning, he rarely appeared (and the first episode he played a major part in needed him because he was a scientist); now, he usually gets caught up in every stupid fad, and is frequently portrayed as the single dumbest individual in any of the kids' families, while [[WomenAreWiser his wife]] is one of the sanest ([[AdultsAreUseless ...of the adults, at least]]).
* Becky Botsford's adoptive father has no idea she's the titular ''WesternAnimation/WordGirl'', and often makes stupid mistakes and screw-ups.

* Greg Universe from ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' is an interesting example. The Crystal Gems consider him to be this trope, due to his inability to help with many of the dangers and threats that the characters face. However, [[SubvertedTrope as an actual father]], he's a very loving and supportive parent who tries to raise [[HalfHumanHybrid Steven]] as best he can, having built the house Steven lives in (despite living in a van himself), covers their living expenses, and was the one to raise Steven for several years due to the Gems having no concept of child-rearing and Steven's mother Rose Quartz [[DeathByChildbirth giving up her physical form to give Steven her gem]].

* In a way, Baloo, from the animated series ''WesternAnimation/TaleSpin'', though he wasn't married to Rebecca, and wasn't Kit's actual father.
* Dwayne in ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaPresentsTheRidonculousRace'' is this. He screws up so many times, he and Junior are lucky to get as far as they have.
* Mr. X from ''WesternAnimation/TheXs'' is your typical bumbling father, who knows 50 ways to destroy a man with his bare hands alone.
* Jonas from ''WesternAnimation/AsToldByGinger'' is an example of how this trope can affect children [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome in real life]]. Jonas left the family years prior to the series and only recently began trying to reconnect with them despite seeming borderline incapable of keeping his word. One kid sees him through rose-colored glasses and wants him and their mother to get back together so they can be a happy family ([[BrokenPedestal and is later sobered up to the reality]]), the other is bitter and resentful at being abandoned, and both children seem to have issues with trust linked to their father's lack of reliability. To top it off, Jonas is very aware of how much of a flake he is and eventually gives his ex-wife away to a second husband who is far more reliable than he was.

* Jerry Smith of ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' is a rather dark deconstruction of this trope. He's not especially bright even when compared to his kids, but his wife is a great deal smarter than him and his father-in-law is an outright OmnidisciplinaryScientist. His incompetence and relative lack of intelligence do provide some comedy, but they've also left him extremely insecure, resentful of his entire family, and have caused some severe problems with his marriage.

* Deconstructed in ''WesternAnimation/InsideJob2021'' by Rand Ridley. On the surface, he's a perfect example of this trope: a lazy, hedonistic stoner who mooches off of and constantly embarrasses his daughter Reagan with his ZanyScheme{{s}}, but seems to genuinely love her. However, his erratic behavior is the result of decades of hard drinking and drug use that have been unchecked, and it becomes gradually clear that he's an abusive father who genuinely abused Reagan throughout her childhood and serves as a constant toxic influence on her. It culminates in the first season finale, which reveals [[spoiler:he erased her OnlyFriend from her memory so he could force her to [[GradeSkipper skip grades]] so he could fast-track her to success]], making it clear he only ever saw her as a meal ticket at best.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'':
** Stu Pickles is a downplayed example. He's good-natured, loves to invent, and has a child-like personality. He builds toys for income but said toys can be hit or miss depending on how well they work. He may not be the brightest dad, but is still helpful to his wife and two sons in many ways, and he loves them all very much.

* The Father in TheMovie of ''WesternAnimation/{{Coraline}}''. In contrast, the Other Father is attentive, caring, and much cooler.

* Hugh Neutron from ''WesternAnimation/JimmyNeutron''. Many times, Hugh would screw up one of Jimmy's inventions.

* ''LightNovel/{{Inukami}}'': Dai Youko, Youko's father, is the goofy dad type; described as an [[OneOfTheKids "adult child"]], he throws tantrums when he finds out Youko's in love with her tamer. However, he's far from incompetent. Instead he's the only one capable of fighting the BigBad in single combat.

* ''LightNovel/TheStoryOfSaiunkoku'' has Kou Shoka, who fills the role not only for his daughter Shuurei but also to a lesser degree for both Seiran and the young Emperor, Shi Ryuuki. He mostly comes off as kind and good-natured but hopelessly inept, [[spoiler:at least until it's revealed that he's also the highly skilled assassin known as the Black Wolf and that his bumbling is mostly an act]].

* Professor Utonium of ''Franchise/ThePowerpuffGirls'' is a talented and intelligent scientist. As a dad to three superhero little girls, he's a well-intentioned if addled buffoon.

His family is made up of at least one child nearing or in their teenage years, and a [[WomenAreWiser wife]] (usually [[UglyGuyHotWife much prettier than Dad]]) who spends her time ParentingTheHusband. If he has one or more teenage daughters, at least one will be a BrattyTeenageDaughter or a DaddysGirl; whether they are or not, the dad will be an OverprotectiveDad in regards to the girl(s) -- and quite often [[AmazinglyEmbarrassingParents Amazingly Embarrassing]] to the girls and the boys alike.

Naturally, this is filled with UnfortunateImplications. This trope essentially agrees that dads shouldn't be expected to do anything but watch sports and drink beer, but rather than being due to traditional gender roles, it's because they're simply too stupid and incompetent to accomplish anything else. While indirectly paying women a compliment by depicting them as the more capable gender, women are therefore expected to be the responsible ones and to shoulder all of the work of keeping a household stable. Asking a man to do something, like look after the kids, is only asking for disaster, and the long-suffering woman can only sigh and clean up his mess. Traditional gender roles are therefore still enforced. The reasoning is simply re-framed in a way that infantilizes men. It also present the mother as either cruel or indifferent when there is no explanation for why she doesn't try to [[AnticsEnablingWife stop some of the more dangerous behaviour]].

%%* Dwayne in ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaPresentsTheRidonculousRace'' is this.

Naturally, this is filled with UnfortunateImplications. This trope essentially agrees that dads shouldn't be expected to do anything but watch sports and drink beer, but rather than being due to traditional gender roles, it's because they're simply too stupid and incompetent to accomplish anything else. While indirectly paying women a compliment by depicting them as the more capable gender, women are therefore expected to be the responsible ones and to shoulder all of the work of keeping a household stable. Asking a man to do something, like look after the kids, is only asking for disaster, and the long-suffering woman can only sigh and clean up his mess. Traditional gender roles are therefore still enforced. The reasoning is simply re-framed in a way that infantilizes men.

This trope is still mostly seen in [[SitCom sitcoms]] and cartoons, along with many commercials, especially ones aimed at kids. In {{anime}}, this type of character is taken more respectfully, since it usually consists of a goofier dad, more involved with his family than the stereotypical {{Salaryman}}. This is even more common when his children have [[ParentalAbandonment no visible]] [[MissingMom mother]]. When the mother is visible she'll often be presented as [[WomanAreWiser knowing better]] but doing [[AnticsEnablingWife]] nothing to stop the dad.

This trope is still mostly seen in [[SitCom sitcoms]] and cartoons, along with many commercials, especially ones aimed at kids. In {{anime}}, this type of character is taken more respectfully, since it usually consists of a goofier dad, more involved with his family than the stereotypical {{Salaryman}}. This is even more common when his children have [[ParentalAbandonment no visible]] [[MissingMom mother]].

* Carl Winslow from ''Series/FamilyMatters'' was this on occasion. For instance, in the "Opposites Attract" episode when Harriet asks, "Why must I take part in such a pointless activity?" Carl responds, "Because we are men and we thrive on pointless activity." Additionally Carl is shown as being no better at household repairs than Cliff Huxtable, with one early episode involving an attempted repair being titled "Mr. Badwrench."[[note]]A play on the longtime Mr. Goodwrench (now GM Certified Service) automotive service brand familiar to many as the longtime sponsor of the #3 UsefulNotes/{{NASCAR}} car of UsefulNotes/DaleEarnhardt.[[/note]]

* {{Downplayed}} in ''WesternAnimation/DinosaurTrain'' with Mr. ''Pteranodon''. While he's by no means an idiot, he's prone to getting flustered (such as when he meets his favourite dinoball player), and his [[SitcomArchNemesis rivalry]] with Larry ''Lambeosaurus'' gets him into trouble a few times.

* {{Downplayed}} in ''WesternAnimation/DInosaurTrain'' with Mr. ''Pteranodon''. While he's by no means an idiot, he's prone to getting flustered (such as when he meets his favourite dinoball player), and his [[SitcomArchNemesis rivalry]] with Larry ''Lambeosaurus'' gets him into trouble a few times.

* ''WesternAnimation/PeppaPig'''s Daddy Pig is a rare preschool kid's show example.

* WesternAnimation/{{Bluey}}'s father Bandit is a major aversion. He is consistently portrayed as both competent and dedicated to being a good dad, always taking part in his daughter's games.

Naturally, filled with UnfortunateImplications. This trope essentially agrees that dads shouldn't be expected to do anything but watch sports and drink beer, but rather than being due to traditional gender roles, it's because they're simply too stupid and incompetent to accomplish anything else. While indirectly paying women a compliment by depicting them as the more capable gender, women are therefore expected to be the responsible ones. Asking a man to do something, like look after the kids, is only asking for disaster, and the long-suffering woman can only sigh and clean up his mess. Traditional gender roles are therefore still enforced. The reasoning is simply re-framed in a way that infantilizes men.

* ''Asura'' from ''VideoGame/AsurasWrath'' was like this before being betrayed. Unlike most of the other examples, however, this isn't out of actual idiocy: Since his Mantra is that of [[UnstoppableRage Wrath]], he's so angry about almost everything that the only parenting he knows is of the two-step variety: 1) Find reason daughter is crying. 2) Apply punch to the face of said reason.

** Gumball and Anais' dad Richard; in fact, he's such a bumbling dad, it's even shown that ''[[EnforcedTrope the universe literally falls apart]]'' when he gets a job. By contrast, his wife Nicole is a neat freak perfectionist to the extreme, though since [[{{Workaholic}} she actually enjoys being busy all the time]] it works out fine for the most part. The show actually explains why he's like that: after [[DissappearedDad his father abandoned him and his mother]], she became extremely overprotecive of him, not allowing him to do anything and as such led him to become a complete moron.

** Gumball and Anais' dad Richard; in fact, he's such a bumbling dad, it's even shown that ''[[EnforcedTrope the universe literally falls apart]]'' when he gets a job. By contrast, his wife Nicole is a neat freak perfectionist to the extreme, though since [[{{Workaholic}} she actually enjoys being busy all the time]] it works out fine for the most part. The show actually explains why he's like that: after [[DissapearedDad his father abandoned him and his mother]], she became extremely overprotecive of him, not allowing him to do anything and as such led him to become a complete moron.

** Gumball and Anais' dad Richard; in fact, he's such a bumbling dad, it's even shown that ''[[EnforcedTrope the universe literally falls apart]]'' when he gets a job. By contrast, his wife Nicole is a neat freak perfectionist to the extreme, though since [[{{Workaholic}} she actually enjoys being busy all the time]] it works out fine for the most part.