Some things just get better with age. Welcome to Kiker's blog, and today I'm counting down my top 10 TV grandpas of all time. For this list I looked at any grandfather figure on TV, live action or animated, that has clear interaction with his grandchildren for much of his time on screen.
10. Grandpa Philip-Hey Arnold!: When you're young, have a head shaped like a football, and your brain is not in the game, a wise old grandpa can really help you out. However, Arnold's grandpa Phil doesn't give the greatest advice. Also, he's a little silly, but his old heart is firmly in the right place. And if you don't think his grandson is the bees knees, well you're in trouble. He's Arnold's go to person for the highs and the lows, the rights and the wrongs, the birds and the bees. He's an old timer, and an all arounder.
9. Russell Huxtable-The Cosby Show: Russell and his wife Ana are the proud heads of a very diverse family. Their son is a specialist in all things pregnancy, their daughter-in-law is a lawyer, and they've got five grandchildren to contend with. Russel however maintains his composure and keep his cool through all of that. Plus he's a musical man, his jazzy background earned him the nickname "Slide", and he's a top 10 hit on our list.
8. Sam Dracula, Count of Transylvania-The Munsters: A grandfather is old by definition, but they aren't usually this old, or this inhuman. Count Sam Dracula was born in 1367, he's been married over 100 times, and he has his own laboratory in the basement of Munster mansion. However, with age does not come wisdom, and grandpa Munster's inventing is often more explosive than intended. I'll let him off though because he's a vampire.
7. Robert Jebediah Freeman-The Boondocks: As guardian of Huey and Riley Freeman, this grandpa really has his work cut out for him. He's an ex fighter pilot and a hardened Civil Rights campaigner. He's a tough task master, with his grandsons' interest at heart. There isn't much that gets past this grandpa, and there aren't many problems where corporal punishment isn't the answer. He may have once sat next to Rosa Parks, but on this list he takes center stage.
6. Tywin Lannister-Game of Thrones: For this guy, the family name is everything. Merciless and controlling, Tywin almost single handedly built up the Lannister reputation. And much of his family is in awe of him for doing so. That being said, the family is not problem free. He and his son Tyrion really do not get along. He's the richest man in the seven kingdoms, a war-reary face on wise old soldiers, and a top contender on this list of epic grandfathers.
5. Cotton Hill-King of the Hill: Colonel Cotton Hill was a patriotic war veteran, a rampant misogynist, and an occasional near-homicidal maniac. He loved his grandson Bobby more than he loved his actual son Hank. He also never got over losing his shins in World War II. He led an up-and-down life, but he's made it to the midpoint of my list because of his love for his grandchild. Hey, even resentful, abusive individuals have feelings too.
4. Jay Pritchett-Modern Family: He's the super glue that holds this sticky family together, just about. From the top of a very convoluted family tree, Jay Pritchett maintains tradition, and his dignity, while he's also able to modernize alongside the younger generations. There are some things, many things that occur on this TV show that the head of its table just can't comprehend, but he's a 21st century senior, and he's a lovable, laughable, legendary grandpa.
3. George Bluth Sr.-Arrested Development: Pop-pop as he's affectionately known by his grandchildren, is about as unlawful as a grandpa can be. In his hay day, he made millions selling real estate, but unfortunately Saddam Hussein was one of his best customers. The show follows Bluth Sr. through various stages of imprisonment, and depicts his sketchy family attachments, questionable religious conversions, and dodgy fashion statements. Despite all of this, he's added my bronze medal to the Bluth mantelpiece.
2. Abraham Simpson-The Simpsons: As far as TV grandpas are concerned, there are few that are as long serving, or loved as grandpa Simpson. Grandfather to Bart, Lisa, and Maggie, grandpa Simpson is the hard of hearing, always sleeping, often confused, but sometimes surprising senior patriarch of television's favorite cartoon family. He was married to a hippie, he was in the Army with Mr. Burns, and he had an affair with his son's wife's mother. It's been a colorful life for this yellow old timer.
Before I unveil my top pick, here are a few Honorable Mentions:
Zeb Walton-The Waltons
Mike Ehrmantraut-Breaking Bad
Zeek Braverman-Parenthood
Lou Pickles-Rugrats
Francis Griffin-Family Guy
1. Frank Barone-Everybody Loves Raymond: Holy crap! He's the granddaddy of them all! Everybody loves Raymond, but I've also got a soft spot for his father, Frank. A real man's man, he's outspoken, and often outrageous. He's stubborn, but sometimes sensitive. He's the type of grandfather that'll discipline the kids in the morning, and take them to happy town in the afternoon. He won't like to admit it, but there's a heart of gold in there somewhere. Which is convenient, because he's taken first place.
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