You know if you read this column regularly that I am constantly griping about how men, especially fathers, have been pushed back or even pushed out of the picture. This is especially apparent in television shows.

Now, there are plenty of points to argue here. True, there are many guys who have gladly handed over the responsibility of taking care of the family to the wife. In turn, there are plenty of wives who have gladly accepted. Many men do not step up and take the role of primary bread winner or spiritual leader of the house like they are supposed to.

I have never been against women having opportunities or having equal rights. Shoot, plenty of women should be running the show in many areas of society. They could do a darned better job, I’m convinced. But

I still wonder how many women wish men would “man up” and take care of their families like they are supposed to. Not be the big boss who makes all the decisions, but be the leader and the nurturer he’s supposed to be.

OK, so I gripe a lot about the “bumbling father” stereotype you see on so many TV shows these days. The father is generally the boob. He is the one who makes silly decisions and it’s always up to the level-headed female to come in and fix the mess. Real life? I can tell you there are plenty of instances where my level-headed wife has fixed my messes. Yes, I’ve been the boob many times.

But after watching some of the shows that are on TV today, I get a little tired of seeing these inept fathers and these dipwads that run around, not being good models for parenting. It’s just not funny to me after seeing it in almost every show.

Gone are the days when Ward Cleaver would come home, put on his sweater and meet the Beev and Wally in the study to solve the day’s dilemmas. Jim Anderson doesn’t come home anymore and take the load off Margaret’s shoulders. I mean heck, even Ricky Ricardo had leadership abilities.

So the other day, I read an article by Bill Phillips, the editor of Men’s Health.  The headline read “Why Are TV Dads Such Buffoons?” I eagerly snatched up the article, tore it out of the magazine (I think I bought the magazine but I may have been in the doctor’s office) and delighted in the fact some journalist was actually on the same “page” as this little podunk columnist. I was even wondering if Mr. Phillips may be a Monroe County native who subscribes to this paper. What are the odds?

So this guy goes on to write some of the same things I’d written about. He talked about how guys are still portrayed on TV as buffoons, even though studies show today’s dad is more engaged and better at raising his kids than ever before.  He even goes on to talk about how major corporations have pulled advertising from programs that don’t paint the father in a positive light. Interesting.

So, because he was confused as to why this whole bumbling dad thing keeps going on, the author of the article talks to an expert: a mother. She was also a PhD at a University who wrote a book about TV and masculinity. OK, I probably won’t read it, but it sounds like a worthy topic.

This lady talked about how many shows I gripe about (most of them on Disney channel) are centered on kids, and having really “with it” and controlling parents would cause the storylines to be dull. OK, I buy that.  Still, I don’t like it.

In the old days, we got to watch TV shows that spoke to the whole family. You had good parents, older siblings, good neighbors and so on. These days, we no longer have that.

And, let’s face it: guys on some of the old sitcoms weren’t always stalwart and capable.  You still had a few who were the comic relief. There was Darren Stephens and later, Tim the Tool Man. It was funny. We liked it.

Plus, let’s start thinking about how interesting some dads are. I mean, let’s take me for instance. Sure, I do the dishes and laundry some times. I know how to clean up the house and know how to change diapers, run the kids to sports practice and iron my own shirt.  Heck, I can even do a mean ponytail if the kid stands still.  All in all, the dad who is capable and engaged these days isn’t all that interesting. Not funny.  If there was a TV show about my day-to-day life as a modern dad, it would be canceled after a few episodes.

Bumbling is funnier and more entertaining, isn’t it?  When the dad gets into scrapes and predicaments, it makes for good TV. Normal, day-to-day life doesn’t make for high ratings.

Oh, alright. Point taken. I still don’t like it but I see where those who sell the TV shows have to appeal to the viewer’s tastes.

I still wouldn’t mind if Ward or Jim came back for a visit from time to time.