Aired: 1999-2001 (NBC)
DAD: Jim Hansen (Mike Farrell) / Widower
DAD’S JOB: Veterinarian
KIDS: Dr. Sydney Hansen (Melina Kanakaredes) (30-ish), Joanie Hansen (Paula Cale) (20-something), Robbie Hansen (Seth Peterson) (20)
WHERE’S MOM?: Dead — but don’t let that stop her.
STAND-IN “MOM”: Mom’s ghost (Concetta Tomei)
I swear, writers make up these shows just to test the limits of the definition of TV Single Dads.
How do you judge this one? A recently-widowed veterinarian has his plastic-surgeon daughter move back into his house, along with her unmarried pregnant sister. Mom died in the first episode, but she’s around as a ghost in every show.
I’m weighing in on the case FOR this being a TV Single Dad show for two reasons: First, Mom is DEAD, so even if her ghost is around, she is not LIVING with the children. Second, the dad is keeping a roof over all their heads, so even if the kids are adults, they still rely on Dad for a place to live.
If you wish to argue, you can stand in the corner and write “Kanakaredes” one hundred times on the board.