The invasion of the fat, lazy father figure

“D’oh!” is probably one of the most recognizable sounds in the world. This Sunday “The Simpsons” is set to begin its 19th season, just three seasons short of replacing “Gunsmoke” as the longest-running television show. What started out as a short on “The Tracy Ullman’s Show” has become the definition of Middle America.

More importantly, Homer Simpson has become the representative of the American dad, prompting spin offs like “Family Guy,” depicting a fat, lazy father.

No longer do we have the overly involved fathers of television history, such as those in “Leave it to Beaver” and “Father Knows Best.” Whenever Bud on “Father Knows Best” had a simple, yet oh-so-complicated problem, his dad was ready and willing to step in and save the day.

The image of the strong father took a break but resurfaced with shows in the 1980s like “The Cosby Show” and “Growing Pains.” Bill Cosby and Mike Seaver both worked from home and contributed evenly with their wives to raising the children.

In the beginning of the ’90s, the strong father was been replaced by the funnier, fat, lazy dad in “The Simpsons” and “Married With Children.” Homer of “The Simpsons” became a popular depiction of a fat, lovable guys who would much rather drink some Duff beer than participate in his children’s lives. To contrast with Homer, there is the neighbor, Ned Flanders, who does everything for his kids. However, the show depicts him as dorky, weird and feminine.

Another popular family show, “Everybody Loves Raymond,” has the plot of many episodes revolving around Ray trying to get out of spending time with his kids and wife so that he can golf or watch sports games. Ray Barone (Ray Romano) went as far as to sabotage his wife Deborah’s being head of the school board in one episode because it meant he would have to take care of the kids at night and give up valuable television time.

“Family Guy,” another “Simpsons”-influenced show, has fat father, Peter, who cares more about sitting on the sofa and watching television than spending time with his children. When Peter does try to get involved with his children, he often ends up creating a bigger mess than before. Often the talking dog, Brian, is depicted as a better father than Peter.

The strong father figure can’t compete with this new lazy, overweight father. Even shows that try to make the father stronger like “8 Simple Rules,” or “Seventh Heaven” can’t get ratings anywhere near that of “The Simpsons.”

The invasion of the fat father is not limited to television. It has also taken over the big screen. This summer’s “Simpson Movie,” brings the issue of the father front and center.

In the film, Bart leaves Homer for the more involved father figure of Ned Flanders. Even loyal Marge begins to question if she wants to remain with an apathetic, lazy, selfish man like Homer.

The shift in the role of the father has changed mothers in the media as well. No longer do we have the image of mother and father as equal partnerships like that of “Growing Pains” or “The Cosby Show.” Now, it is the mother’s responsibility not only to raise the children but to raise her husband. On “The Simpsons,” “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “Family Guy,” the mother, who is often much smarter and more attractive than her counterpart, must nag her husband to be involved just as they might tell their children to clean their rooms.

It is the mother’s job alone to enforce discipline in the household. In romantic comedies such as “You, Me, and Depree,” Kate Husdon’s character walks in on her husband having a guy’s night. Instead of just letting her husband have fun with his friends, she gives him a speech and forces the boys to leave.

Other comedies including “Old School” and “Knocked Up” depict married life as miserable and boring with the blame placed on the wife. Vince Vaughn’s character Beanie in “Old School” sarcastically comments, “I have a wife and kids. Do I seem like a happy guy to you, Frank?”

In “Knocked Up” the character of Pete, who is married with two children, describes marriage as a “tense, unfunny version of ‘Everybody Loves Raymond,’ only it doesn’t last 22 minutes. It lasts forever.”

Although it may be funny, we have to wonder what the Homerization of fatherhood is doing to the American family.

In the words of Homer Simpson, “I am a bad father.”