Fat Sitcom Dads

So, I was heating up my pizza lunch in the cafeteria today, and Matt and Natalie came in with their food, so I decided to eat with them. Someone had left the television on, and eventually our conversation turned to it.

Some mindless sitcom was on, and featured a dopey, middle-aged father, and smart, attractive wife.
And as we sat there, discussing the lameness of the show, we hit on an epiphany: every single sit-com has this combination! Every dad is overweight, and every mom is smart and attractive.

Keep in mind; I watch very little TV, but I was easily able to come up with more than a few. We were so stunned by this seemingly preposterously blatant attempt at a stereotype, that we tried to make a list, just looking at the dads.

King of Queens – fat
Everybody loves Raymond – pudgy
Family Matters – fat

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – fat
The Simpsons – fat
According to Jim – fat
Family Guy – fat
George Lopez – fat
Married with Children – pudgy
House of Payne – fat

Cosby Show – skinny

I’m sure there are more, but all the recent ones were all fat! The fat dads far outnumber the skinny ones! And unless you go waay back (we’re talking Leave It To Beaver here) there aren’t any at all.

Why is this? Has america gotten comfortable with it’s pudgyness? What was it that changed the male image so much?

Somehow pizza for lunch didn’t seem so appetizing anymore…