Just in Time for Father's Day, TiVo Reveals the Top 25 TV Dads of All Time

Just in Time for Father's Day, TiVo Reveals the Top 25 TV Dads of All Time

With Help from TV Dad, Kurtwood Smith from "That '70s Show," TiVo Launches a National Search for Top Five Real Dads

ALVISO, Calif., June 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Everyone knows being a dad can be demanding, even on TV. For Father's Day, TiVo commissioned an independent survey and today, with Kurtwood Smith, "Red Forman" of TV's "That '70s Show," is announcing the top 25 TV dads of all time to honor the men who take on the toughest -- and most rewarding -- job of all: fatherhood.

From Raymond Barone's kind but befuddled approach to parenting, to Homer Simpson's ubiquitous "Doh!" and throttling ways, TV dads are as different as the audiences who love and adore them. In a recent survey, TiVo asked Americans to rank the top 25 past and present TV dads. Caring, involved and nostalgic dads ranked highest, with top honors going to:

-- Cliff Huxtable -- The Cosby Show -- Sheriff Andy Taylor -- The Andy Griffith Show -- Pa Ingalls -- Little House on the Prairie -- Howard Cunningham -- Happy Days -- Ward Cleaver -- Leave it to Beaver

Still in the top 25, but closer to the end of the list, were TV dads who are infamous for being lewd, crude and tattooed. The following five dads rounded out the bottom of the pack:

-- Peter Griffin -- Family Guy -- Al Bundy -- Married ... With Children -- Homer Simpson -- The Simpsons -- Tony Soprano -- The Sopranos -- Ozzy Osbourne -- The Osbournes

For a complete ranking of the top 25 TV dads of all time, viewers may visit www.tivo.com.

"Dads make for great TV, as season after season of sitcoms and dramas have shown," said Matt Wisk, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at TiVo. "This Father's Day we salute TV dads for the gift of entertainment, and everyday dads for all that they do for their own families and the communities in which they live."

Looking for Real-Life Dads

While TV dads hold a special place in viewers' hearts, real-life fathers are often the biggest characters around. To honor real-life dads for Father's Day, TiVo and Smith are launching today a nationwide "Search for TiVo's Top Five Dads." This search is designed to find true role models -- dads who lead busy lives but manage to spend quality time with their families, even if it means missing their favorite TV sitcom or the big game.

Beginning June 13 through July 31, nominations for the "Search for TiVo's Top Five Dads" will be accepted at www.tivo.com. TiVo real-life dad nominees can come from any walk of life and entries should illustrate how the nominee:

-- Lives life on a schedule, but always makes time for his family -- Deserves more time in his life for some fun and relaxation -- Consistently gives back to the community

The top five real-life dads will win "Ultimate Dad's Day Out" packages including their choice of a golf outing, fishing trip or tickets to a professional athletic event, a day of lawn maintenance, a backyard cook-out for the family, and a TiVo(R) Series2(TM) DVR with a product lifetime service subscription.

Nominations and essays will be judged by a panel of experts including TV dad, Kurtwood Smith. Winners will be announced at the end of the summer.

"I'm a TV dad and the real-life father of two children. I can tell you that it can be hard to balance life with work, family and social activities," said Smith. "It's time to give dads what they deserve - some time for themselves."

For official rules and entry forms, visit www.tivo.com or write to: Search for TiVo's Top Five Dads, 8000 Norman Center Drive, Suite 400, Bloomington, MN 55437.

About the Top TV Dads Index -- TiVo commissioned a study to determine the top 25 TV Dads in history. The survey, conducted by Synovate, polled a representative sample of 1,000 adults.

About TiVo Inc.

Founded in 1997, TiVo (NASDAQ:TIVO), a pioneer in home entertainment, created a brand new category of products with the development of the first digital video recorder (DVR). Today, the company continues to revolutionize the way consumers watch and access home entertainment by making TiVo the focal point of the digital living room, a center for sharing and experiencing television, music, photos and other content. TiVo connects consumers to the digital entertainment they want, where and when they want it. The company is based in Alviso, Calif.

TiVo and the TiVo Logo are registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. in the U.S. and other jurisdictions. TiVo Series2 is a trademark of TiVo Inc. All rights reserved.

Source: TiVo Inc.

CONTACT: Krista Wierzbicki of TiVo Inc., +1-408-519-9438 or kwierzbicki@tivo.com; or Joshua Carter of Weber Shandwick, +1-952-346-6087 or jcarter@webershandwick.com, for TiVo Inc.

Web site: http://www.tivo.com/

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