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Dads

Dads

2013–2014Ended1 season19 episodes~22 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all shows

Two successful guys in their 30s have their lives turned upside down when their nightmare dads unexpectedly move in with them.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Dads?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Dads to rent or buy on Apple TV, and on no subscription service.

Rent / Buy

Buy

Highlights

What stands out about Dads?

Dads earns 2 badges, led by Overhyped and Feel-good.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Dads worth watching?

Dads' Midcredits score is the 10th percentile of all shows, from 7.2K ratings across 2 sources. 49% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

10th percentile

Better received than 10% of shows

8th percentile among Comedy10th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)6th
Approval (how many liked it)16th

Acclaim

Mixed: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

55 /100

6th percentile of all shows

6th percentile among Comedy7th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Ratings scatter across the whole scale — one of the most divisive reactions in the catalog.

Approval

How many liked it

49% liked it

16th percentile of all shows

12th percentile among Comedy15th percentile among 2010s
49% rated it 7–1051% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

75th percentile

7.1K ratings across platforms

62nd percentile among Comedy77th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 33% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the show has a talented cast but is undermined by weak, formulaic writing and an overbearing laugh track.

Fans praised

  • comedic chemistry between Green, Ribisi, and older cast
  • improves after the pilot, especially episode 5
  • un-PC humor as refreshing counter to overly correct TV

Detractors panned

  • laugh track obnoxious and misapplied to unfunny lines
  • geek culture surface-level, jokes feel like outsider mockery
  • writing lazy, reliant on stereotypes and predictable one-liners

What stands out

ActingDivisive55

strong cast wasted by material; Green and Ribisi capable, older dads praised

HumorDivisive35

divisive; fans find it hilarious, detractors say not a single laugh

CharactersDivisive35

stereotypical, unlikable, no depth beyond surface quirks

PacingDivisive35

episodes feel longer than runtime due to weak jokes

DialogueDivisive30

forced one-liners, dated references, lack of wit

Plot and storyDivisive30

bland, thin, predictable setups with little story ambition

OriginalityDivisive25

derivative of Family Guy and tired sitcom tropes

Sound and music20

laugh track universally criticized as intrusive and fake

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 2 points apart
  • US vs non-US even

Episodes

1 season

Season 1 · 2013 · 19 episodes

  • S1E1

    Pilot

    Sep 17, 201323 min
  • S1E2

    Heckuva Job, Brownie

    Sep 24, 201323 min
  • S1E3

    Clean On Me

    Oct 1, 201323 min
  • S1E4
    S1E4

    Funny Girl

    Oct 8, 201323 min
  • S1E5
    S1E5

    Oldfinger

    Oct 15, 201323 min
  • S1E6
    S1E6

    My Dad's Hotter Than Your Dad

    Oct 22, 201323 min

Watch experience

What is Dads like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and gentle — a slow-burn watch that leaves you feeling good.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TriumphantJoyful
Heaviest: throughout
Absurdist humor: Deliberately illogical; embraces nonsense.
Register
PlayfulWarm
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Resets each episode · 10% of showsStatus quo each season
ToneThe show plays its absurd situations straight for laughs, with a lighthearted and warm approach to family chaos.
The rideA consistently light, low-stakes sitcom with wry, absurd humor; never intense or volatile.
StructureStandard sitcom structure with setup, escalating conflict, and resolution within each episode.
Episode formatEach episode presents a self-contained comedic conflict (e.g., the dads meddling in a new way) resolved by the end, with the status quo of the dads living in restored.
Season formatThe single season is a batch of interchangeable episodes; any episode is an entry point, and the premise—dads in residence—remains unchanged throughout.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Feel-goodFun
Why it leaves you this wayA lighthearted sitcom that leaves you grinning at the absurd antics of the dads and the warmth of family bonds.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).ComedyFarce
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12% (this title): Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% (this title) · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Farce: Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).

12% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeA sitcom where two adult friends struggle to cope with their eccentric fathers who move in, each episode centers on the absurd chaos that ensues.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% (this title) · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsComing of age · 9% of shows
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe premise revolves around adult sons renegotiating their relationships with their disruptive fathers, exploring how family ties persist and evolve into adulthood.
StanceThe series observes the absurd dynamics between adult sons and their intrusive fathers with detached humor, without romanticizing or condemning the family bond.

The world

ContemporaryDomesticUrbanRealistic
PopSupportive music · hybrid
Settingthe shared home of two 30-something friends in Los Angeles where their eccentric fathers have moved in

Content guide

Is Dads okay for kids?

TV-14

Dads is rated TV-14. As of August 29, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (40/100), sexual content at moderate (48/100), language at moderate (47/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (47/100) and frightening material at moderate (40/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 3 other countries
  • Austria12
  • LTN-7
  • Switzerland12
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Moderate
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Moderate
too few votes to rank (9 votes)
Profanity
Moderate
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
too few votes to rank (5 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (29 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Dads have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Dads?

Cast

2 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Seth Green
as Eli Sachs
Established: A standing when this show came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Giovanni Ribisi
as Warner Whittemore
Established: A standing when this show came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Brenda Song
as Veronica
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Vanessa Lachey
as Camilla Whittemore
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Tonita Castro
as Edna
Peter Riegert
as David Sachs
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Martin Mull
as Crawford Whittemore
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Christopher Arminio
as Tom
Christopher Darga
as Federal Agent
Ryan Sypek
as Colt

More like this

What are shows like Dads?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Dads include Wild 'N Out (2005), Shifting Gears (2025) and Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967).

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