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Critiquing Famous Fathers on Their Special Day
23-Jun-2009
Written by: Ted Simmons
A look at what the role models in entertainment are telling us.
Now that Father's Day has come and gone, I think it's appropriate to examine what we learn from the fathers in entertainment today, and decide if we like what we see.
There's Jon Gosselin, who spent the day away from his wife, but with his eight children. Jon entertained his kids with sports and slip-n-slides while answering questions from nearby fans. The most burning questions, which regard the state of the Gosselin marriage, was met with a plug for Monday's "Jon & Kate Plus 8."
If Father's Day is a time to appreciate our dads and the many things they do for us, then I'd say Jon finished the day looking fine. Stepping up and playing single dad for the day paints Jon as, perhaps mistakenly, the good guy. While some may say Father's Day means dads across the nation should be able to kick their feet up and take it easy, Jon spent the day taking his chaperone role in stride. Thumbs-up to Jon for remembering that while he may no longer be a husband, he'll always be a father.
Meanwhile, news broke that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and wife Giselle Bündchen are expecting their first child together. Brady was already a dad, though, his son with ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan was born on Aug. 22, 2007. The NFL star and model/actress had a public falling out around the boy's birth, with Brady clearly moving on. He married Bundchen this past spring.
Whether or not Brady and Bündchen are destined to spend eternity together is uncertain, but the QB's track record is leading him down a path too frequently taken by star athletes. NBA star Shawn Kemp is an easy target for most, having seven children by six different women. Boxer Evander Holyfield, who's encountered recent financial issues, pays $3,000 per child each month, and he has 11 of those--illegitimate children that is. I would love to see Brady and Bündchen create a happy and stable family, but history points Tom to be another athlete spreading his seed without hesitation.
And if we look at the box office, Eddie Murphy plays a dad looking to reconnect with his daughter in "Imagine That." The film is a rare, even if only mild, success for Murphy, who plays a financial executive who reevaluates his priorities after his daughter's imaginary tales lead him out of his confidence deficient slump. While the story of a work-centric dad who sees the importance of family is nothing new, the pairing of Murphy and his on-set daughter, Yara Shahidi, is gaining praise from critics. Maybe Murphy's making no leaps and bounds for fathers everywhere, but I can appreciate a heartwarming story that emphasizes the importance for kids and parents to fully embrace each other.
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