Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Add Upworthy to your Google News feed.
Google News Button

Sitcoms hit a peak in the 80s and 90s—and most Millennials can claim that they 'grew up' with them. A lot of time it was the father figures in these TV shows who proved to be standout characters, but one dad captured Millennials hearts over all the rest: Uncle Phil, played by actor James Avery in Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Uncle Phil was deemed the best sitcom dad by Millennials, and he earned the title from one of his show's most impactful scenes from the episode "Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse" that aired in May 1994.

In it, Will (played by actor Will Smith) spends time with his dad Lou, who has been absent for the past 14 years. Uncle Phil is distrustful of Lou and protective over his nephew Will. So when Lou decides to dip out on a trip he planned with Will, Uncle Phil steps into Will's pain and supports him. It plays out as one of the most emotional scenes Millennials can remember–making Uncle Phil the best TV dad in their eyes.


"Damn that episode with Will's dad leaving him again. 'How come he don’t want me'? And uncle Phil just holds him ; nothing else is needed. Still cry at that episode," one person commented.

Another added, "I teared up just reading it. That episode gets me bawling every time. 😭"

Another commenter wrote, "No matter what stage in life you watch that episode, guaranteed it will hit you different. First watched it as a teen when it aired and it doesn’t get any easier whenever you’re grown with your own children and understand why Uncle Phil was a legend."

  - YouTube  www.youtube.com  

One commenter shared more context behind why the scene was so powerful. "Especially after you learn that halfway through Will’s lines he gets emotional and goes off script. So when you hear him cry and say 'How come he don’t want me man' James Avery is also legit about to cry, stands there stunned for a second bc he knew what was happening, and as a man (not as an actor) the only thing he thought to do was reach out and hug Will. Those were real tears and emotions from Will’s trauma and that was a genuine man-to-man hug."

But that was not the only scene that stuck with Millennial viewers. Another shared, "Or the series finale. 'You are my son, Will. End of story.'" And another added, "As a dude that grew up without a dad, that episode hit hard."


 a boy hides his face in his hands behind the title, 'Malcom in the Middle" on a vintage VHS screen Malcolm in the Middle logo.Wikipedia

Other sitcom dads also got honorable mentions. "Hal (from Malcolm in the Middle, played by actor Bryan Cranston)," one wrote. Another added, "I have to admit it took me a bit of time to get used to watching him in Breaking Bad cuz I only knew him as that goofy ass dad from MITM."

 Boy Meets World Logo Boy Meets World logo.Wikipedia

Another favorite: "Alan Matthews from Boy Meets World (played by actor William Russ) was always a favorite of mine. Sometimes he lost his temper or jumped to conclusions. But he always owned up to it and tried to make it right," one wrote. Another shared another heart wrenching scene from the show that solidified his spot as a top TV sitcom dad. "One of these rewatches I'm going to remember to keep a tally of all the times he made sure Shawn knew he was family. My favorite is at the hospital, because it's such a tiny moment but his kid is in the ICU, his wife is not doing well, he's probably going through hell, but even with all that going on, as Shawn is following Cory and Topanga to meet the baby and a hospital worker almost stops Shawn, Alan says, 'he's family'."

 group photo of the cast of Family Matters Family Matters cast.Wikipedia

Finally, Carl Winslow from Family Matters (played by actor Reginald VelJohnson) is another standout. "Uncle Phil and Carl Winslow were the real ones who would stick out their necks for their families. Don’t remember any of the other tv dads doing as much for their families," one wrote.

More For You

A man and woman kissing in the kitchen

Welcome to the "Boy and Girl apartment" trend

Unsplash

Women living in beautiful apartments share their secrets to co-habitating with a boyfriend

Blending styles can be difficult. Naturally, when two or more people are brought together, their visions aren’t always going to mesh. Like getting a haircut then realizing, after they spin you around for the big reveal, that your barber actually didn’t “totally get” the inspiration photo you brought in. Or teaming up with some friends for a group project in school who you didn't realize were petrified of public speaking. Or, take One Direction for example. Five solo singers who at didn't get along at all at first, brought together only after Simon Cowell corralled them all into a boy band.


Keep ReadingShow less
airport, flying, airport travel
person standing with holding luggage bag

Psychologist reveals exactly why everyone acts weird at airports

Fewer places bring out weirder human behavior than airports. Sleeping on floors? Acceptable. Paying $8 for a bag of chips? Acceptable. And 9 a.m. beers? Totally acceptable. Time (and personal space) seems to suspend itself when you're traveling in them. And psychologist Steve Taylor, a Senior Psychology Lecturer at Leeds Beckett University, explained exactly why everything and everyone feels so weird when you're in an airport with The Conversation.

Simply put: airports cause disorientation. "Due to the haziness of time and place, airports create a sense of disorientation," he explains. "We define ourselves in terms of time and place. We know who we are in relation to our daily routines and our familiar environments. We also define ourselves in terms of nationality. Without such markers, we may feel adrift."

Keep ReadingShow less
10-year-old violin prodigy stuns airport travelers with flawless Vivaldi duet
Representative photo by Canva

10-year-old violin prodigy stuns airport travelers with flawless Vivaldi duet

A beautiful blend of talent, courage, and classical music left Rome Airport travelers in awe when a 10-year-old violin prodigy, Yeonah Kim (@yeonah_kim_violin on Instagram), performed an impromptu duet with pianist Julien Cohen. The duo’s breathtaking rendition of Vivaldi’s “Summer” turned the airport’s Terminal 1 into an unexpected concert hall, captivating both onlookers and millions of viewers online.

  Representative photo by Sebastian Mark | Unsplash 

Keep ReadingShow less
man in blue long sleeve shirt carrying baby in white onesie

Dad hacks!

Dad discovers hilarious new hack for calling his daughter downstairs

As every parent knows, getting your child to do the thing you want them to do can be an impossible, Sisyphean task. How can I get my child to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’—and not just utter the words, but actually mean them? What could possibly entice them to help out more around the house? Is going to bed at a reasonable hour something kids actually do, or only an urban legend?

In a Reddit form on r/Parenting, @sabinesse1054 asked a question about the difference between productivity and pleasure.

Keep ReadingShow less
A mother scolds her child in a dim room.

Parents might be setting their children up for a lifetime of issues without ever realizing it.

Psychologist warns about 'eggshell parenting'—and why its effects last a lifetime

Children thrive in environments where they feel safe, secure, and loved. But when these feelings are unpredictable, it can create lasting emotional harm. Dr. Kim Sage, a licensed psychologist from Newport, California, has popularized the term "eggshell parenting" to describe this dynamic. Through her TikTok channel (@drkimsage), she has shared hundreds of videos explaining how eggshell parenting affects children and their future relationships.

What is eggshell parenting?

Eggshell parenting occurs when a child's emotional environment is dictated by a parent's unpredictable outbursts. Dr. Sage explains that this forces children to be constantly on high alert, suppressing their natural emotions and behaviors to avoid triggering a negative reaction. "Eggshell parenting and emotionally unpredictable, unsafe parenting often creates a lifetime of hypervigilance in us and a deep belief that there’s no such thing as real safety in relationships," she says.

Keep ReadingShow less