The New TV Dad
Father's Day has just come and gone and it's a good time to do a
little introspective thinking on the subject of how fathers are
portrayed in television. For years, fathers have been portrayed in
various television sitcoms and commercials as bungling idiots and
doofusses who can't get out of their own way. We don't need to look
any farther than the 20 years of Homer Simpson humoring us to know
that nothing has changed. Who can forget Tim "The Toolman" Taylor;
and of more recent vintage, Alan Harper on Two and a Half Men?
Fathers are easy targets and will continue to be so. That's one
reason it's so sad to think about the loss of Tim Russert.
Tim exemplified all that's great in a modern day father. He shared
a love for his son, Luke, that extended to being both a father and
a friend. Russert took the lessons that he learned from his own dad
and contemporized them for what it takes to be a great father in
today's world. Every father should go out and get a copy of his
book, Big Russ and Me. There are so many lessons of fatherhood
woven into this story that I challenge any man not to come away
with thoughts on how to be a better father. The book goes to
lengths talking about tough love and how to always do the right
thing; making sure that you're always there for your family and for
your kids. It teaches about understanding the sacrifices that have
to be made in life to be successful and to be a great parent. These
are the very same examples that my father taught me. Big Russ and
my father are very close in age and had similar backgrounds. They
never forgot where they came from, exhibited tough love and were
true to their word. These lessons from his father made Russert who
he was. He was able to walk that fine line of being liked and
respected; not only by his peers and his guests, but his son as
well. Check out the interview with Luke Russert by Matt Lauer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNZzxpcf6vo
to see how much he admired and respected his father. Despite the
pressure of being Washington Bureau Chief and host of Meet the
Press, he always took time for his son. Surely, he and his son were
better off for it.
There's always a reason to stay another hour or to do more work
and consume yourself in what you're doing, but sometimes it's
better to say "no" and take the time for those who mean the most to
you. That's a good lesson that Russert's passing should teach
us.
Russert was a good man. You can see this in the outpouring from
his contemporaries to the people who tuned in to watch him every
Sunday on Meet the Press. It was fascinating to watch his friendly
style as he asked a question that hit the guest right between the
eyes. The questioning was always tough, but equally fair. Isn't
that what makes a great man and a great father?
Russert was able to see his son graduate from Boston College and
start to make his own mark on the world. Much like Tim did with the
lessons learned from his father, Big Russ, I'm sure that Luke
Russert will do the same as he works through his life. I wouldn't
be surprised to see Luke Russert on television or in politics at
some point in the future. He'll take with him the lessons he's
learned from his dad. That is perhaps Tim Russert's lasting legacy.
A TV dad whom we can all admire.
Rest in peace, Tim Russert.
