Especially to my own father, Cliff, who is both my hero and role model.
Note to those wives and kids planning to celebrate: no brunches. That’s Mother’s Day stuff. Let the old man sit in front of the TV and watch NASCAR or the WNBA.
Or watch
FIELD OF DREAMSKRAMER VS. KRAMERMR. MOM PARENTHOOD And now, as a public service, here are some movies NOT to watch on Father’s Day:
LOVE & MERCYFEAR STRIKES OUT
CHINATOWN
SHINE
WALK THE LINE
OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN
DEAD POETS SOCIETY
STAR WARS
LIFE WITH FATHER
THE GREAT SANTINI
Some TV shows and telefilms NOT to watch:
THE MARVIN GAYE STORY
THE BEACH BOYS STORY
MAD MEN
LOST
WHITE COLLAR
Any CBS family comedy
Some unfriendly father plays:
ALL MY SONS
DEATH OF A SALESMAN (any Arthur Miller, actually)
LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT
Some books to avoid:
Any Bing Crosby biography
Any Frank Sinatra biography
LOVE STORY (for so many reasons)
Records to skip:
PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE by the Temptations
BOY NAMED SUE by Johnny Cash
The sappiest record but a lot of people like it:
MY DAD by Paul Peterson
Any other suggestions are welcome.
Again, happy Father’s Day – the most sacred of the bullshit Hallmark holidays.