The 5 best TV shows to binge-watch with your dad this Father's Day
Skip the ties, the mugs and the grill tools for Father's Day this year. Instead, give your dad the gift of some time on the couch together, watching TV you'll both enjoy.
When it comes to watching television with a parent, it can be hard to make sure that everyone will like your pick, and, more importantly, that there's nothing in it that will make you squirm with awkwardness (cough, nudity and sex, cough).
To help you pick a TV series that will help you bond with your father this weekend, we rounded up five of our favorites that we would watch with our dad any day of the week. Whether you want something funny, dramatic, sad, inspiring or delicious, we've got you covered.
If you love a goofy, sweet TV dad: 'Speechless'
ABC canceled this delightful family sitcom after three seasons this spring, which is a huge shame, but you can still enjoy the episodes we have. "Speechless" follows the DiMeos, a blunt and chaotic family whose eldest child has cerebral palsy. Minnie Driver gets a lot of praise as the bulldozer of a matriarch Maya DiMeo, but John Ross Bowie ("The Big Bang Theory") quietly sidles in as sarcastic and low-key dad Jimmy. His version of fatherhood manages to stand out in the sea of slacker sitcom dads.
Stream it on Hulu.
If you want a crime procedural with a twist: 'Person of Interest'
Dads are known for loving murder-of-the-week series like "NCIS" or "CSI," but you can take that formula a step further with "Person." The series follows two men, a billionaire (Michael Emerson) and a former covert operative (Jim Caviezel) as they try to prevent crimes from happening with the help of a intelligent surveillance system known as "The Machine." Other famous faces like Taraji P. Henson, Amy Acker and Sarah Shahi pop up over the five seasons, which mixes sci-fi, politics, espionage and good old fashioned police work. Your dad will be sucked in instantly.
Stream it on Netflix.
If you're OK with a good cry: 'Parenthood'
You have to be in the right mood, but if you're willing to endure some tears and tragedy, "Parenthood" is an immensely rewarding television series. Created by "Friday Night Lights" chief Jason Katims, the series is an achingly accurate portrayal of parenting in adversity, be it disease, finance or otherwise. There are so many great (but flawed) dads in the series, brought to life by Peter Krause, Craig T. Nelson and Dax Shepard.
Stream it on Netflix.
If your dad is big on hitting the gym: 'American Ninja Warrior'
Watching whatever happens to be on ESPN this Sunday is always an option, but if your favorite team isn't playing and you want to see athletic thrills, turn to NBC's celebration of human potential. No show on TV is better at showcasing the athletic prowess men and women can attain nor is any series better at inspiring and moving us with stories of triumph. Just don't think after watching a few of these you can take on the infamous obstacle course. Believe us, we tried it.
Stream it on Hulu.
If your dad is big on hitting the grill: 'Iron Chef America'
Plenty of food shows eventually take on the smoke and heat of grilling, a pastime of many dads, including the fast and furious "Iron Chef," which has a great grill masters episode in Season 12. But really you can watch any episode in Kitchen Stadium to watch incredible chefs like Bobby Flay and Alex Guarnaschelli battle for the title of Iron Chef.
Stream it on Hulu.
What to watch when you are out of ideas:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The 5 best TV shows to binge-watch with your dad this Father's Day
