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The O.C., Jimmy Cooper
In the orgasmic, sun- and booze-soaked first season of the The O.C., Jimmy Cooper (Tate Donovan) was one of the coolest dudes on Newport Beach, as well as one of TV's best dads. His awkward jokes, prolific use of the word ''kiddo,'' and selfless trips to buy ''fro-yo'' for his soon-to-be-ex-wife Julie, made him a fan favorite during the early days of the show. But all that glitters is not gold: While it's hard to underestimate the pressures of being married to a bona-fide Orange County gold digger, Jimmy's financial woes and romantic missteps eventually marked him a walking disaster. Caught up in trying to extricate himself from his own mess, Jimmy found himself lying, swindling, and even threatening the foundational Kirsten-Sandy marriage (sacrilege within the O.C. universe). Not surprisingly, his fall from grace — as well as the peripherally related departure of Luke — precipitated the show's overall demise. Great men don't always make great dads, and that's just the sad truth. — Chris Schonberger
