Best TV Dads, Worst TV Dads, and that time Billy Mumy played his Cosmic Guitar
In this weepy, wacky, wildly nostalgic Father’s Day edition of Nice Pull!, Jeff and Chris take a slow, emotional walk down Memory Lane—and trip face-first into the pop culture coffeetable.
The episode opens with a launch into an equal-parts hilarious and heartfelt tribute to TV dads, awkward father-son ballads, and why Dick Van Patten may be the human equivalent of a mayonnaise sandwich.
Along the way, they:
Tearfully dissect dad-core hits like Cat’s in the Cradle, Father and Son, and The Living Years, while questioning if any mom songs are depressing (spoiler: no).
Debate the merits of sitcom patriarchs like MikeBrady, Archie Bunker, and the forbidden one-who-must-not-be-sweater-named.Roast Michael Landon, Tom Bradford, and cartoondad Harry Boyle like they’re at a very specific Father’s Day Friars Club.Take an impromptu trip to Britain to marvel at idioms like “a spot of bother” then instantly get lost in a swirl of Benny Hilland verbal Anglophile nonsense.
But the crown jewel? A surprise musical appearance by Lost in Space legend Billy Mumy, who resurrects a campfire moment from the show by singing Sloop John B, then blesses us with an acoustic rendition of the Lost in Space theme—played on a Martin D-45 that's never space-jammed before.
Highlights include:A eulogy for the actor who played Veruca Salt’sdad. (Yes, that guy.)
A confessional about inheriting our dads’ worsthabits—including “yelling tone,” dreaminess, and maybe...morphine? (Just listen.)
Bottom line: Bring tissues. Bring bourbon. Bring an architect’s blueprint with more than one goddamn bathroom!
Billy Mumy
Actor / Writer / Musician / Warper of Reality
If you grew up in the ‘60s, ‘70s, or just binge obscure sci-fi shows on questionable streaming platforms, chances are Billy Mumy has already messed with your brain. He terrified you in The Twilight Zone, warned you about danger as Will Robinson in Lost in Space, and then somehow reappeared decades later as a political powerhouse on Babylon 5. Time traveler? Possibly.
But Billy’s not just a sci-fi staple. He’s also a prolific musician, comic book writer, and co-founder of the cult-favorite band Barnes & Barnes (yes, Fish Heads is his fault—you're welcome).
Bow before a true Pull Legend. And whatever you do—don’t make him mad. He will wish you into the cornfield.
