What You See; What You Get

You can't tell the dad by the casing. Consider, an older British sportsman or a drug-taking American urban-life celebrator. Quick quiz: who's the better father?

The 57-year-old John Darwin was declared dead four years ago. The canoe done him in. It was said. But, it turns out that conniving with his wife and lying to his sons — who say they won't forgive him — allowed for a pleasant life in Panama with some thanks to the kindly insurance company paying off on his life insurance.

On the other hand, a shaped-but-not-completely-scripted "reality" show, debuting Sunday, Dec. 9, offers a look at a father, Snoop Dogg (aka Calvin Broadus) to be exact, who makes a number of non-traditional choices, but clearly loves his kid. As he schizzles it:

This ain't the Huxtables
But we livin' comfortable
And I don't make my kids eat their vegetables ...



Also on display, the thankful dad:

** The reality dad is too painful; better the reality tv show. **