Last night on HBOReal Time with Bill Maherbegan Father’s Day weekend by calling for the return of Traditional Dad or “Trad,” in its latest segment “New Rules.”
“We don’t go back to the psychopath of the 50s who never said he loved you and hit you with a belt, no,” Maher clarified. “But back to the parent who believes that ‘because I said so’ is a perfectly legitimate answer to any question a child might ask.”
Although Maher began the segment by admitting that he does not have children, he still had several opinions on modern parenting and today’s youth. The comedian made it clear that while parents pampering their children too much is by no means a new or recent phenomenon, it is a problem that appears to be getting worse in America.
“Sex dolls set more boundaries than today’s parents,” Maher joked. She later juxtaposed this idea of the softer modern dad by sharing the principles of Trad Dad. Traditional dads lay down the law, don’t negotiate, and say things like “shut up, the adults are talking” and “it’s not just about you.” But more than anything, Maher said, “a traditional father knows that he is your father, not your friend.”
Maher went on to praise the Japanese reality show. Old enough!, in which young children are sent on their first solo errands before criticizing our own nation’s parents for tracking or tying up the children. He added that when such “super-liberal nonsense” goes too far, it opens the door to negative counterreactions, such as teenagers who need role models “turning to dumb, misogynistic influencers like Andrew Tate.”
Maher concluded the segment by declaring that we should give “dear dad the gift of being a dear dad” this Father’s Day. “And also, shut up, he’s trying to watch the game.”
You can watch the clip above and watch new episodes ofReal Time with Bill MaherFridays at 10 pm ET on HBO or streaming on Max.