History Main / VisitByDivorcedDad

* In ''Manga/KodomoNoOmocha'', Sana's (adoptive) mother's ex-husband shows up at their house a couple of times asking for money. Of course, due to the comedic nature of the show, he's likely to be (harmlessly) blasted with some sort of large weapon, sending him flying away. Played with in that Sana and her mom's ex-husband don't actually consider themselves father-and-daughter, and legally-speaking, they're not--Misako (Sana's adoptive mother) actually adopted Sana as a single parent, which happened long after she and her husband got divorced.

* Presumably occurs at the beginning of VideoGame/AmongTheSleep, judging by the sound affects when Mom goes to answer the door in the first cutscene and via clues revealed throughout the game. Said 'visit', unfortunately, is nothing more than an entirely offscreen argument between Mom and Dad, ending with Mom shouting 'NO' loudly and clearly and apparently slamming the door in his face before giving you the present he had for you. By the way, you're a 2-year-old. [[spoiler:Dad returns at the very end, after Mom has been revealed as alcoholic, and you open the door and let him in. It's assumed this visit was actually to take you away after winning custody.]]

In a show where the main child character is mentioned to have divorced parents (or at least parents that aren't together anymore), they're pretty much always shown living with their mom, who's typically depicted as being the more mature and responsible. However, often times, there will end up being an episode the child's father visits (usually but not always as part of some custody arrangement).

* In ''Manga/KodomoNoOmocha'', Sana's (adoptive) mother's ex-husband shows up at their house a couple of times asking for money. Of course, due to the comedic nature of the show, he is likely to be (harmlessly) blasted with some sort of large weapon, sending him flying away. Played with in that Sana and her mom's ex-husband don't actually consider themselves father-and-daughter, and legally-speaking, they're not--Misako (Sana's adoptive mother) actually adopted Sana as a single parent, which happened long after Misako and her husband got divorced.

** The SpinOff series, ''Friends Forever'', had Kristy's dad get married again and finally remember that he has kids - because he wants the three oldest ones to be in the wedding. He doesn't even seem to remember that the youngest child (who was a baby when he left) exists, and is kind of a JerkAss throughout the whole thing.

In a show where the main child character is mentioned to have divorced parents (or at least parents that aren't together anymore), they're pretty much always shown living with their mom. However, there will probably end up being an episode where the dad visits.

This rarely works in the reverse, as dads usually aren't portrayed as raising children as single parents unless the mom is dead or something.

* In ''Manga/KodomoNoOmocha'', Sana's (adoptive) mother's ex-husband shows up at their house a couple of times asking for money. Of course, due to the comedic nature of the show, he is likely to be (harmlessly) blasted with some sort of large weapon, sending him flying away. Played with in that Sana and her mom's ex-husband don't actually consider themselves father-and-daughter, and legally-speaking, they're not--Misako (Sana's adoptive mother) didn't adopt Sana until after she and her husband had gotten divorced.

* ''Series/GilmoreGirls'' (though in this case, the parents were never married to begin with. multiple visits; one brief reconciliation with mom. One attempted reconciliation with catastrophic effects)

* ''Series/{{Blossom}}'' is the living-with-father variety. On a couple of occasions the mother (who just walked out on the family one day) comes back for a visit. The last time she came to visit, Blossom's dad tells her not to come back.

This rarely works in the reverse, as dads usually aren't portrayed as raising children as single parents unless that mom is dead or something.

* ''Series/{{Blossom}}'' is the living-with-father variety. On a couple of occasions the mother (who just walked out on the family one day) comes back for a visit. The last time, Blossom's dad tells her not to come back.

In a show where main child character is mentioned to have divorced parents, they're pretty much always shown living with their mom. However, there will probably end up being an episode where the dad visits.

This rarely works in the reverse, as single fathers usually aren't portrayed with custody of their children unless the mother is dead or something.

* In ''Manga/KodomoNoOmocha'', Sana's (adoptive) mother's ex-husband shows up at their house a couple of times asking for money. Of course, due to the comedic nature of the show, he is likely to be (harmlessly) blasted with some sort of large weapon, sending him flying away. Played with in that Sana doesn't consider the man her dad, and he doesn't consider her his daughter, since Misako's marriage ended before she adopted Sana as her daughter.

In a show where a main character is being raised by a single mom, there will be an episode where the divorced dad visits.

This rarely works in the reverse, as single fathers are rarely portrayed with custody unless the mother is dead.

* In ''Manga/KodomoNoOmocha'', Sana's (adoptive) mother's ex-husband shows up at their house a couple of times asking for money. Of course, due to the comedic nature of the show, he is likely to be (harmlessly) blasted with some sort of large weapon, sending him flying away. Played with in that Sana doesn't consider this guy a dad, and he doesn't consider her his daughter, since Misako's marriage ended before she found Sana.

* Happens pretty regularly on ''MyNameIsEarl''. One episode involved Earl discussing his list for Dodge's class [[spoiler: and it's revealed that he is Dodge's biological father.]] Another episode involved signing the kids out of camp to take them to Mystery Fun Land...only to find that the amusement park has been torn down. [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming Dodge and Earl Jr. forgive "Old Daddy" and cross "Never took the kids to Mystery Fun Land" off the list]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Braceface}}''
* ''WesternAnimation/TheWeekenders'' had Tino's dad show up for one episode, causing a temporary awkward moment as his dad and mother's boyfriend initially have no idea what to say to one another, and then wind up bonding over Tino's mom's [[LethalChef terrible cooking]].
* ''WesternAnimation/RocketPower'' with Sam's workaholic father.
* ''WesternAnimation/PepperAnn'': her father visits fairly often, though as a blimp pilot he's usually away.
* ''WesternAnimation/HomeMovies'' (on multiple occasions; the divorced dad eventually evolved into a {{Recurrer}}.)

* ''WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}}'' features this a couple times with Will's dad, especially in the episode "Q for Quarry".
** It happened in the original comics, too. However, Will's dad there isn't so nice...

* {{Inverted}} on ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb,'' where main character [[MadScientist Dr. Doofenshmirtz]] occasionally goes through with his evil plans while his [[MadScientistsBeautifulDaughter daughter]], Vanessa, is visiting; most of the time she's with Doofenshmirtz' ex-wife, but unlike most of the men on this page he keeps regular contact. Even if she sometimes [[BumblingDad wishes he wouldn't]].
** Averted, however, with both Phineas and Candace's [[DisappearedDad biological dad]] or Ferb's [[MissingMom biological mom]], about whom nothing is known. [[WordOfGod The creators]] have gone on record as saying they're unimportant, since they would just rather focus on the Flynn-Fletchers as a [[HappilyAdopted happily blended]] family. Notably, the kids all refer to both parents as Mom and Dad.

* ''WesternAnimation/WheelSquad'' had an episode where Jessica's father visited her.
** It's unclear if Emilie might have a similar experience, since it's not known if her birth father died or simply divorced her mother.
* An interesting subversion of this trope occurs in the Emmy-nominated ep of ''WesternAnimation/AsToldByGinger'', "Hello Stranger", where Ginger invites him to see her read a poem. However, [[DaddyDidntShow he never shows up]]. Dad would, however, later visit Ginger in "An Even Steven Holiday Special" and "Losing Nana Bishop".

* After [[DaddyDidntShow not coming to a family pinic]] in the Nick run of "WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}", we finally meet Roger's father in the Disney run episode "Doug's Movie Madness". Despite what's implied about him before,he proves to be a good, if not better parent than others. When all the children want to see an R-rated movie. Doug's parents use trailers and reviews that can lie to a viewer, to make their choice to not let Doug see it. When Roger asks his dad to see it, he says he'll have to watch it first to jugde it fully and ends up walking out half-way in since in this case the trailers actually kept a lot of the bloodier parts out. He tells Roger this who still doesn't understand. Later on, all the kids told no go to see it anyway and Roger's father is the only parent who catches their kid doing this, physically takes Roger from the movie and has a better, gentle, talk with him about it. Doug's parents dont find out until after and while Roger learned that sometimes parents do know what they're talking about and a better understanding of his dad, all Doug learned was that he got nightmares, and grounded without fully understanding why his parents did it in the first place. The other kids never even get caught.

* Another kind of inversion happens in ''AmeliasNotebook'' where Amelia gets a letter from her divorced father, then she comes to visit ''him''. There still seems to be tension between her parents, though.

* A rare reversal in ''SweetValleyHigh'' as Lila lives with her single father and her mother lives in France. When Lila is nearly date raped and the therapy she receives isn't working, her dad reaches out to her mother. This leads to them eventually remarrying in Book #98: The Wedding.

* After [[DaddyDidntShow not coming to a family pinic]] in the Nick run of "WesternAnimation/Doug", we finally meet Roger's father in the Disney run episode "Doug's Movie Madness". Despite what's implied about him before,he proves to be a good, if not better parent than others. When all the children want to see an R-rated movie. Doug's parents use trailers and reviews that can lie to a viewer, to make their choice to not let Doug see it. When Roger asks his dad to see it, he says he'll have to watch it first to jugde it fully and ends up walking out half-way in since in this case the trailers actually kept a lot of the bloodier parts out. He tells Roger this who still doesn't understand. Later on, all the kids told no go to see it anyway and Roger's father is the only parent who catches their kid doing this, physically takes Roger from the movie and has a better, gentle, talk with him about it. Doug's parents dont find out until after and while Roger learned that sometimes parents do know what they're talking about and a bettee understanding of his dad, all Doug learned was that he got nightmares, and grounded without fully understanding why his parents did it in the first place. The other kids never even get caught.

** JossWhedon was raised by a single mother. Coincidence?

* ''WesternAnimation/TheWeekenders''

* ''GossipGirl'' has done this with both parents. Blair's father (who comes to visit once or twice per season) and Dan and Jenny's mother (who appeared in a minor arc in season one).

* Happens in ''Film/PayItForward'', where Tevor's estranged father suddenly shows up at the door. It doesn't work out between the two.

** Seems to be an example of CharacterizationMarchesOn, Hank's appearance in the season finale indicated that he genuinely cared for Buffy, and his divorce from Joyce came out of irreconcilable differences(if the second season finale offers any hint), not from some sort of parental neglect. It isn't until the third season that his incompetence as a parent truly becomes apparent

[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''Erika's New Perfume'' has the title character's father take her trick-or-treating in a four-comic StoryArc.
[[/folder]]

This rarely works in the reverse; perhaps reflecting the trend of children living with the mother, but more often than not a single father's wife is just dead. And in RealLife, custody for children almost always goes to the mother. [[note]] And the general belief that the mother is less likely to walk out on their kids than the father.[[/note]]

* ''Series/{{Monk}}''

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* ''OneDayAtATime''

This rarely works in the reverse; perhaps reflecting the trend of children living with the mother, but more often than not a single father's wife is just dead. And in RealLife, custody for children almost always goes to the mother. [[hottip:*: And the general belief that the mother is less likely to walk out on their kids than the father.]]

* The ''[[Literature/TheBabySittersClub Baby-Sitters Club'' movie had an example, where Kristy's DisappearedDad visits for the summer. He only reveals himself to his thirteen-year-old daughter (ignoring his fifteen-, seventeen-, and seven-year-old sons), forcing her to keep it secret and basically lie to her family and friends all summer, before he leaves unexpectedly because his job prospect didn't pan out. The main series has another example where Dawn and Jeff's dad visits Stoneybrook briefly before a summer trip. He has breakfast with his ex-wife, her NewOldFlame husband, and her stepdaughter. It's just as awkward as it sounds.

* In ''{{Noein}}: Mo Hitori no Kimi e'' (To Your Other Self), both Haruka and Yu both seem to be being raised by single mothers and Haruka brings up child support and running away to Tokyo to live with her dad in an early episode. It turns out Yu's is just always at work, but Haruka's dad's monthly visits becomes a plot point when fellow quantum physicist Uchida plans to use it to catch him and get him to help her save the world from their mutual research. [[Literature/{{Discworld}} There's always bloody quantum.]]

* Happens in ComicBook/{{WITCH}}, and gets its own subplot. Will's dad, [[DisappearedDad Thomas Vandom]], threatens to take Will away from her mother if the latter doesn't give him the huge sum of money he wants.

* ''The BabysittersClub'' movie had an example, where Kristy's DisappearedDad visits for the summer. He only reveals himself to his thirteen-year-old daughter (ignoring his fifteen-, seventeen-, and seven-year-old sons), forcing her to keep it secret and basically lie to her family and friends all summer, before he leaves unexpectedly because his job prospect didn't pan out. The main series has another example where Dawn and Jeff's dad visits Stoneybrook briefly before a summer trip. He has breakfast with his ex-wife, her NewOldFlame husband, and her stepdaughter. It's just as awkward as it sounds.
** The SpinOff series, "Friends Forever," had Kristy's dad get married again and finally remember that he has kids - because he wants the three oldest ones to be in the wedding. He doesn't even seem to remember that the youngest child (who was a baby when he left) exists, and is kind of a JerkAss throughout the whole thing.
* In the movie ''{{Armageddon}}'', one of the guys who has to go to space visits his son. The mom doesn't tell the boy that this is his father, but that he's a salesman. Later, after taking part in a plan that saves the planet, they see the man on TV. When the boy says, "That salesman is on TV." The mom responds, "That's not a salesman. That's your dad."
** A similar thing happens at the end of ''TheLongKissGoodnight''.

* ''DesperateHousewives''
* ''{{Monk}}''
* ''TheParkers'' (on more than one occasion)
* ''KateAndAllie'' (many occasions for both divorced moms)

* ''WhosTheBoss'' (multiple visits; one included a brief reconciliation with the mom)

* ''GilmoreGirls'' (though in this case, the parents were never married to begin with. multiple visits; one brief reconciliation with mom. One attempted reconciliation with catastrophic effects)

* A few times in ''TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody''.
* Interestingly ''TheSarahJaneAdventures'' has an example of a child with divorced parents living with their father. This trope isn't used because the Mum shows up so often that she's a DropInCharacter. It's later played straight when Clyde's father pays a visit for the first time in five years in ''"The Mark of the Berserker"''.
* ''Series/SportsNight'' has a Visit To Divorced Dad by Casey's son Charlie.
* ''TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'' used it for a VerySpecialEpisode where Ben Vereen appears as Will's career-first father. Initially Will is excited, but when Uncle Phil tries to warn him against getting his hopes up, Will throws it back in his face. Of course, Mr. Smith plans on leaving without telling Will, triggering a CrowningMomentOfAwesome PapaWolf rant from Philip, as well as a combined TearJerker-cum-CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming at the end when Will's attempt to look strong in the face of this latest abandonment fails and, breaking down, asks Phil, "How come he don't want me, man?"
* ''{{Castle}}'' inverts this trope, since Rick Castle is raising his daughter Alexis (or in [[ManChild his case]], [[WiseBeyondTheirYears possibly the other way around]]) and they get the occasional visit from his even more irresponsible ex-wife. (Even one of his ''other'' ex-wives, who isn't Alexis's mother, occasionally turns up to spend time with her.)

* ''ModernFamily'', with Gloria's ex-husband (Manny's father).

* ''{{Eureka}}'' does the GenderFlipped version when Zoe's mom shows up. In a twist, she's showing up because it's her turn to get custody, and Carter needs to convince her not to [[PutOnABus put Zoe on a bus]] back to Los Angeles.
* ''VampireDiaries'' has a two episode arc in which Caroline's dad shows up. Of course, then he proceeds to torture her.
* In the PowerRangers episode "Return Of An Old Friend", the parents of the Rangers are kidnapped and used as hostages. This includes Kimberly's divorced parents, with the dad being in the middle of this.

* ''RedString'' inverts this. Reika decides to visit her father while she's in Tokyo. Upon entering, she discovers that her father has not only remarried, but he already has a son that was born around the time of the divorce (plus another one on the way). [[spoiler:Then her father reveals that Reika was an unplanned pregnancy.]]

* ''ErikasNewPerfume'' has the title character's father take her trick-or-treating in a four-comic StoryArc.

* ''{{Braceface}}''
* ''TheWeekenders''
* ''RocketPower'' with Sam's workaholic father.
* ''PepperAnn:'' her father visits fairly often, though as a blimp pilot he's usually away.
* ''HomeMovies'' (on multiple occasions; the divorced dad eventually evolved into a {{Recurrer}}.)

* In one of those rare reversals, [[DrKatzProfessionalTherapist Dr. Katz]] actually has custody of his son, and is visited by his ex-wife only once for Thanksgiving.
* {{Inverted}} on ''PhineasAndFerb,'' where main character [[MadScientist Dr. Doofenshmirtz]] occasionally goes through with his evil plans while his [[MadScientistsBeautifulDaughter daughter]], Vanessa, is visiting; most of the time she's with Doofenshmirtz' ex-wife, but unlike most of the men on this page he keeps regular contact. Even if she sometimes [[BumblingDad wishes he wouldn't]].

* ''KingOfTheHill'' had a few episodes sort of like this, when [[DumbBlonde Luanne]], a WomanChild who lives with her aunt and uncle, got visits from both of her parents. The mom had previously been in jail, while her dad [[spoiler:[[RetCon had been as well]]]].
* ''WheelSquad'' had an episode where Jessica's father visited her.

* An interesting subversion of this trope occurs in the Emmy-nominated ep of ''AsToldByGinger'', "Hello Stranger", where Ginger invites him to see her read a poem. However, [[DaddyDidntShow he never shows up]]. Dad would, however, later visit Ginger in ''An Even Steven Holiday Special'' and ''Losing Nana Bishop''.