History Main / DaddyDidntShow

* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': Heartbreakingly used as part of Soos' backstory in "Blendin's Game". It's revealed Soos is a BirthdayHater because [[spoiler:his father was never home, and only ever sent Soos a postcard with a halfhearted promise that he'd make it "next year".]]

[[folder:Film]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'', Gru [[MissedTheRecital is late for his adopted daughters' dance recital]].

* Russell's dad in ''WesternAnimation/{{Up}}''. Russell talks the whole movie about getting his final patch so his Dad will be proud when he sees him get his award. Dad doesn't show. [[spoiler: Carl does, though, taking the seat reserved for Russell's dad]].

* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' [[UpToEleven blows this up to absurdity]] with one tale of the HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood of [[MadScientist Dr. Doofenshmirtz]], as ''neither'' of his parents showed up for his birth. Cue CutawayGag of a very confused doctor holding the baby.

* On ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb,'' neither of [[MadScientist Doofenshmirtz]]'s parents showed up for his birth. Cue CutawayGag of a very confused doctor holding the baby.

* A Spanish ad had a kid playing baseball ([[EaglelandOsmosis Not very common on Spain to begin with]], but this is supposed to be a play on American movies) and going "Gosh, why didn't my dad come, he won't see me bat!" Then [[BaldOfAwesome Antonio Resines]] stands up and yells "Hey, kid, [[WhereDoYouThinkYouAre this is Spanish cinema]], of course your dad came!" [[SubvertedTrope and thusly the dad shows up]]. The ad is how Spanish movies are nothing like American ones.

* In ''[[ComicBook/RobinSeries Robin]]'' after waking from his coma and finding himself in a wheelchair Tim Drake's father keeps making plans to spend more time with his son and then cancelling at the very last minute, or after, even though Tim carefully rearranges his busy schedule to make time for him. Tim is never surprised but he does appreciate that Jack at least realized he's hardly spent any time with his son and has made some futile attempts to rectify it. Jack stops even trying after he tells Tim he's dating Dana.

* This formed the center of the DramaBomb that dropped about halfway through ''LightNovel/{{Toradora}}.'' [[spoiler:Taiga]] was encouraged by [[spoiler:Ryuji]] to try and go along with a father's attempts to patch things up, despite ''everyone'', even Ryuji's ditzy mother, not trusting the man. Ultimately, in Episode 13, they proved correct when said father fails to arrive at the culture festival where [[spoiler:Taiga]] eagerly awaited him and held out hope that he'd show, going so far as to write words to dad in an award acceptance speech (and making the presenter perform the speech even after it was made clear that he wasn't showing up).

* The ''WesternAnimation/AsToldByGinger'' episode "Hello Stranger" has [[DisappearedDad Ginger's father]] not showing up for hearing the poem she wrote about him.

%%* The ''WesternAnimation/AsToldByGinger'' episode "Hello Stranger".
* In ''WesternAnimation/DrawnTogether'', it's implied several times that this is why Foxxy Love [[FreudianExcuse tends to be so promiscuous.]]

* This formed the center of the DramaBomb that dropped about halfway through ''LightNovel/{{Toradora}}.'' [[spoiler:Taiga]] was encouraged by [[spoiler:Ryuji]] to try and go along with a father's attempts to patch things up, despite ''everyone'', even Ryuji's ditzy mother, not trusting the man. Ultimately, in Episode 13, they proved correct when said father fails to arrive at the culture festival where [[spoiler:Taiga]] eagerly awaited him and held out hope that he'd show; going so far as to write words to dad in an award acceptance speech (and making the presenter perform the speech even after it was made clear that he wasn't showing up).

* ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'' episode "Papa's Got A Brand New Excuse" featured this plot with Will, whose DisappearedDad returned and promised to take Will on the road with him. When he didn't follow through, and tried to get Phil and Vivian to cover for him, Will finds out and tries justifying how he is better off without him since he was young. He eventually breaks down with this tearful question:

* ''Series/TheBabySittersClub2020'': The season 2 finale has Kristy's dad promise to visit when he's passing through, but then doesn't show up. Mary-Anne's enraged on her behalf, since he's done this many times before in the past, and it also inspires Watson (her stepdad) to say he'll adopt her. Kristy is happy with this, thinking she does have a dad in her life after all.

* ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'' episode "Papa's Got A Brand New Excuse" featured this plot with Will, whose DisappearedDad returned and promised to take Will on the road with him. When he didn't follow through, and tried to get Phil and Vivian to cover for him, Will was distraught, tearfully asking why his father didn't want him.

* In ''FilmZackSnydersJusticeLeague'', [[ComicBook/{{Cyborg}} Victor Stone/Cyborg]] was an [[AcademicAthlete academic football athlete]] before the accident that killed his mother Elinore and crippled him. He once scored an important victory for his team, Gotham City University, but he was disappointed that his father Silas didn't attend it unlike his very supportive mother, among other things that added onto his and [[{{Workaholic}} Silas']] strained relationship.

* [[ComicBook/{{Cyborg}} Victor Stone/Cyborg]] was an [[AcademicAthlete academic football athlete]] before the accident that killed his mother and crippled him. He once scored an important victory for his team, Gotham City University, but he was disappointed that his father didn't attend it unlike his very supportive mother, among other things that estranged him from his father.

* This formed the center of the DramaBomb that dropped about halfway through ''LightNovel/{{Toradora}}.'' [[spoiler:Taiga]] was encouraged by [[spoiler:Ryuji]] to try and go along with a father's attempts to patch things up, despite ''everyone'', even Ryuji's ditzy mother, not trusting the man. Ultimately, in Episode 13, they proved correct when said father fails to arrive at the culture festival where [[spoiler:Taiga]] eagerly awaited him and held out hope that he'd show; going so far as to write words to dad in an award acceptance speech (and making the presenter perform the speech even after it was made clear that he wasn't showing up).
* An anti-drunk-driving PSA has a woman relate how she was expecting her father to show up with the cake for her birthday - only to be hit and killed by a drunk driver.

* In one chapter of ''Manga/SgtFrog'', Natsumi really hopes her mom Aki can compete with her in the three-legged race at her school's sports festival, but Aki ends up having to work after all. The Keronians catch wind of this, and Keroro schemes to offer to take Aki's place as part of a scheme to get Natsumi indebted to him. But in the end, [[spoiler: Giroro ends up running with Natsumi, instead.]]

* In the 1995 film ''Man Of The House'', this happens to young Ben when his wannabe step-dad Jack misses a special canoe trip. Of course Ben doesn't know that an attempt on Jack's life was the cause.

* In the ''[[Literature/TheBabysittersClub The Babysitters Club Movie]]'', Kristy's father (who had previously abandoned his family when she was a child) promises to take her to an amusement park for her birthday. Unsurprisingly he doesn't show, leaving Kristy in the rain.