On-screen dads we grew up with include, from left, Homer Simpson, Darth Vader, Ozzy Osbourne and Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable.

They’re not our dads, but at times we might wish they were. Or be glad they’re not.

The fathers of film and television each have their own way of dealing with their children, but are those ways are really all that different from real-life dads?

In the spirit of Father’s Day, asap called Karen Sternheimer, a sociologist at the University of Southern California and author of “It’s Not the Media: The Truth About Pop Culture’s Influence on Children,” and asked her to evaluate a few of Hollywood’s favorite fathers.

Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable

Appeared in: “The Cosby Show”

Parenting situation: His son, Theo, decides he doesn’t want to go to college. Dr. Huxtable uses play money to teach Theo about his budget – and that he’ll need an education if he wants to be financially secure.

Sternheimer says: “What’s interesting and why he resonated in that scene and it’s so famous … I think that especially for a lot of middle-class parents, they really struggle with wanting to make (their kids) happy and on the other hand trying to teach them about money. I think that’s a struggle that parents have in our consumer-oriented culture. I think one of the reasons that he was so effective was because he not only used humor, he was very blunt. He kind of vocalized what a lot of parents were afraid to say.”

Darth Vader

Appeared in: The “Star Wars” movies

Situation: Darth Vader is absent from Luke Skywalker’s life. After a fierce battle, Vader tells the young Jedi that Luke and Princess Leia are his son and daughter.

Sternheimer says: “He’s kind of the ultimate absentee dad, huh? The interesting thing in the whole Darth Vader situation – being his dad – is he’s his enemy. That in itself says a lot about fatherhood, where your arch enemy is your dad and you don’t really know who he is and he’s behind some scary costume. … There’s this really big theme about an epic struggle between fathers and sons.”

Homer Simpson

Appeared in: “The Simpsons”

Situation: Lisa asks Homer if he will buy her a saxophone reed for her recital. Homer stops off at the bar on the way and doesn’t get the reed for Lisa. In an effort to win Lisa’s affection, Homer buys her a pony and takes on extra jobs to pay for the pony.

Sternheimer says: “He kind of represents the antithesis of ‘Father Knows Best.’ He’s father knows least. I think he represents the struggles of a lot of people who aren’t Super Dad. They have their flaws and they wear them proudly. He’s kind of the lovable loser dad. He doesn’t work hard, but somehow he always gets by. I think people identify with him because he does have a good heart.”

Ozzy Osbourne

Appeared in: “The Osbournes”

Situation: Ozzy offers life lectures, telling Kelly and Jack: “Don’t drink. Don’t take drugs. If you have sex, wear a condom.”

Sternheimer says: “That was the big debate over the Osbournes. Here are these people who obviously haven’t lived a straight-laced life. At the same time, I think people really responded that he really loved his kids. They were really authentic about who they were. I think they were really open about their beliefs … in a way most people aren’t. I think it made for good television. I think most parents aren’t as open about their pasts or their experiences.”

Clark Griswold

Appeared in: National Lampoon’s “Vacation”

Situation: The Griswold family station wagon goes flying and crashes on the way to Walley World. Clark Griswold deals with the incident by sharing a beer with son Rusty.

Sternheimer says: “This is, I think, a big issue that a lot of parents face now – especially I think baby boomer dads who felt distance from their own dads – to try to be more buddies with their kids or more friends with their kids than they were with their own dads. This whole idea of your kids are your equals or at least they’re your buddies.”