Tyler Labine stars in "Sons of Tucson"

There's no doubt that the North American family dynamic has changed, and television has adapted to reflect this newfound dysfunction. Gone are the days when suit-clad dads like Ward Cleaver and Mike Brady had all the answers for their wayward children. Today's TV dad is at best a loveable, bumbling slacker.

The latest such patriarch to hit the small screen debuts in Fox's new comedy, "Sons of Tucson," premiering Sunday, March 14. Tyler Labine stars as Ron Snuffkin, a sports-store employee who is approached by three boys to be their dad for hire. With their own dad in jail, the brothers need a stand-in and they convince Snuffkin that he's the could-be dad for the job.

Fox has had all kinds of luck with bumbling, slacker dads. Homer Simpson would face serious competition in a Worst Father of the Year contest from characters such as Al Bundy ("Married... With Children") and Peter Griffin ("Family Guy"). Hal from "Malcolm in the Middle" or Bernie from "The Bernie Mac Show" raked in viewers with their fumbling through fatherhood week after week.

Labine brings some slacker experience to his role as Snuffkin. In fact, the Canadian actor's most famous role to date, as Bert (Sock) Wysocki in the CW series "Reaper," has been described as the quintessential slacker.

As an actor, however, Labine is anything but the loafer he seems so adept at playing. While growing up in Vancouver, he worked his way up the ranks of local theatre before appearing in television series such as "Breaker High" and "That Was Then." He landed a small-screen role in the made-for-television movie "Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Mork & Mindy.'" The actor broke into American series television with roles in "Boston Legal" and the cult ABC hit "Invasion."

Benjamin Stockham, Frank Dolce, Matthew Levy and Tyler Labine in "Sons of Tucson"

Years of paying his dues have also led to big-screen roles, including ones in "Trixie" (2000), "Antitrust" (2001), "My Boss's Daughter" (2003), "Flyboys" (2006) and "Tucker & Dale vs. Evil" (2009).

He's found success behind the camera as a producer, thanks to the 2004 film "Everyone," which won the Best Film Award at the Montreal Film Festival. He combined these skills and more as executive producer, star, writer and co-director of the mockumentary "Extreme Walking" (2006).

The multi-talented Labine has forged a career in music as well. Along with his brother Kyle, and friends Jeff Gustafson and Ryan Robbins, he performs in the hip-hop band Self-Dep.

But as with any series, success rides on the talent of the entire cast, and the youngsters in "Sons of Tucson" may just have what it takes to reach the top of the ratings pile. From Broadway to Shakespeare to the big screen, these boys are no slackers themselves.

At the ripe old age of 16, Matthew Levy is the oldest of the bunch. As Brandon Gunderson in "Sons of Tucson" he's a committed optimist. On stage, the actor has appeared in "Macbeth," "Hecuba," "The Full Monty," "A Christmas Story," "To Kill A Mockingbird" and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." He has also snagged roles in the movies "The MisInventions of Milo Weatherby" (2009), "Farewell Darkness" (2007) and "Michael Saints" (2009).

New Jersey native Frank Dolce plays Brandon's younger brother Gary, a schemer cut from the same cloth as his convict dad. He's just 13, but he's already taken Broadway by storm as Michael in the Tony Award-winning "Billy Elliot." The role earned him a Young Artist Award for Outstanding Broadway Musical Ensemble and a 2009 Astaire Award Nomination for Best Male Dancer. He also appeared in John Patrick Shanley's film "Doubt" (2008).

Nine-year-old Benjamin Stockham rounds out the main cast as Robby Gunderson, a loose cannon who has a problem with authority. Stockham started out as a print model and has appeared on television in commercials as well as the CBS drama "Criminal Minds." He also appeared on the big screen in "Quarantine" (2008).

Should the series take off, the young actors can turn to "Sons of Tucson" executive producer Justin Berfield for advice navigating the tricky waters of child stardom. Many viewers would recognize Berfield as the bully middle child Reese from "Malcolm in the Middle." He's a veteran of series television, having debuted in "The Good Life" with Drew Carey at the tender age of six. Prior to his "Malcolm" success, he starred in "Unhappily Ever After" for five seasons.

Berfield has also appeared in the feature films "Max Keeble's Big Move" (2001) and "3 Ninjas" (1992).

Since 2004, when he and producer Jason Felts formed J2 Pictures/J2TV, his focus has been producing and creating pilots for cable and broadcast networks.

"Sons of Tucson" may be the most promising of Berfield's lot as a producer so far. While the series may center on a slacker, its roots lie in the Ivy League. Creators Greg Bratman and Tommy Dewey met while attending Princeton University and later moved to Los Angeles.

To back them up, Fox has enlisted a couple of industry heavyweights. Multi-Emmy winner Todd Holland and Humanitas winner Matthew Carlson serve as executive producers. Holland, known for his work on "Malcolm in the Middle" and "30 Rock," also directs "Sons of Tucson."