Baby Daddy

Plot summary

Characters

Main characters

• Benjamin Bon Jovi "Ben" Wheeler : The lead character of the series. He was living the life of a bachelor as a bartender in New York City with his buddy Tucker and his older brother Danny. His life was turned upside down when he opened his apartment door to find a baby girl left at his door by a one night stand. The baby turned out to be his daughter Emma. At the beginning of the series, Ben's job was the same throughout the series, with the difference in season 4 when he and Danny became owners of the bar. He and Riley, next-door-neighbor and childhood friend of Ben, dated briefly twice. The relationship fails because Ben didn't live up to Riley's expectations. Eventually, it is revealed how strong Danny's feelings are for Riley. Ben initially denies this until Bonnie intervenes and points out that "Danny has loved Riley nearly his whole life" and tries to get the two together. Throughout Season 6, Ben constantly tries to find Elle, a girl he has fallen for after seeing her three times in the same day during the season 5 finale. In the series finale, Elle is seen looking for Ben throughout the series as well. At the conclusion of the series finale, Elle walks in to deliver Riley's son and Ben immediately recognizes Elle and they end up going out.
• Tucker Thurgood Marshall Dobbs : Ben's best friend and roommate. Tucker is friendly towards everybody as long as they don't eat his food. Tucker has a love-hate and somewhat teasing relationship with Mrs. Wheeler. Ben encouraged Tucker to drop out of law school to pursue a career in television. When his father, Marshall Dobbs, finds out about this he is at first furious and disowns Tucker. Mr. Dobbs later approves of Tucker's career in the same episode. Tucker has multiple relationships throughout the series but ultimately ends up with Sondra, a talkative fellow tenant whose voice is extremely shrill.
• Daniel Mellencamp "Danny" Wheeler : Ben's older brother, who is a professional hockey player for the New York Rangers. His little brother looks up to him, and is sometimes envious of Danny being better at everything. It is mentioned many times that Danny is their mother's favorite son, so much so that Mrs. Wheeler sometimes says she only has one son. In Season 4, Danny purchases Ben's place of employment, "Bar on B", for Ben. Danny has also been in love with Riley ever since he was six. Danny and Riley eventually end up together in seasons 5. In the season 5 finale, it is revealed that Riley is pregnant after Danny and Riley become very serious. During Season 6, Danny and Riley get married, and have a son.
• Bonnie N. Walker : Ben and Danny's mother. She is a happy, outgoing, loud, and dramatic person who has a kind heart. Bonnie loves her kids and her granddaughter more than anything. She loves to drink; her favorite wine is chardonnay. It is hinted many times throughout the series that Bonnie might have a drinking problem. Bonnie has an on and off relationship with Brad Walker since season 3. She later marries Brad in an elevator. She had originally wanted to be a model but those plans changed after having Danny. She later became a realtor. Bonnie is in love with Bon Jovi, so much so that she named her second son "Benjamin Bon Jovi Wheeler". She describes herself as "a beautiful young woman with goals and ambitions."
• Riley Perrin : Ben's close friend and Danny's best friend since they were little. Although Riley dates Ben on and off during the first few seasons of the show, she falls for Danny towards the end of Season 4, and subsequently begin a relationship with him. During the Season 5 season finale, it is revealed that Riley is pregnant. Danny and Riley get married in Season 6, and she gives birth to their son in the series finale. It has been said that she was extremely overweight in high school and, in the season 3 episode "Romancing the Phone" she says she lost 90 pounds. When they were kids, her nickname was "Rigantor" and could beat up the boys, enjoyed watching professional wrestling with Danny, and played field hockey as well as street hockey. She is highly intelligent. Despite having some difficulty with the LSATs, she did well enough to get accepted into law school. Riley is also extremely competitive. She has liked Ben ever since they were young, but only Danny initially knew. In the episode "Send in the Clowns", it is revealed that her aunt was her real mother. In the episode "House of Cards," she mentions a sister, presumably her cousin in reality, whom she claims to "hate".
• Emma Wheeler : Ben's daughter, who was left at his door by a one night stand. Angela, Emma's mother, and Ben went on with their lives until she realized she was pregnant and gave birth to the child. Deciding that her acting career was more important than raising a child, she left Emma at Ben's front door and gave him full custody of Emma.

  Recurring characters

• Brad Walker : A handsome real estate agent who had an on and off relationship with Bonnie since season 3. He had a twin brother named Tad. On the season 4 episode "Parental Guidance", Brad proposed to Bonnie, with her saying yes. Brad and Bonnie officially got married in season 5.
• Dr. Amy Shaw : A psychologist for the New York Rangers and Danny's girlfriend in season 2. She cares deeply for Danny but is constantly worried his feelings for Riley will drive him away. She eventually realizes Danny still has feelings for Riley and breaks up with him in the episode "Surprise!". In season 3, Amy shows up and announces that she is engaged to another man.
• Fitch Douglas : Son of a millionaire and Riley's boyfriend in season 2. Fitch does not speak to his family for he feels their money corrupts them. He constantly travels to Africa to help the children and orphanages, having a long distance relationship with Riley. He is seemingly killed in Africa but later turns up alive at his memorial and proposes to Riley. She regretfully declines claiming she is not the one for him. In season 3, he comes back and Riley attempts to make him her rebound to forget Ben.
• Philip Farlow : A college professor whom Riley briefly dated in season 3.
• Georgie Farlow : Philip's sister who briefly dated Ben, but later developed feelings for Danny in season 3. She is a fashion photographer for Vogue magazine. She doesn't like Riley, but begins to accept her for Danny's sake in the episode "Foos it or Lose It". She breaks up with Danny via voicemail at the beginning of season 4.
• Angela : The mother of Emma and the ex-girlfriend of Ben. When her daughter was 3 months old, she abandoned her on Ben's doorstep. She's an aspiring actress who had since moved to California. Although she appears in several episodes, Angela never took the role of Emma's mother as she would often place her career first.
• Mary Hart: A fictionalized version of herself, who has a daytime talk show that Tucker is the producer of. While she initially comes off as a kind person on camera, she is very rude and mean off camera, especially towards Tucker. She appeared on the show between season 3 to mid-season 5.
• Megan : A day care worker whom Ben dated in season 2. She broke up with him after he almost lost her dog.
• Ray Wheeler : Ben and Danny's father. He is divorced from Bonnie and doesn't get along with her. He makes amends with Bonnie by finally telling his family that he's in a relationship with a man named Steve.
• Sondra : A neighbor who's known for her talkativeness and distinctive high-pitched voice.
• Robyn : Riley's co worker and Danny's girlfriend in season 4.
• Zoey : A single mother living in the same building as Ben, introduced in season 5. She shares the same interests as Ben, but is reluctant to give in to her romantic feelings because of Ben's immaturity.
• Sam Saffe : The manager of the Bar on B in season 5. She went to high school with Ben, Danny and Riley. Ben had a crush on her in high school but she never reciprocated his feelings. She and Riley did not like each other, despite frequent attempts in both ends to become friends. Sam briefly dates Ben in season 5.
• Elle : A woman that Ben has met a few brief times and is convinced is his soulmate.
• Carter : Ben's bartender co-worker at the bar Ben eventually ends up owning.

  Episodes

Development and production

Broadcast

Awards and nominations

Reception