As TV fans, we’re no strangers to suspending our disbelief when it comes to embracing fantastical or implausible storylines from our favorite shows. But sometimes, it can be an equally enjoyable exercise to fall down a rabbit hole of reason. And that’s what we’re doing here today, embarking on a journey to answer the age-old question: Could this actor really be their co-star’s parent in real life? The list below rounds up the 20 weirdest, wackiest, most bizarre parent-child castings due to unbelievable age gaps. So if you, too, just watched the Season 2 premiere of Apple TV+’s The Buccaneers and thought, “Leighton Meester is playing mom to a 19-year-old woman?!,” you’re in the right place.

Our list has it all, from a Family Ties father who had only 14 years on his on-screen son, to a Golden Girl who defied all logic by actually being younger than her daughter. We’ve also got age-defying pairings from Six Feet Under, Supernatural, The Good Place, Blue Bloods, Orange Is the New Black, Schitt’s Creek, The Cosby Show, George Lopez and more. But before you get scrolling, some housekeeping: Our round-up is sorted from widest to smallest age gap, and we’re sharing how old the actors were at the time they first appeared alongside each other — not how old they are today. Also, we’ve steered clear of soap operas and timey-wimey time travel shows. (We are in a rabbit hole of reason, remember?!)

Without further ado, it’s time for you, dear reader, to fly the coop and review our sampling of TV’s most bizarre parent-child castings — and as always, feel free to nominate others that come to mind! As TV fans, we’re no strangers to suspending our disbelief when it comes to embracing fantastical or implausible storylines from our favorite shows. But sometimes, it can be an equally enjoyable exercise to fall down a rabbit hole of reason. And that’s what we’re doing here today, embarking on a

The list below rounds up the 20 weirdest, wackiest, most bizarre parent-child castings due to unbelievable age gaps. So if you, too, just watched the Season 2 premiere of Apple TV+’s The Buccaneers and thought, “Leighton Meester is playing mom to a 19-year-old woman?!,” you’re in the right place. Our list has it all, from a Family Ties father who had only 14 years on his on-screen son, to a Golden Girl who defied all logic by actually being younger than her daughter. We’ve also got age-defying pairings from Six Feet Under, Supernatural, The Good Place, Blue Bloods, Orange Is the New Black, Schitt’s Creek, The Cosby Show, George Lopez and more. But before you get scrolling, some housekeeping: Our round-up is sorted from widest to smallest age gap, and we’re sharing how old the actors were at the time they first appeared alongside each other — not how old they are today. Also, we’ve steered clear of soap operas and timey-wimey time travel shows. (We are in a rabbit hole of reason, remember?!)

Without further ado, it’s time for you, dear reader, to fly the coop and review our sampling of TV’s most bizarre parent-child castings — and as always, feel free to nominate others that come to mind!