Howard McBride

Lore & Background

Howard McBride lives with his husband Harold and their adopted son Clyde, the best friend of protagonist Lincoln Loud. Howard is sensitive and neurotic, often getting overemotional while watching Clyde grow up. He feels the need to protect Clyde at all times and never lets him out of sight, unless Clyde is with Lincoln or at school. Harold's parenting style contrasts with Howard's; Harold is calm, collected, and concerned with Clyde's safety and health above everything else, but also a little more willing to be lenient. The McBrides serve as foils to Lincoln's less worrisome parents. A running gag is the McBrides' impractically large and ever-expanding repertoire of hobbies and former jobs, which increases to include any skill set that an episode's plot demands. Whenever one of the Loud children learns something new from Howard and Harold, they will simply say that "Mr. McBride" taught them, leaving it intentionally ambiguous as to which dad possesses each skill. The only constant hobby is Harold's talent for preparing home-cooked meals, particularly Swiss chard frittatas. Both McBrides have a fondness for cats and have adopted two, Cleopawtra and Nepurrtiti (named after Cleopatra and Nefertiti).

In Their Own Story

Howard and Harold made their on-screen debut in "Overnight Success," in which they bring Clyde to a sleepover at Lincoln's house and Howard has trouble letting him leave. They had been mentioned previously in "A Tale of Two Tables" and "Hand-Me-Downer," which were the first two full-length episodes of *The Loud House* to be released online. Their names are derived from the married uncles of a guest at a party which writer Kevin Sullivan attended after being tasked to write their debut episode. Howard and Harold's sexual orientation is intentionally never mentioned on the program, and they are portrayed as any other couple would be. They do not exhibit stereotypical mannerisms of gay men, such as exaggerated effeminacy and flamboyance. According to Shoma Chaudhury's *Catch News*, Howard and Harold were created with the goal of "introducing children to LGBT characters who are both 'normal' and likeable."

Reader's Guide

Howard McBride is a supporting character whose primary role is as a helicopter parent to Clyde. He is sensitive and overemotional, often needing Harold to get him to chill out when he gets worked up. Howard's skills are part of the running gag of the McBrides' ever-expanding repertoire of hobbies and former jobs; whenever a Loud child learns something new from the McBrides, they say "Mr. McBride" taught them, leaving it ambiguous which dad possesses each skill. Howard and Harold are foils to Lincoln Loud's parents, who are less worrisome and more sensible despite having eleven children instead of one. The characters have been met with praise from television critics and fans for being a positive representation of an interracial gay married couple. Positive reviews have called attention to the lack of focus placed on their sexual orientations, as well as their depiction as fit and capable LGBT parents. The characters' portrayals have received accolades and nominations from organizations including GLAAD, NAMIC, and South Florida Gay News. However, the introduction of the characters resulted in some controversy and censorship of the series.

Did You Know?

• Howard is voiced by Michael McDonald.
• Howard and Harold are the first married gay couple to be featured in a Nickelodeon animated series.
• Their names are derived from the married uncles of a guest at a party which writer Kevin Sullivan attended.
• Howard and Harold's sexual orientation is intentionally never mentioned on the program.
• The McBrides are notably also an interracial couple.