Lindsay Lohan's father Michael has applauded his daughter's decision to stay away from mom Dina's new reality TV show - because the project won't help her make it as a serious actress.

Lohan won't appear in the new U.s. show, which will debut on the E! cable network this summer, and her dad is convinced that's the right call.

The actress recently told Life + Style magazine, "I don't know much about it (tv show)."

And Michael, who has reconciled with his famous daughter after a period of estrangement from the family, says, "If she did decide to make an appearance on the show, then I'm behind her. But she needs to decide if she's a serious actress or a reality TV personality."

Instead, the show will focus of mom Dina's efforts to turn the Mean Girls actress' kid sister Ali into a star.