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Sanford and Son (1972) was a classic American television sitcom that was based upon the B.B.C. tele-comedy show Steptoe and Son. Whilst Steptoe and Son dealt with the "Rag and bone" business, Sanford and Son dealt with the "junk" business. A perfect vehicle for stand up comic and performer Redd Foxx. Many people felt that he couldn't make the transition from party records and blue humor to the restrained format of television. He proved them wrong. During the first couple of seasons some of the episodes (including the pilot) were Americanized versions of Steptoe and Son.

The show became a huge hit for N.B.C. and the series lasted for six seasons.

the "classic" episodes of this show were written by Paul Mooney and Gary Shandling. The best seasons happen to be the second and fifth, many classic episodes debuted during that time. Aunt Esther was Fred's nemesis, Rollo was Lamont's best friend and another thorn in Fred's side. Fred also has his buddies Bubba and Grady. Fred was involved with Donna to whom he was engaged to throughout the series. Redd Foxx always had problems with the producers of the show and he used his leverage as the star to get his stand-up comic friends on T.V. Performers such as Pat Morita, "Slappy" White, Scatman Crothers and the comic team of Leroy and Skillet all received spots or recurring roles on the show.

Thanks to D.V.D. and syndication, Sanford and Son will live on forever and future generations will enjoy the humor of Redd Foxx and company. Sanford and Son spawned two spin-offs and a sequel series.

A highly recommended show.

Redd Foxx made a lasting impression and impact on audiences in America when they took a British comedy, Steptoe & Son, which was more darker and depressing than Sanford and Son. They brought to America with Redd Foxx as the father Fred Sanford and his son, Demond Wilson, playing Lamont. Fred always cries that he's going to reunite with his wife, Elizabeth in heaven. Fred's sister-in-law Esther is played by the wonderful and hysterical LaWanda Page. I loved the interaction between Fred and Esther. It was a love and hate relationship on both ends of the spectrum. They would trade insults as champion boxers threw out punches. They were hysterical and unforgettable on screen.

Watching Sanford And Son back to back with the Amos And Andy shows from the Fifties and I defy you to tell me the differences. The difference and it's a big one is that Amos And Andy originated on radio by white performers Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll. In there rare big screen appearances they were in black-face. That's what makes Amos And Andy unacceptable today.

Because seeing those episodes there's not too much difference between George 'Kingfish' Stevens and Fred Sanford. Both were continually trying to get rich quick with some kind of wacky scheme. Both had a rather slack worth ethic, Fred Sanford's case he had a dutiful son, with the Kingfish it was always his gullible pal Andy whom he hooked into his endeavors. The dialog was such it could be interchangeable.

Fred at least had a business, it was the junk business. Fred Sanford was a role tailor made for nightclub comedian Redd Foxx who while black always worked blue in his act. I did see him once on stage and he was as sexist as could be. A black version of Andrew Dice Clay.

Sanford was a widower and his wife must have been something wonderful to put up with him. Getting under his skin and a great share of the laughs was LaWanda Page who was his late wife's sister Esther. They were the spark of the show.

Providing a moral balance to Fred's lazy incorrigible ways was Demond Wilson as his son. Who definitely took after his mother. You can picture her through him. Aunt Esther was married to Raymond Allen and he took an occasional drink. What did this poor man ever do in a previous life to have that harridan for a wife?

The great catchphrase when Foxx was caught in a lie or one of his schemes blew up was him clutching his chest and moaning "I'm having the big one now". Ironically Foxx did have the big one on the set of another show he had just debuted with. Life does imitate art.

But I defy anyone to tell the difference between the humor of Sanford And Son and the television Amos And Andy.

Very funny TV comedy series about the situations a Los Angeles junk dealer,Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) and his son/business partner Lamont(Demond Wilson) find themselves in.

In my opinion, the impeccable timing of hilarious lines delivered by Mr. Foxx made this show a classic. I think the humor was probably cutting edge for its time also, often referencing the racial and sociopolitical climate (a la All in the Family). Though ageless with respect to humor, some of the lines are not politically correct anymore as evidenced by TV Land (that currently shows reruns as of this writing) cutting out any reference to the "N" word said by Fred Sanford as I remember being in more than a couple of episodes when they first aired on NBC.

A whole host of other characters added to the shows hysterical but stereotypical flavor such as the religiously fanatical Aunt Esther, the dimwitted Grady and neighbor Julio. No ethnic group or race was spared a ribbing on this show.

Two of my all time favorite episodes are 1. The Sanfords being promised $10,000 if Lamont marries Fred's cousin's overweight stepdaughter and 2. Fred and Lamont's plane ride to St. Louis to attend the reading of a will of a relative that recently passed.

Priceless.

There have been 4 show business personalities, over the years, over whom I shed tears, when they passed on. John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Roy Rogers, and... Redd Foxx. The reason is very simple: Redd Foxx, as the arthritic, heart-troubled Watts Junk Dealer, made me laugh. Something that not many performers can do. I have experienced more genuine laughter, while watching 'Sanford And Son', than with any other TV show, or movie, ever.

I have seen every episode at least 20 times, (Except for the Christmas episode - I only watch it during the Christmas season). I never tire of them, and the antics of the gripy, grumpy old 'Commodities' dealer and his family and friends never fail to draw a laugh from me, despite the fact that I know every episode by heart.

Until 'Sanford And Son', Redd Foxx was probably best known for his nightclub acts, featuring his dirty stand-up routines. He was a master of improvisation, and shows his true comedy colors, in this classic sitcom. And, he was no slouch when it came to drama, as proved by his performance in the episode where he must ask his girlfriend, Donna, to marry him, before she accepts a proposal from another man. That particular episode made me cry, as well as laugh.

Admittedly, much of the writing wasn't all that great, and the acting - In the case of some characters, obviously played by non-Actors - Leaves something to be desired. But the laughter is there, making up for that, and then some.

I once heard it said that laughter is a gift, and Redd Foxx gave me that gift, with 'Sanford And Son'. The show has a tremendous following, to this day, better than 30 years after it's cancellation - A fact which speaks volumes on the talent of Redd Foxx.

The quote is from the episode where Grady mistakingly gets more Social Security checks than he's entitled to.

This was one of the series of episodes when Redd Foxx was absent, and I think this episode shows the genius of the show's writers. I especially like the patriotic and all-American justifications Grady made in the face of Lamont's objections to keep the checks.

Another favorite of mine was when Lamont took karate lessons to defend himself from a much bigger guy, Jo Jo Jackson, whose girl he was dating.

The scenes where Grady warns Jo Jo that Lamont is mentally unbalanced, and the subsequent "fight" scene between Lamont and Jo Jo are priceless.

For some reason, I liked the episodes where Fred was absent even better, as I thought Grady was a gentler and kinder version of Fred. I love the goodhearted, dimwitted Grady.

The ratings at the time would seem to bear it out, as the show ranked even higher when Foxx was absent.

And Esther, boy, what can you say? The on screen antagonism between Fred and Esther have to surpass any other in any comedy series, including Fred and Ethel, in terms of sheer hilarity ("Watch it sucker!").

It's hard to imagine that in real life LaWanda Page and Redd Foxx were close friends from childhood.

Anyway, I like all the episodes. It brings back memories of when we first came to this country, and my parents and I would sit down and watch them. Even though we didn't know all the peculiarities and slang at the time, we'd still laugh. That's testimony to the show's power of transcendence.

Rollo, Julio, Smitty and Hoppy, Bubba, etc, where all great as supporting cast.

I still get nostalgia whenever I hear the opening music.

In my opinion,"Sanford and Son" beat "All in the Family" hands down. The opening music was certainly waay better than the purposely horrible and ear piercing duet between Edith and Archie.

And even though "All in the Family" may have dealt with more real life issues such as rape, "Sanford and Son" was funnier by a mile! And really that's why I watched these shows; not to be reminded of life's ugly side.

Too bad Fred and Archie weren't neighbors. I always fantasized about what their exchanges might have been. If there was anyone who could've countered Archie in terms of bigotism, it was Fred. They were mirror reflections of one another, albeit the difference in color.

That would've been a dream match!

Trying to some up Sanford and Son in a word would be hard. I can some it up in three words. Gut busting funny! Redd Foxx is truly a genius. Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin really knew what they were dong when they hired the cast. The acting is very well done. The show dealt with a lot of issues over the years and Sanford and Son doesn't get a lot of the credit it deserves. All in the Family was also great and it tackled more social issues so it will always get more attention. However, Sanford and Son was just a lot more funny.

My all time favorite on the show besides Fred was Grady. Grady Wilson was hilarious. One of my favorite episodes was when Grady thought the wild parsley he planted was actually marijuana. He had the cops eating the evidence. Now you will never see on any of today's shows something close to this. The show was original and pushed the limits. It isn't politically correct like all of today's shows are. I agree with other commentators that if you put Sanford and Son up against many of the current sitcoms, Sanford and Son would blow them away. Very few sitcoms today push the envelope. They are too politically correct and the storylines are too predictable. They copy each other. I wish some producers would have the good sense to copy some of Sanford and Son's plots.

I was bummed to hear that TV Land wasn't gong to show the shows any more. I couldn't buy all the episodes on tape because it would take too long and cost way too much. Then when I heard they were putting the show out on DVD, I jumped up and said, `Good Goobily Goop!' I just bought the first season and can't wait for the rest. I just wish they could have added some extras like interviews and biographies to the DVD. The video and audio aren't great but it's good enough.

Sanford and Son is TV at it's best!

Rayvyn

Saw Sanford and Son when it premiered. I was in public school then. Forty years later this classic never gets old even in reruns. Fred Sanford was always my favorite character. And Redd Foxx never disappointed me.

Highly hilarious and dominant television show from the mid-1970s that continues to have a great following even today (despite some detractors who take the show way too seriously). California African-American widower/junk dealer Redd Foxx (one of the most under-rated entertainers of his time) and his only son (Demond Wilson) argued and got into every odd-ball situation one could fathom during their six years in prime-time (from 1972-1977). The series was an answer to "All in the Family". It showed the differences and similarities between white blue-collar society and the working class African-American. It also was a coast war as "All in the Family" took place on the Atlantic shore while "Sanford and Son" took place on the Pacific. The supporting cast (led by the priceless LaWanda Page as Foxx's sister-in-law) was used in well-calculated ways to add to the program's comedic momentum. Never dull, never slow, never boring and never sorry, "Sanford and Son" is one of those shows that just seems to stand the test of time. 5 stars out of 5.

I watch this show every night. He was, and the show stll make me laugh in 2020. Him and Lamont were a perfect team.

Growing up in the 1980s and early 1990s, I had no intentions to think of any show before that era. It's not that I didn't like them, I just felt that the shows I grew up on were the best. A couple of years ago I grew weary of the state of television and decided to find something that would satisfy my taste buds. When I found Sanford & Son being aired on TV Land, I was surprised. I never knew beforehand that so many good sitcoms came out of the 1970s, and this is no exception.

Originally based off of "Steptoe & Son", Sanford & Son revolves around a junk dealer and his son living in a neighborhood in Watts, Los Angeles. Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) is a sarcastic and stubborn person who's plans usually backfire, causing trouble. His son Lamont Sanford (Demond Wilson) usually has to complete tasks and order his own father to complete jobs. It was very amusing to see the two argue against each other and have to become loyal in order for things to come back to normal.

But there are a couple other interesting characters in the series worth mentioning. Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page), who is sister of Fred Sanford's late wife Elizabeth, is a Baptist who just can't seem to handle Fred too well. In most cases they spew insults to each other such as "Gorilla Face" and "Fish-Eyed Fool", and what makes this funny is that it never gets old. I always found myself laughing whenever Fred gave Aunt Esther a dirty joke. Grady Wilson (Whitman Mayo), who is Fred's closest friend, usually acts as his "sidekick" and is involved in get rich schemes. Unfortunately, Redd Foxx left the show for some episodes (due to a feud with the producers) and thus Grady had to fill in, in order to watch the junk yard business. Many characters appear in the show, and not one of them is really that boring to watch.

I recommend this to anyone who enjoys the classic sitcoms, well before Cable TV and Reality TV started getting out of hand. I consider the 1970s to be the "Golden Age of Sitcoms," because that was when barriers were broken and actors displayed their best talents to make themselves stand out. All in the Family, M*A*S*H, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Happy Days, Good Times, The Jeffersons, Three's Company, Different Strokes, Taxi, and numerous others. Sanford & Son puts most of the 1990s and 2000s sitcoms to shame. It was a stroke of genius, and Redd Foxx was a one of a kind individual. No one beforehand thought a stand up comic would be good in his own show. But he did it, in a big way. It's still a hit among old and young generations alike, and if Sanford & Son still lives on even after over 35 years, then you know that it's a classic. Like Archie Bunker, Fred Sanford is a unique person.

So don't waste your time watching the Disney Channel or anything that comes out of Reality TV. Sanford & Son is a timeless sitcom that will keep you laughing. Highly recommended.

9 out of 10.

"SANFORD AND SON," in my opinion, is a pure definition of must-see TV! Despite the fact that I've never seen every episode, I still enjoyed it. My favorite one is where Fred (Redd Foxx) goes to the dentist. You'll have to have seen it for yourself if you want to know how any why. Everyone always gave a good performance, the production design was spectacular, the costumes were well-designed, and the writing was always very strong. Before I wrap this up, I hope that all you die-hard fans of the show will always have it live on in syndication. In conclusion, even though it can be seen on TV Land now, I strongly recommend you catch it before it goes off the air for good.

A great show. Redd Foxx was a comedic genius. The relationships with Lamont and Aunt Ester are priceless. I only wish shows today would use some of the one liners and simple plots. Fred's friends like Bubba and Grady are hilarious. Ester cracks me up. She hates Fred and isn't afraid to show it. The two cops that show up from time to time are great. The white cops says idiotic things like "Right off" His partner (the father from 229?) always has to correct him from using improper slang.

This is one show that everyone should watch. It is funny, yet at times teaches a lesson (similar to the Jeffersons).

One of the better shows of its time. I believe it is still on TV Land. Enjoy the show "You big dummy!"

Simple, sweet. Very few shows touched this genre without dealing (too deep) with the politics of the time, at the time this show existed, every other TV show was trying to make some huge one sided statement. You can't help but laugh. Clearly Redd Foxx was the beginning of the concept that led to "All in the Family". What makes this show special is that it is so easy to watch and just enjoy! Of course, the lettuce comment is, well, funny, unless your house smells like lettuce, then I guess to you, it's not funny, The stars that cameo'ed on the show were perfect! I have to give this show an excellent because TV has yet to reproduce a show that is simply fun, like this one. This is one of those shows that needs to be released on DVD as a collection. It needs to be available to all generations to enjoy a man who just had that special gift, to just kinda make us laugh, without even seeming to try.

Sanford and Son coins a comedy that makes you legitimately laugh, not slightly chuckle every 16 episodes like most modern T.V. shows. I will admit, the last season felt a little try hard, but that's what happens as shows progress. Plus, the last season was more watchable than most shows nowadays. Also, if you don't like the show, then go G. The G stands for "Get a sense of humor".

This is definitely one of the greatest sitcoms in history. Redd Foxx was perfect in his portrayal of the crotchety old Fred Sanford and Demond Wilson was perfect as his son Lamont. My parents and I would turn on this show every week just to see Fred put down Lamont by constantly calling him "Dummy". However, you pretty much could tell that even though he called Lamont a dummy that he basically loved his son and was very much afraid of losing him. Also the supporting cast of Don Bexley as Bubba, Whitman Mayo as Grady and, of course, LaWanda Page as Fred's bible thumping sister-in-law Esther all made this show the great alternative to the bubblegum shows that were on A.B.C. on Friday nights.

Sanford and Son was about the misadventures of elderly junk dealer Fred Sanford, and his son, Lamont. It was one of the few 70s sitcoms, that had blacks as the main characters. Unlike other 70s comedies built around the lives of blacks, Sanford and Son never resorted to buffoonery, to get laughs.

The considerable comedic talents of Red Foxx as Fred Sanford, and Demond Wilson as Lamont, were what made this show so much fun to watch. Fred and Lamont were always aggravating each other, and it was hilarious to watch their father-son squabbles. And they (especially Fred) were always coming-up with hare-brained money-making schemes, to supplement their meager income as junk dealers. The viewer was always wondering how Fred and Lamont could get out of trouble, after one of their latest ill-conceived plots to make it big, fell-through.

On one of my favorite episodes, Fred decides to try and make quick money, by purchasing an old race horse. Lamont comes home, goes to the kitchen to make a sandwich, and all the while doesn't seem to notice that Fred's horse is standing right there in the kitchen. At least, the viewer thinks that Lamont doesn't notice-until he exits the kitchen, and dryly asks Fred; 'Pop, what's that horse doin' in the kitchen??' Though the chemistry between Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson was what made the show great, the supporting characters added much to this show. Especially Lawanda Paige, as Fred's wild, holy-roller sister-in-law, Esther. The knock-down, drag-out verbal battles between Fred and Esther, were always drop-dead funny.

Creator Norman Lear, had a well-deserved rep for crafting excellent, cutting-edge 70s sitcoms. Lear was, after all, the man who gave TV viewers the brilliant sitcom, All In The Family. Sanford And Son, wasn't as ground-breaking a show as All In The Family was. But it was still one of Lear's sitcom gems. I for one, hope that Sanford And Son lives forever in reruns, on cable TV.

One of my favorite Top Rated TV Shows of All Time!! Fred, Aunt Ester and Grady were the BEST!!!

Somehow, I'm sure even Gump would find this series funny.

Redd Foxx had a reputation for being obscene, but there was less obscenity in this series than in most TV comedies.

Here, he brings his persona of a grumpy old skinflint, Fred Sanford, to be the owner of an "empire", his junkyard, and he will some day bequeath his "empire" to his son, Lamont.

Of course, the third major character is Fred Sanford's late wife's sister. To hear Fred speak about her, you would think she would be hideous to look upon, but she really was very normal looking. It wouldn't have been funny if the jokes about her looks were to hit home.

The other main characters were two friends of Fred, and two of Lamont's. Fred's friends were much easier going than he was, but full of the same conniving natures to look out for their own interests. Lamont's friends were never trusted by Fred, especially Lamont's first friend. Lamont's second friend was of Mexican heritage, and it was funny for the African American Fred Sanford to show his prejudice against the Mexicans.

Prejudice was joked about a lot, and in the spirit of reality, prejudice against whites was just as common to show on this show.

Everything about the show was hilarious. Of course, the coup de gras was usually when Fred would have it out with his sister in law.