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Sanford and Son (1972–1977) 7.7
The misadventures of a cantankerous junk dealer and his frustrated son. |
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Title: Sanford and Son (1972–1977)
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Cast
| Complete series cast summary: | |||
| Redd Foxx | ... |
Fred G. Sanford
(135 episodes, 1972-1977)
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| Demond Wilson | ... |
Lamont Sanford
(135 episodes, 1972-1977)
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
One of television's all-time classic sitcoms, the Norman Lear-produced "Sanford and Son" debuted just three days after the one-year anniversary of Lear's fabulously successful, "All in the Family." Fred Sanford is a cantankerous 65-year-old, black, widowed junk dealer living in Los Angeles' Watts neighborhood. Helping him is his restless son, 34-year-old Lamont; Fred's beloved wife and Lamont's mother, Elizabeth, had died more than 20 years earlier. Fred's schemes and bigotry especially toward Julio, a Puerto Rican who was Lamont's friend, whites and other minorities often frustrated Lamont. Fred also showed overt disdain for his sister-in-law, Aunt Esther (the feeling was mutual). Many times, Lamont threatened to leave for meaningful work, but Fred faked a heart attack each time ("Oh, this time its real, I'm a-comin' 'Lizabeth!") as a sympathy ploy to get his son to stay. By 1977, Fred and Lamont had sold their business (stars Foxx and Wilson wanted to leave the series); it became ... Written by Brian Rathjen <briguy_52732@yahoo.com>
Plot Keywords:
sitcom | junkyard | blaxploitation | father son relationship | based on british tv series |Genres:
ComedyParents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
14 January 1972 (USA) See more »Company Credits
Production Co:
Bud Yorkin Productions, Norman Lear/Tandem Productions, NorBud Productions See more »
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (135 episodes)Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
4:3
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Composed by Jack Lawrence
Performed by Redd Foxx
(numerous episodes)
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Chico, Julio's goat, was actually a female. See more »Crazy Credits
During the end credits of the episode "The Headache" (4.21), Fred and Lamont's voices can be heard. They're doing a soap opera cliffhanger parody. (Eg. Fred: "Will Lamont leave home?" Lamont: "Will you be quiet?") See more »Soundtracks
"If I Didn't Care"Composed by Jack Lawrence
Performed by Redd Foxx
(numerous episodes)
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Norman Lear's second sitcom Sanford and Son is definitely a 70s classic. Redd Foxx's portrayal of Fred Sanford is so funny, yet he was bigoted like Archie Bunker. He also had great chemistry with Demond Wilson, who played his son Lamont. Though Lamont was the smarter of the two, Fred kept calling him "Dummy" which I thought wasn't very nice. What made the show funny for me was Fred's frequent phony heart attacks when he would clutch his heart and bellow "OHH! THIS IS THE BIG ONE! YOU HEAR THAT ELIZABETH, I'M COMING TO JOIN YOU!!" Every time he did that, i would crack up laughing. The other phrase he constantly used was variations on "How would you like five across your lip?"
What also made Sanford and Son stand out was the chemistry between Foxx and LaWanda Page, who played Aunt Esther. Both were long-time friends who grew up in St. Louis. I thought Page delivered her lines with gusto and really brought her character to life.
My only dislike of the show were the episodes without Foxx, who sat out due to a contract dispute and were centered around Grady. Whitman Mayo was an outstanding supporting player, but I felt he couldn't carry the show as a lead actor and that was why his spin off Grady was short-lived. It was like watching an episode of The Honeymooners without Jackie Gleason.
There were a lot of good episodes, but two of my favorites were the Gong Show episode and Steinberg and Son, a TV show that mirrored the Sanford's lives. Each season of Sanford and Son is on DVD so if you haven't seen them, do so. You won't worry about commercials.