Sanford and Son (1972–1977)

The misadventures of a cantankerous junk dealer and his frustrated son.

Stars:

Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson, LaWanda Page

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Redd Foxx	...	Fred G. Sanford (135 episodes, 1972-1977)
Demond Wilson	...	Lamont Sanford (135 episodes, 1972-1977)

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 ...

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Plot Keywords:

sitcom | junkyard | blaxploitation | father son relationship | based on british tv series | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 January 1972 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 4, Stage 1, NBC Studios - 3000 W. Alameda Avenue, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bud Yorkin Productions, Norman Lear/Tandem Productions, NorBud Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (135 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the second episode it is revealed that Lamont's middle name is Grady. But in Season 6 episode "The Lucky Streak," Fred admits that Lamont is his middle name and that he actually has no first name because he and Elizabeth never got around to it.

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Quotes

Lamont Sanford: Grady, you're gonna be the first person in history to get busted for molesting a vegetable.

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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?")

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Connections

Referenced in Freaks and Geeks: The Garage Door (2000)

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Soundtracks

"If I Didn't Care"
Composed by Jack Lawrence
Performed by Redd Foxx
(numerous episodes)

User Reviews

Some May Have Seen "Redd", But the Show Was "Foxxy" Nonetheless.

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.