Sanford and Son 

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

Creator:

Norman Lear

Stars:

Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson, LaWanda Page

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 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:

1970s | sister in law | sitcom | junkyard | brother in law sister in law relationship | 

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Taglines:

Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson play two guys who know the score - and how to beat the game. America, you're in for a yock...Archie, you're in for a shock (season 1)

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The front of the Sanford house, which doubles as the entrance to the Junk Store, appears in the opening credits, but was never seen in any episode. It was located on Magnolia Boulevard in West Hollywood. It has since been renovated, and as of 2016 is a business called "Power Plumbing."

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Goofs

In "Ol' Brown Eyes" Fred has a television set in his room. Previously (and after "Ol' Brown Eyes" aired) the Sanfords only had one television set in their house. Also given how financially poor they were, it would have been impossible for a lower income family to have two television sets in their home.

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Quotes

Fred Sanford: Don't cut your leg on any rusty metal. Know what happens when you cut your leg on rusty metal?
Jason: No.
Fred Sanford: You get lock-jaw, then you can't eat no fat burgers.

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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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Alternate Versions

On video and DVD releases of the episode, "Blood is Thicker Than Junk", about 3 minutes of footage is removed. They edit the scene of Lamont getting up and purposely breaking the interviewer's pencil before leaving. It then cuts to the scene of Fred trying to lift a heavy trunk then in comes the man Fred later hires. On all video and DVD releases, at the employment office right after the interviewer gives Lamont his new job, it cuts right to Fred and his new employee talking.

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Connections

Spoofed in The Simpsons: The Winter of His Content (2014)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Never ever duplicate a icon classic series

Epic period... Can't bring back real comedy... This is phenomenal acting all actors... God bless sandford and Esther

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 January 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sanford and Son

Filming Locations:

10659 West Magnolia Boulevard, North Hollywood, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tandem Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min (135 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3