Sanford and Son (1972–1978) User Reviews (53)

Classic 70's television.

[Captain_Couth · 9/10 · 1 October 2004]

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.

A Great Sitcom!

[Sylviastel · 9/10 · 10 March 2008]

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.

"It's the big one now"

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 21 July 2016]

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.

One of the Funniest Ever

[mikeghee · 21 January 2004]

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.

The Name Is Fred G. Sanford - And The 'G' Is for Great TV!

[bohn007 · 10/10 · 7 June 2003]

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.

"Is this Esther, or King Kong AFTER he fell off the Empire State Building?"

[scholara2 · 10/10 · 20 June 2006]

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!

The Junk Is Here To Stay

[rreeyore · 10/10 · 30 June 2010]

Sanford and Son is the classic 70's sitcom. It has the schemes and antics of Fred G. Sanford, that's S-A-N-F-O-R-D period. And his open-minded, easy going son Lammont. The show features many other characters like Fred's best friends Grady and Bubba, and Fred's Bible toting, Halleluga saying sister-in-law Esther Anderson and her alcoholic husband Woodrow. Fred is the typical old-fashioned elderly senior citizen. Having moved from St. Louis to the low-down, bad neighborhood of Watts California(Watts is a neighborhood in Los Anglelos). His wife, Elizebeth, died when Lamont was young. So Fred had to take on the challenge of raising a son and running a junk business. It is now the 1970's and Fred is a catankery old curmudgeon and Lamont is now in his thirties and is the working force in the junk business, Sanford and Son. The house is often full of commotion. Either Fred and Lamont bickering or another person is bickering.

The running theme on the show is Fred's feud with his late wife Elizibeth's family, non more prevalent than her sister Esther. Esther often visits the Sanford house. Fred has a strong disliking to her, often making fun of her appearance. Fred often compares her to fictional mounters like Godzilla or King Kong. In which Esther usually calls him a "fish-eyed fool." However Fred and Esther have put their differences aside to reach certain goals, most of which are Fred's schemes.

Fred can usually can be spotted in his "TV watching chair", watching TV. He prefers his leisure time to be watching monster movies with his best friends Grady Wilson and Bubba Bexly, both of which are also elderly.

So, all in all, this show is a very humorous. I love to watch reruns of this great show. They just can't make humor like this any more. And I doubt that they will stop showing reruns for a while.

Hands down, the best sitcom of all time!

[Rayvyn · 10/10 · 9 August 2002]

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

A Beloved Classic Television Comedy

[brian_m_hass · 10/10 · 13 December 2016]

This American sitcom is about a father and son who own a scrap business called Sanford and Son Salvage. The son, Lamont Sanford, usually played the straight man to the more comical father, Fred G. Sanford. The father was played by comedian, Redd Foxx. This sitcom was based on the British sitcom, "Steptoe and Son."

The show always tended to keep the mood light and fun. The character of Fred G. Sanford could occasionally be grouchy; but, he was also more relaxed and fun-loving than his son, Lamont. Whenever Fred came up with schemes, his son frequently assumed the position of moral high ground and preached to Fred about whatever it was that he was doing. The father and son often engaged in role-reversal, with the son acting as the father's disciplinarian. Although Lamont frequently preached morality to his father, he sometimes defended one of his own friends against his father's moral criticisms. Fred was outspoken and never feared burning bridges with anybody whom he did not like. If Fred thought that the person was ugly or irritating, he would tell that person what he thought in the most insulting (and humorous) manner possible. In many ways, Fred was a something of a geriatric teenager who simply wanted to have fun.

The show featured a great cast of characters. Fred's friends, Bubba and Grady, frequently paid visits to the Sanford home. Aunt Esther was Fred's feisty and religious sister-in-law, whom Fred routinely antagonized. Julio was the Sanfords' friendly and easy-going Puerto Rican neighbor, whom Fred frequently insulted with racial slurs. Fred and Lamont both dated women who often appeared on the show.

The show occasionally touched on sensitive topics. The issue of racism was sometimes addressed on the show; but, it would often be dealt with by poking fun at its absurdities. The sitcom always kept humor at the forefront; and, the show's mood always remained light-hearted.

This sitcom was easily one of the funniest American television shows from the 1970's. The show was a great platform for displaying Redd Foxx's comical talents. The interactions of the characters as well as the catch phrases were always a lot of fun.

"Sanford and Son" is highly recommended.

Fred Sanford was a head of his time

[vluv-93027 · 9/10 · 18 July 2020]

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

maybe a bias review but a poor take on a classic

[chrisjones-51312 · 5/10 · 5 April 2017]

First of all the reason I rated five is for the episodes that were copied from the original BBC series. So to start the very first episode states that this is based on ray galton and Alan Simpson crossed swords, well one part is true, ray Galton and Allan Simpson wrote it how ever it was not the first episode well the original steptoe and son was called the offer and it was originally a one off for the BBC play house series, crossed swords was actually season four episode two, now maybe I don't get the American take on humour but this show made a real British classic look dull I'd actually advise people to watch the British version first and then make their own judgment as Wilfred bramble and harry h cornet made this show a true unique hilarious comedy, a guy named John also reviewed this show on this site and said something similar, just my opinion but the Brit version is way above this.

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

[tfrizzell · 19 December 2003]

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.

another classic comedy show.

[dm-62539 · 10/10 · 9 June 2019]

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.

The G is for "Greatest Show Ever"

[legoboyreed · 10/10 · 29 January 2020]

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".

Funny, funny, funny!!!!

[freddybaker57 · 10/10 · 16 July 2006]

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!"

A pure definition of must-see TV!

[Catherine_Grace_Zeh · 9/10 · 23 January 2006]

"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.

Still one of the top shows of all time!

[Richard-757 · 10/10 · 15 October 2006]

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.

A Work of Genius...

[Zaptharo · 9/10 · 11 March 2008]

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.

Another Example of the "1970s Sitcom Disease"

[mrb1980 · 2/10 · 13 November 2016]

I've never been able to understand why people loved 1970s sitcoms. They were laughably predictable, unfunny, and had the same scripts every week.

I've coined the term "1970s Sitcom Disease", which had the following symptoms: 1. Predictable characters; 2. Screaming laugh track for unfunny lines; 3. Same script every week; 4. Running gags; 5. Lowest-common-denominator productions.

Jack Soo made bad coffee in "Barney Miller"; Redd Foxx grabbed his chest for a feigned heart attack at least once a week in "Sanford and Son"; John Ritter fell down repeatedly in "Three's Company"; Carroll O'Connor flushed his toilet on "All in the Family" every week; and so on and so on. Lots of people apparently thought this stuff was funny, because these gags were written into every episode, often multiple times. Each tired gag was always followed by a thunderous peal of fake laughter.

"Sanford and Son" was pretty much the same every time. Junk dealer Redd Foxx would do something stupid every week to place himself and his level-headed son Demond Wilson in trouble; there were lots of cheap laughs as Foxx flailed around in his predicament; then Foxx would outwit some dumb (usually white) bureaucrat or bad guy and win the day. The story was always the same.

If you think watching Redd Foxx clutching his chest with one hand and waving his other hand around is high comedy, this is your show. Watch this stuff if you like, I have better things to do. And that includes just about anything.

I'm Comin' to Join You Honey

[Sargebri · 22 April 2003]

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.

Great for the First Few Years. The Last Two Seasons Are Awful!

[dizexpat · 8/10 · 18 March 2018]

Do yourself a favor and skip the last two seasons of "Sanford and Son" in which the scripts look like they were written by ten-year-olds.

But prior to that it was one of the greatest shows of the 70s. Redd Foxx steals the show and Demond Wilson plays the necessary but thankless role of straight man. There are fewer topical jokes than in "All in the Family" which means it ages better. Some Norman Lear shows play like Tonight Show monologues. Funny at one time but obscure to future audiences. "Sanford and Son" had an appeal that transcended race. It connected with everyone and was one of the highest rated shows of its time. It began with just two people but added more characters little by little. Bubba, Aunt Esther, Donna, Grady, Julio, Smitty and Hoppy. If Fred's fake heart attacks were the best running gag, Julio's pet goat Chico was probably the second best. But those last two seasons--Wow! Are they bad!

Funny is as funny does

[drystyx · 8/10 · 22 August 2012]

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.

The big one, Elizabeth.

[gkeith_1 · 10/10 · 6 November 2016]

This show cracked me up. Fred was a guy who had the answer to everything. His living room was a thrift shop all by itself. He would bring up his Elizabeth shtick so much, that today it can be used as a protection to turn to when life gets overbearing.

Aunt Esther was hilarious. She was a Bible thumper. She had a mustache. She was the conscience that Fred did not have. She was the master of Fred putdowns.

Lionel was very nice. He had the voice of reason. Pops would never grasp modern concepts that Lionel was envisioning.

In real life, Redd Foxx was what was known as a very filthy comedian. On this show, he used cleaned up humor to make his points.

Ten out of ten.

Very good

[jeremy3 · 8/10 · 7 September 2006]

Towards the end, one got a little tired of Redd Foxx's same lines, especially about Aunt Esther. However, this comedy was very good. First of all, it was after the Watts Riot. Lear wanted to have a positive portrayal of the inner city. Sanford and Son succeeded without being patronizing. Fred Sanford was a bit of a trickster, but he had a good heart. He may have been about making money and surviving, but eventually his conscience would get to him. Demond Wilson is the serious and responsible son. He is also keeping Sanford from getting out of control. There are very funny characters, like Shady Grady and Rollo. There is the white police officer who can't get anything street slang correct. He says "just gravy", instead of "Just groovy". Sanford still mourns the loss of his wife Elizabeth and argues with his Aunt Esther. He has every insult imaginable for her. The best episodes were the last ones. Sanford and Son are in Hawaii and end up in a "Hawaii Five-O" type situation. The show displays the many good sides to the inner city. It shows that an ordinary junk man does have a heart and a personality to him that can engage the audience.

Another gem of a sitcom from Norman Lear.

[sonya90028 · 10/10 · 19 March 2009]

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.