dizexpat
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!
Zaptharo
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.
jeremy3
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.
Joseph P. Ulibas
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.