Product Description
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Sanford and Son
An early milestone in urban TV comedy, Sanford and Son was an
immediate critical and audience favorite when it debuted in the
early '70s, signaling the arrival of one of TV's most memorable
characters: Cantankerous-but-lovable junk dealer Fred Sanford
(Redd Foxx). An African American answer to "Archie Bunker,"
widower Sanford and his "Dummy" son Lamont (Demond Wilson) run a
family junk business in Watts, dreaming up schemes to strike it
rich. Outspoken and outrageous, Sanford serves up big laughs as
he skewers stereotypes, forever threatening, "How'd you like one
across your lip?" Aided by a colorful cast that includes
-tongued Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page), Sanford and Sons
provided a showcase of black talent of all generations, featuring
guest stars like Lena Horne and episodes written by Richard
Pryor. Timely and topical during its highly-rated five-year run
(1972-1977), Sanford and Son emerged as one of the decade's
biggest TV hits, inspiring producer Norman Lear to develop more
barrier-breaking shows like The Jeffersons and Good Times.
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Sanford and Son: The Complete Second Season
Sanford and Son's second season began on September 15, 1972. The
sitcom quickly vaulted to the No. 2 spot on the network
ratings--right behind creators Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin's
previous effort, All in the Family. The second season brought no
changes to the show's basic format--comedian Redd Foxx remained
the focus as cantankerous junkman Fred Sanford, with Demond
Wilson as his son and perennial foil, Lamont. What the second
season did bring was several new characters and some of the
series' funniest episodes. The second season supporting cast was
filled out by some of Foxx's fellow comics, including Leroy and
Skillet ("A Visit from Lena Horne") and LaWanda Page as Aunt
Esther, who became a recurring character after "The Big Party."
Also joining was Don Bexley as Bubba ("By the Numbers"),
Nathaniel Taylor as Rollo ("Have , Will Sell"), and Barney
Miller's Gregory Sierra as neighbor Julio ("The Puerto Ricans Are
Coming!").
But Sanford and Son's strength remained in Foxx's sharp-tongued
and often improvised performance, which was ably abetted by the
scripts (a number of plotlines were taken directly from Steptoe
and Son, the U.K. series that inspired Sanford). Richard Pryor
and Paul Mooney penned two of the collection's most laugh-filled
half-hours, "The Dowry" and "Sanford and Son and Sister Make
Three," but every episode has its share of hilarity thanks to
Foxx and his costars. Though only English and Spanish subtitles
are offered as extras, series fans should be pleased with the
set, especially as a reference for Fred's best zingers ("I'm
gonna stick your face in a full of dough and make gorilla
cookies!"). --Paul Gaita
Sanford and Son: The Complete Third Season
Though conflict erupted between comic Redd Foxx and the
producers of Sanford and Son during its third season, viewers are
spared the backstage rancor and instead enjoy more hilarious
episodes, fueled as always by Foxx's Emmy-nominated performance
as cantankerous junkman Fred Sanford. Sanford and Son was a solid
ratings hit as it entered its third season (ranked third among
network shows) and Foxx had won a Golden Globe the previous year,
but a contract dispute had driven a wedge between him and series
producers Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear (who also ran the season's
top-rated program, All in the Family). Negotiations would
eventually break down, and Foxx would be absent from six episodes
(Fred was said to be visiting relatives in St. Louis) and did not
return to the show until season 4 was underway.
Foxx's departure allowed the spotlight to shine more brightly on
co-star Demond Wilson (who would soon launch his own contract
disputes, which prompted his leaving the series in 1976) as well
as new cast member Whitman Mayo, who joined the show that season
as Fred's pal Grady. While series aficionados are firmly divided
over Grady, Mayo is quite funny, especially during the final six
episodes (in particular "Will the Real Fred Sanford Please Stand
Up?" and season closer "Hello Cousin Emma, Goodbye Cousin Emma").
Other standout episodes include "The Blind Mellow Jelly
Collection" (in which Fred attempts to recl his donated record
collection) and "Fred Sanford, Legal Eagle" (Fred defends Lamont
in traffic court), which features Starsky and Hutch's Antonio
Far. The third-season scripts, penned mostly by story editor
Ilunga Adell (Moesha), remain sharp, as does the direction (the
lion's share is handled by Peter Baldwin, though Bud Yorkin helms
two episodes). Fans and first-timers alike will find plenty of
laughs, which unfortunately lack any extras. --Paul Gaita
Sanford and Son: The Complete Fourth Season
Sanford and Son's fourth season (1974-1975) was the highest
rated of its five years on network TV (the program reached no. 2
on the Nielsen charts); the program and star Redd Foxx both
received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for the season. Behind
the scenes, however, the series was in turmoil due to Foxx's
dissatisfaction with the tone and quality of the program, and he
went missing from nine episodes, three of which kick off the
first disc (Fred's absence is explained away as a trip to St.
Louis).
But even without Foxx, Sanford and Son still managed to generate
plenty of laughs, thanks in no small part to its hard-working
supporting cast; Whitman Mayo's Grady, in particular, gets plenty
of chances to shine, especially in "Grady and His Lady" and "The
Family Man" (which served as the pilot for Mayo's own short-lived
series). Pat Morita's Ah Chew makes his first appearance in
"There'll Be Some Changes Made and Gregory Sierra as Julio makes
his last in "The Stung"; guest stars include Billy Eckstine and
Scatman Crothers. Sanford and Son's fourth season can be viewed
as something of a swan song for the popular series; after a
ratings dip and timeslot change in the fifth season, Foxx and
Wilson would both depart the show by the sixth season, and the
show was cancelled in 1977. --Paul Gaita
Sanford and Son: The Complete Fifth Season
Guest stars and more guest stars seem to be the theme of Sanford
and Son's very funny fifth season (1975-1976). The 25 episodes
feature a parade of celebrities supporting stars Redd Foxx and
Demond Wilson in guest and recurring roles, including John
Larroquette and Robert Guillaume in Steinberg and Son, a TV
sitcom based on Fred and Lamont's life; Marlene Clark as Lamont's
girlfriend June; Nancy (The Beverly Hillbillies) as Officer
Hoppy's overprotective mom; and George Foreman, Merv Griffin,
Steve Lawrence, and Eydie Gorme as themselves. The other addition
to the series comes with the introduction of the Sanford Arms, a
apartment built on former neighbor Julio's place, and which comes
complete with a host of eccentric guests (the hotel, along with
Sanford stars LaWanda Page and Don Bexley, would be the focus of
its own short-lived sitcom following Sanford and Son's
cancellation in 1977).
Otherwise, it's business as usual at Fred and Lamont's junkyard,
with the pair getting involved in bank robberies, earthquakes,
and escort services, while still finding time to go camping (in
the season finale, written by Garry Shandling). The sheer a
of laughs offered by season 5 was a strong reminder of why the
show had remained so popular for four seasons; unfortunately,
time slot changes and the disinterest of both leads would spell
the show's demise only one season later. --Paul Gaita
