We take your junk!
Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) and his son Lamont (Demond Wilson) run a junkyard in Watts, but Fred and Lamont don’t always see eye to eye. As Fred and Lamont try to run their business, they also have to try to keep from killing each other.
Sanford & Son—Season 1 aired from January 14, 1972 to April 14, 1972. The mid-season replacement was an adaptation of the British TV series Steptoe and Son which first aired in 1962. The series was adapted by Norman Lear. The series was nominated for Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Series—Comedy, Outstanding New Series, and Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series (Redd Foxx).
I’m coming to see you, Elizabeth!!!
I never watched much of Sanford & Son. It was over not long after I was born, but even in reruns, I didn’t watch it much in comparison to other shows from the same period. While he was the star of Sanford & Son and intentionally annoying, I had a hard time with Redd Foxx’s character…I recognize he does the job well, but it still is frustrating.
The series is a rather standard sitcom, but when the series was new, it was rather revolutionary. It was created as a flipside to All in the Family, and Fred Sanford was supposed to be an African-American version of Archie Bunker. If you can understand this and keep you’re calm, the character is memorable.
Lamont’s got mad game
Foxx’s performance is classic. He overacts and is a blowhard, but it works for the series. Demond Wilson has the difficulty of playing the straight man to Foxx’s over-the-top antics. Foxx is quite abusive to the Lamont, and though it is obvious that they are attached to each other, I sometimes just want Lamont to dump his father.
The series is shot in typical sitcom fashion. It is primarily set based and focused around Lamont and Sanford’s junkyard and house. For what it is, it is a rather well designed set. It is minimal, but you can tell the set designers had fun making it.
Sanford & Son—Season 1 is classic TV. It is typical laughs and jokes, but it also appeared in a time when not many African-American series were around or successful. Sanford & Son is worth revisiting. Stop by the junkyard and pick-up Lamont and Fred
Sanford & Son—Season 1 Complete Episode Guide:
“Crossing Swords”
1.1 Crossed Swords Airdate: 01/14/72
When Lamont (Demond Wilson) gets a deal on a porcelain figure, he thinks his ship might have come in. Teaming with his father Fred (Redd Foxx), Lamont decides to take the figurine to auction…which turns into disaster when they try to boost the price.
“Happy Birthday, Pop”
1.2 Happy Birthday, Pop Airdate: 01/21/72
It’s Fred’s 65th birthday, and Lamont is taking him out for a night on the town…but Lamont’s idea of a good time differs from his dad’s.
“Here Comes the Bride, There Goes the Bride”
1.3 Here Comes the Bride, There Goes the Bride Airdate: 01/28/72
When Lamont decides to marry his new girlfriend Crystal Simpson (Carol Speed), Fred recommends against it…but when Lamont’s bride-to-be gets cold feet, Lamont tries to win her back.
“The Copper Caper”
1.4 The Copper Caper Airdate: 02/04/72
Lamont has got a lead on a good supply of copper to turn a profit. When it turns out the copper is stolen, Lamont must decide what to do with it.
“A Matter of Life and Breath”
1.5 A Matter of Life and Breath Airdate: 02/11/72
Lamont convinces Fred to have a chest x-ray to see if his years of smoking have hurt him, but Lamont is the one who gets the bad news.
“We Were Robbed”
1.6 We Were Robbed Airdate: 02/18/72
When Fred breaks Lamont’s collection of porcelain, he decides to make up a story about being robbed…but when the police get involved the story gets out of hand.
“A Pad for Lamont”
1.7 A Pad for Lamont Airdate: 02/25/72
After another date ruined by his father, Lamont decides to get his own place…which means Fred has time for his own dating.
“The Great Sanford Siege”
1.8 The Great Sanford Siege Airdate: 03/03/72
When Fred forgets to pay the bills, the bill collectors come to Sanford & Son. Fred and Lamont must find a way to keep Hamlin (Dick Van Patten) from taking their things.
“Coffins for Sale”
1.9 Coffins for Sale Airdate: 03/10/72
Lamont gets a good deal on two coffins, but Fred wants nothing to do with them when he brings them into the house.
“The Barracuda”
1.10 The Barracuda Airdate: 03/17/72
Fred’s decided to get married to Donna Harris (Lynn Hamilton), but Lamont has doubts that he’s doing the right thing.
“TV or Not TV”
1.11 TV or Not TV Airdate: 03/24/72
Fred wants a new color TV, but when Lamont decides to get a car, Fred ends up in the hospital with a case of amnesia.
“The Suitcase Case”
1.12 The Suitcase Case Airdate: 03/31/72
Lamont picks up a suitcase on his rounds and discovers it is filled with money. Unfortunately, the suitcase’s owner wants it back.
“The Return of the Barracuda”
1.13 The Return of the Barracuda Airdate: 04/07/72
Donna is back and Fred is still aiming to marry her…and Lamont is still not sold on the idea.
“The Piano Movers”
1.14 The Piano Movers Airdate: 04/14/72
Lamont is recruited to move an antique piano from an eccentric man (Lester Fletcher)…leaving Fred questioning the man’s sexuality.
