Just so...so bad

Good concept, poorly executed.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

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.

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!"

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!

I guess that "Sanford and Son" must have been the first show that portrayed black ghetto life. No matter, it's hilarious. Dad Fred essentially spends every episode lounging around his house, calling his son Lamont "dummy" and threatening to bust people's lips. Lamont remains eternally embarrassed about Fred's antics, especially whenever Fred comments on how ugly he considers the sister-in-law, Aunt Esther, to be. And it's always great when the two cops (one white and the other black) come to the house, and the white cop acts like a dork, forcing the black cop to have to identify it.Anyway, it was part of the new wave of really funny shows in the early 1970's that portrayed stuff that TV shows previously were uncomfortable portraying ("All in the Family" of course led the way). It would have been neat if Fred Sanford and Archie Bunker could have ever met. That would have made for some crazy dialogue. Four stars.