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.

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.

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.

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.