"Sanford and Son" (1972) TV series 1972-1977

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

14 January 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

The misadventures of a cantankerous junk dealer and his frustrated son.

Plot Keywords:

Junkyard | Sitcom | Family Relationships | Aunt Nephew Relationship | California

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 12 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Nov. 9	11:00 AM	TVLAND	The Director	#5.21
Mon. Nov. 9	11:30 AM	TVLAND	Fred Meets Redd	#6.14

Cast

Demond Wilson	...	Lamont Sanford (135 episodes, 1972-1977)
Redd Foxx	...	Fred G. Sanford / ... (134 episodes, 1972-1977)

(more)

Series Directed by
Peter Baldwin		(21 episodes, 1972-1974)
Alan Rafkin		(17 episodes, 1974-1976)
Jack Shea		(15 episodes, 1972-1974)
Bill Foster		(12 episodes, 1974-1977)
Norman Abbott		(11 episodes, 1974-1976)
Russ Petranto		(9 episodes, 1977)
Bud Yorkin		(7 episodes, 1972-1975)
Mark Warren		(7 episodes, 1973-1976)
Stan Lathan		(6 episodes, 1974-1975)
James Sheldon		(6 episodes, 1975-1976)
Rick Edelstein		(5 episodes, 1972-1973)
Herbert Kenwith		(3 episodes, 1974)
Bob LaHendro		(2 episodes, 1972-1974)
Charles S. Dubin		(2 episodes, 1972)
Sid McCoy		(2 episodes, 1973-1976)
Hal Cooper		(2 episodes, 1974)

Series Writing credits
Bernie Orenstein		(22 episodes, 1974-1977)
Saul Turteltaub		(22 episodes, 1974-1977)
Aaron Ruben		(20 episodes, 1972-1974)
Ilunga Adell		(16 episodes, 1972-1974)
Ted Bergmann		(11 episodes, 1974-1976)
Gene Farmer		(8 episodes, 1973-1974)
Jerry Ross		(8 episodes, 1974-1976)
Allan Katz		(6 episodes, 1972-1973)
Don Reo		(6 episodes, 1972-1973)
Alan Eisenstock		(5 episodes, 1976-1977)
Larry Mintz		(5 episodes, 1976-1977)
Garry Shandling		(4 episodes, 1975-1976)
Paul Mooney		(3 episodes, 1972-1974)
James Fritzell		(3 episodes, 1972-1973)
Everett Greenbaum		(3 episodes, 1972-1973)
Bob Illes		(3 episodes, 1973)
James R. Stein		(3 episodes, 1973)
Rick Mittleman		(3 episodes, 1974-1977)
Lloyd Garver		(2 episodes, 1972-1973)
Ken Hecht		(2 episodes, 1972-1973)
Richard Pryor		(2 episodes, 1972)
Winston Moss		(2 episodes, 1973-1974)
Arnie Rosen		(2 episodes, 1974-1975)
Redd Foxx		(2 episodes, 1975-1976)
Robert Garland		(2 episodes, 1975)
George Yanok		(2 episodes, 1975)
Earl Barret		(2 episodes, 1976)

Series Produced by
Bud Yorkin	....	executive producer (135 episodes, 1972-1977)
Bernie Orenstein	....	producer (73 episodes, 1974-1977)
Saul Turteltaub	....	producer (73 episodes, 1974-1977)
Aaron Ruben	....	producer (62 episodes, 1972-1974)
Norman Lear	....	executive producer (61 episodes, 1972-1976)
Norman C. Hopps	....	associate producer (5 episodes, 1972-1977)

Series Film Editing by
Ken Denisoff		(1 episode, 1972)
Dick King		(1 episode, 1972)

Series Casting by
Jane Murray		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Edward Stephenson		(5 episodes, 1972-1977)

Series Costume Design by
Rita Riggs		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Harry Blake	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1972-1977)

Series Production Management
Andrew J. Selig	....	unit manager (1 episode, 1972)
Sheri Rougeot Weaver	....	unit manager (1 episode, 1976)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William R. Wyse	....	associate director / assistant director (15 episodes, 1972-1976)

Series Sound Department
Bill Cole	....	audio (1 episode, 1972)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Reed Howard	....	camera operator (133 episodes, 1972-1977)
Roy Holm	....	camera operator (110 episodes, 1972-1977)
Victoria Walker	....	camera operator (24 episodes, 1976-1977)
Jim Kilgore	....	lighting director (13 episodes, 1972)

Series Casting Department
Jane Murray	....	casting (3 episodes, 1972-1976)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rita Riggs	....	costumes (4 episodes, 1972-1977)

Series Music Department
Quincy Jones	....	composer: theme music "Street Beater" (135 episodes, 1972-1977)

Series Other crew
Joanie Rhodes	....	script supervisor (14 episodes, 1976)
Bernie Orenstein	....	story consultant (3 episodes, 1974-1977)
Saul Turteltaub	....	story consultant (3 episodes, 1974-1977)
Carl McCarthy	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1972-1976)
Ted Bergmann	....	story editor / story supervisor (2 episodes, 1974-1976)

Production Companies

• Bud Yorkin Productions
• Norman Lear/Tandem Productions
• NorBud Productions
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1972-1977) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Columbia Pictures Television
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (2001)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD) (season 1)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD) (seasons 2 and 3)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD) (seasons 4 and 5)
• Columbia TriStar Television
• Embassy Telecommunications
• P*I*T*S Films
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD) (complete series)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD) (season 6)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (complete series) (re-release)
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-)

Other Companies

• NBC Studios, Burbank  taping location

Runtime:

30 min (135 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Stage 4, Stage 1, NBC Studios - 3000 W. Alameda Avenue, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Bud Yorkin Productions

Trivia:

In the closing credits, the phrase "Sanford & Son was recorded on tape before a live audience" is spoken by Demond Wilson.

Quotes:

Aunt Esther: Fred Sanford, you have been sinning and transgressing all your life. If the Lord wanted to strike you down, he'll find ya. Even if you were going to Las Vegas.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Being There (1979)

Soundtrack:

The Streetbeater

A 70s Sitcom Classic

Norman Lear's second sitcom Sanford and Son is definitely a 70s classic. Redd Foxx's portrayal of Fred Sanford is so funny, yet he was bigoted like Archie Bunker. He also had great chemistry with Demond Wilson, who played his son Lamont. Though Lamont was the smarter of the two, Fred kept calling him "Dummy" which I thought wasn't very nice. What made the show funny for me was Fred's frequent phony heart attacks when he would clutch his heart and bellow "OHH! THIS IS THE BIG ONE! YOU HEAR THAT ELIZABETH, I'M COMING TO JOIN YOU!!" Every time he did that, i would crack up laughing. The other phrase he constantly used was variations on "How would you like five across your lip?"

What also made Sanford and Son stand out was the chemistry between Foxx and LaWanda Page, who played Aunt Esther. Both were long-time friends who grew up in St. Louis. I thought Page delivered her lines with gusto and really brought her character to life.

My only dislike of the show were the episodes without Foxx, who sat out due to a contract dispute and were centered around Grady. Whitman Mayo was an outstanding supporting player, but I felt he couldn't carry the show as a lead actor and that was why his spin off Grady was short-lived. It was like watching an episode of The Honeymooners without Jackie Gleason.

There were a lot of good episodes, but two of my favorites were the Gong Show episode and Steinberg and Son, a TV show that mirrored the Sanford's lives. Each season of Sanford and Son is on DVD so if you haven't seen them, do so. You won't worry about commercials.