The
theme of the show revolves around comedian Redd Foxx who plays the central
character, Fred Sanford, a 65 year-old junk dealer in South Central L.A.His
son Lamont (Demond Wilson) is his partner and is always looking for a way
out of the junk business.The show
focuses on the conflict between these two and their differing opinions
on how to run their business and life in general.Fred
drives Lamont crazy with his get-rich-quick schemes and Lamont always threatens
to leave.But everytime Fred fakes
a heart attack and moans, “I’m coming to join you Elizabeth.”
The
characters of the show include:
-Fred
Sanford (Redd Foxx)
The
owner of a junkyard; a very opinionated and brash man who meddles in his
son’s affairs
-Lamont
Sanford (Demond Wilson)
Lamont
is the 34-year-old partner to his dad and the voice of sanity in Sanford
household.
-Aunt
Esther (LaWanda Page)
She
is Fred’s very religious sister-in-law who is always at war with Fred.
-Grady
Wilson (Whitman Mayo), Melvin (Slappy White), and Bubba (Don Bexley) are
Fred’s best friends
-Julio
Fuentes (Gregory Sierra)
He
is Fred’s hispanic neighbor and friend to Lamont.Fred
is always suspicious of this good man.
-Rollo
Larson (Nathaniel Taylor)
He
is Lamont’s shady friend and enemy to Fred.
-Officer’s
“Smitty” and “Hoppy”—(Hal Williams) and (Howard Platt)
-Donna
Harris (Lynn Hamilton)—Fred’s fiance
Redd
Foxx was definitely the star of the show and much of the success of “Sanford
& Son” can be attributed to his comedic performances.Foxx
was born John Elroy Sanford, Dec. 9, 1922 in St. Louis.He
was nicknamed Red because of his complexion and took the last name Foxx
from baseball great Jimmie.He started
out doing nightclub comedy acts during 40’s and 50’s and produced many
successful comedic albums.His stand-up
routine was on the cutting edge and was very racy.His
popularity as one of the premiere black comedians paved the way for generations
of African-American comics.He continued
stand-up after “Sanford and Son” and remained a popular icon.Sadly,
Redd Foxx died from a massive heart attack Oct. 11, 1991.
“Sanford
& Son” ended at the peak of its popularity.In
1976 it was so popular it was aired twice a week that summer.But,
in 1977 NBC lost Redd Foxx to a variety series on ABC(“The Redd Foxx Variety
Series”)—it lasted 4 months; and Demond Wilson left for salary reasons(also
questions surrounding his drug use, and an episode involving creator Norman
Lear).NBC aired “The Sanford Arms”
with most of the remaining cast but it failed miserably and only lasted
less than a month.In 1980, Foxx
returned as Fred Sanford in the show “Sanford” but it did not last long
either.
With
a predominately black cast “Sanford & Son” was very popular among Afro-Americans
who could relate with some of the themes and characters.However,
this show is a classic that was loved by people of every race.As
far as stereotyping Fred Sanford, it is safe to assume that he is the epitome
of the “zip coon.”That is the image
of the black man wearing a suit, having a job, and acting as though he
belongs in the white man’s world.Well,
Fred Sanford had a job, he ran his own business actually, and generally
characterized this stereotype to the fullest and funniest.
The
show fits into Cheseboro’s scheme under the ironic category.In
much the same way as Archie Bunker of “All in the Family,” Fred Sanford
was the consummate loveable bigot.He
was not as intelligent as the audience of the show, and his antics constantly
got him into major trouble.So much
so that his friends or son had to bail him out of trouble before they could
forgive him and integrate him back into the family.
Encyclopedia
of Popular Culture.
“Sanford & Son.” Vol. 4. St. James Press. 2000.