Rating: Summary: **PoOf** Instant Chemistry Review: Before I start in on what makes great television let me first say, TV is no longer great. Why? It takes too long. It takes to long for a series to "become" good and by the time it is, it is cancelled. Foxx and Wilson hit the ground running and even look simliar, like a father and son. The chemisrty they have together "iNsTaNtLy" took Seinfeld (as great as it was) at least 3 seasons to hit upon. There is something about classic tv that lends a simple familiarity that is genuine in nature. Heck, I was raised on TV I know what makes it tick, and Sanford and Son has that and more. Funny, I never even watched this show very much, I did like it but wasn't a huge fan. However seeing what TV has to offer these days MAKES you a fan of these great dvd classic tv shows. I originally went in search of the Jeffersons while buying this set, what I returned with was a father, a son, and yes, a very loud drycleaner that all reminded me you CAN go home again.Sound ** Packaging **** Chapter Skips -* Comedy*****
Rating: Summary: Must Have Review: This is a must have for Sanford and Son fans. Can't wait until complete second year edition comes out.
Rating: Summary: The funniest show ever Review: Even after 30 years,Sanford & Son is the funniest show ever.Although the first season lacks such memorable characters such as Grady and Aunt Esther(who would make their debut in the following seasons),the chemestry between Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson is undeniable magic.The funniest episodes of the season is We Were Robbed,and A Matter Of Life or Breathe (the scene with Fred entering the set with a surgical mask is priceless). The first four seasons were undeniably the best.The show was plagued later by ego trips,salary disputes,and Foxx's walkout(which was later explained by Fred going to St Louis while Grady looked after the business).Even after Foxx's return,weak writing and bufoonery lost veiwers.At the end of the 6th season,the two stars quit,and the next season the show was retooled as The Sanford Arms featuring Teddy Wilson along with the supporting cast.The show only lasted few episodes before it was officially cancelled.In 1980,Sanford premiered sans Demond Wilson.Lacking the chemestry of the previous show,it was cancelled after a year a half later. Even with it's erratic history,S&S first four seasons were the greatest set of African-American television comedy,if not overall
Rating: Summary: The funniest show ever Review: Even after 30 years,Sanford & Son is the funniest show ever.Although the first season lacks such memorable characters such as Grady and Aunt Esther(who would make their debut in the folowing seasons),the chemistry between Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson was the equivilent of a classic comedy team.The funniest episodes of the season is "We Were Robbed",and "A Matter Of Life Or Breathe"(the scene with Fred entering the set with a surgical mask is priceless). The first four seasons were undeniably the best.The show was plagued later by ego trips,salary disputes,and Foxx's walkout(which was later explained by Fred going to St Louis while Grady looked after the house).Even after Foxx's return,weak writing and bufoonery lost veiwers.At the end of the 6th season,the two stars quit,and the next season the show was retooled as The Sanford Arms featuring Teddy Wilson along with the supporting cast.The show only lasted few episodes before it was officially cancelled.In 1980,Sanford premiered sans Demond Wilson.Lacking the chemistry of the previous show,it was cancelled a year and a half later. Even with it's erratic history,S&S first four seasons were the greatest set of African-American television comedy,if not overall
Rating: Summary: At Last! Review: Finally I am going to be able to see the complete season on DVD. I join the Columbia House Club just to get the Sanford and Son VHS tapes and they were [$$$] plus shipping. If you stopped and rejoin again they started you all over again with the fisrt tape. Anyway I'm glad someone saw the need to put this great show on DVD. I can't wait until the release date...thank you
Rating: Summary: Na-Na-Nana...Na-Na-Nana Nana Na Review: Great show - it's about time Sanford and Son made it to DVD. Redd Fox is great at portraying a crotchedy old geezer who owns his own garbage-dealing business. Demond Wilson plays Fox's live-in son. Fox is always cranky and typically berates Wilson and calls him a "dummy." The show is uproarious!!!
Rating: Summary: Sight Unseen Review: This is a show I've tried to get for years. I couldn't join the Fox Video Club because I am living in Japan. Finally! I only hope that this season includes some episodes with Aunt Esther(Lawanda Page). She was my favorite character from the entire series. Of course, Redd Fox was indeed the star but the chemistry between him and Ms. Page was certainly one of the high points of the show.
Rating: Summary: My all time favorite. Review: This is the season that changed the face of television. No longer were african-americans placed in the supporting role as Redd Foxx marched the show to the top of the charts with his antics. "Five across your lips" and "This is the big one" soon became household punchlines. Never before has a show impacted television as this program demonstrated life from the ghetto and how people, regardless of race, are really all the same!!!!
Rating: Summary: Here Comes The Big One Review: This first season of Sanford and Son is the best! The episodes are hysterical, with Fred up to his usual old tricks, and Lamont being a big dummy. Get this and enjoy a good laugh.
Rating: Summary: BEGINNING OF A SHORT BUT HILARIOUS RUN Review: During it's Six seasons on the air, Sanford and Son was never out of the Nielsen top 30 and was out of the Top 10 in only it's final season. Really an incredible achievement since so many shows take a year or two to really find their niche. Sanford and Son started off as a smash with the salty tongued performance of Redd Foxx as Fred Sanford Fred ran a junk collector business with his son Lamont (Demond Wilson) who always aspired for more out of life.
Recurring characters included Aunt Esther, the sister of Fred's Deceased wife who butted heads with Fred over everything, Fred's Buddy Melvin (Slappy White). Later run Fred would be joined by new friends Bubby and Grady (who would get his own show for a short time), and of course Fred's Girlfriend, Donna.
The Set comes with all 14 episodes from season one. Highlights include:
"Happy Birthday, Pop" - Lamont buys Fred a new hat for his birthday and then tries to take him out on the town to celebrate. However, a visit to a fancy bar, a movie theater to see "Fiddler on the Roof" and dinner at a Chinese restaurant are far from a celebration for Fred. One of my favorites!
"The Copper Caper" - Fred and Lamont buy a load of copper from a man that has been stealing copper in the neighborhood. The man is late for a meeting with Lamont at the diner because he is ripping off the Sanford plumbing pipes, which he then sells to Fred and Lamont.
"We Were Robbed" - While cleaning the house, Fred knocks over Lamont's glass figurine collection. Trying to cover up the fact that he broke them, Fred makes up a story about how the house was robbed and how he fought them off. In the process, he is labeled as a hero and Fred takes advantage of it.
"Coffins for Sale" - Lamont purchases two coffins from an auction to try and get a profit if he sells them to a funeral parlor. In the process, Fred becomes paranoid by having the coffins in the house and refuses to sleep in the house with the coffins. Lamont doesn't think much of it, that is until he begins hearing strange noises, at night.
"The Piano Movers" - A wealthy man wants to get rid of a grand piano and Lamont gets a great deal on it. However, the big problem turns out to be moving it out of the man's apartment. Things continue in a downward spiral when Fred shows up to help and he becomes convinced the man is a homosexual.
Foxx's biting insults and perfect timing made this show a sure-fire hit and Demond Wilson was the perfect straight man. Unlike other shows from the mid-1970's such as All in the Family, Sanford and Son holds up much better over time due to the fact that it didn't really tackle many social issues which now can seem dated. A great start to a legendary show.
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