Wednesday, Lafayette, Indiana

It was 31 years ago today that the last episode of the classic television hit Sanford & Son aired on NBC. The cast was led by an improbable standup comedian, Redd Foxx whose nightclub act was notoriously blue. Nonetheless the network took a chance on him within the confines of a scripted program and he flourished.

Fred Sanford was an cranky old man who owned a junkyard in the infamous Los Angeles ghetto of Watts, the site of one of the most horrific race riots in history. He shared his business with son Lamont, played by Damont Wilson. The stories centered around Fred’s constant schemes to make fast money that inevitably wound up creating chaos.

And while his son was perpetually frustrated by his obnoxious father’s ways, he remained loyal to him and stayed. A lot of the humor of the show involved Lamont trying to undo his father’s mess and repair the hurt feelings caused by Fred’s personality.

The show was produced by Norman Lear who became famous for bringing All in the Family to prime time featuring America’s most famous bigot, Archie Bunker. Some viewed Fred Sanford as an African American version of Archie Bunker.

Whether valid or not, Fred was full of bluster and attitude. He became famous for several phrases including, “You big dummy!” He also had a recurring fear that he was about to have a heart attack. When he got stressed he would shout, “It’s the big one! I’m comin’ Elizabeth!” referring to his late wife.

Why We Watch

Beneath the show’s obvious racial veneer - one of the earliest prime time programs starring African American actors, there is a meatier, psychological theme in Sanford & Son. It was the tension - common in all families - between adults and their elderly parents. Lamont’s patience is constantly strained by the antics of his crude, unsophisticated father. And Fred was constantly frustrated by his son’s impatience and immaturity. The show’s plots centered around the breakdown in communication between father and son. And who cannot relate to this conflict?

Despite year after year of disputes, disagreements and maddening stubbornness, father and son love each other more than they are separated by their generational divide. The show depicts the bond we have with our parents, even when the connection is painful and disruptive in our lives. Fred may drive Lamont crazy, but in the end he is more devoted to his Dad than he is willing to admit.