I always look forward to the chance to revisit the old shows of the 70s. Mainly because I grew up on them, and in some cases even learned a little something from them. Perhaps that’s why I have such a problem being politically correct. What’s funny is that shows like “Sanford and Son” probably wouldn’t be allowed on the air in today’s world. Unfortunately, we have all the “Intellectually Challenged” in one corner, and the ‘over-reaching its bounds’ FCC in the other both trying to achieve a power they shouldn’t have. I miss the days where we didn’t have unemployed activists or the government telling us what we could watch or listen to. As the Bunkers used to belt out, “Those were the days…” That said, thanks to the freedom of DVD I’ve been given the opportunity to sit through 6 whole season of “Sanford and Son.” That’s right,136 wonderful episodes of one of the most politically incorrect shows of the 70s.

Episode after episode, I chuckled at Fred Sanford as he spat out jokes about Hispanics, Caucasians and even African-Americans. Even as old and tired a joke as it seemed when he would clutch his heart and yell out, “I’m coming Elizabeth,” it never failed to put a smile on my face. Fred Sanford was funny, he was ornery, and he took the term cantankerous and gave it a whole new meaning.

Sony originally released all 6 seasons of "Sanford and Son" in full season sets, but opted recently to repackage the discs into a slimmer Complete Series set. Priced a little more reasonably and taking up less shelf space, this set seems like a sure bet for fans of the series. They opted to go with a box that holds a spindle style docs holder, similar to what you buy blank CDs in. The only problem I've noticed is that the plastic spindle is not very strong and I'm concerned that as I take out and place back the discs, the spindle may eventually collapse.

In spite of that small nitpick, showws like "Sanford and Son" are still well worth collecting and watching. Even after 5 seasons, and lots of contract negotiations that almost kept Foxx from coming back in the 4th season, the series still seemed to be at the top of its game. Some of the running jokes started losing a little steam, but the overall entertainment value of the show hardly wavered. Once again, there were very few episodes that weren’t good, with the possible exception of “The Camping Trip”, which was really no more than a clip show, and I’m rarely a fan of those. One of the standouts series though, had to be “Steinberg and Son.” In this episode, Fred finds out there is a new TV series being filmed called “Steinberg and Son.” The show seems to be modeled after his and Lamont’s lives, right down to the set which looks amazingly like their junkyard and house. The only difference is that the main stars are white. I found a lot of the humor in this episode to be kind of ironic as the series itself is a takeoff of the British comedy, “Steptoe and Son.”

“Sanford and Son” easily sits in with the best of the sitcoms the 1970s had to offer. I wouldn’t necessarily have called it edgy, but that type of humor always appealed to me. There’s just something about being willing to make fun of stereotypes without fear of being called a racist. Of course, the most interesting thing for me about “Sanford and Son” was how they were able to rein in Foxx’s humor. On stage, he was as blue as they come. I still remember the first time I saw one of his concert videos. I was shocked at the language. Not that language shocks me, but up to that point I only knew of the comedian from the series. His stage persona wasn’t that different from his portrayal of the ever-petulant Fred Sanford, but his use of ‘colorful metaphors’ was.

I really have to hand it to Sony. Over the past few years they’ve been at the forefront as far as releasing a lot of the older shows people want to see. They generally don’t pack in a lot of extras features, but for some of these shows, just being able to watch them at leisure is almost enough. For pure entertainment value, “Sanford and Son” is just one of those shows that won’t let you down. Like most of the more popular sitcoms from the 1970s, it packs more of a punch (as well as punchlines) than most of the more recent ones.

Episodes -
Season 1:
Crossed Swords
Happy Birthday, Pop
Here Comes the Bride, There Goes the Bride
The Copper Caper
A Matter of Life and Breath
We Were Robbed
A Pad for Lamont
The Great Sanford Siege
Coffins for Sale
The Barracuda
TV or Not TV
The Suitcase Case
The Return of the Barracuda
The Piano Movers

Season 2:
By the Numbers
Whiplash
The Dowry
Jealousy
Truth or Consequences
The Card sharps
Have Gun, Will Sell
The Puerto Ricans are Coming!
The Shootout
Blood is Thicker than Junk
Sanford and Son and Sister Makes Three
A Guest in the Yard
Fred & Carol & Fred & Donna
The Light Housekeeper
The Big Party
A Visit from Lena Horne
Lamont Goes African
Watts Side Story
The Infernal Triangle
Pops 'n' Pals
Home Sweet Home for the Aged
Pot Luck
The Kid
Rated X

Season 3:
Lamont As Othello
Libra Falling All Over Lamont
Fred, the Reluctant Finger Man
Presenting the Three Degrees
This Little TV Went to Market
Lamont Is That You?
Fuentes, Fuentes, Sanford, & Chico
Superflyer
The Members of the Wedding (a.k.a. The Engagements)
The Blind Mellow Jelly Connection (a.k.a. The Chameleon)
A House Is Not a Poolroom
Grady, the Star Boarder
Wine, Women, and Aunt Esther (a.k.a. Leaving the Nest)
Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe
Fred Sanford, Legal Eagle
This Land Is Whose Land
Fred's Cheating Heart
The Party Crasher
Lamont Goes Karate (sans Fred)
Will The Real Fred Sanford Please Do Something
Tyranny, Thy Name Is Grady
Aunt Esther and Uncle Woodrow Pffttt
The Way to Lamonts Heart
Hello, Cousin Emma... Goodbye, Cousin Emma

Season 4:
The Surprise Party
Matchmaker, Matchmaker
Ol' Brown Eyes
Grady and His Lady
There'll Be Some Changes Made
Going Out of Business
Home Sweet Home
My Kingdom For a Horse (a.k.a.) First Night Out
Sanford and Niece
Julio and Sister and Nephew
Fred's Treasure Garden
Tower Power
A Little Extra Security (sans Fred)
The Merger
Once a Thief
The Stand-In
Strange Bedfellows
The Masquerade Party
Golden Boy
My Brother-in-Law's Keeper
The Headache
The Stung
The Older Woman
The Over-the-Hill Gag
The Family Man (sans Fred & Lamont) (Grady pilot)

Season 5:
Earthquake II
Divorce, Sanford Style (aka Divorcee, Sanford Style)
Bank on This
The Sanford Arms
Steinberg and Sons
Brother, Can You Spare an Act?
Della, Della, Della
Donna Pops the Question
My Fair Esther
Sanford and Rising Son
The Olympics
Ebenezer Sanford
The Oddfather
Can you Chop This?
Greatest Show in Watts
Fred Sanford Has a Baby
The TV Addict
Lamont in Love
The Escorts
The Engagement Man Always Rings Twice
The Director
A Pain in the Neck
Sergeant Gork
Camping Trip

Season 6:
The Hawaiian Connection 1
The Hawaiian Connection 2
The Hawaiian Connection 3
California Crude
The Stakeout
I Dream of Choo Choo Rabinowitz
The Winning Ticket
Committee Man
Fred's Extra Job
Carol
Aunt Esther Has a Baby
Her Today, Gone Today
Aunt Esther Meets Her Son
Sanford and Gong
Fred Meets Redd
Chinese Torture
A Matter of Silence
When John Comes Marching Home
The Reverend Sanford
The Will
Fred the Activist
The Lucky Streak
Funny, You Don't Look It
Fred Sings the Blues
School Daze

Starring: Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson, LaWanda Page, Whitman Mayo
Specifications: Full Screen
Studio: Sony / Columbia Tristar
Release Date: 10/28/2008
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Sanford and Son: The Complete Series a B.