So here we are again, taking a look back at the great shows of the 1970s. Thanks to the folks at Sony / Columbia Tristar we get to have a look at another season of the classic “Sanford and Son.” This was another one of those shows I loved to watch, week after week. Partially because of the way Redd Foxx (Fred Sanford) and Demond Wilson (Lamont Sanford) would play off each other, but more so because it had the politically incorrect type of humor that I still love to this day (but am finding harder and harder to find). Spread out across three discs, we now have all 25 episodes from Season 3. Or so it would seem. If you look at the insert listing of all the episodes, you’ll notice that one of the episodes seems to be missing. The foldout disc holder answers that question with a little TV Factoid. It seems that Episode 19 was written, but never produced. This was due to contract negotiations going on between Foxx and the producers.

This little piece of information also fills us in on why Foxx didn’t appear in that season’s final six episodes. (Which, oddly enough, I don’t remember).

Contract negotiations aside, “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.

The 3rd season of “Sanford and Son” continued to be as funny, and occasionally heartwarming as it had been in previous seasons, but the one standout episode for me had to be “Fred, the Reluctant Finger Man.” Fred has to decide whether or not to come forward and testify as a witness when Lamont’s friend Julio’s house is robbed. It is both humorous and a bit poignant. The question arises as to whether or not fear should keep someone from doing the right thing.

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 cantankerous Fred Sanford, but his use of ‘colorful metaphors’ was.

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.

Starring: Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson, LaWanda Page, Whitman Mayo
Specifications: Full Screen
Studio: Sony / Columbia Tristar
Release Date: 10/7/2003
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Sanford and Son - Season 3 a B.