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 the 5th season of “Sanford and Son.” That’s right, 22 more 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.

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 season finale. “The Camping Trip”, was really no more than a clip show, and I’m rarely a fan of those. The main standout of the season 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 / Columbia Tristar. Over the past year or so, 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. With this new set of “Sanford and Son”, Sony / Columbia Tristar is poised on the brink of bringing this particular series to a close. There is only one more season to go.

Episodes:
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

Starring: Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson, LaWanda Page, Whitman Mayo
Specifications: Full Screen
Studio: Sony / Columbia Tristar
Release Date: 9/14/2004
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Sanford & Son: Season 5 a B-.