L.A. junk dealer Fred Sanford was Norman Lear’s black counterpart to Archie Bunker. The gravel-voiced widower hurled outrageous one-liners at his Bible-toting sister-in-law, Esther; cooked up get-rich-quick schemes with buddies Grady (who got his own spin-off series in 1975) and Bubba; and feigned countless ‘big ones’ (heart attacks) to win the sympathy of long-suffering son Lamont. Based on the British series ‘Steptoe and Son,’ the show consistently ranked in the Top 10.
Episode 1
Earthquake II
Fri, Sep 12, 1975 30 mins
Fred wakes up one morning to discover what looks like a robbery took place but learns that there was a small earthquake overnight. Grady breaks the news that a big one is scheduled to hit on the 6th and a fed up Fred decides to sell the house and move. Meanwhile, Fred heads to Las Vegas to avoid the earthquake on the 6th and has a run in with Merv Griffin and Steve and Eydie.
Episode 2
Divorce, Sanford Style
Fri, Sep 19, 1975 30 mins
Aunt Esther moves in with the Sanfords after a fight with her husband. Fred: Redd Foxx. Esther: LaWanda Page. Lamont: Demond Wilson. Uncle Woody: Raymond Allen.
Episode 3
Bank on This
Fri, Sep 26, 1975 30 mins
Julio has moved out of his house and Fred and Lamont decide to buy it and turn it into a boarding house and call it The Sanford Arms. To get enough money for the project, Fred and Lamont go down to the bank to apply for a loan but soon find themselves hostages in a bank robbery attempt.
Episode 4
The Sanford Arms
Fri, Oct 3, 1975 30 mins
Julio’s house has been transformed into Fred and Lamont’s boarding house called The Sanford Arms. Now they’ve come to the task of finding some boarders and soon find themselves bombarded with an endless supply of crazies, including a hooker, an ex-con, a hippie, a newlywed couple, and Hoppy’s eccentric mother.
Episode 5
Steinberg and Son
Fri, Oct 10, 1975 30 mins
The Sanfords, suspecting that a TV series is about them, consider suing. Fred’s Counterpart: Max Steinberg. Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson. Grady: Whitman Mayo.
Episode 6
Brother, Can You Spare an Act?
Fri, Oct 17, 1975 30 mins
Fred helps his entertainer brother-in-law with his act. Frances: Mary Alice. Lamont: Demond Wilson. May: Nancy Kulp.
Episode 7
Della, Della, Della
Fri, Oct 31, 1975 30 mins
Della Reese wants to turn Fred’s house into a campaign headquarters. Fred: Redd Foxx. Lamont: Demond Wilson. George: Arnold Johnson. Bob Williams: Paul Reid Roman.
Episode 8
Donna Pops the Question
Fri, Nov 7, 1975 30 mins
Fred’s girlfriend issues an ultimatum. Fred: Redd Foxx. Aunt Esther: LaWanda Page. Mrs. Harris: Elma Jackson.
Episode 9
My Fair Esther
Fri, Nov 14, 1975 30 mins
Fred helps his sister-in-law prepare for a beauty contest. Fred: Redd Foxx. Esther: LaWanda Page. Woody: Raymond Allen. Lamont: Demond Wilson.
Episode 10
Sanford and the Rising Sun
Fri, Nov 21, 1975 30 mins
Fred is eager to help his friend start a Japanese restaurant. Fred: Redd Foxx. Ah Chew: Pat Morita. Lamont: Demond Wilson. Bubba: Don Bexley. Hutch: Arnold Johnson.
Episode 11
The Olympics
Fri, Dec 5, 1975 30 mins
Saturday night sees Fred heading over to Donna’s for a date that he didn’t tell her about before hand. Once he arrives, he discovers Donna already has a date with a man who’s won the decathlon every year in the Senior Olympics. Wanting to outdo him, Fred decides to compete in the Olympics this year and beat his romantic competition.
