Before Aunt Esther became the dominant female force on Sanford and Son, writers had another idea: a strong, street-smart woman who would challenge Fred Sanford’s worldview — as his girlfriend.
Her name? Carol Lamont, played by rising actress Judy Pace.
Introduced in early drafts of Season 2, Carol was everything Fred wasn’t — politically conscious, socially active, and unwilling to put up with his sexist or racist remarks. She was supposed to appear in at least 10 episodes, with her character eventually becoming Fred’s business partner in a junk shop expansion storyline.
But something strange happened: after just one test episode, she was gone.
Why?
Network executives were reportedly uncomfortable with Carol being portrayed as an equal — or, in some cases, smarter — than Fred. “They didn’t want her challenging Fred too much,” said a former writer. “They thought it would make the audience uncomfortable.”
Others believe race was a factor. Judy Pace was one of the few Black actresses at the time who played serious, independent roles. “She wasn’t comic relief,” said a production assistant. “She had gravitas. And that scared people.”
The test episode was never aired. Judy Pace was quietly released from her contract. And the “Carol” character was never mentioned again.
In her place, writers leaned more heavily on Aunt Esther, turning her into Fred’s nemesis rather than a love interest.
But some fans — and TV historians — still wonder what might have been. Sanford and Son could have evolved into something more progressive, more balanced.
Instead, the woman who could have changed Fred Sanford’s heart was erased before she ever had the chance.
