One of the greatest comedies on television to me, was Sanford and Son. And I think what made the show so good was the powere in the supporting cast. I mean, let's face it; If it was just Fred ALWAYS calling Lamont dummy every other minute then, it would have been off the air in 6 shows. TOPS. But because of excellent cast members such as Grady (my favorite), Aunt Esther, Bubba, etc., the show really shined. Actually, I liked the episodes when Redd wasn't even on there because he was in contract disputes with NBC and Grady took over the house with Lamont. To me, THOSE were some of the best episodes of the show. Grady and Aunt Esther battling it out was some serious comedy to behold. Grady was not only funny but he had a likeabilty, very sweet natured. Elements that Fred didn't show. Grady was even given a spin off but it didn't get picked up for a full season with NBC. Anyway, who else dug or still digs Sanford and Son?

Oh and I can't forget about two more GREAT characters that help make this show so good....Ralo and Julio. They shined whenever they were on screen. They had great chemistry with anyone they acted with.

I never seen Sanford & Son but still watch a lot of Stepford & Son on reruns on the BBC. I never knew there was an US version!

LOVED this show. As a kid, I used to be scared of the theme song. My mom said I would run out of the room when it came on, and tiptoe back in when the music stopped.

I still laugh when I think about Aunt Esther's drunk husband Woody, and Julio's mischievous and perpetually hungry goat. My mom and I were just talking about the episode when Fred didn't want to go to a black dentist because he assumed that he got his degree via correspondence course, and he actually hadn't. He subsequently chose a white dentist who in fact had earned his degree through the mail.

Fun times.

Looooove this show!! I especially liked it when Aunt Esther and Fred would get into their arguments, and start insulting each other. This show is very entertaining and is very well written. I still watch the reruns on T.V.

Presenting... The Three Degrees





A Visit From Lena Horne




Leaving The Nest 1 & 2






The Blind Mellow Jelly Collection 1-3

POWER TO THE FOXES!!!!!

Thanks ,2 funny!!!!

notaprintztype said:

Man,...that's funny as hell..But I can't talk about ya cuz when I was real little, like 4 years old, I was scared to DEATH of the theme intro to Love American Style! I would run to the t.v. and turn that motherfucker off! And would stand in front of the screen looking at my parents yelling "NO Love American Style! NO Love American Style!"

carlcranshaw said:

Beautiful!!! My faves are definately Good Goobly Goop, the gorilla cookies and You fish eyed fool. The one with Big Money Griff saying he was Lamont's father was funny as a motherfucker!

Was it actually the same in any way to 'Steptoe and Son'?

blackguitaristz said:

Oh and I can't think of the actor's name now, he was in Uptown Saturday Night too, but he was trying to take Donna from Fred. He was Donna's patient. He was always challenging Fred to to shit like pushups and arm wrestling. When homeboy jumped down on the floor and started doing pushups, ..man, that's some funny shit.

funkpill said:

I just saw the one with the Three Degress last night!

funkpill said:

Classics!

psychodelicide said:

So do I..Funny, the older I get..the funnier the show gets!

Anybody seen both? I've only seen a little of Steptoe (looooong time ago) but none of Sanford. Just be interested to know how similar they are (or aren't).

blackguitaristz said:

Love American Style! Charles Nelson Reilly was a force of nature! I was about the same age when I was scarred by the Sanford and Son theme! What is it about four?

Just for you:

Love American Style Lyrics:

Love, Love, Love

Love, American Style,
Truer than the Red, White and Blue.
Love, American Style,
That's me and you.

And on a star spangled night my love, (My love come to me).
You can rest you head on my shoulder.
Out by the dawn's early light, my love
I will defend your right to try.

Love, American Style,
That's me and you.

notaprintztype said:

Runs the HELL up out of the room ! (smile) Thanx...Just one night when the show was coming on, when I was still 4, (actually I might have been 3, ..I'll have to ask my mom) I just looked up at the television and saw the intro and then turned to my mom and dad and asked "Love American Style's not going to get me huh?" And went back to doing whatever I was doing before it came on. What got me I think was all of those fireworks and shit! And all of those quick cuts with the promo shot. Everything was super fast, the images and yeah, that evil sounding theme song didn't help either!

blackguitaristz said:

Yeah, wasn't a fan of fireworks, televised or otherwise when I was a wee one.

It is amazing just what pushes the buttons of little kids. The sounds, images, etc. I teach 3-5 year olds with special needs, e.g. autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays, etc. I marvel at the variety of stimuli that can cause sensory overload for these little ones. I recall one child who not only was afraid of Teddy Grahams crackers, but even the mention of a Teddy Graham would send him into hysterics!

I use lots of music in my classroom, not only for instructional purposes, but also to calm and organize the kids so that they are available for learning. I found some nice New Agey stuff by the Healing Music Project that calms my little friends down right away. Wish I'd had this when I was four, to counter the effects of the S&S theme...

blackguitaristz said:

Agreed!

carlcranshaw said:

I remember when Fred said that. I busted out laughing when he said that to Esther.

notaprintztype said:

My dad used to watch "Love, American Style" every Friday night on TV. I remember he used to lay in his chair with the TV show on, and would fall asleep. I still can sing the jingle, probably because I heard it so much growing up.

Red Foxx was pretty good at stand-up, though. Maybe that's where he shined for me, personally. Underrated, as far as I'm concerned.

Sanford and Son is one of those shows that will never play out, it will remain funny forever.

carlcranshaw said:

Yeah, I dug BOTH. Karen had some of the most prettiest eyes and so did Denise.

carlcranshaw said:

Today? Man, there are NO comedies today. Uh, some bullshit like "How I Met Your Mother?" What the fuck is that supposed to be? Cuz it's certainly no comedy.

Yeah, Fred reminded me of my grandfather. I loved that show. And, the killer theme, of course.

Gawd, I watched those shows like clockwork when I was a kid, loved the theme. Every once in a while I watch them now, kind of makes me sad though.