This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(November 2015) |
Sanford and Sonis an Americansitcomtelevision series that aired onNBCfrom January 14, 1972, to March 25, 1977. It was based on the British sitcomSteptoe and Son,which initially aired onBBC1in the United Kingdom from 1962 to 1974.
| Sanford and Son | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Based on | Steptoe and Son byRay Galton Alan Simpson |
| Developed by |
|
| Starring | |
| Theme music composer | Quincy Jones |
| Opening theme | "The Streetbeater" |
| Composer | Quincy Jones |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No.of seasons | 6 |
| No.of episodes | 136(list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producers |
|
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 22–24 minutes |
| Production company | Tandem Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | NBC |
| Release | January 14, 1972– March 25, 1977 |
| Related | |
Known for itsracial humor,running gags,andcatchphrases,the series was adapted byNorman Learand considered NBC's response toCBS'All in the Family.Sanford and Sonhas been hailed as the precursor to many otherblack American sitcoms.It was a hit through its six-season run, finishing in theNielsentop ten for five times.
The series followsFred G. Sanford,known for hisbigotryand cantankerousness, andLamont Sanford,his long-suffering,conscientious,peacemaker son. Both characters are occasionally involved inget-rich-quick schemesto pay off their variousdebts.
The show also includes charactersAunt Esther,Grady Wilson,Bubba Bexley, and Rollo Lawson.
Plot
edit
Sanford and SonstarsRedd Foxxas Fred G. Sanford, a widower andjunk dealerliving at 9114 South Central Avenue in theWattsneighborhood ofLos Angeles, California,andDemond Wilsonas his son Lamont Sanford. In the show, Fred moved toSouth Central Los Angelesfrom his hometownSt. Louisduring his youth.
After the show premiered in 1972, newspapers touted Foxx as NBC's answer toArchie Bunker,the bigoted white protagonist ofAll in the Family.Both shows were adapted by Norman Lear from BBC programmes.Sanford and Sonwas adapted fromSteptoe and SonandAll in the FamilyfromTill Death Us Do Part.
An earlier pilot for an American version ofSteptoe and Sonwas produced byJoseph E. Levinein 1965. It starredLee TracyandAldo Rayas Albert and Harold Steptoe. This version was unscreened and did not lead to a series. The pilot was released on DVD in the UK in 2018.
Characters
editMain
edit- Redd FoxxasFred G. Sanford
- Demond Wilsonas Lamont Sanford
Recurring
edit- LaWanda PageasEsther Anderson
- Whitman MayoasGrady Wilson
- Don Bexleyas Don "Bubba" Bexley
- Nathaniel Tayloras Rollo Lawson
- Lynn Hamiltonas Donna Harris
- Gregory Sierraas Julio Fuentes
- Pat Moritaas Ah Chew
- Howard Plattas Officer Howard "Hoppy" Hopkins
- Hal Williamsas Officer "Smitty" Smith
- Noam Pitlikas Officer "Swanny" Swanhauser
- Nancy Kulpas May Hopkins
- Marlene Clarkas Janet Lawson
- Slappy Whiteas Melvin
- Leroy Danielsand Ernest 'Skillet' Mayhand as Leroy & Skillet
- Matthew "Stymie" Beardas Otis Littlejohn
- Arnold Johnsonas George "Hutch" Hutton
- Davis Robertsas Dr. Caldwell
- James Wheatonas Nelson B. Davis
- Alvin Childressas Reverend Trimble
- Mary Aliceas Frances Victor
- Allan Drake as Rodney Victor
Episodes
edit| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | Rank | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||||
| 1 | 14 | January 14, 1972 | April 14, 1972 | 6 | 25.2 | |
| 2 | 24 | September 15, 1972 | March 16, 1973 | 2 | 27.6 | |
| 3 | 24 | September 14, 1973 | March 29, 1974 | 3 | 27.5 | |
| 4 | 25 | September 13, 1974 | April 25, 1975 | 2 | 29.6 | |
| 5 | 24 | September 12, 1975 | March 19, 1976 | 7 | 24.4[a] | |
| 6 | 25 | September 24, 1976 | March 25, 1977 | 27 | 20.3 | |
Reception and cancellation
editSanford and Sonwas enormously popular during most of its run and was one of the top 10 highest-rated series on American television from its first season (1972) through the 1975–76 season.
Sanford and Sonput enough of a dent into the audience ofABC'sThe Brady Bunchto drive it off the air in 1974.Sanford and Sonpeaked at No. 2 in theNielsen ratingsduring the 1972–73 season and the 1974–75 season, and the series was second only toAll in the Familyin ratings during those years. By the 1974–75 season,Sanford and Son's lead-in helped the entire NBC Friday night lineup place in the coveted bracket of the Top 15 shows (Chico and the Man,followingSanford and Sonat 8:30 p.m., ranked No. 3 for the season, while the police dramasThe Rockford FilesandPolice Woman,which aired later in the evening, ranked at No. 12 and No. 15 respectively).[citation needed]
The show's ratings dipped substantially in its final season, though it was still quite popular at the time of its cancellation.
In 2007,Timemagazine included the show on its list of the "100 Best TV Shows of All Time".[4]
Ratings
editSanford and Sonwas a ratings hit through its six-season run on NBC. Despite airing in the so-calledFriday night death slot,it managed to peak at No. 2 in the ratings (behindAll in the Family,and ranked less than one ratings point behindAll in the Familyduring the 1974–75 season).
| Season | Time slot (ET) | Rank | Rating | Households |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971–72 | Friday at 8:00-8:30 PM | No. 6 | 25.2 | 15,649,200 |
| 1972–73 | No. 2 | 27.6 | 17,884,800 | |
| 1973–74 | No. 3 | 27.5 | 18,205,000 | |
| 1974–75 | No. 2 | 29.6 | 20,276,000 | |
| 1975–76 | No. 7 | 24.4 (Tied withRhoda) | 16,982,400 | |
| 1976–77 | Friday at 8:00-8:30 PM(Episodes 1, 3–11, 13–25) Friday at 8:30-9:00 PM(Episode 2)[5] Tuesday at 8:00-8:30 PM(Episode 12)[6] |
No. 27 | 20.3 | 14,453,600 |
Production notes
editThe series was produced byNorman Lear's andBud Yorkin'sTandem Productions,which was also responsible forAll in the Family.The two shows were both based on popular British sitcoms and both were pioneers of edgy,racial humorthat reflected the changing politics of the time. Both series also featured outspoken, working-class protagonists with overt prejudices. However,Sanford and Sondiffered fromAll in the Familyand other Norman Lear shows of the era in that it lacked the element of drama.Sanford and Sonhelped to redefine the genre ofblack situation comedy.
Because of Lear's commitments to his other concurrent series, and the distance betweenNBC StudiosinBurbankwhereSanford and Sonwere taped and the Hollywood locations of other Tandem shows, such asAll in the Family,Maude,The Jeffersons,andOne Day at a Time,which were recorded atCBS Television CityorMetromedia Square,he did not have as much day-to-day involvement withSanford and Sonas with the other Tandem series, leaving the show-running to Yorkin.
While taping episodes for the 1973–74 season, Redd Foxx walked off the show in a salary dispute, though he cited health issues. His character was written out of the series for the remaining six episodes of the season, and it was explained that Fred Sanford was away inSt. Louisattending his cousin's funeral, with friend Grady (Whitman Mayo) in charge of the home. Foxx, who had been earning $19,000 per episode, equivalent to $130,408 in 2023, sought a 25% ownership stake in the series. Tandem Productions fought back with a $10 million lawsuit. The dispute was resolved in June 1974, with Foxx receiving $25,000, equivalent to $171,589 in 2023, per episode, to equalCarroll O'Connor'sAll in the Familypay, plus 25% of the producers' net profits.
Although Foxx was still absent for production of the first three shows of Season 4, NBC aired his return as the season premiere and delayed showing the previously taped episodes. In 1977, rival networkABClured Foxx away with a large sum to host his variety show,The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour,endingSanford and Son,which had been gradually declining in the ratings. The media reported that the dispute between Foxx and NBC was over the lack of a dressing-room window.
An exterior shot of the NBC Burbank lot was featured in theSeason 5 episode "Steinberg and Son".The storefront, seen only in the opening credits, stood at 10659 West Magnolia Boulevard in North Hollywood, nearly 16 miles from the Sanfords' fictitious 9114 South Central Avenue address in Watts. This same storefront, minus the "Sanford and Son" sign, can also be seen inEmergency!in a 1973 episode titled "Alley Cat".
The pickup truck depicted in the series is a 1951Ford F1.It was purchased at auction after the series ended and was later leased back to NBC for the spin-off showsSanford ArmsandSanford.It has changed hands a few times over the years, eventually purchased by a real-life junk dealer, Donald Dimmitt of Dimmitt's Auto Salvage, inArgos, Indiana.In 2014, the truck was purchased from Dimmitt's by Tim Franko and Jeff Canter, owners of BlueLine Classics, a classic car dealership inNorth Royalton, Ohio,who restored the truck to its true condition as seen on the TV series and currently display it in the dealership's showroom.[citation needed]It has since been on display in locations within Cleveland.
Theme music
editTitled "The Streetbeater",the theme music was composed byQuincy JonesthroughA&M Recordsand released on record in 1973.[7]Although the song did not reachBillboardstatus, it has maintained mainstream popularity and is featured on Jones's greatest-hits album.[8]The song has been featured on series such asScrubsandThe Simpsons.[9]
Legacy
editAfter the series was canceled in 1977, a short-lived continuation featuring the supporting characters titledSanford Armsaired.Whitman Mayostarred in a short-lived spin-off series,Grady,during the 1975–1976 season.
In 1980–1981, Foxx attempted to revive the show with another short-lived series titledSanford,but Demond Wilson refused to reprise his role as Lamont Sanford for the new series.
Home media
editSony Pictures Home Entertainmentreleased all six seasons ofSanford and SononRegion 1DVD between August 2002 and June 2005, with aComplete Seriesbox set following in 2008.
| DVD Name | Ep # | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| First Season | 14 | August 6, 2002 |
| Second Season | 24 | February 4, 2003 |
| Third Season | 24 | October 7, 2003 |
| Fourth Season | 25 | March 30, 2004 |
| Fifth Season | 24 | September 14, 2004 |
| Sixth and Final Season | 25 | June 7, 2005 |
| Complete Series | 136 | October 28, 2008 |
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^Fearn-Banks, Kathleen; Burford-Johnson, Anne (2014).Historical Dictionary of African American Television.Historical Dictionaries of Literature and the Arts.Rowman & Littlefield.p. 411.ISBN978-0-8108-7917-1.RetrievedJune 27,2023– viaGoogle Books.
- ^"Cha Cha Hogan".IMDb.RetrievedJune 27,2023.
- ^Brock, Jerry (2015)."Baby Doll Addendum and Mardi Gras '49".The Jazz Archivist: A Newsletter of the William Ransom Hogan Jazz Archive.28.Tulane University Libraries.RetrievedJune 27,2023.
- ^"All-Time 100 TV Shows".Time.RetrievedMay 31,2022.
- ^"TV Listings for September 24, 1976".TVTango.RetrievedJanuary 1,2017.
- ^"TV Listings for December 7, 1976".TVTango.RetrievedJanuary 1,2017.
- ^"Sanford & Son Theme (The Streetbeater) by Quincy Jones".RateYourMusic.
- ^"Manhattan by Quincy Jones @artistdirect".ArtistDirect.
- ^"Sanford and Son Theme (The Streetbeater) by Quincy Jones".SongFacts.
External links
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