Hadn't watched this show in years, but I got the DVDs for the last season and year 1 and the earliest episodes are the best by far. They have a very strong sense of drama that is concurrent with the comedy elements, I guess because the scripts are derived from that British series. Lamont is much more unpleasant and Fred is much more pathetic and gentle which considering their states in life makes more sense than how they would be in the later years when Demond Wilson was bored of being there and Redd Foxx seemed to let fame get the best of him. Even without all the regulars like Esther and Bubba etc. the first year is the best. As for the last, it seems like it was the worst, but it is still entertaining in its own way. The very last episode isn't funny at all though. They ran out of gas at that point.

I used to watch this show in the 70s but I was so young the only concrete memory I have is of watching the Hawaii episode. The show got more outrageous and cartoonish as it went along, but the first few shows are of a totally different caliber. In watching the episode where Lamont gets dumped at the altar I was curious to know more about those relatives. No, they're not as memorable as Esther, Woody etc. but they are more realistic.

I AGREE entirely. I LOVE season 1, even though it's not the most popular because of no Esther or Grady etc. To me, though, Lamont is A LOT funnier when he's mad or unpleasant with Fred. It makes the interaction between them hilarious. You can see deep down that they care about each other, but Lamont would rather get the hell out of the junk business. I also prefer the first white cop Swanny to Hoppy. Swanny seemed more like a serious "Dragnet-Wannabee" which was a riot when compared to the other characters' street smarts. Hoppy was just kind of a dingbat. JMO

I noticed that Lamont was tougher on Fred on the first episode,,you felt more sorry for him...was their kitchen shown on season one?

The first season wasn't bad at all. Although, I like season 2 the best, season 1 had some good episodes, and some good quotes. You all are right, Lamont was tougher on Fred during this season, which made him even more of the ass hole he was. There was some episodes where he shoved Fred! Season 1 seemed like a tryout season, focusing on the title of the show, but sooned decided to have more characters to build around Fred and Lamont. One of my favorite eps from season 1 was "We Were Robbed" I like when Fred fake a bugarly. Swanny asked Fred were the robbers "colored" Fred looked at Swanny and said, "Yeah.....white!" The audience was dying and so was I! Redd foxx was off the chain. I also liked "The Piano" The episode was funny too.

Hadn't watched this show in years, but I got the DVDs for the last season and year 1 and the earliest episodes are the best by far. They have a very strong sense of drama that is concurrent with the comedy elements, I guess because the scripts are derived from that British series. Lamont is much more unpleasant and Fred is much more pathetic and gentle which considering their states in life makes more sense than how they would be in the later years when Demond Wilson was bored of being there and Redd Foxx seemed to let fame get the best of him. Even without all the regulars like Esther and Bubba etc. the first year is the best. As for the last, it seems like it was the worst, but it is still entertaining in its own way. The very last episode isn't funny at all though. They ran out of gas at that point.

I used to watch this show in the 70s but I was so young the only concrete memory I have is of watching the Hawaii episode. The show got more outrageous and cartoonish as it went along, but the first few shows are of a totally different caliber. In watching the episode where Lamont gets dumped at the altar I was curious to know more about those relatives. No, they're not as memorable as Esther, Woody etc. but they are more realistic.
LET'S GET ONE THING STRAIGHT... SEASON 1, 2, & 3 WERE FUNNY AS HELL FROM THE 1ST EP TO WHEN GRADY TOOK OVER. WHEN FRED CAME BACK, THE REST OF THE SHOWS SUCKED ESPECIALLY THAT DAMN HAWAII FIVE O CRAP. WHEN FRED CAME BACK THE SHOW WASN'T FUNNY ANYMORE IT WAS TOO 'SERIOUS' AND THE JOKES WERE STALE, ESPECIALLY THE EPS WHEN LAMONT HAD THAT DAMN PERM!!! I STOPPED COLLECTING AFTER THE 3RD SEASON. THE REST WAS BORING...

First 3 seasons were tops!

First 3 seasons were tops!


You mean season 2 and 3 were tops with a little of 4. Season 1 was boring and I have no desire to ever put that DVD back in my DVD player

I liked the background music of the first season.

LET'S GET ONE THING STRAIGHT... SEASON 1, 2, & 3 WERE FUNNY AS HELL FROM THE 1ST EP TO WHEN GRADY TOOK OVER. WHEN FRED CAME BACK, THE REST OF THE SHOWS SUCKED ESPECIALLY THAT DAMN HAWAII FIVE O CRAP. WHEN FRED CAME BACK THE SHOW WASN'T FUNNY ANYMORE IT WAS TOO 'SERIOUS' AND THE JOKES WERE STALE, ESPECIALLY THE EPS WHEN LAMONT HAD THAT DAMN PERM!!! I STOPPED COLLECTING AFTER THE 3RD SEASON. THE REST WAS BORING...
You are so right I stopped at Season 4 because I had no desire to see Fred's Church, The Earthquake, The Greatest Show In Watts or any of that outlandish crap that made later seasons such a bore.

However, I think season 2 is the one where the show developed into the classic that it was. Season 1 was entertaining and Swanny was a better "dumb white cop". However, it was the supporting characters, Grady, Rollo, Bubba, and Esther that made Sanford and Son such a classic.

Season 1 was funny to me, i dont know why people hate it.

Slappy White (Melvin) was hilarious.

Season 1 was funny to me, i dont know why people hate it.

Slappy White (Melvin) was hilarious.
"Yea Fred, how can a ghetto be beautiful?"

"Yea Fred, how can a ghetto be beautiful?"

"Shut Up Melvin!" :lol:

Got to agree, the first season was hilarious. It was good until Foxx bolted in that dispute. When he came back, there were still good shows, but the momentum was gone.

:happyface "Shut Up Melvin!" :lol::happyface :happyface :lol: :talk: :D :crazy:

I think Fred's voice sounded better in the early seasons compared to later ones, in which he sounds more hoarse. My favorite season one ep is when Lamont tries to get his "pop" to kick the cigarette habit.

My all time favorite episode is the Mama's baby Papa's Maybe episode, it's from the 3rd season and is hilarious. Another great episode is when Julio moves in next door. I like Fred's bud nipper, a baseball bat. LOL

I loved the seasons, but just couldn't enjoy the grady spin-off, or -most- of the episodes without Fred.

The seasons 1, 2 and 3 are classics.

I loved the seasons, but just couldn't enjoy the grady spin-off, or -most- of the episodes without Fred.

The seasons 1, 2 and 3 are classics.
I did like the "Fred's Treasure Garden" episode. And cousin Emma was good too.