View Full Version : Anybody Remember the 1986 Sitcom Flop 'The Redd Foxx Show'???


Brian Damage
07-10-2010, 08:24 PM
ABC's 'The Redd Foxx Show' in 1986 tried a new approach. This time, instead of being a cantankerous old coot, Redd would play nice-guy newstand owner Al Hughes.

In the show, Al has 'adopted' a street-wise little white girl Toni (Pamela Segall). Also featured in the cast were Nathaniel "Rollo" Taylor (as 'Jim-Jam'), Barry Van Dyke ('Diagnosis Murder'), Theodore Wilson ('Sanford Arms'), Sinbad and "Iron Jaw" Wilson. The theme song was by Kool and the Gang. One notable episode featured guest-star Carroll O'Connor ('Archie Bunker'), a first time meeting of these 70s sitcom greats.

After filming just a handful of episodes, 'The Redd Foxx Show' was re-tooled. Out went the kid and in came Al's combative ex-wife Felicia (Beverly Todd) to generate tension and a few insults.

Despite some bright moments, 'The Redd Foxx Show' lasted only four months.

http://www.tvparty.com/mysfoxx2.html

Mr. Television
07-10-2010, 09:14 PM
I think I saw one episode but I didn't care for it. It was no S&S. The Royal Family was much better too. I do remember seeing Carroll O'Connor and Redd doing a commercial for the show but I never saw that episode.

Brian Damage
07-10-2010, 09:25 PM
Interesting, I guess nobody wanted to see a nicer, gentler Redd Foxx. LOL

TV_on_the_Porch
07-11-2010, 01:18 AM
Interesting, I guess nobody wanted to see a nicer, gentler Redd Foxx. LOL

Sadly, that's a valid point. Though scheduling it at 8PM Saturdays was a huge strike against it, I do recall that the premiere episode's ratings were promising, that there was significant interest in the show and a lot of viewers not usually watching ABC in that time period did check it out. But by the following week it was clear the the audience had not been impressed. I think it was pretty much game-over at that point as far as generating buzz.

I personally liked it and watched the first several weeks up to and including the Carroll O'Connor debacle. As I recall, he wrote the episode and it was just a bizarre mess. After that, Redd appeared in a promo pretending to read a letter from the network, saying they loved his show, but the producers sucked. "Well, we got rid of them." It was an unusual attempt to appear frank and candid, but it reeked of desperation. The subsequent retooling to mold the show in the image of Sanford drove away the (few) old fans and attracted no new ones.

catlover79
07-11-2010, 01:35 AM
I've heard of it, but I never saw it.

TV_on_the_Porch
07-11-2010, 06:43 AM
I've been thinking about that promo some more, and I'm pretty sure that the supposed letter from the network praised Redd and criticized his producer--singular. That led to Redd saying the rather more harsh "We got rid of that guy."
:(
Sorry, things get a little hazy after a quarter century or so.

TVFactFan
07-11-2010, 06:26 PM
ABC's 'The Redd Foxx Show' in 1986 tried a new approach. This time, instead of being a cantankerous old coot, Redd would play nice-guy newstand owner Al Hughes.

In the show, Al has 'adopted' a street-wise little white girl Toni (Pamela Segall). Also featured in the cast were Nathaniel "Rollo" Taylor (as 'Jim-Jam'), Barry Van Dyke ('Diagnosis Murder'), Theodore Wilson ('Sanford Arms'), Sinbad and "Iron Jaw" Wilson. The theme song was by Kool and the Gang. One notable episode featured guest-star Carroll O'Connor ('Archie Bunker'), a first time meeting of these 70s sitcom greats.

After filming just a handful of episodes, 'The Redd Foxx Show' was re-tooled. Out went the kid and in came Al's combative ex-wife Felicia (Beverly Todd) to generate tension and a few insults.

Despite some bright moments, 'The Redd Foxx Show' lasted only four months.

http://www.tvparty.com/mysfoxx2.html


I thought the show was very watchable and enjoyed the episode with Carroll O Connor since that was the closet thing to Fred meeting Archie-LOL

TVFactFan
07-11-2010, 06:34 PM
Sadly, that's a valid point. Though scheduling it at 8PM Saturdays was a huge strike against it, I do recall that the premiere episode's ratings were promising, that there was significant interest in the show and a lot of viewers not usually watching ABC in that time period did check it out. But by the following week it was clear the the audience had not been impressed. I think it was pretty much game-over at that point as far as generating buzz.

I personally liked it and watched the first several weeks up to and including the Carroll O'Connor debacle. As I recall, he wrote the episode and it was just a bizarre mess. After that, Redd appeared in a promo pretending to read a letter from the network, saying they loved his show, but the producers sucked. "Well, we got rid of them." It was an unusual attempt to appear frank and candid, but it reeked of desperation. The subsequent retooling to mold the show in the image of Sanford drove away the (few) old fans and attracted no new ones.


The Redd Foxx Show couldnt grab those viewers from Gimmie a Break on Saturday Night-lol

angiefan
07-21-2010, 12:27 PM
Yep,I loved that show!

bencasey
05-24-2011, 12:32 PM
I transfered mine recently. Think I might be missing one.

Reverend Jim
05-24-2011, 06:48 PM
http://i53.tinypic.com/jrr7r4.jpg

Blackout
01-26-2012, 11:36 PM
i want to see an episode of this

MikeLutton
01-31-2012, 03:42 AM
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=redd+foxx+show&oq=redd+foxx+show&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=11956l14022l0l15042l14l10l0l1l1l1l389l1458l0.2.2.2l6l0

here you go found some on you tube enjoy

TMC
06-03-2022, 03:49 AM
I thought the show was very watchable and enjoyed the episode with Carroll O Connor since that was the closet thing to Fred meeting Archie-LOL

-2nFM7wfpMs

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0257/3165/products/RSK30555_2048x.jpeg?v=1497370012

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/48/e5/c5/48e5c54d35647779f67b4757b6076d53.jpg

cloggedmind
06-04-2023, 11:43 AM
I had all the original airings on one tape.. lost somewhere in all my stuff. I need to find that b/c the first episode had a different opening, without all the animation and stop motion effects. It was just live action videotaped clips with the stars' names superimposed.

kevn
04-06-2024, 10:04 AM
I recently came across a tape with a handful of episodes including the pilot episode. All premiere broadcasts with original commercials.

https://youtu.be/0RSqMvYoASo

Included are :

1/18/86 S1 E1 Pilot
1/25/86 S1 E2 High School Blues
2/1/86 S1 E3 High Blood Pressure
2/22/86 S1 E6 Al's First Date

TVFactFan
04-06-2024, 01:19 PM
I recently came across a tape with a handful of episodes including the pilot episode. All premiere broadcasts with original commercials.

https://youtu.be/0RSqMvYoASo

Included are :

1/18/86 S1 E1 Pilot
1/25/86 S1 E2 High School Blues
2/1/86 S1 E3 High Blood Pressure
2/22/86 S1 E6 Al's First Date

Im going to watch the last one

BestTVever
04-06-2024, 01:46 PM
I remember the show because it was while taping one of the episodes that he died on the set of a massive heart attack. I always thought how strange it was him pretending to have the "big one" on Sanford and Son and then the next time he gets his own show he dies of the big one right on the set during taping.

DJM77
04-06-2024, 02:03 PM
I remember the show because it was while taping one of the episodes that he died on the set of a massive heart attack. I always thought how strange it was him pretending to have the "big one" on Sanford and Son and then the next time he gets his own show he dies of the big one right on the set during taping.

That was his next series. It was called The Royal Family.