Some Breakthroughs and Complaints Behind the Scenes - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JeffRuss1972 · 03-26-2006, 05:00 PM

The following info I got from The Great TV Sitcom Book on S&S, and thought you might find it interesting-

***A negative review of the show appeared on Jan. 17, 1973 in the New York Times by a black critic. He wrote that "Fred Sanford and his little boy Lamont, conceived by white minds and based upon a white value system, are not strong black men capable of acheiving---or even understanding---liberation. They are merely two more American child-men. We---all of us---need to be surrounded by positive---and true---images of blackness based upon black realities, not white aberrations." Well! Letters poured into the TIMES, pro-program, including one from then twenty-three year old Memphis-born Ilunga Adell, a writer on the series who said he had "never even spoken with a white person until I was eighteen years old." Redd Foxx was also livid: "I don't agree that our show is 'white to the core'. The sucess is what matters, not the color. The fact that we're doing a show that appeals to everybody, not just blacks, or whites, or Mexicans, but everybody. It's entertainment. I personally thought it would be meaningful to have a black show that appeals to everyone. It's a fun show, about love and most of all entertainment. There are incidents that happen with us that happen in every family, black or white. I don't think a show has to BE all-black. Why, that's setting us back, not moving forward."

***SANFORD AND SON was making some breakthroughs, despite the controversy: at inner-city New York schools, students were watching SANFORD AND SON during their classes and following the show's scripts at the same time. The result: kids seemed to be showing "high motivation" (according to the school report) to learn how to read, and were interested in taking writing and typing courses so they could learn to write SANFORD AND SON scripts themselves.

Brian Damage · 03-26-2006, 09:28 PM

I agree with Foxx, this was a show that appealed to everyone. That's the problem with a lot of shows today. They only appeal to a certain demographic, not a wide variety of people.

TVFactFan · 03-26-2006, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffRuss1972

The following info I got from The Great TV Sitcom Book on S&S, and thought you might find it interesting-

***A negative review of the show appeared on Jan. 17, 1973 in the New York Times by a black critic. He wrote that "Fred Sanford and his little boy Lamont, conceived by white minds and based upon a white value system, are not strong black men capable of acheiving---or even understanding---liberation. They are merely two more American child-men. We---all of us---need to be surrounded by positive---and true---images of blackness based upon black realities, not white aberrations." Well! Letters poured into the TIMES, pro-program, including one from then twenty-three year old Memphis-born Ilunga Adell, a writer on the series who said he had "never even spoken with a white person until I was eighteen years old." Redd Foxx was also livid: "I don't agree that our show is 'white to the core'. The sucess is what matters, not the color. The fact that we're doing a show that appeals to everybody, not just blacks, or whites, or Mexicans, but everybody. It's entertainment. I personally thought it would be meaningful to have a black show that appeals to everyone. It's a fun show, about love and most of all entertainment. There are incidents that happen with us that happen in every family, black or white. I don't think a show has to BE all-black. Why, that's setting us back, not moving forward."

***SANFORD AND SON was making some breakthroughs, despite the controversy: at inner-city New York schools, students were watching SANFORD AND SON during their classes and following the show's scripts at the same time. The result: kids seemed to be showing "high motivation" (according to the school report) to learn how to read, and were interested in taking writing and typing courses so they could learn to write SANFORD AND SON scripts themselves.

Interesting Info, also A Tv Guide Critic in 1976 said that Sanford and Son was ONE DIMENSIONAL and that he felt the spinoff "GRADY" was a better show-lol Do you agree Jeff?

Brian Damage · 03-26-2006, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

Interesting Info, also A Tv Guide Critic in 1976 said that Sanford and Son was ONE DIMENSIONAL and that he felt the spinoff "GRADY" was a better show-lol Do you agree Jeff?

Who the heck said that? The crazy Cleveland Armory?!?!

TVFactFan · 03-26-2006, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Who the heck said that? The crazy Cleveland Armory?!?!

YUP-lol TV Guide, Feb 14-21 1976

Brian Damage · 03-26-2006, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

YUP-lol TV Guide, Feb 14-21 1976

That guy was NUTS!!! He had zero business being a tv critic. All his predictions and criticisms eventually bit him on the ass!

JeffRuss1972 · 03-27-2006, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

Interesting Info, also A Tv Guide Critic in 1976 said that Sanford and Son was ONE DIMENSIONAL and that he felt the spinoff "GRADY" was a better show-lol Do you agree Jeff?

DAMN- I definitely wouldn't say GRADY was a BETTER show-lol. Of course, I've only seen 2 eps, but there was no STAND OUT character like Fred Sanford, so probably not. It was sort of like Sanford and Son was in the 3rd season when Foxx had left and Grady was living with Lamont-lol.
Anyway, can you imagine being in school and having as an assignment to watch Sanford and Son and follow along WITH the script-lol. THAT would have been a fun year.

BTW I would NEVER describe S&S OR Redd Foxx as ONE DIMENSIONAL-lol

TVFactFan · 03-27-2006, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

That guy was NUTS!!! He had zero business being a tv critic. All his predictions and criticisms eventually bit him on the ass!

Go to the Welcome Back Kotter Board and see what he said about the Sweathoggs-lol

Brian Damage · 03-27-2006, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

Go to the Welcome Back Kotter Board and see what he said about the Sweathoggs-lol

I can hardly wait.

TVFactFan · 03-27-2006, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffRuss1972

DAMN- I definitely wouldn't say GRADY was a BETTER show-lol. Of course, I've only seen 2 eps, but there was no STAND OUT character like Fred Sanford, so probably not. It was sort of like Sanford and Son was in the 3rd season when Foxx had left and Grady was living with Lamont-lol.
Anyway, can you imagine being in school and having as an assignment to watch Sanford and Son and follow along WITH the script-lol. THAT would have been a fun year.

BTW I would NEVER describe S&S OR Redd Foxx as ONE DIMENSIONAL-lol

He said that on the show Grady, all the casts members were good. On Sanford and Son, the only interesting character was Fred-lol

Brian Damage · 03-27-2006, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

He said that on the show Grady, all the casts members were good. On Sanford and Son, the only interesting character was Fred-lol

The only thing of Grady I saw, was the pilot which is considered an episode of S & S. It was boring as heck, although it was cool to see a young Haywood Nelson.

03-26-2006, 05:00 PM	#1
JeffRuss1972 70s Sitcoms Rule!!! Eternal Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 11, 2005 Location: Villa Rica, GA Posts: 1,257	Some Breakthroughs and Complaints Behind the Scenes The following info I got from The Great TV Sitcom Book on S&S, and thought you might find it interesting- *A negative review of the show appeared on Jan. 17, 1973 in the New York Times by a black critic. He wrote that "Fred Sanford and his little boy Lamont, conceived by white minds and based upon a white value system, are not strong black men capable of acheiving---or even understanding---liberation. They are merely two more American child-men. We---all of us---need to be surrounded by positive---and true---images of blackness based upon black realities, not white aberrations." Well! Letters poured into the TIMES, pro-program, including one from then twenty-three year old Memphis-born Ilunga Adell, a writer on the series who said he had "never even spoken with a white person until I was eighteen years old." Redd Foxx was also livid: "I don't agree that our show is 'white to the core'. The sucess is what matters, not the color. The fact that we're doing a show that appeals to everybody, not just blacks, or whites, or Mexicans, but everybody. It's entertainment. I personally thought it would be meaningful to have a black show that appeals to everyone. It's a fun show, about love and most of all entertainment. There are incidents that happen with us that happen in every family, black or white. I don't think a show has to BE all-black. Why, that's setting us back, not moving forward." *SANFORD AND SON was making some breakthroughs, despite the controversy: at inner-city New York schools, students were watching SANFORD AND SON during their classes and following the show's scripts at the same time. The result: kids seemed to be showing "high motivation" (according to the school report) to learn how to read, and were interested in taking writing and typing courses so they could learn to write SANFORD AND SON scripts themselves.
	__________________ Previously JalanRuss for a SHORT time, but got my OLD Username Back! Hello Again

03-26-2006, 09:28 PM	#2
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I agree with Foxx, this was a show that appealed to everyone. That's the problem with a lot of shows today. They only appeal to a certain demographic, not a wide variety of people.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*