Redd Foxx ruined this show - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 05-17-2014, 08:57 PM

Once he departed toward the end of season 3, it was never the same. The episode topics were awful and the whole show just seemed not as funny as it did before he left.

season 4 to 6 was like a car riding down the road with 1 flat tire and a less than a half of tank of gas

The one big thing that made the show not as good after season 3 was Fred being NICER to Esther

GARFIELDKOOL · 06-03-2014, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Once he departed toward the end of season 3, it was never the same. The episode topics were awful and the whole show just seemed not as funny as it did before he left.

season 4 to 6 was like a car riding down the road with 1 flat tire and a less than a half of tank of gas

The one big thing that made the show not as good after season 3 was Fred being NICER to Esther

I never thought Fred was nicer to Esther from that season on. If anything, he was way more nastier to Esther. He even made Esther cry in that adoption episode. And yes, Redd Foxx was part of the reason this show went down hill, but it was the producers and writers as well. I thought the worse season was 5. That whole season stunk, like you said, the topics and the writing was horrible. Season 6 was bad, but I found more episodes watchable than 5. To me, 6 was a mild recovery from 5.

TVFactFan · 06-03-2014, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GARFIELDKOOL

I never thought Fred was nicer to Esther from that season on. If anything, he was way more nastier to Esther. He even made Esther cry in that adoption episode. And yes, Redd Foxx was part of the reason this show went down hill, but it was the producers and writers as well. I thought the worse season was 5. That whole season stunk, like you said, the topics and the writing was horrible. Season 6 was bad, but I found more episodes watchable than 5. To me, 6 was a mild recovery from 5.

season 6 the exchange between fred and esther was more pleasant. Plus by that time the esther character was toned down

Will Dockery · 07-19-2014, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

season 6 the exchange between fred and esther was more pleasant. Plus by that time the esther character was toned down

It was all numbers-game banter anyhow, they were best of friends in real life, and possibly janked like that with each other when they were just hanging out.

Sharp, snarky wits witha touch of street-smart soul... brilliant stuff when it flows right.

Richard Pryor was another genius with this approach.

TVFactFan · 07-19-2014, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will Dockery

It was all numbers-game banter anyhow, they were best of friends in real life, and possibly janked like that with each other when they were just hanging out.

Sharp, snarky wits witha touch of street-smart soul... brilliant stuff when it flows right.

Richard Pryor was another genius with this approach.

Old facts

Will Dockery · 07-19-2014, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Old facts

True, the whole subject of 1970s culture is old, am I right?

Will Dockery · 07-19-2014, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Once he departed toward the end of season 3, it was never the same. The episode topics were awful and the whole show just seemed not as funny as it did before he left.

season 4 to 6 was like a car riding down the road with 1 flat tire and a less than a half of tank of gas

The one big thing that made the show not as good after season 3 was Fred being NICER to Esther

40 year-old facts... heh.

TVFactFan · 07-19-2014, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will Dockery

40 year-old facts... heh.

stop posting

Will Dockery · 07-19-2014, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

stop posting

Oh, I remember you now... you were the fellow who was so confused about Good Times being a spin-off of Maude, am I right?

TVFactFan · 07-19-2014, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will Dockery

Oh, I remember you now... you were the fellow who was so confused about Good Times being a spin-off of Maude, am I right?

Log out and stop posting

Will Dockery · 07-19-2014, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Log out and stop posting

Okay... sure.

Heh.

Blackout · 10-21-2014, 08:37 PM

some of the best episodes were actually with Grady playing Fred's role

comedyfreak · 10-23-2014, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackout

some of the best episodes were actually with Grady playing Fred's role

To me, they were unwatchable and not that funny. No one can take Fred's place.

Yong Fang · 10-24-2014, 02:10 AM

Redd Foxx had a big head and wanted (rightfully) to be respected since he had one of the top five shows, back in the 1970's. He and NBC got into it, and Redd went "on strike" against NBC, during the time where Whitman Mayo was the lead of the show.

Foxx jumped ship to ABC to headline a variety show which failed miserably. This action is what killed Sanford and Son, because the show was still pulling good numbers.

Also, Redd Foxx was addicted to cocaine at the time, and so was Demond Wilson. Wilson went on to other programs (like something called "Baby I'm Back, and an African American version of The Odd Couple with Ron Glass) which failed, but he refused to be a part of a new Sanford and Son show, which became the short lived "Sanford".

Loved Sanford and Son and it never Jumped the Shark, even when Crazy Grady ran the joint!

bretmaverick2 · 10-29-2014, 11:47 AM

I don't see the decline in S&S as all that different from most long term sitcoms.

Most burn out their original premise in three to four years and most seasons after that are either a struggle to be funny and carry on OR they shift the premise of the show (e.g. CHEERS - Diane years v. Rebecca years)

Still one of my favorite shows on this era.

05-17-2014, 08:57 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,983	Redd Foxx ruined this show Once he departed toward the end of season 3, it was never the same. The episode topics were awful and the whole show just seemed not as funny as it did before he left. season 4 to 6 was like a car riding down the road with 1 flat tire and a less than a half of tank of gas The one big thing that made the show not as good after season 3 was Fred being NICER to Esther

10-21-2014, 08:37 PM	#12
Blackout Sart Bimpson Senior Member Join Date: Jan 13, 2003 Location: where the sun rises Posts: 2,235	some of the best episodes were actually with Grady playing Fred's role
	__________________ MOHRIOR

10-24-2014, 02:10 AM	#14
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	Redd Foxx had a big head and wanted (rightfully) to be respected since he had one of the top five shows, back in the 1970's. He and NBC got into it, and Redd went "on strike" against NBC, during the time where Whitman Mayo was the lead of the show. Foxx jumped ship to ABC to headline a variety show which failed miserably. This action is what killed Sanford and Son, because the show was still pulling good numbers. Also, Redd Foxx was addicted to cocaine at the time, and so was Demond Wilson. Wilson went on to other programs (like something called "Baby I'm Back, and an African American version of The Odd Couple with Ron Glass) which failed, but he refused to be a part of a new Sanford and Son show, which became the short lived "Sanford". Loved Sanford and Son and it never Jumped the Shark, even when Crazy Grady ran the joint!

10-29-2014, 11:47 AM	#15
bretmaverick2 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 29, 2014 Location: Ohio Posts: 8	I don't see the decline in S&S as all that different from most long term sitcoms. Most burn out their original premise in three to four years and most seasons after that are either a struggle to be funny and carry on OR they shift the premise of the show (e.g. CHEERS - Diane years v. Rebecca years) Still one of my favorite shows on this era.