Characters that should have been taken off the show - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 10-12-2002, 10:10 PM

There are certain characters of Sanford and Son that were not funny at all-i wish they were not on at all. These are the characters.

1.Fred's friend-Melvin
2.Aunt Ethel
3.Lamont's friend Hulio
------------------------

These were the funniest characters
1. Rollo
2. Aunt Esther
3. Grady

Fan of old shows · 10-13-2002, 11:26 AM

All the characters were good.

TVFactFan · 10-13-2002, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fan of old shows
All the characters were good.

Rollo and Aunt Esther made the show better

Ericguy · 10-14-2002, 01:31 PM

Well the producers must have thought Melvin was bad as he was dumped pretty quick into the run. I thought Bubba was great but I agree if had to pick one it would be Julio too.

TVFactFan · 10-14-2002, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ericguy
Well the producers must have thought Melvin was bad as he was dumped pretty quick into the run. I thought Bubba was great but I agree if had to pick one it would be Julio too.

I know Melvin was horrible-Actually the first season was horrible-Too much Fred and Lamont and no one else

W.J. Griffin · 11-13-2002, 04:27 AM

I dunno, Solomon...I think you might be missing the whole point of the show...

To my understanding, "Sanford and Son" is the story of a crochety old man and his attempts to keep his mature, adult son from leaving the family business and going out on his own, leaving the old man all alone. Of course, in this relationship the balance of power has shifted, so that the son takes on a parental role over his increasingly ill-behaved father, much to the chagrin of both men.

That's pretty much the basic plot of the show, or rather "Steptoe and Son", the British sitcom on which "Sanford and Son" is based. The episodes of the first season were all adapted from stories broadcast during "Steptoe and Son"'s FIFTH season...so you'll notice that these episodes aren't quite as polished as what would follow...but you DO get the series' concept presented to you in an undiluted form, what with the son controlling the father, and the father acting a fool and embarrassing the hell out of the son at every opportunity.

Like most series, the show went through a period of trial-and-error, to see what would work and what wouldn't---hence the removal of Officer Swanhausen, Melvin, and Aunt Ethel, and the addition of Hoppy, Rollo, Grady, and Aunt Esther and Uncle Woody. Once the writers and producers found their groove, the show hit its stride.

I guess what I'm trying to say here is that while the first season or so of S&S may not be as funny as subsequent seasons, these episodes shouldn't be dismissed because of the lack of favorite characters; instead, one should use the older stories as an opportunity to examine the evolution of a long-running (and popular) tv series that's brought so much joy to so many.

DarleneIllyria · 11-13-2002, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by W.J. Griffin
I dunno, Solomon...I think you might be missing the whole point of the show...

To my understanding, "Sanford and Son" is the story of a crochety old man and his attempts to keep his mature, adult son from leaving the family business and going out on his own, leaving the old man all alone. Of course, in this relationship the balance of power has shifted, so that the son takes on a parental role over his increasingly ill-behaved father, much to the chagrin of both men.

That's pretty much the basic plot of the show, or rather "Steptoe and Son", the British sitcom on which "Sanford and Son" is based. The episodes of the first season were all adapted from stories broadcast during "Steptoe and Son"'s FIFTH season...so you'll notice that these episodes aren't quite as polished as what would follow...but you DO get the series' concept presented to you in an undiluted form, what with the son controlling the father, and the father acting a fool and embarrassing the hell out of the son at every opportunity.

Like most series, the show went through a period of trial-and-error, to see what would work and what wouldn't---hence the removal of Officer Swanhausen, Melvin, and Aunt Ethel, and the addition of Hoppy, Rollo, Grady, and Aunt Esther and Uncle Woody. Once the writers and producers found their groove, the show hit its stride.

I guess what I'm trying to say here is that while the first season or so of S&S may not be as funny as subsequent seasons, these episodes shouldn't be dismissed because of the lack of favorite characters; instead, one should use the older stories as an opportunity to examine the evolution of a long-running (and popular) tv series that's brought so much joy to so many.

Yep, gotta agree with W.J. Most shows start off kind of shaky during the first season. Most, but not all. Some people may like first seasons and some don't.

Look at All in the Family for example. Edith wasn't as ding batty in the first few eps. They just hadn't found the Edith groove yet. When she got to be a dingbat, that's when the Edith character sparkled.

TVFactFan · 11-13-2002, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jenny

Yep, gotta agree with W.J. Most shows start off kind of shaky during the first season. Most, but not all. Some people may like first seasons and some don't.

Look at All in the Family for example. Edith wasn't as ding batty in the first few eps. They just hadn't found the Edith groove yet. When she got to be a dingbat, that's when the Edith character sparkled.

Well I can't say all all the episodes from season one were dull, just the episodes when Fred and Lamont were in that house the entire episode with no other characters.

jbento · 12-02-2002, 05:24 PM

Melvin was that type of friend that wasn't too smart, and I think a lot of us have friends like that, so I think that's why they had his character, but you are right about Rollo, Grady, and Aunt Esther.

I really liked ROLLO because he was so HIP for that time, and I also liked Bubba, especially in the episode when Fred was trying to get his Blind Mella Jella records back....."I Want My Daddy's Records"

SANFORD AND SON WAS THE SHOW....THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER SHOW LIKE IT. It was too REAL!!!!

TVFactFan · 12-02-2002, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jbento
Melvin was that type of friend that wasn't too smart, and I think a lot of us have friends like that, so I think that's why they had his character, but you are right about Rollo, Grady, and Aunt Esther.

I really liked ROLLO because he was so HIP for that time, and I also liked Bubba, especially in the episode when Fred was trying to get his Blind Mella Jella records back....."I Want My Daddy's Records"

SANFORD AND SON WAS THE SHOW....THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER SHOW LIKE IT. It was too REAL!!!!

YES YES-that phrase by bubba had me on the floor-I WANT MY DADDY RECORDS-i was laughing so hard. I have to tape that episode when TV LAND shows the marathon on January 4, 2002.

bry · 01-23-2003, 12:13 AM

i think all the characters were good. and played well. being a john amos fan, i wish they had more of luther, as well of skillet and leroy.

Parisite · 01-23-2003, 02:20 AM

I think Grady is one of the best characters on the show! I can look at him and start laughing. Bubba is really funny, too "I want my daddy's records". Aunt Esther and her husband Woody are really good, too.
I think the show could have done without Julio and his goat and the white policeman that tried to be "hip". I have not seen many of the episodes when they had the Sandford Arms--I just couldn't get interested in them.

KJH278 · 01-24-2003, 02:05 AM

Grady was so cool and funny

RCA · 01-25-2003, 03:30 AM

I agree, Julio wasnt that funny. He was there as a verbal punching bag for Fred. The best is Aunt Esther. Her and Fred could of done the whole show by themselves (well not really), they were a great pair.

TVFactFan · 01-25-2003, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RCA
I agree, Julio wasnt that funny. He was there as a verbal punching bag for Fred. The best is Aunt Esther. Her and Fred could of done the whole show by themselves (well not really), they were a great pair.

Julio was very funny. Julio character brung the best out of the Fred character.

10-12-2002, 10:10 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,055	Characters that should have been taken off the show There are certain characters of Sanford and Son that were not funny at all-i wish they were not on at all. These are the characters. 1.Fred's friend-Melvin 2.Aunt Ethel 3.Lamont's friend Hulio ------------------------ These were the funniest characters 1. Rollo 2. Aunt Esther 3. Grady

11-13-2002, 04:27 AM	#6
W.J. Griffin Member Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 29, 2002 Posts: 527	I dunno, Solomon...I think you might be missing the whole point of the show... To my understanding, "Sanford and Son" is the story of a crochety old man and his attempts to keep his mature, adult son from leaving the family business and going out on his own, leaving the old man all alone. Of course, in this relationship the balance of power has shifted, so that the son takes on a parental role over his increasingly ill-behaved father, much to the chagrin of both men. That's pretty much the basic plot of the show, or rather "Steptoe and Son", the British sitcom on which "Sanford and Son" is based. The episodes of the first season were all adapted from stories broadcast during "Steptoe and Son"'s FIFTH season...so you'll notice that these episodes aren't quite as polished as what would follow...but you DO get the series' concept presented to you in an undiluted form, what with the son controlling the father, and the father acting a fool and embarrassing the hell out of the son at every opportunity. Like most series, the show went through a period of trial-and-error, to see what would work and what wouldn't---hence the removal of Officer Swanhausen, Melvin, and Aunt Ethel, and the addition of Hoppy, Rollo, Grady, and Aunt Esther and Uncle Woody. Once the writers and producers found their groove, the show hit its stride. I guess what I'm trying to say here is that while the first season or so of S&S may not be as funny as subsequent seasons, these episodes shouldn't be dismissed because of the lack of favorite characters; instead, one should use the older stories as an opportunity to examine the evolution of a long-running (and popular) tv series that's brought so much joy to so many.
	Last edited by W.J. Griffin; 11-13-2002 at 04:30 AM.

01-23-2003, 12:13 AM	#11
bry Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 21, 2003 Location: n.c. Posts: 819	characters i think all the characters were good. and played well. being a john amos fan, i wish they had more of luther, as well of skillet and leroy.
	__________________ that's Y-A-T-E-S.

10-13-2002, 11:26 AM	#2
Fan of old shows Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 25, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 417	All the characters were good.

10-14-2002, 01:31 PM	#4
Ericguy Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 09, 2002 Posts: 185	Well the producers must have thought Melvin was bad as he was dumped pretty quick into the run. I thought Bubba was great but I agree if had to pick one it would be Julio too.

12-02-2002, 05:24 PM	#9
jbento Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 02, 2002 Location: Aurora, CO Posts: 33	Melvin was that type of friend that wasn't too smart, and I think a lot of us have friends like that, so I think that's why they had his character, but you are right about Rollo, Grady, and Aunt Esther. I really liked ROLLO because he was so HIP for that time, and I also liked Bubba, especially in the episode when Fred was trying to get his Blind Mella Jella records back....."I Want My Daddy's Records" SANFORD AND SON WAS THE SHOW....THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER SHOW LIKE IT. It was too REAL!!!!

01-23-2003, 02:20 AM	#12
Parisite Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 22, 2003 Location: Paris, KY, USA Posts: 17	I think Grady is one of the best characters on the show! I can look at him and start laughing. Bubba is really funny, too "I want my daddy's records". Aunt Esther and her husband Woody are really good, too. I think the show could have done without Julio and his goat and the white policeman that tried to be "hip". I have not seen many of the episodes when they had the Sandford Arms--I just couldn't get interested in them.

01-24-2003, 02:05 AM	#13
KJH278 Member Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2002 Location: IN A APARTMENT Posts: 1,158	Grady was so cool and funny

01-25-2003, 03:30 AM	#14
RCA Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 25, 2003 Posts: 76	I agree, Julio wasnt that funny. He was there as a verbal punching bag for Fred. The best is Aunt Esther. Her and Fred could of done the whole show by themselves (well not really), they were a great pair.