Why I didn't really like the first season of Sanford and Son - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 03-02-2003, 10:11 PM

I usually have two versions of each Sanford and Son episodes but not from the first season. These are the reasons the first season is not my favorite

1.No Rollo
2.No Esther
3.No Hulio
4.No Grady
5.No Bubba

It was just too much Fred and Lamont in season one. The Father had no girlfriend, the son had no girlfriend, the son had no friends. I'm glad the producers realized they needed more characters.

maxcarey · 03-03-2003, 09:18 AM

Actually, the first season is one of my favorites for that very reason.

Lamont did almost get married in the third episode of the first season and the seventh episode had him moving out because Fred kept interferring with his dates. He didn't have a steady girlfriend, but they were periodically introduced during the first season.

Donna was also introduced during the first season and in the tenth episode he was engaged (a return appearance by Donna came in the 13th episode). I don't know if they planned Donna to last the length of the series but she did. In fact, I wish they would have kept Lamont and Donna adversaries since those episodes were really funny.

And while they didn't have Julio, Rollo, Esther, Grady and Bubba they did introduce Officers Smitty and Swanny (much funnier than Hoppy IMO) and Fred's friend Melvin (played by Slappy White in four eps.).

These episodes in the first season were outstanding:
Happy Birthday, Pop
Here Comes the Bride, There Goes the Bride
We Were Robbed
The Great Sanford Siege
TV or Not TV
The Piano Movers

My two cents

AtlantaBravesFan29 · 03-03-2003, 12:50 PM

Did you know that Lynn Hamilton also played Lamont's landlord in the episode "A Pad For Lamont"??? She comes in when Lamont has his girlfriend in his house,and tells Lamont why the lights were on and that there was a time when everything was turned off. She was funny in that one.

*PinkLady* · 03-03-2003, 04:24 PM

The first season was actually my favorite. There were fewer characters, yeah, but it was less cluttered that way. Plus, the other characters showed up so much in later seasons that they started getting on my nerves, especially Esther.

DarleneIllyria · 03-03-2003, 04:59 PM

I enjoyed the first season, but I do understand why Solomon doesn't like the first season.

TVJunkie101 · 03-03-2003, 07:01 PM

Well, Solomon, lol, the show IS called "Sanford & Son" and WAS supposed to focus on Fred and Lamont. But the supporting cast of characters really did help define the show. The first season was hilarious, IMO, when I got the DVDs last November of the 1st season, I hadn't seen the show in 2 years, and I just could not stop laughing. But they really couldn't have gone on for the rest of the run with JUST Fred and Lamont, so the producers did the right thing by adding new characters to the mix.

I really don't understand what is so bad about the first season, but, it's just your opinion.

TVFactFan · 03-03-2003, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVJunkie101
Well, Solomon, lol, the show IS called "Sanford & Son" and WAS supposed to focus on Fred and Lamont. But the supporting cast of characters really did help define the show. The first season was hilarious, IMO, when I got the DVDs last November of the 1st season, I hadn't seen the show in 2 years, and I just could not stop laughing. But they really couldn't have gone on for the rest of the run with JUST Fred and Lamont, so the producers did the right thing by adding new characters to the mix.

I really don't understand what is so bad about the first season, but, it's just your opinion.

I guess i didn't like the first season because it was hard for me to watch the same two characters in the same room for 30 minutes. So it really wasn't one of my favorite seasons.

pscisme · 12-13-2006, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxcarey

Actually, the first season is one of my favorites for that very reason.

Lamont did almost get married in the third episode of the first season and the seventh episode had him moving out because Fred kept interferring with his dates. He didn't have a steady girlfriend, but they were periodically introduced during the first season.

Donna was also introduced during the first season and in the tenth episode he was engaged (a return appearance by Donna came in the 13th episode). I don't know if they planned Donna to last the length of the series but she did. In fact, I wish they would have kept Lamont and Donna adversaries since those episodes were really funny.

And while they didn't have Julio, Rollo, Esther, Grady and Bubba they did introduce Officers Smitty and Swanny (much funnier than Hoppy IMO) and Fred's friend Melvin (played by Slappy White in four eps.).

These episodes in the first season were outstanding:
Happy Birthday, Pop
Here Comes the Bride, There Goes the Bride
We Were Robbed
The Great Sanford Siege
TV or Not TV
The Piano Movers

My two cents

I'd like to throw a couple of cents towards the "Coffins for Sale" episode, which was notable for Lamont's complete deviation from character-Instead of being the sensible, cool-headed one, he flips out and in a hilarious way.
Also, wasn't this the first episode SLAPPY WHITE appeared in as MELVIN?

By the way, note that when Melvin makes his exit due to the coffins in the living room, Fred chides Lamont for driving his "best friend" away.

"Fairweather Friend" seems more like it, given that Melvin was gone for good shortly thereafter...

Scoobiedoo30 · 12-24-2006, 01:30 PM

I loved the first season of Sanford & Son

casualts@cox.net · 03-29-2007, 04:02 PM

I liked the funky flute music they used for the outdoor shots in the first season.....like when Lamont finds the note on his windshield in piano movers..... the shot of Lamont noticing the breathmobile, ect.....

TVFactFan · 03-29-2007, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hollywood Rock Chic

Having "NO" Grady during the first season, is why this is one of my favorites. I could never stand that ass!

Yeah Grady was always my Least favorite of fred friends. He brung nothing to the table and was just a grady haired GOOFBALL-lol

TVFactFan · 03-29-2007, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hollywood Rock Chic

Grady just annoyed the hell out of me; he was not remotely funny; acted like he was ******** or someone with a mild case of multiple sclerosis

Did you ever see his spinoff? On there he was normal I guess because it was his show and not just a character who made ocassional apperances

TVFactFan · 03-29-2007, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hollywood Rock Chic

Ha, I have absolutely no desire to see the spin-off (regardless if Grady is serious or not); even seeing Grady acting normal, he is still an ass to my eyes.

By the way, his spinoff lasted 3 months-lol

TVFactFan · 03-29-2007, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hollywood Rock Chic

Bubba was horrible, too; one of the very worst actors I have EVER seen on television; the only highlight(s) of Sanford and Son was Redd Foxx and LaWanda Page; and Fred interaction with Rollo..The End.

I really have nothing to say about Bubba. He wasn't weird, or unusual looking, just your typical looking older black man. He gave me a chuckle very once in a while but he was a CLASSIC character

casualts@cox.net · 03-29-2007, 09:14 PM

if its too painful to watch Sanford and Son eps with Bubba and/or Grady then FOR THE MOST PART....you might not really even like the show......lol........its just TV comedy to me!

03-02-2003, 10:11 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,065	Why I didn't really like the first season of Sanford and Son I usually have two versions of each Sanford and Son episodes but not from the first season. These are the reasons the first season is not my favorite 1.No Rollo 2.No Esther 3.No Hulio 4.No Grady 5.No Bubba It was just too much Fred and Lamont in season one. The Father had no girlfriend, the son had no girlfriend, the son had no friends. I'm glad the producers realized they needed more characters.

03-03-2003, 07:01 PM	#6
TVJunkie101 Member...you 'member? Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 2,838	Well, Solomon, lol, the show IS called "Sanford & Son" and WAS supposed to focus on Fred and Lamont. But the supporting cast of characters really did help define the show. The first season was hilarious, IMO, when I got the DVDs last November of the 1st season, I hadn't seen the show in 2 years, and I just could not stop laughing. But they really couldn't have gone on for the rest of the run with JUST Fred and Lamont, so the producers did the right thing by adding new characters to the mix. I really don't understand what is so bad about the first season, but, it's just your opinion.
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12-24-2006, 01:30 PM	#9
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	I loved the first season of Sanford & Son
	__________________ Who Dat

03-29-2007, 04:02 PM	#10
casualts@cox.net Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 24, 2005 Posts: 101	I liked the funky flute music they used for the outdoor shots in the first season.....like when Lamont finds the note on his windshield in piano movers..... the shot of Lamont noticing the breathmobile, ect.....
	__________________ R.I.P.

03-03-2003, 09:18 AM	#2
maxcarey Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 22, 2003 Posts: 52	Actually, the first season is one of my favorites for that very reason. Lamont did almost get married in the third episode of the first season and the seventh episode had him moving out because Fred kept interferring with his dates. He didn't have a steady girlfriend, but they were periodically introduced during the first season. Donna was also introduced during the first season and in the tenth episode he was engaged (a return appearance by Donna came in the 13th episode). I don't know if they planned Donna to last the length of the series but she did. In fact, I wish they would have kept Lamont and Donna adversaries since those episodes were really funny. And while they didn't have Julio, Rollo, Esther, Grady and Bubba they did introduce Officers Smitty and Swanny (much funnier than Hoppy IMO) and Fred's friend Melvin (played by Slappy White in four eps.). These episodes in the first season were outstanding: Happy Birthday, Pop Here Comes the Bride, There Goes the Bride We Were Robbed The Great Sanford Siege TV or Not TV The Piano Movers My two cents

03-03-2003, 12:50 PM	#3
AtlantaBravesFan29 Atlanta Braves Fan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 13, 2002 Location: Pleasanton,TX--40 Miles South Of San Antonio Posts: 1,859	Did you know that Lynn Hamilton also played Lamont's landlord in the episode "A Pad For Lamont"??? She comes in when Lamont has his girlfriend in his house,and tells Lamont why the lights were on and that there was a time when everything was turned off. She was funny in that one.

03-03-2003, 04:24 PM	#4
PinkLady Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 04, 2002 Posts: 7,457	The first season was actually my favorite. There were fewer characters, yeah, but it was less cluttered that way. Plus, the other characters showed up so much in later seasons that they started getting on my nerves, especially Esther.

03-03-2003, 04:59 PM	#5
DarleneIllyria Gone Forum Star Join Date: Oct 15, 2000 Posts: 19,086	I enjoyed the first season, but I do understand why Solomon doesn't like the first season.

03-29-2007, 09:14 PM	#15
casualts@cox.net Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 24, 2005 Posts: 101	if its too painful to watch Sanford and Son eps with Bubba and/or Grady then FOR THE MOST PART....you might not really even like the show......lol........its just TV comedy to me!