Sanford and Son was an adult-focused sitcom about the relationship between a father and son. Based on the British sitcom Steptoe and Son that aired in the ‘60s to early ‘70s, it was adapted by the TV show creating-producing dynamo, Norman Lear. The series was introduced 50 years ago on January 14, 1972.
Set in Los Angeles, the series was centered around Fred G. Sanford (Redd Foxx) as a cantankerous widower and junk dealer, and Lamont (Demond Wilson), his long-suffering, peacemaking son. He was also a politically incorrect man who regularly made inappropriate comments about other people. For his part, Lamont was a progressive character who tried to educate his father on what was acceptable in modern society.
As the series went on, both Fred and Lamont went through some big changes. Early on, Fred was a street smart guy, but then he became focused on silly moneymaking schemes in bumbling attempts at getting rich quick. Lamont also went through some changes regarding his father’s girlfriend Donna Harris (Lynn Hamilton). In the earlier episodes, Lamont was openly hostile to her, even trying to ruin their relationship, but as time went on, he came to appreciate her.
The long-standing theme of the show was the bond between Fred and Lamont. When the strong-willed father and son fought, they always made up. This held true even when one of them threatened to leave for good after a fight.
Sanford and Son premiered on a Friday night – a terrible primetime spot – but it started strong. The show became the second highest rated show in the Nielsen ratings during the first season, and again during the third season. It ran for six seasons over 135 episodes, ending in March 1977.