[.ca] Sanford And Son: Second Season

From Amazon.com:
This three-disc boxed set compiles all 24 episodes from Sanford and Son's second season, which began on September 15, 1972. The sitcom quickly vaulted to the No. 2 spot on the network ratings--right behind creators Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin's previous effort, All in the Family. The second season brought no changes to the show's basic format--comedian Redd Foxx remained the focus as cantankerous junkman Fred Sanford, with Demond Wilson as his son and perennial foil, Lamont. What the second season did bring was several new characters and some of the series' funniest episodes. The second season supporting cast was filled out by some of Foxx's fellow comics, including Leroy and Skillet ("A Visit from Lena Horne") and LaWanda Page as Aunt Esther, who became a recurring character after "The Big Party." Also joining was Don Bexley as Bubba ("By the Numbers"), Nathaniel Taylor as Rollo ("Have Gun, Will Sell"), and Barney Miller's Gregory Sierra as neighbor Julio ("The Puerto Ricans Are Coming!"). But Sanford and Son's strength remained in Foxx's sharp-tongued and often improvised performance, which was ably abetted by the scripts (a number of plotlines were taken directly from Steptoe and Son, the U.K. series that inspired Sanford). Richard Pryor and Paul Mooney penned two of the collection's most laugh-filled half-hours, "The Dowry" and "Sanford and Son and Sister Make Three," but every episode has its share of hilarity thanks to Foxx and his costars. Though only English and Spanish subtitles are offered as extras, series fans should be pleased with the set, especially as a reference for Fred's best zingers ("I'm gonna stick your face in a bowl full of dough and make gorilla cookies!"). --Paul Gaita

Starts To Heat Up:
I prefer the second season of "Sanford and Son" to the first season. You can tell that they show really started to pick up it's stride and characters were on point with the laughs. Some of these episodes are sure to bring back memories including "The Puerto Ricans Are Coming" (when Julio is introduced), "The Kid" (when Fred and Lamont keep up with a local boy whose mother is working), and "A Visit From Lena Horne." The show was really hitting it's stride in this season and I enjoy this season.

One Episode is NOT the Unedited Version!:
As noted by an earlier reviewer, the episode "Blood is thicker than Junk" incredibly edits out scenes from the syndicated version. I taped the episode from TV Land 2 weeks ago and compared it to the DVD yesterday. There are 2 and 1/2 minutes which appear on the syndicated version--the end of Lamont's job interview and the beginning of Fred hiring Lamont's replacement--which are edited from the DVD!! What a screwup. (As expected, the DVD also has scenes not in the syndicated version.)

Funny evertime:
I love Sanford and Son. I grew up on it,and for it to be on dvd is a danger to my funny-bone. I have all 3 season's but I really like this season because it concentrates on the realtionship between Fred and Lamont. Not too may guest and not too many scenes that go beyond the junk yard. I watched alot of TV sitcoms growing up, and Sanford and Son was always the funniest. Now, I watch it every day. I have a nice cataloge of DVD's to choose from and cable Tv, but I can't help but put in Fred. If and when the season episodes of the Martin Lawrence show come out.........It's all over for me. I will cut the cable TV and go into hiding. Enjoy!!

Fred continues to entertain.:
More unforgettable episodes. 01. The Light Housekeeper: When Fred feigns injury, Lamont gets a housekeeper that is lazier than Fred. 02. Blood is thicker than Junk: Lamont wants to prove he is able to make it on his own, Fred is too proud to admit he needs Lamont. By the end, they both hilariously proclaim they are right as they get back together. 03. By the Numbers: Dreaming up lottery numbers, Fred decides to take a trip to Vegas, only to have family and friends suddenly have a string of bad luck that requires his winnings to fix. 04. Card Sharps: Fred tries to educate Lamont on the way cardsharks operate. Ron Glass gives a great pre-Barney Miller performance. 05. Whiplash: Hit by a white man in a black cadillac, Fred thinks he is sitting on a gold mine. 06. Have gun, will Sell: An attempted robber is foiled when Lamont comes home early. In his escape, the robber drops a gun that Rollo convinces Lamont and Fred to sell. 07. The Dowry: Cousin Grady (not the same Grady as the later episodes) comes to visit from St. Louis with his new wife and overweight stepdaughter. When Fred learns she gets a good chunk of change upon marriage, he sets up Lamont, but Lamont has the last laugh. 11. The Puerto Ricans are coming: Another Pre-Barney Miller actor Gregorio Sierra was a long time regular and the even tempered neighbor that showed Fred's racist side. The list goes on and on. This is a worthwhile collection for fans of the series as well as the younger generation.

Always a great laugh!:
My family actually watches tapes of the Sanford & Son episodes everynight. I've used Freds parenting skills, as well as his jokes in my daily life. Fred & Lamount, and all the other gang, really make you laugh because their lines are natural, something I might hear at an Aunts house, or Uncle, or grandpa..saying stuff like "you big dummy", and "are you crazy"! Those are classics.