On this day July 10, 1981, the final episode of Sanford aired on NBC, bringing an end to the short lived sequel to the classic sitcom Sanford and Son. The series starred Redd Foxx reprising his role as Fred Sanford, now running his junkyard with a new business partner and adapting to a changed world without his son Lamont.
Sanford ran for two seasons with a total of 26 episodes, attempting to recapture the magic of the original show while introducing new characters and storylines. While the humor and Redd Foxx’s sharp delivery remained intact, the absence of Demond Wilson as Lamont left a noticeable gap for many longtime fans. Despite efforts to modernize the format, Sanford struggled to find the same success and was quietly canceled in the summer of 1981.
Revisit the show in our Sanford thread.
80s insight: Sanford reminded viewers that even legendary characters sometimes need the right cast around them to truly shine.
Sanford ran for two seasons with a total of 26 episodes, attempting to recapture the magic of the original show while introducing new characters and storylines. While the humor and Redd Foxx’s sharp delivery remained intact, the absence of Demond Wilson as Lamont left a noticeable gap for many longtime fans. Despite efforts to modernize the format, Sanford struggled to find the same success and was quietly canceled in the summer of 1981.
Revisit the show in our Sanford thread.
80s insight: Sanford reminded viewers that even legendary characters sometimes need the right cast around them to truly shine.
