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The Best Episodes of Sanford and Son

Every episode of Sanford and Son ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Sanford and Son!

The Best Episodes of Sanford and Son

The misadventures of a cantankerous junk dealer and his frustrated son.

Seasons6

  1. Background image for The Piano Movers
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #1 - The Piano Movers

    S1:E14

    A wealthy man wants to get rid of a grand piano and Lamont gets a great deal on it. However, the big problem turns out to be moving it out of the man's apartment.

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    Director:Bruce Bilson
    Writer:Unknown
  2. Background image for The Light Housekeeper
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #2 - The Light Housekeeper

    S2:E14

    After Fred gets a minor injury from a car accident, Lamont and Fred seek to find a maid to help out around the house. After looking, they get what the agency has at the bottom of the barrel. However, the erratic white woman does nothing but add to Fred's pain.

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    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Unknown
  3. Background image for Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe
    8.7/10(237 votes)

    #3 - Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe

    S3:E14

    Grady has a a piece of juicy gossip and is just dying to tell everyone. It seems Grip, an old friend, dated Fred's late-wife, Elizabeth, prior to her getting married to Fred. Elizabeth and Grip had been intimate and Lamont is the result. Fred is convinced Grip is nothing but a "jive turkey" and Esther may have the answer to this paternity question.

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    Director:Jack Shea
    Writer:Unknown
  4. Background image for Fred Sanford, Legal Eagle
    8.6/10(241 votes)

    #4 - Fred Sanford, Legal Eagle

    S3:E15

    Lamont is disgusted when he receives a traffic ticket for failure to yield on a right turn. Lamont is sure he did the most prudent thing for the situation and lets Fred talk him into fighting the ticket in court. Lamont is prepared to fight for himself but once in the court room he finds himself being represented ... by Fred!

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  5. Background image for The Blind Mellow Jelly Collection  (a.k.a.) The Chameleon
    8.3/10(192 votes)

    #5 - The Blind Mellow Jelly Collection (a.k.a.) The Chameleon

    S3:E10

    Lamont advises Fred to donate a collection of Blind Mellow Jelly records to a music library for a tax write-off. After doing so, Fred finds out from an appraiser that the records are valued at five hundred dollars. Fred, with dollar signs in his eyes, has Bubba act as though he were the son of Blind Mellow Jelly in an attempt to get them back.

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    Director:Mark Warren
    Writer:Unknown
  6. Background image for Lamont is That You?
    8.2/10(179 votes)

    #6 - Lamont is That You?

    S3:E6

    Lamont and Rollo are out on the town one evening and decide to stop in at a new bar for a couple drinks. However, they soon realize they have stumbled into a gay bar. Unknown to them, Bubba just happened to see them go inside. Bubba promptly jumps to conclusions and then proceeds to tell Fred that Lamont is gay. Not believing Bubba's story, Fred decides to get to the bottom of the situation.

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    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Unknown
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  8. Background image for Superflyer
    8.2/10(186 votes)

    #7 - Superflyer

    S3:E8

    Fred gets news that an uncle has died and has left him $1500 in his will. The only thing is, in order to get the money, Fred has to fly to St. Louis to claim it. However, first he must overcome a fear of flying and Lamont is up in arms trying to help him.

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    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Unknown
  9. Background image for Wine, Women and Aunt Esther (a.k.a.) Leaving the Nest
    8.2/10(155 votes)

    #8 - Wine, Women and Aunt Esther (a.k.a.) Leaving the Nest

    S3:E13

    Fred and his buddies are down over the death of a close friend and Aunt Esther's over-reacting does nothing to help. Thus, Fred decides to throw a cheer-up party and intends to have it in the Sanford home, complete with booze, music and friends of Fast Fanny, a topless waitress.

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    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Unknown
  10. Background image for School Daze
    8.1/10(7 votes)

    #9 - School Daze

    S6:E25

    Fred has been neglecting Donna and she decides to investigate and soon discovers Fred has been leading a secret life, not even telling Lamont what has been going on. Donna is convinced that he is seeing another woman but they soon discover Fred is really going to night school to earn his GED diploma, which he never got since he dropped out of high school to support his parents.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  11. Background image for Here Comes the Bride, There Goes the Bride
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #10 - Here Comes the Bride, There Goes the Bride

    S1:E3

    Engaged, Lamont is excited about his impending nuptials but on the wedding day he quickly finds himself the only one who is. The bride dumps him at the altar and he finds his relatives begging to get back their wedding gifts.

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    Director:Bud Yorkin
    Writer:Unknown
  12. Background image for A Matter of Life and Breath
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #11 - A Matter of Life and Breath

    S1:E5

    Lamont comes down hard on Fred to try to get him to quit smoking and has him go to the doctor for a chest x-ray. Later, the results are sent in the mail and Fred becomes convinced he has tuberculosis.

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    Director:George Tyne
    Writer:Unknown
  13. Background image for We Were Robbed
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #12 - We Were Robbed

    S1:E6

    While cleaning the house, Fred knocks over Lamont's glass figurine collection. Trying to cover up the fact that he broke them, Fred makes up a story about how the house was robbed and how he fought them off. In the process, he is labeled as a hero and Fred takes advantage of it.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  14. Background image for TV or Not TV
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - TV or Not TV

    S1:E11

    Fred wants a new color television set and Lamont wants a new car. The problem is that they cannot afford both of them, so Lamont buys the car. However, after Fred discovers Lamont's purchase, he comes up with a scheme that involves him pretending to have amnesia until Lamont will buy him a color television.

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    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Unknown
  15. Background image for The Suitcase Case
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #14 - The Suitcase Case

    S1:E12

    While collecting junk, Lamont runs across an old suitcase and decides it could be worth something. However, once he gets it home, Fred makes a shocking discovery when he opens the case to discover that it is stuffed with money. Lamont wants to turn the money in and Fred wants to keep it and locks in a safe. Just then a gunman shows up wanting the money.

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    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Unknown
  16. Background image for The Members of the Wedding  (a.k.a.)  The Engagement
    8.0/10(156 votes)

    #15 - The Members of the Wedding (a.k.a.) The Engagement

    S3:E9

    Fred and Donna enjoy an evening out on the town but then Donna breaks the news that she has had another man propose marriage to her. Not wanting to lose her, Fred decides to propose marriage himself and they plan a small wedding ceremony. However, Lamont is totally against the whole thing and has Aunt Esther and family confront Donna and question her intentions.

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    Director:Jack Shea
    Writer:Unknown
  17. Background image for A House is Not a Poolroom
    8.0/10(151 votes)

    #16 - A House is Not a Poolroom

    S3:E11

    For a birthday present, Lamont buys Fred a pool table. But things get out of hand when Fred invites his buddies over for some friendly games. They quickly overstay their welcome and eat and drink Fred and Lamont out of house and home. Lamont quickly regrets ever buying the pool table for Fred and tries to convince him that the house is not a pool hall.

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    Director:Jack Shea
    Writer:Unknown
  18. Background image for Fred's Treasure Garden
    7.9/10(146 votes)

    #17 - Fred's Treasure Garden

    S4:E11

    With Fred in St. Louis, Grady has been put in charge of taking care of his garden. Grady quickly notices a strange plant growing and assumes that it's wild parsley. However, Rollo is convinced it's marijuana and Lamont decides to turn it into the police. However, when Smitty and Hoppy arrive, the plants are gone but Grady has made dinner for everyone, a nice big salad for everyone.

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    Writer:Unknown
  19. Background image for The Stand-Ins
    7.9/10(149 votes)

    #18 - The Stand-Ins

    S4:E16

    Lamont comes home one evening and discovers Fred preparing a gourmet dinner and learns it's to celebrate the arrival of an old friend of Fred's, Bowlegs, a musician, who's visiting. Bowlegs' act is to be put on at a nightclub but when his partner strains his back, Fred and Lamont must fill in to fulfill the nightclub's requirements.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  20. Background image for Funny, You Don't Look It
    7.9/10(122 votes)

    #19 - Funny, You Don't Look It

    S6:E23

    Fred is tired of everyone walking all over him especially since he proclaims that he built his junk empire to what it is today, thus making him a king of an empire. Bubba suggests that Fred pay money to an agency to have them trace his roots. A couple weeks later Fred is in for a shock, he is a descendant from Jewish African kings.

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    Director:Russ Petranto
    Writer:Unknown
  21. Background image for This Little TV Went to Market
    7.8/10(148 votes)

    #20 - This Little TV Went to Market

    S3:E5

    Fred and Lamont's TV set is on it's last legs and Lamont considers buying a brand new one, however Fred buys a used color TV set for cheap. Things get out of hand when Fred's friend Grady stops by and recognizes Fred's new set as his set that was stolen. Fred quickly wants an out of the situation and sells it to his neighbor Julio for $50.

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    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Unknown
  22. Background image for The Party Crasher
    7.8/10(154 votes)

    #21 - The Party Crasher

    S3:E18

    Lamont and Rollo are planning a double date and they have a plan to get Fred out of the house so they can have it all to themselves. However, Fred catches on and Lamont and Rollo must make do with the cramped quarters of Rollo's apartment, but they still have problems, the girls aren't happy with the entire arrangement, right down to the refreshments, that's when Fred steps in.

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    Director:Stan Lathan
    Writer:Unknown
  23. Background image for The Surprise Party
    7.8/10(142 votes)

    #22 - The Surprise Party

    S4:E1

    Fred returns from his extended trip to St. Louis and Lamont, Donna, Aunt Esther, Bubba, Rollo and Grady have planned a surprise party for his return. Fred no more than steps in the door and Aunt Esther and him are at each other's throats. However, the real problem comes when Fred does some eavesdropping on Lamont and Grady.

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    Director:Norman Abbott
    Writer:Unknown
  24. Background image for Libra Rising All Over Lamont
    7.7/10(163 votes)

    #23 - Libra Rising All Over Lamont

    S3:E2

    Lamont visits an astrologist and discovers he's a double Libra, thus his goal in life is for peace and decides to get along with his father at all costs. Meanwhile, Fred eats a batch of 8 day-old greens and gets sick and becomes convinced he's dying. This leads to Grady spreading the word of Fred's supposedly impending death, which draws Aunt Esther and her friends out of the woodwork.

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    Director:Jack Shea
    Writer:Unknown
  25. Background image for Presenting the Three Degrees
    7.7/10(169 votes)

    #24 - Presenting the Three Degrees

    S3:E4

    Rollo and Lamont are managing a girl singing group from Philadelphia, The Three Degrees. They stay at the Sanford house while preparing for a talent show at the Safari Club. Fred is against the notion at first until he meets the three sexy girls. At the Safari Club, Lamont is surprised when Fred and his friends arrive and they start heckling the other acts.

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    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Unknown
  26. Background image for Lamont Goes Karate
    7.7/10(157 votes)

    #25 - Lamont Goes Karate

    S3:E19

    Grady has been left in charge while Fred is visiting family in St. Louis and has promised to look after Lamont who comes home with a bloody nose, courtesy of Jo-Jo Jackson, after a fight over a woman. After taking a couple of karate lessons, Lamont goes back to the bar to confront Jo-Jo. However, a concerned Grady, decides tries to intervene.

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    Director:Bud Yorkin
    Writer:Unknown

Best Episodes Summary

"The Piano Movers" is the best rated episode of "Sanford and Son". It scored 9/10 based on 1 votes. Directed by Bruce Bilson and written by Unknown, it aired on 4/14/1972. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Light Housekeeper".