7.7/10299 votes#1 - Crossed Swords
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 1/14/1972
Lamont buys a porcelain figure for $15 from a silent movie star and after having it appraised, Lamont and Fred decide to take it to an auction to make even more money on it. Fred and Lamont attend the auction pretending to be buyers so that the price can be jacked up higher. However, things go awry to Lamont's dismay.
Director: Bud Yorkin
Writer: N/A
7.9/10253 votes#2 - Happy Birthday, Pop
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 1/21/1972
Lamont buys Fred a new hat for his birthday and then tries to take him out on the town to celebrate. However, a visit to a fancy bar, a movie theater to see Fiddler on the Roof and dinner at a Chinese restaurant are far from a celebration for Fred.
Director: Bud Yorkin
Writer: N/A
7.9/10255 votes#3 - Here Comes the Bride, There Goes the Bride
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 1/28/1972
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.
Director: Bud Yorkin
Writer: N/A
7.6/10225 votes#4 - The Copper Caper
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 2/4/1972
Fred and Lamont buy a load of copper from a man that has been stealing copper in the neighborhood. The man is late for a meeting with Lamont at the diner because he is ripping off the Sanford plumbing pipes, which he then sells to Fred and Lamont.
Director: Bud Yorkin
Writer: N/A
7.6/10208 votes#5 - A Matter of Life and Breath
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 2/11/1972
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.
Director: George Tyne
Writer: N/A
7.7/10203 votes#6 - We Were Robbed
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 2/18/1972
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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.5/10194 votes#7 - A Pad for Lamont
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 2/25/1972
Lamont tries to have a quiet evening with his latest girlfriend, Darlene, but has little privacy thanks to an annoying Fred who keeps interrupting them. Fed up, Lamont decides to move into his own apartment, which at first worries Fred but then discovers he himself has privacy.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.4/10198 votes#8 - The Great Sanford Siege
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 3/3/1972
Fred does not feel like paying his bills and he throws them in the trash claiming that they never arrived, dragging out the services for as long as he can. After doing so, Fred receives threats that say that they will turn off the gas, electricity, and other utilities, and repossess his furniture if he does not pay.
Director: Peter Baldwin
Writer: N/A
8.0/10215 votes#9 - Coffins for Sale
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 3/10/1972
Lamont purchases two coffins from an auction to try and get a profit if he sells them to a funeral parlor. In the process, Fred becomes paranoid by having the coffins in the house and refuses to sleep in the house with the coffins. Lamont doesn't think much of it, until he begins hearing strange noises at night.
Director: Charles S. Dubin
Writer: N/A
7.3/10180 votes#10 - The Barracuda
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 3/17/1972
Fred proposes marriage to Donna Harris, a widow whom Fred is in love with. Lamont can't understand why a practical nurse in her 40's would be interested in a 65-year old junk dealer, and does his best to oppose their impending nuptials.
Director: Charles S. Dubin
Writer: N/A
7.6/10183 votes#11 - TV or Not TV
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 3/24/1972
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.
Director: Peter Baldwin
Writer: N/A
7.8/10185 votes#12 - The Suitcase Case
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 3/31/1972
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.
Director: Peter Baldwin
Writer: N/A
7.3/10171 votes#13 - The Return of the Barracuda
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 4/7/1972
Fred and Donna reconcile their differences and get back together with marriage being on both of their minds. Fred breaks the news to Lamont, who once again is dead set against the whole idea and decides that two can play that game and cooks up a scheme to stop Fred and Donna's impending nuptials.
Director: Peter Baldwin
Writer: N/A
8.1/10251 votes#14 - The Piano Movers
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 4/14/1972
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.
Director: Bruce Bilson
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of Sanford and Son Season 1
Every episode of Sanford and Son Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Sanford and Son Season 1!
The misadventures of a cantankerous junk dealer and his frustrated son.
Genre:Comedy
Network:NBC
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Crossed Swords" is the best rated episode of "Sanford and Son" season 1. It scored 7.7/10 based on 299 votes. Directed by Bud Yorkin and written by N/A, it aired on 1/14/1972. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "Happy Birthday, Pop".