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The Worst Episodes of Sanford and Son

Every episode of Sanford and Son ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Sanford and Son!

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

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Sanford and Son Season 4 Episode 25 - The Family Man
    5.9/10(170 votes)

    #1 - The Family Man

    S4:E25

    Grady decides it's time for a change and moves out of Watts and into fashionable Westwood to live with his daughter, Ellie, her husband Hal, and their two children, Laurie and Haywood. As a housewarming gift, Grady purchases an oil painting to hang over their fireplace. However, the painting he chooses proves to be quite distasteful.

    Director:Bud Yorkin
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Sanford and Son Season 6 Episode 25 - School Daze
    6.2/10(14 votes)

    #2 - 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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Sanford and Son Season 6 Episode 2 - The Hawaiian Connection (2)
    6.6/10(141 votes)

    #3 - The Hawaiian Connection (2)

    S6:E2

    The diamond thieves continue their plot to have Fred smuggle the stolen diamonds into the United States. Freddy Wells sneaks into Fred's hotel room and plants the diamonds in his suitcase. Later, Lamont and Fred discover the diamonds and hesitate to call the police.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Sanford and Son Season 5 Episode 18 - Lamont in Love
    6.7/10(113 votes)

    #4 - Lamont in Love

    S5:E18

    Lamont has been seeing Janet for quite awhile and Lamont thinks he's in love. But he doesn't know too much about her and hasn't wanted to push her into telling him. Thus, Fred decides to find out exactly what she's hiding and he goes undercover with Aunt Esther to dig up the dirt.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Sanford and Son Season 3 Episode 20 - Will the Real Fred Sanford Please Do Something?
    6.8/10(148 votes)

    #5 - Will the Real Fred Sanford Please Do Something?

    S3:E20

    A woman, whom Fred once had a drunken fling with, stops by and becomes convinced that Grady is Fred. Grady is in shock and Lamont is no help trying to convince her otherwise. But Grady has an even bigger problem: The woman decides to hold him to the promise Fred made - marriage.

    Director:Stan Lathan
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Sanford and Son Season 4 Episode 12 - Tower Power
    6.8/10(141 votes)

    #6 - Tower Power

    S4:E12

    After Lamont's friend Sandra takes Fred and Lamont to an art museum, Fred finds out that he can make art out of the junk in his pile. Thus, Fred begins the creation that will convey his legacy for eternity. However, the final result is far from an artistic masterpiece and Lamont has to decide how to break the news to his proud father.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Sanford and Son Season 4 Episode 17 - Strange Bedfellows
    6.8/10(129 votes)

    #7 - Strange Bedfellows

    S4:E17

    Lamont's politically involved girlfriend stresses involvement in the community's problems. This leads Lamont to phone into a radio talk show to express his views. Positive reaction leads to Lamont deciding to run for state assembly. But Fred soon finds out that this means that Lamont may move to Sacramento and leave the junk business.

    Director:Norman Abbott
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Sanford and Son Season 6 Episode 1 - The Hawaiian Connection (1)
    6.8/10(160 votes)

    #8 - The Hawaiian Connection (1)

    S6:E1

    Three jewel thieves try and find a way to smuggle some expensive diamonds from Hawaii to L.A. That is where Fred and Lamont come in. Fred goes to Hawaii to attend a Junkmen of America convention. The crooks then plan to sneak the jewels on Fred so that he can take them to L.A. without knowing anything about it.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Sanford and Son Season 6 Episode 5 - The Stakeout
    6.8/10(109 votes)

    #9 - The Stakeout

    S6:E5

    Fred becomes smitten with a woman, Miss Wallace who comes to the Sanford residence looking for a place to stay at the Sanford Arms. Meanwhile, a thief has been spotted in the neighborhood and to get the reward money, Fred lets the cops set up a stakeout in his home. However, Fred is in for a shock since the thief has been in disguise as Miss Wallace.

    Director:Norman Abbott
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Sanford and Son Season 5 Episode 19 - The Escorts
    6.9/10(117 votes)

    #10 - The Escorts

    S5:E19

    In another get rich quick scheme, Fred decides to go down to an escort service with a friend of his and try to apply as escorts. Flatly rejected, Fred decides to open his own escort service complete with false advertising which results in Fred having to escort three ladies in one night.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:Jerry Ross

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  11. Sanford and Son Season 5 Episode 23 - Sergeant Gork
    6.9/10(116 votes)

    #11 - Sergeant Gork

    S5:E23

    While Fred is babysitting his soon-to-be grandson, Roger helps a customer and sells him some junk including three medals. After Fred learns of Roger's sale he envisions a story about just how he got those medals. Fred's story has him as a Patton like character fighting during World War II and battling espionage.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Sanford and Son Season 6 Episode 3 - The Hawaiian Connection (3)
    6.9/10(124 votes)

    #12 - The Hawaiian Connection (3)

    S6:E3

    During a mishap at the airport Fred accidentally misplaces the suitcase with the diamonds and the crooks start chasing Lamont and him all over Hawaii, trying to get them back. Meanwhile, the cops close on in, but not before guns are drawn on Fred and Lamont as the crooks trap them on a boat.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Sanford and Son Season 6 Episode 4 - California Crude
    6.9/10(120 votes)

    #13 - California Crude

    S6:E4

    Fred and Lamont have been busy planting a small garden in their yard when suddenly a professor stumbles in and suggests that they may be sitting on some oil. Later, Fred plants his scarecrow in the garden and actually strikes some oil. This leads to Fred and Lamont to ponder the fact that they may soon be millionaires.

    Director:Norman Abbott
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Sanford and Son Season 6 Episode 6 - I Dream of Choo Choo Rabinowitz
    6.9/10(116 votes)

    #14 - I Dream of Choo Choo Rabinowitz

    S6:E6

    Lamont's mother-in-law to be is coming to Watts for a visit and Fred is a little concerned about what she's going to think of a common junk man. This leads Fred to decide to create a legacy and tries to set a world's record and get his name in the Guinness Book of World Records. His goal is to be the person to stay awake the longest.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Sanford and Son Season 6 Episode 17 - A Matter of Silence
    6.9/10(113 votes)

    #15 - A Matter of Silence

    S6:E17

    The Sanford residence is in chaos and it is all due to Fred's sudden loss of hearing. Lamont is convinced Fred has a problem, but Fred denies it but Lamont takes him to a doctor just the same. However, after the doctor removes the wax build up, Fred decides to stay "deaf" just a little bit longer in an attempt to hold Donna's attention.

    Director:Russ Petranto
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Sanford and Son Season 4 Episode 8 - My Kingdom For a Horse (a.k.a.) First Night Out
    7.0/10(141 votes)

    #16 - My Kingdom For a Horse (a.k.a.) First Night Out

    S4:E8

    Fred makes a deal and buys a horse with a great racing history. Fred tries to get the animal to breed so that he can have a lot of money making champions hoofing and stomping around the place. However, there is just one problem Fred must overcome, the horse he bought is a gelding, which has Lamont saying "I told you so" to yet another one of Fred's moneymaking schemes.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Sanford and Son Season 4 Episode 19 - Golden Boy
    7.0/10(138 votes)

    #17 - Golden Boy

    S4:E19

    Fred's friend, Yerby is the manager of a champion boxer, Junior Joe Louis. Fred goes in and buys half ownership. Fred then begins training the boxer for an upcoming fight but soon runs into trouble. For Junior is pulled from the fight because of to Fred's stubbornness.

    Director:Norman Abbott
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Sanford and Son Season 4 Episode 21 - The Headache
    7.0/10(128 votes)

    #18 - The Headache

    S4:E21

    Lamont has had a chronic headache for three days and isn't sure what's causing it. A doctor suggests that Lamont consult a psychiatrist since the cause may be stress. Once at the psychiatrist's office, the doctor determines that Fred is the cause of Lamont's headaches.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Sanford and Son Season 5 Episode 7 - Della, Della, Della
    7.0/10(119 votes)

    #19 - Della, Della, Della

    S5:E7

    The Sanford home has become a campaign headquarters for the candidate Bob Williams and Fred wants nothing to do with it. However, once Fred discovers, Della Reese is working on the campaign of Williams' opponent, he goes all out for it even thought he's not for the candidate.

    Director:Mark Warren
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Sanford and Son Season 5 Episode 22 - A Pain in the Neck
    7.0/10(103 votes)

    #20 - A Pain in the Neck

    S5:E22

    Fred is being honored with the Watts Businessman-of-the-Year Award and he's all hyped up about accepting it. However, an unexpected turn of events lands Fred with a serious back problem and takes up means to try to get rid of it, including, acupuncture, meditation and a corset.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Sanford and Son Season 5 Episode 24 - Camping Trip
    7.0/10(120 votes)

    #21 - Camping Trip

    S5:E24

    Fred and Lamont go on a camping trip in the wilderness but Fred quickly gets sick of the great outdoors and demands that they return home. However, they quickly realize that they are stranded when the truck refuses to start. This leads father and son to reminisce about times they have spent together. Fred and Lamont recall scenes from previous episodes including: My Kingdom for a Horse, Earthquake II and The Engagement Man Always Rings Twice

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:Garry Shandling

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  22. Sanford and Son Season 6 Episode 13 - Sanford and Gong
    7.0/10(109 votes)

    #22 - Sanford and Gong

    S6:E13

    Lamont runs into Chuck Barris in a parking lot and he generously gives Lamont four tickets to a taping of The Gong Show, which happens to be Fred's favorite game show. Fred decides to try to be a contestant and sets up an act with his brother-in-law, Rodney and Lamont. However, at the last minute, Rodney hurts his back and can't be in the act.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Sanford and Son Season 2 Episode 19 - The Infernal Triangle
    7.1/10(141 votes)

    #23 - The Infernal Triangle

    S2:E19

    Fred meets a young woman and he quickly announces to Lamont that he has proposed to her. However, Lamont is in for a big surprise when he meets Fred's fiancee who just happens to be Lamont's old flame, whom he would like to marry himself.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Sanford and Son Season 4 Episode 9 - Sanford and Niece
    7.1/10(144 votes)

    #24 - Sanford and Niece

    S4:E9

    Fred has a romantic night planned with Donna but Aunt Esther drops in at the last moment with some news, her neice, Elizabeth is in town and she wants Fred to have her stay with him. Fred is against the idea at first but when he takes one look at her he agrees, she is the spitting image of his late-wife, Elizabeth. However, there is another problem, Elizabeth is planning to move into an apartment in town and she will have two roommates, one female and the other male.

    Director:Norman Abbott
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Sanford and Son Season 5 Episode 2 - Divorce, Sanford Style (a.k.a.) Divorcee, Sanford Style
    7.1/10(132 votes)

    #25 - Divorce, Sanford Style (a.k.a.) Divorcee, Sanford Style

    S5:E2

    Aunt Esther is fed up with her husband, Woodrow and has decided to end her marriage. She has become convinced that he's seeing other women behind her back and becomes even more convinced when Fred tries to hook him up with a swinger. Refusing to live in the same house with Woody, Esther moves in with Fred and Lamont.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:Unknown

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Worst Episodes Summary

"The Family Man" is the worst rated episode of "Sanford and Son". It scored 5.9/10 based on 170 votes. Directed by Bud Yorkin and written by Unknown, it aired on 4/25/1975. This episode scored 0.3 points lower than the second lowest rated, "School Daze".