History YMMV / SanfordAndSon

** Paul Mooney wrote or co-wrote 3 episodes. He is best known for starring in the Negrodamus sketches on ''Series/ChappellesShow''.

** Arguably, the marker for the rot is the end of the third season, when Grady took over for Fred due to Red Foxx's contract negotiation problems. After that, the plots began to get more divorced from reality, the celebrity cameos became more common and the dreaded [[VerySpecialEpisode episodes with a message]] started getting made.

** Grady Wilson began as a guest character --played by a different actor-- and was then reimagined and eventually took over the show for a time when Redd Foxx walked.

** The season 4 episode "Going Out of Business" where Fred not wanting to pay his taxes. Redd later had tax problems during the 1980s.

** Creator/GarryShandling wrote four episodes. Shandling is best known as creator, executive producer, and star of ''Series/ItsGarryShandlingsShow'' and ''Series/TheLarrySandersShow''.

** Garry Shandling wrote four episodes. Shandling is best known as creator, executive producer, and star of ''Series/ItsGarryShandlingsShow'' and ''Series/TheLarrySandersShow''.

* SoBadItsGood: As ''Sanford and Son'' progressed and rose higher in the ratings, Foxx used his newfound clout to force the producers into hiring his old [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitlin%27_circuit "chitlin' circuit"]] colleagues (most of whom were NOT trained actors, and it showed) for roles on the series. This led to several characters being subject to ChuckCunninghamSyndrome in the second season, when sensible Aunt Ethel (another of Elizabeth's sisters played by Beah Richards), Slappy (Fred's original foil) and Officer Swanhauser (Smitty's original partner played by prolific sitcom director Noam Pitlik) were written out and replaced with over-the-top counterparts. However, the broad antics and occasional wooden line-readings are [[NarmCharm part of the charm]] of the series, and Redd Foxx picked up the slack admirably when needed.

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O20Sljxmy9M "The Streetbeater" by Quincy Jones]], otherwise known as the catchier-than-all-get-out theme tune to the show. It's hummed by J.D. and Turk in ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'', and a remix of this song eventually became Turk's theme.

'''Fred:''' You do? Well, where are they? Look at all these [[NWordPrivileges niggas]] in here! Look around here! There's enough niggas in here to make a Franchise/{{Tarzan}} movie!

* ValuesDissonance: Go look at CrossesTheLineTwice up above. ''NO'' television series today, even one run by African-Americans, would ''dare'' use that line.

-->'''Fred:''' Listen, why don't you arrest some white drivers?
-->'''Cop:''' I do.
-->'''Fred:''' You do? Well, where are they? Look at all these [[NWordPrivileges niggas]] in here! Look around here! There's enough niggas in here to make a Franchise/{{Tarzan}} movie!

* SoBadItsGood: As ''Sanford and Son'' progressed and rose higher in the ratings, Foxx used his newfound clout to force the producers into hiring his old [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitlin%27_circuit "chitlin' circuit"]] colleagues (most of whom were NOT trained actors, and it showed) for roles on the series leading to {{Brother Chuck}} moments in the second season when sensible Aunt Ethel (another of Elizabeth's sisters played by Beah Richards), Slappy (Fred's original foil) and Officer Swanhauser (Smitty's original partner played by prolific sitcom director Noam Pitlik) were written out and replaced with over-the-top counterparts. However, the broad antics and occasional wooden line-readings are [[NarmCharm part of the charm]] of the series, and Redd Foxx picked up the slack admirably when needed.

* HarsherInHindsight: For all of the jokes, it was firmly established on the show that Fred Sanford did indeed have a real heart problem. Then, on a VerySpecialEpisode of ''Sanford'', he suffered a very real heart attack and nearly died in part because [[CryingWolf no one believed it was legitimate]] initially. And sadly, [[DeathByIrony that's almost exactly what happened to Redd Foxx some years later]].

* FunnyAneurysmMoment: Redd Foxx's death from a real heart attack make Fred's fake ones hard to watch, let alone laugh at.

** Some fans will argue that part of the problem stemmed from the overhaul in the production staff, when the show's most prolific Black writer/producer Ilunga Adell left at the end of the third season, along with series {{Suowrunner}} Aaron Ruben (''Series/TheAndyGriffithShow''). The last two seasons used a mostly new team of writers, causing the series to lose its original authentic urban vibe and turn into just another standard sitcom.

** Some fans will argue that part of the problem stemmed from the overhaul in the production staff, replacing the original black writers and producers with Jewish writers and producers, causing the series to lose its original authentic urban vibe and turn into just another standard sitcom.

* AdaptationDisplacement: Far more Americans are familiar with this show than with the Britcom that it was a ForeignRemake of, ''Series/SteptoeAndSon''.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: In his introduction to the compilation album ''Comedy Stew: The Best of Redd Foxx''; actor Johnny Brown mentioned that he had been considered for the role of Lamont Sanford, only for Brown to be forced to turn the role down due to scheduling conflicts. However, Creator/NormanLear would remember Brown; eventually casting him as building superintendent [[BigEater Nathan "Buffalo Butt" Bookman]] on ''Series/GoodTimes''.

** This may also qualify as HarsherInHindsight. For all of the jokes, it was firmly established on the show that Fred Sanford did indeed have a real heart problem. Then, on a VerySpecialEpisode of ''Sanford'', he suffered a very real heart attack and nearly died in part because [[CryingWolf no one believed it was legitimate]] initially. And sadly, [[DeathByIrony that's almost exactly what happened to Redd Foxx some years later]].
* FridgeBrilliance: During the period where Fred was PutOnABus thanks to disputes between Redd Foxx and the producers, Grady stepped in as main character, and was seemingly setup as a SuspiciouslySimilarSubtitute for Fred (likely stemming from using pre-written scripts). Considering Grady and Fred were buddies, it's possible Grady was subconsciously coping with Fred not being around by, well, trying to ''be'' Fred.

** Most of his phony attacks involved him calling out to his long deceased wife Elizabeth. This becomes even more harsh after the 2020 murder of George Floyd, who called out to his late mother as he being asphyxiated by the knee of an officer.