SANFORD AND SON (did not make the list in 2013)
Redd Foxx had always been known as one of the “bluest” comics out there …
His LP’s were considered X-Rated before the term ever existed …
So the very idea of Foxx heading up his own television series seemed somewhat preposterous at the time …
How on earth were they ever going to be able to control him?
(And how were his fans going to accept a much tamer and toned down Redd Foxx???)
It just seemed like no matter how much guys like Norman Lear were pushing the limits with censorship, this one was just a disaster waiting to happen.
But it was Lear himself who took on the challenge …
And two of his shows … All In The Family and Sanford And Son ... regularly battled for the #1 spot in the ratings.
(In fact, there were also all kinds of behind-the-scenes battles between the shows’ leads, Carroll O’Connor and Redd Foxx, too, regarding who should be the highest paid actor on TV.
At one point, I believe a contract was actually written that stated that no matter HOW much money they agreed to pay Redd Foxx for his services, Carroll O’Connor would ALWAYS receive one dollar more!!!)
This funky theme set the tone for these junkyard dogs …
And who can forget “Hold on, Elisabeth, I’m comin’” … and all the hysterical barbs against Aunt Esther?
Sanford and Son ran for six seasons on NBC ...
(and this theme song will likely stick in your head for the rest of the day!!!)
