Favorite Scenes and Quotes – A to Z 2015 – B – Behind

Sanford and Son was one of the first prime time television shows to feature mainly an African American cast. Led by Redd Foxx, a well known comedian the show held a prominent spot on the CBS Friday night schedule in the mid-1970s, just before a show about a old curmudgeon adjusting to life with a young, hip Mexican, called Chico and the Man.

Diversity was the word with these two shows and the humor was on a different plane since it was African Americans joking about their own. There is no doubt Mr. Foxx made no apologies with his humor in the clubs and theaters he played and some of that came through in the show.

In the clip I share he and his son are talking about the size of a step daughter to a cousin of Fred’s. She talks about how much weight she has lost and in true Fred Sanford form he makes all manner of fun about it.

Ultimately Fred and his son Lamont go into the kitchen where they talk about her losing 40 pounds and if she looks behind her she will find it. Not necessarily something that would fly in this day of political correctness, but back in the mid-1970s it probably garnered considerable laughs.

Disclaimer : I do not claim ownership of the Fred Sanford program, but only want to share a portion for the purpose of highlighting what I remember as a humorous scene.