Sanford and Son: Top 5 Lamont Sanford Episodes.
Last time we talked about Sanford. Now it’s time to get into the top 5 episodes featuring Son. Lamont Sanford was essentially the straight man to everyone else on the show, but Demond Wilson and the writers still managed to give Lamont his chance to shine and frankly the show wouldn’t have ever been as strong without him as its anchor. Here’s a tribute to everyone’s favorite “Big Dummy”.
5. Here Comes The Bride, There Goes The Bride. Season 1, episode 3.
Synopsis: 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.
This early episode established the specific bond between Fred and Lamont very well as well as really let Demond Wilson go for the laughs. Lamont throwing out his annoying family at the post (non) wedding reception is comedy gold.
4. Lamont Goes African. Season 2, episode 17.
Synopsis: Lamont goes totally African. He starts to wear African clothing, and yearns to learn more about the culture. At the same time, Fred thinks that the whole thing is ridiculous, that is until a woman from Nigeria visits and explains to Lamont how sacred listening to your father is in African culture and how you should respect him.
Lamont was the type of guy who always jumped on the bandwagon of big trends and in this classic episode his big jump into African culture is one of them. This episode is as hilarious as it is informative about the African culture. Sanford and Son was repping Africa long before Coming To America and Black Panther.
3. Hello Cousin Emma… Goodbye, Cousin Emma. Season 3, episode 24.
Synopsis: Grady’s cousin, Emma, has moved from Chicago to California and stops in by Grady and Lamont for a visit. However, the visit turns into a short stay, which is something Lamont is against from the very beginning. Pretty soon, it appears that Cousin Emma is going to stay for quite awhile and fakes illness to get people to wait on her.
A personal favorite episode of mine, Whitman Mayo and Demond Wilson were at their very best along with an amazing comedic performance by Clarice Taylor aka Cousin Emma. It was especially great to see Demond Wilson and Whitman Mayo have this fun Laurel and Hardy type dynamic in this one, and a special treat seeing Lamont step out of the straight man role and get to have some really laugh out loud funny moments and dialouge.
2. Mama’s Baby, Papa’s Maybe. Season 3, episode 14.
Synopsis: Grady has a a piece of juicy gossip and is just dying to tell everyone. It seems Grip, an old friend, dated Fred’s late-wife, Elizabeth, prior to her getting married to Fred. Elizabeth and Grip had been intimate and Lamont is the result. Fred is convinced Grip is nothing but a jive turkey and Esther may have the answer to this paternity question.
Sanford and Son rarely got emotional or serious, but in this all time great episode we got plenty of heart along with plenty of huge laughs. When Lamont chooses Fred over Grip tears come down my eyes every time I watch it. This episode was a great reminder that no matter how much Fred and Lamont argue, bicker or play tricks on the other, these two fools love each other and couldn’t live without each other. Possibly the best dramatic acting Demond Wilson did on the show was in this episode.
- Lamont Goes Karate. Season 3, episode 19.
Synopsis: Grady has been left in charge while Fred is visiting family in St Louis and has promised to look after Lamont who comes home with a bloody nose, courtesy of Jo-Jo Jackson, after a fight over a woman. After taking a couple of karate lessons, Lamont goes back to the bar to confront Jo-Jo. However, a concerned Grady, decides tries to intervene.
Lamont Sanford was mostly the perennial straight man of the show, but in this episode Demond Wilson really got to do some great and hilarious comedy, especially when he faces off against that unfriendly giant Jo-Jo Jackson. Lamont proved in this epic scene that while he may not know karate he certainly knows crazy.
Honorable Mentions: The Infernal Triangle and The Members of The Wedding Party.
Next time we dig into the top five episodes featuring everybody’s favorite holier than thou Christian aunt, Aunt Esther. Till next time, folks!