Product Details

• Actors: Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson, Whitman Mayo, Clarice Taylor, Kathrine McKee
• Directors: Bob LaHendro, Bud Yorkin, Hal Cooper, Jack Shea, Mark Warren
• Writers: Aaron Ruben
• Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 encoding (US and Canada only)
  PLEASE NOTE: Some Region 1 DVDs may contain Regional Coding Enhancement (RCE). Some, but not all, of our international customers have had problems playing these enhanced discs on what are called "region-free" DVD players. For more information on RCE, click here.
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• DVD Release Date: October 7, 2003
• Run Time: 596 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000B1A5A
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,538 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  Movies & TV > Television > Funny Families > Sanford and Son

• For more information about "Sanford and Son - The Third Season" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

• This is item 3 in The Sanford and Son Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Though conflict erupted between comic Redd Foxx and the producers of Sanford and Son during its third season, viewers of this three-disc set, which compiles all 24 episodes of the 1973-74 season, are spared the backstage rancor and instead enjoy more hilarious episodes, fueled as always by Foxx's Emmy-nominated performance as cantankerous junkman Fred Sanford. Sanford and Son was a solid ratings hit as it entered its third season (ranked third among network shows) and Foxx had won a Golden Globe the previous year, but a contract dispute had driven a wedge between him and series producers Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear (who also ran the season's top-rated program, All in the Family). Negotiations would eventually break down, and Foxx would be absent from six episodes (Fred was said to be visiting relatives in St. Louis) and did not return to the show until season 4 was underway.

Foxx's departure allowed the spotlight to shine more brightly on co-star Demond Wilson (who would soon launch his own contract disputes, which prompted his leaving the series in 1976) as well as new cast member Whitman Mayo, who joined the show that season as Fred's pal Grady. While series aficionados are firmly divided over Grady, Mayo is quite funny, especially during the final six episodes (in particular "Will the Real Fred Sanford Please Stand Up?" and season closer "Hello Cousin Emma, Goodbye Cousin Emma"). Other standout episodes include "The Blind Mellow Jelly Collection" (in which Fred attempts to reclaim his donated record collection) and "Fred Sanford, Legal Eagle" (Fred defends Lamont in traffic court), which features Starsky and Hutch's Antonio Fargas. The third-season scripts, penned mostly by story editor Ilunga Adell (Moesha), remain sharp, as does the direction (the lion's share is handled by Peter Baldwin, though Bud Yorkin helms two episodes). Fans and first-timers alike will find plenty of laughs among the three discs, which unfortunately lack any extras. --Paul Gaita

Product Description

Movie DVD

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "I could stick your face in dough & make gorilla cookies.", January 1, 2004

By	B-MAN "B" (Earth, occasionally. Until I get bored.) - See all my reviews

Finally, more Sanford & Son has arrived! With more Aunt Esther, Julio, Chico the goat, Bubba, Rollo & lots & lots of Grady! This 3 DVD set contains all 24 episodes of the hilarious 3rd season. The 3rd season, which ran from September 1973 - March 1974, is interesting because Redd Foxx (due to contract disputes with producers) does not appear in the last 6 episodes of the set. Foxx's absence from the episodes was written as Fred visits family in St. Louis and Grady instead stars in each episode alongside Lamont. Don't worry, there's still 18 episodes here featuring Fred and the last 6 episodes are hilarious in their own right. Another interesting aspect is there is no episode 19 (again because of contract disputes). The episode was scripted, but wasn't filmed so the episodes run like 17, 18, 20...

Season 3 features some of the shows most hilarious moments. Each disc features a color photo & the only extra feature is a preview of other TV comedies on DVD. Here are the episode titles in the order they appear on the DVD set:
Disc One
1. Lamont, is that you?
2. Lamont as Othello
3. This little TV went to market
4. Presenting the 3 Degrees
5. Libra rising all over Lamont
6. Fred, the reluctant finger man
7. Fuentes, Fuentes, Sanford, & Chico
8. A house is not a poolroom
Disc 2
9. The Blind Mellow Jelly Collection
10. Superflyer
11. The members of the wedding
12. Grady, The Star Boarder
13. Mama's baby, Papa's Maybe
14. Wine, women, & Aunt Esther
15. Fred Sanford, Legal Eagle
16. This land is whose land?
Disc 3
17. Fred's cheating heart
18. The party crasher (last Redd Foxx appearance in Season 3)
20. Lamont Goes Karate
21. Will the real Fred Sanford please do something?
22. Tyrannt, thy name is Grady
23. Aunt Esther & Uncle Woodrow Pfft...
24. The way to Lamont's heart
25. Hello cousin Emma, Goodbye cousin Emma

I can't recommend this set enough because it just keeps getting better. Redd Foxx was brilliant and the fact that he continued to be hilarious even during the behind the scenes feuds with producers is a testament to him. I'm already anticipating Season 4! Bring it on!

Trivia:
* The Grady character, played by Whitman Mayo, became popular enough to spawn a series spin off ("Grady") which also co-starred Haywood Nelson from What's Happening. The show only lasted 12 episodes between '75-'76. Season 4 of Sanford & Son contains the episode that served as the pilot for this series.

* Redd Foxx's contract disputes, which led to his absence in 6 episodes of Season 3, carried on into Season 4 making him absent from 4 of the season's 25 episodes (including the pilot episode for "Grady").

* Season 4 contains the final appearance of Julio (Gregory Sierra, who went on to Barney Miller) and the introduction of character Ah Chew (Pat Morita)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Third season S&S at it's peak,but only 9/10 brilliant, October 3, 2003

By	DEAN M. Dent (SAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Sanford & Son's third season not only debuted Grady Wilson(Whitman Mayo) but boasted many classic episodes including The Chameleon(Blind Mellow Jelly),Lamont, Is That You?(The Gay Blade),Introducing The Three Degrees,This Little TV Went to Market(Guy's Groovy Grabbag),Fred Sanford, Legal Eagle,and many others.
Unfortunately towards the end of the season Redd Foxx was absent due to contract disputes.It was explained that Fred was in St. Louis,and Grady was watching the business for Fred.Although some episodes were funny,Redd Foxx was definately missed.
By the following season,Foxx returned with a raise,but the show started to slip in quality.But even mediocre S&S was better than most shows on the air during the era.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Sitcoms Funniest Seasons, September 18, 2003

By A Customer

It was with great anticipation that I awaited the third season of the Sanford and Son DVD, as it is, in my opinion, the funniest in the show's history. Season three includes all of the shows hilarious co-stars, with the introduction of Grady Wilson played by Whitman Mayo, as well as more episodes featuring Aunt Esther, Bubba, Julio and Donna Harris. A few of the episodes will have Grady as the star, as Redd Foxx was absent from several shows this season due to a contract dispute.

A few of my favorite episodes include Fred Sanford, Legal Eagle(The courtroom scene will have you cracking up!), Super Flyer, and A House is Not a Poolroom. What I like most about the first two seasons of Sanford and Son on DVD, and I'm sure that season three is no exception, is that all the scenes that are taken out from the episodes that are shown on TVLand because of increased commercial time, are all included in the DVD.