TV.com

show: Sanford and Son

episode: The Hawaiian Connection (1)

The Bottom Line: "Great"

I have to count this 3-parter as a single episode, which falls into my Top 10 at the #10 position, despite the fact that Redd Foxx seems to be a little off his stride, with his performance. These episodes came toward the end of the series, and it's just possible that Foxx had other things on his mind – Like getting out of 'Sanford And Son', and going on to do his own variety series – Which affected his performance. But, this 'mini-series-within-a-series' is very different, and it's a lot of fun to watch, due, in part, to it's Love Boat-like guest cast of familiar TV faces. There's Sheldon Leonard of 'Big Eddie', Greg Morris of 'Mission Impossible', David Huddleston of 'Petrocelli', Theodore Wilson of 'That's My Mama', and James Gregory of 'Barney Miller'. And, as if that weren't enough, we have the voluptuous Barbara Rhoades – Later, of 'Soap', and 'Busting Loose' – As a ditzy gun moll, Pat Paulsen as an even ditzier Cop, and, with frequent Guest Stars Frank Nelson ("A-yyyesssss") and Fritzi Burr thrown in for good measure. And, of course, what made-in-Hawaii TV episode would be complete, without an appearance of Don Ho? Saul Turteltaub and Bernie Orenstein (Who, incidentally, puts in a brief Cameo, as a Honolulu Cabbie) put together an excellent script, but Alan Rafkin, it seems, should have tried a little harder, to get better performances out of the Actors – Especially Foxx, whose performance is lackluster, at best. But, the story, itself, the Guest Cast, and the Hawaiian locale make up for most of it's short-comings, and some good laughs help out a lot. In fact, the scene at the pool – After Fred asks the Japanese-Brooklynite what he's going to tell his friends, in Tokyo – Is the best laugh in the whole show. Years ago, I edited all 3 episodes into one seamless, 60+-minute 'mini-movie', and that's the best way to watch it. But, all-in-all, these are good episodes any way you watch them.

show: Sanford and Son

episode: Donna Pops the Question

The Bottom Line: "Superb"

I would have to put this one at #3 on my list of favorite episodes, if for no other reason than Redd Foxx's extraordinary performance. Laugh-wise, he gets off some good zingers, in this one – Particularly: "Bubba… Get the hell outta here!" and when he tells Esther that Lamont is "Up there in Las Vegas, playing that dice game that they named after your face.". And, his come-back to Donna's Mother, towards the end of the episode – "If I'm a snake and weasel, then you're a… Wonderful woman, my dear!", is perfect comic timing if ever there was any. But it's not Foxx's comic performance that puts this one in my Top 3… It's his dramatic performance. His lovely and touching soliloquy, where he asks Elizabeth's permission to marry Donna, is absolutely terrific. I've seen it countless times, and it never fails to tug at my heart-strings, and put a little 'choke' in my throat. It's a powerful dramatic performance that one normally would not expect from an Actor like Foxx. All-in-all, this is a very well-done episode. Writers Turteltaub and Orenstein put together an excellent script, James Sheldon's direction is right on par, and this one deserves to be near the top of the stack.

show: Sanford and Son

episode: The Blind Mellow Jelly Collection (a.k.a.) The Chameleon

The Bottom Line: "Perfect"

This one is the absolute top of the heap. My #1 most favorite episode of this, or – For that matter – Any other sitcom. This is one of the few times that another Performer overshadows Foxx, and Don Bexley – As Fred’s rotund best friend, Bubba – Steals the show, here, with just 5 words: “I want my Daddy’s records!” Foxx has some good lines in this one, that get some good laughs – Particularly: “Pot belly”, "Personally, I think you're a fruitcake", and “Let him drive, and leave the drinkin’ to us” – But Bexley outdoes him, and then some. I try to catch it every time it runs, and then re-watch, and re-watch, and re-watch again, those the seven times that Bexley utters those now-famous words, spoken in his inimitable style. It never gets old, or fails to make me laugh.

show: Sanford and Son

episode: Lamont as Othello

The Bottom Line: "Superb"

This one is in my top 10, but I haven’t decided exactly where it lands. It’s one of the few really well-written (Arguably, THE best-written) scripts of the series, and the Performers make the most of it, especially Foxx. Writer Ilunga Adell covers all the bases, and there’s not a ‘loose end’ in sight. The whole episode is hilarious, but there are some scenes that are really outstanding, laugh-wise. When Fred and Bubba sneak up to the house, to see who Lamont’s ‘hot date’ is, and Bubba has a ‘big one’, himself, with the shock of what he’s witnessed; At Marilyn’s home, when Fred goes into the bedroom, to watch TV, and finds Marilyn’s Parents in bed, asleep; And, when Fred confronts Marilyn’s Father, later, over Fred’s being a “strange man” are all side-splitters. Catch this one if you can. It’s quality TV comedy – Both Writing, and Performing.