Sanford and Son backdrop
Comedy

The Best Episodes of Sanford and Son

Every episode of Sanford and Son ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Sanford and Son!

Binge this in 2d 20h•Peaking at 9.0/10

The misadventures of a cantankerous junk dealer and his frustrated son.

Airs on
NBC
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons6

All123456

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Click to reveal
    Sanford and Son Season 1 Episode 14 - The Piano Movers
    9.0/10(277 votes)

    #1 - The Piano Movers

    S1:E14

    A wealthy man wants to get rid of a grand piano and Lamont gets a great deal on it. However, the big problem turns out to be moving it out of the man's apartment.

    Director:Bruce Bilson
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. Sanford and Son Season 2 Episode 14 - The Light Housekeeper
    9.0/10(192 votes)

    #2 - The Light Housekeeper

    S2:E14

    After Fred gets a minor injury from a car accident, Lamont and Fred seek to find a maid to help out around the house. After looking, they get what the agency has at the bottom of the barrel. However, the erratic white woman does nothing but add to Fred's pain.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. Sanford and Son Season 3 Episode 14 - Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe
    9.0/10(249 votes)

    #3 - Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe

    S3:E14

    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.

    Director:Jack Shea
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. Sanford and Son Season 1 Episode 3 - Here Comes the Bride, There Goes the Bride
    8.0/10(282 votes)

    #4 - Here Comes the Bride, There Goes the Bride

    S1:E3

    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.

    Director:Bud Yorkin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. Sanford and Son Season 1 Episode 5 - A Matter of Life and Breath
    8.0/10(234 votes)

    #5 - A Matter of Life and Breath

    S1:E5

    Lamont comes down hard on Fred to try to get him to quit smoking and has him go to the doctor for a chest x-ray. Later, the results are sent in the mail and Fred becomes convinced he has tuberculosis.

    Director:George Tyne
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. Sanford and Son Season 1 Episode 6 - We Were Robbed
    8.0/10(225 votes)

    #6 - We Were Robbed

    S1:E6

    While cleaning the house, Fred knocks over Lamont's glass figurine collection. Trying to cover up the fact that he broke them, Fred makes up a story about how the house was robbed and how he fought them off. In the process, he is labeled as a hero and Fred takes advantage of it.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of Sanford and Son

    READ
  7. Sanford and Son Season 1 Episode 11 - TV or Not TV
    8.0/10(205 votes)

    #7 - TV or Not TV

    S1:E11

    Fred wants a new color television set and Lamont wants a new car. The problem is that they cannot afford both of them, so Lamont buys the car. However, after Fred discovers Lamont's purchase, he comes up with a scheme that involves him pretending to have amnesia until Lamont will buy him a color television.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. Sanford and Son Season 1 Episode 12 - The Suitcase Case
    8.0/10(201 votes)

    #8 - The Suitcase Case

    S1:E12

    While collecting junk, Lamont runs across an old suitcase and decides it could be worth something. However, once he gets it home, Fred makes a shocking discovery when he opens the case to discover that it is stuffed with money. Lamont wants to turn the money in and Fred wants to keep it and locks in a safe. Just then a gunman shows up wanting the money.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. Sanford and Son Season 2 Episode 1 - By the Numbers
    8.0/10(180 votes)

    #9 - By the Numbers

    S2:E1

    Fred is sure that his dreams will be good luck in picking numbers for a lottery and his hunch turns out to be true, despite the fact that Lamont forbids him to participate. Fred quickly finds himself $500 richer but also finds Aunt Ethel and Bubba needing quick cash.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Terry Ryan

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. Sanford and Son Season 1 Episode 8 - The Great Sanford Siege
    7.0/10(219 votes)

    #10 - The Great Sanford Siege

    S1:E8

    Fred does not feel like paying his bills and he throws them in the trash claiming that they never arrived, dragging out the services for as long as he can. After doing so, Fred receives threats that say that they will turn off the gas, electricity, and other utilities, and repossess his furniture if he does not pay.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. Sanford and Son Season 1 Episode 10 - The Barracuda
    7.0/10(201 votes)

    #11 - The Barracuda

    S1:E10

    Fred proposes marriage to Donna Harris, a widow whom Fred is in love with. Lamont can't understand why a practical nurse in her 40's would be interested in a 65-year old junk dealer, and does his best to oppose their impending nuptials.

    Director:Charles S. Dubin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. Sanford and Son Season 1 Episode 13 - The Return of the Barracuda
    7.0/10(192 votes)

    #12 - The Return of the Barracuda

    S1:E13

    Fred and Donna reconcile their differences and get back together with marriage being on both of their minds. Fred breaks the news to Lamont, who once again is dead set against the whole idea and decides that two can play that game and cooks up a scheme to stop Fred and Donna's impending nuptials.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. Sanford and Son Season 2 Episode 21 - Home Sweet Home for the Aged
    7.0/10(160 votes)

    #13 - Home Sweet Home for the Aged

    S2:E21

    Lamont breaks the news to Fred that he plans to join the crew of a tramp steamer and sail around the world. A shocked Fred gets another shock, Lamont plans on putting him in a retirement home.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. Sanford and Son Season 5 Episode 8 - Donna Pops the Question
    7.0/10(132 votes)

    #14 - Donna Pops the Question

    S5:E8

    Donna receives a marriage proposal from another man and she decides to base her answer on whether or not Fred is ever going to ask her. Fred must make the choice now as to whether or not he is going to marry Donna. This leads Fred into turmoil and leads him to ask Elizabeth a heart felt question on whether or not she would object to him remarrying.

    Director:James Sheldon
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. Sanford and Son Season 1 Episode 7 - A Pad for Lamont
    6.0/10(217 votes)

    #15 - A Pad for Lamont

    S1:E7

    Lamont tries to have a quiet evening with his latest girlfriend, Darlene, but has little privacy thanks to an annoying Fred who keeps interrupting them. Fed up, Lamont decides to move into his own apartment, which at first worries Fred but then discovers he himself has privacy.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. Sanford and Son Season 1 Episode 1 - Crossed Swords
    5.8/10(331 votes)

    #16 - Crossed Swords

    S1:E1

    Lamont buys a porcelain figure for $15 from a silent movie star and after having it appraised, Lamont and Fred decide to take it to an auction to make even more money on it. Fred and Lamont attend the auction pretending to be buyers so that the price can be jacked up higher. However, things go awry to Lamont's dismay.

    Director:Bud Yorkin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. Sanford and Son Season 1 Episode 2 - Happy Birthday, Pop
    4.2/10(277 votes)

    #17 - Happy Birthday, Pop

    S1:E2

    Lamont buys Fred a new hat for his birthday and then tries to take him out on the town to celebrate. However, a visit to a fancy bar, a movie theater to see Fiddler on the Roof and dinner at a Chinese restaurant are far from a celebration for Fred.

    Director:Bud Yorkin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. Sanford and Son Season 1 Episode 4 - The Copper Caper
    4.2/10(249 votes)

    #18 - The Copper Caper

    S1:E4

    Fred and Lamont buy a load of copper from a man that has been stealing copper in the neighborhood. The man is late for a meeting with Lamont at the diner because he is ripping off the Sanford plumbing pipes, which he then sells to Fred and Lamont.

    Director:Bud Yorkin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. Sanford and Son Season 4 Episode 20 - My Brother-in-Law's Keeper
    4.0/10(136 votes)

    #19 - My Brother-in-Law's Keeper

    S4:E20

    Fred cleans the house from top to bottom and Lamont is stunned. Then he learns the reason: Fred's baby sister, Frances is visiting to announce her engagement. Fred is excited, but he soon finds her fiance, Rodney is white.

    Director:Norman Abbott
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. Sanford and Son Season 1 Episode 9 - Coffins for Sale
    3.8/10(240 votes)

    #20 - Coffins for Sale

    S1:E9

    Lamont purchases two coffins from an auction to try and get a profit if he sells them to a funeral parlor. In the process, Fred becomes paranoid by having the coffins in the house and refuses to sleep in the house with the coffins. Lamont doesn't think much of it, until he begins hearing strange noises at night.

    Director:Charles S. Dubin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. Sanford and Son Season 2 Episode 18 - Watts Side Story
    2.0/10(168 votes)

    #21 - Watts Side Story

    S2:E18

    Fred is up in arms when he discovers his neighbor, Julio's family is visiting and may move out to California. However, things really hit the fan when Fred learns that Lamont has asked Julio's sister, Maria out, something Fred is totally against.

    Director:Jack Shea
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. Sanford and Son Season 5 Episode 4 - The Sanford Arms
    1.0/10(147 votes)

    #22 - The Sanford Arms

    S5:E4

    Julio's house has been transformed into Fred and Lamont's boarding house called The Sanford Arms. Now they've come to the task of finding some boarders and soon find themselves bombarded with an endless supply of crazies, including a hooker, an ex-con, a hippie, a newlywed couple, and Hoppy's eccentric mother.

    Director:Mark Warren
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. Sanford and Son Season 6 Episode 1 - The Hawaiian Connection (1)
    1.0/10(160 votes)

    #23 - The Hawaiian Connection (1)

    S6:E1

    Three jewel thieves try and find a way to smuggle some expensive diamonds from Hawaii to L.A. That is where Fred and Lamont come in. Fred goes to Hawaii to attend a Junkmen of America convention. The crooks then plan to sneak the jewels on Fred so that he can take them to L.A. without knowing anything about it.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. Sanford and Son Season 4 Episode 14 - The Merger
    0.5/10(140 votes)

    #24 - The Merger

    S4:E14

    Julio has gotten tired of the junk business and that's when Lamont comes up with an idea, Sanford & Son Salvage should merge with Julio's business. Julio goes for the idea but Fred is against it, but they merge anyway to form Sanford & Fuentes Salvage. However, everyone soon realizes the consequences attached to such a decision.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Jerry Ross

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. Sanford and Son Season 5 Episode 19 - The Escorts
    0.5/10(116 votes)

    #25 - The Escorts

    S5:E19

    In another get rich quick scheme, Fred decides to go down to an escort service with a friend of his and try to apply as escorts. Flatly rejected, Fred decides to open his own escort service complete with false advertising which results in Fred having to escort three ladies in one night.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:Jerry Ross

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Best Episodes Summary

"The Piano Movers" is the best rated episode of "Sanford and Son". It scored 9/10 based on 277 votes. Directed by Bruce Bilson and written by Unknown, it aired on 4/14/1972. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Light Housekeeper".