The Best Episodes of Sanford and Son Season 3

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   7.8/10(182 votes)

   #1 - Lamont as Othello

   S3:E19/14/1973

   Fred comes home to find Lamont and his drama teacher Marilyn acting out a choking scene from the play "Othello." Fred then jumps to the logical conclusion that Lamont is trying to kill a white woman. Later, Fred becomes the victim of assumption when Marilyn invites Fred and Lamont to her place and her parents think Fred and Lamont are trying to rob the place.

   Director:Peter Baldwin

   Writer:Unknown

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   Director:Peter Baldwin

   Writer:Unknown
2. 

   7.8/10(174 votes)

   #2 - Libra Rising All Over Lamont

   S3:E29/21/1973

   Lamont visits an astrologist and discovers he's a double Libra, thus his goal in life is for peace and decides to get along with his father at all costs. Meanwhile, Fred eats a batch of 8 day-old greens and gets sick and becomes convinced he's dying. This leads to Grady spreading the word of Fred's supposedly impending death, which draws Aunt Esther and her friends out of the woodwork.

   Director:Jack Shea

   Writer:Unknown

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   Director:Jack Shea

   Writer:Unknown
3. 

   7.8/10(155 votes)

   #3 - Fred, the Reluctant Fingerman

   S3:E39/28/1973

   Lamont and Julio go out one evening to shoot pool leaving a left-out Fred behind to sulk. Fred soon finds himself a witness to a burglary when he confronts two thieves burglarizing Julio's house. Later, Fred refuses to testify and identify the culprits out of fear and a frustrated Lamont and Julio put a plan into motion to get him to, and it starts when Fred's truck is stolen.

   Director:Jack Shea

   Writer:Gene Farmer

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   Director:Jack Shea

   Writer:Gene Farmer
4. 

   7.8/10(181 votes)

   #4 - Presenting the Three Degrees

   S3:E410/5/1973

   Rollo and Lamont are managing a girl singing group from Philadelphia, The Three Degrees. They stay at the Sanford house while preparing for a talent show at the Safari Club. Fred is against the notion at first until he meets the three sexy girls. At the Safari Club, Lamont is surprised when Fred and his friends arrive and they start heckling the other acts.

   Director:Peter Baldwin

   Writer:Unknown

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   Director:Peter Baldwin

   Writer:Unknown
5. 

   7.9/10(156 votes)

   #5 - This Little TV Went to Market

   S3:E510/12/1973

   Fred and Lamont's TV set is on it's last legs and Lamont considers buying a brand new one, however Fred buys a used color TV set for cheap. Things get out of hand when Fred's friend Grady stops by and recognizes Fred's new set as his set that was stolen. Fred quickly wants an out of the situation and sells it to his neighbor Julio for $50.

   Director:Peter Baldwin

   Writer:Gene Farmer

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   Director:Peter Baldwin

   Writer:Gene Farmer
6. 

   8.3/10(191 votes)

   #6 - Lamont is That You?

   S3:E610/19/1973

   Lamont and Rollo are out on the town one evening and decide to stop in at a new bar for a couple drinks. However, they soon realize they have stumbled into a gay bar. Unknown to them, Bubba just happened to see them go inside. Bubba promptly jumps to conclusions and then proceeds to tell Fred that Lamont is gay. Not believing Bubba's story, Fred decides to get to the bottom of the situation.

   Director:Peter Baldwin

   Writer:Unknown

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   Director:Peter Baldwin

   Writer:Unknown
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7. 

   7.6/10(158 votes)

   #7 - Fuentes, Fuentes, Sanford & Chico

   S3:E710/26/1973

   Lamont has decided to go in on a partnership with Julio in a used auto parts business venture and Fred becomes convinced that Lamont is abandoning their junk business. Against the whole notion, Fred decides he's not going to stay where he's not wanted and gets a bed at the local mission. Lamont and Julio cook up a scheme in order to lure him back to his home.

   Director:Jack Shea

   Writer:Gene Farmer

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   Director:Jack Shea

   Writer:Gene Farmer
8. 

   8.3/10(197 votes)

   #8 - Superflyer

   S3:E811/2/1973

   Fred gets news that an uncle has died and has left him $1500 in his will. The only thing is, in order to get the money, Fred has to fly to St. Louis to claim it. However, first he must overcome a fear of flying and Lamont is up in arms trying to help him.

   Director:Peter Baldwin

   Writer:Unknown

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   Director:Peter Baldwin

   Writer:Unknown
9. 

   8.1/10(168 votes)

   #9 - The Members of the Wedding (a.k.a.) The Engagement

   S3:E911/9/1973

   Fred and Donna enjoy an evening out on the town but then Donna breaks the news that she has had another man propose marriage to her. Not wanting to lose her, Fred decides to propose marriage himself and they plan a small wedding ceremony. However, Lamont is totally against the whole thing and has Aunt Esther and family confront Donna and question her intentions.

   Director:Jack Shea

   Writer:Unknown

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   Director:Jack Shea

   Writer:Unknown
10. 

    8.5/10(204 votes)

    #10 - The Blind Mellow Jelly Collection (a.k.a.) The Chameleon

    S3:E1011/16/1973

    Lamont advises Fred to donate a collection of Blind Mellow Jelly records to a music library for a tax write-off. After doing so, Fred finds out from an appraiser that the records are valued at five hundred dollars. Fred, with dollar signs in his eyes, has Bubba act as though he were the son of Blind Mellow Jelly in an attempt to get them back.

    Director:Mark Warren

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Mark Warren

    Writer:Unknown
11. 

    8.1/10(161 votes)

    #11 - A House is Not a Poolroom

    S3:E1111/23/1973

    For a birthday present, Lamont buys Fred a pool table. But things get out of hand when Fred invites his buddies over for some friendly games. They quickly overstay their welcome and eat and drink Fred and Lamont out of house and home. Lamont quickly regrets ever buying the pool table for Fred and tries to convince him that the house is not a pool hall.

    Director:Jack Shea

    Writer:Winston Moss

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    Director:Jack Shea

    Writer:Winston Moss
12. 

    7.5/10(150 votes)

    #12 - Grady, the Star Boarder

    S3:E1211/30/1973

    Grady is fed up being a boarder for the bickering Ferguson's and vents his frustrations to Fred. Immediately seeing an opportunity to make some quick cash, Fred tries to convince Lamont to agree to let Grady be a "paying boarder" at the house. However, Fred quickly realizes the drawbacks and must find a way to break the news to his old friend.

    Director:Jack Shea

    Writer:Gene Farmer

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    Director:Jack Shea

    Writer:Gene Farmer
13. 

    8.3/10(164 votes)

    #13 - Wine, Women and Aunt Esther (a.k.a.) Leaving the Nest

    S3:E1312/14/1973

    Fred and his buddies are down over the death of a close friend and Aunt Esther's over-reacting does nothing to help. Thus, Fred decides to throw a cheer-up party and intends to have it in the Sanford home, complete with booze, music and friends of Fast Fanny, a topless waitress.

    Director:Peter Baldwin

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Peter Baldwin

    Writer:Unknown
14. 

    8.8/10(251 votes)

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

    S3:E141/4/1974

    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

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    Director:Jack Shea

    Writer:Unknown
15. 

    8.7/10(259 votes)

    #15 - Fred Sanford, Legal Eagle

    S3:E151/11/1974

    Lamont is disgusted when he receives a traffic ticket for failure to yield on a right turn. Lamont is sure he did the most prudent thing for the situation and lets Fred talk him into fighting the ticket in court. Lamont is prepared to fight for himself but once in the court room he finds himself being represented ... by Fred!

    Director:Bob LaHendro

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Bob LaHendro

    Writer:Unknown
16. 

    7.5/10(152 votes)

    #16 - This Land is Whose Land?

    S3:E161/18/1974

    While cleaning out the yard, Fred discovers some of Julio's junk on his property and demands that it be removed promptly. Soon, a feud erupts primarily due to Fred, who has a surveyor come over to determine where exactly the property line is. However, what is determined is not exactly what Fred had in mind and sets out to mislead Julio.

    Director:Peter Baldwin

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Peter Baldwin

    Writer:Unknown
17. 

    7.8/10(151 votes)

    #17 - Fred's Cheating Heart

    S3:E172/1/1974

    When a man stops by the Sanford residence seeking funds for a heart association, Lamont, finds out some interesting facts about heart attacks and decides to use the info to his advantage. The next time Fred has a supposed heart attack, Lamont doesn't take no for an answer and Fred ends up in the hospital for a checkup.

    Director:Stan Lathan

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Stan Lathan

    Writer:Unknown
18. 

    7.9/10(166 votes)

    #18 - The Party Crasher

    S3:E182/8/1974

    Lamont and Rollo are planning a double date and they have a plan to get Fred out of the house so they can have it all to themselves. However, Fred catches on and Lamont and Rollo must make do with the cramped quarters of Rollo's apartment, but they still have problems, the girls aren't happy with the entire arrangement, right down to the refreshments, that's when Fred steps in.

    Director:Stan Lathan

    Writer:Gene Farmer

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    Director:Stan Lathan

    Writer:Gene Farmer
19. 

    7.9/10(167 votes)

    #19 - Lamont Goes Karate

    S3:E192/15/1974

    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.

    Director:Bud Yorkin

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Bud Yorkin

    Writer:Unknown
20. 

    6.8/10(148 votes)

    #20 - Will the Real Fred Sanford Please Do Something?

    S3:E202/22/1974

    A woman, whom Fred once had a drunken fling with, stops by and becomes convinced that Grady is Fred. Grady is in shock and Lamont is no help trying to convince her otherwise. But Grady has an even bigger problem: The woman decides to hold him to the promise Fred made - marriage.

    Director:Stan Lathan

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Stan Lathan

    Writer:Unknown
21. 

    7.3/10(152 votes)

    #21 - Tyranny, Thy Name is Grady

    S3:E213/1/1974

    After promising Fred that he will keep certain rules alive while he's in St. Louis, Grady tries to keep the house free of Aunt Esther's Bible meetings as well as not allowing Lamont and Rollo to have a party with a couple of fine ladies. In response, Lamont changes all the locks in the house when Grady goes out to a movie, however, Aunt Esther and the members of her Bible meeting become the next interference.

    Director:Stan Lathan

    Writer:Gene Farmer

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    Director:Stan Lathan

    Writer:Gene Farmer
22. 

    7.2/10(145 votes)

    #22 - Aunt Esther and Uncle Woodrow Pffttt . . .

    S3:E223/8/1974

    Lamont and Grady have an unexpected visitor show up at their doorstep and it turns out to be Woody, Aunt Esther's husband who has been thrown out of the house. Fearing that his marriage is over, Woody asks to stay at the Sanford residence but Grady is against the idea. However, things get worse when Aunt Esther decides to move instead and kicks Woody to the wind.

    Director:Bud Yorkin

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Bud Yorkin

    Writer:Unknown
23. 

    7.3/10(137 votes)

    #23 - The Way to Lamont's Heart

    S3:E233/15/1974

    Lamont's latest girlfriend, Judy is falling in love with him and likes the idea of settling down someday with the right guy. However, Lamont isn't too happy with that notion and makes up a lie that Grady is his godfather and they'd need his blessing. Judy moves ahead and goes out of her way to shower Grady with her attention.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown
24. 

    7.5/10(169 votes)

    #24 - Hello, Cousin Emma . . . Goodbye, Cousin Emma

    S3:E243/29/1974

    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.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown