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The Worst Episodes of Sanford and Son

Every episode of Sanford and Son ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Sanford and Son!

Worst episode
S4E25 The Family Man
5.9183 votes
Best episode
S3E14 Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe
8.9255 votes
Top season
Season 3
7.9avg
Binge time
2d 20h
136 episodes
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons6

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Sanford and Son Season 4 Episode 25 - The Family Man
    5.9/10(183 votes)

    S4:E25

    Grady decides it's time for a change and moves out of Watts and into fashionable Westwood to live with his daughter, Ellie, her husband Hal, and their two children, Laurie and Haywood. As a housewarming gift, Grady purchases an oil painting to hang over their fireplace. However, the painting he chooses proves to be quite distasteful.

    Director:Bud Yorkin
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Sanford and Son Season 6 Episode 2 - The Hawaiian Connection (2)
    6.7/10(144 votes)

    S6:E2

    The diamond thieves continue their plot to have Fred smuggle the stolen diamonds into the United States. Freddy Wells sneaks into Fred's hotel room and plants the diamonds in his suitcase. Later, Lamont and Fred discover the diamonds and hesitate to call the police.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Sanford and Son Season 5 Episode 18 - Lamont in Love
    6.7/10(117 votes)

    S5:E18

    Lamont has been seeing Janet for quite awhile and Lamont thinks he's in love. But he doesn't know too much about her and hasn't wanted to push her into telling him. Thus, Fred decides to find out exactly what she's hiding and he goes undercover with Aunt Esther to dig up the dirt.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Sanford and Son Season 3 Episode 20 - Will the Real Fred Sanford Please Do Something?
    6.8/10(150 votes)

    S3:E20

    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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  5. Sanford and Son Season 4 Episode 12 - Tower Power
    6.8/10(150 votes)

    S4:E12

    After Lamont's friend Sandra takes Fred and Lamont to an art museum, Fred finds out that he can make art out of the junk in his pile. Thus, Fred begins the creation that will convey his legacy for eternity. However, the final result is far from an artistic masterpiece and Lamont has to decide how to break the news to his proud father.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Sanford and Son Season 6 Episode 1 - The Hawaiian Connection (1)
    6.9/10(164 votes)

    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

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  7. Sanford and Son Season 4 Episode 17 - Strange Bedfellows
    6.9/10(134 votes)

    S4:E17

    Lamont's politically involved girlfriend stresses involvement in the community's problems. This leads Lamont to phone into a radio talk show to express his views. Positive reaction leads to Lamont deciding to run for state assembly. But Fred soon finds out that this means that Lamont may move to Sacramento and leave the junk business.

    Director:Norman Abbott
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Sanford and Son Season 5 Episode 24 - Camping Trip
    6.9/10(121 votes)

    S5:E24

    Fred and Lamont go on a camping trip in the wilderness but Fred quickly gets sick of the great outdoors and demands that they return home. However, they quickly realize that they are stranded when the truck refuses to start. This leads father and son to reminisce about times they have spent together. Fred and Lamont recall scenes from previous episodes including: My Kingdom for a Horse, Earthquake II and The Engagement Man Always Rings Twice

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:Garry Shandling

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  9. Sanford and Son Season 5 Episode 19 - The Escorts
    6.9/10(119 votes)

    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

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  10. Sanford and Son Season 6 Episode 6 - I Dream of Choo Choo Rabinowitz
    6.9/10(119 votes)

    S6:E6

    Lamont's mother-in-law to be is coming to Watts for a visit and Fred is a little concerned about what she's going to think of a common junk man. This leads Fred to decide to create a legacy and tries to set a world's record and get his name in the Guinness Book of World Records. His goal is to be the person to stay awake the longest.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Sanford and Son Season 5 Episode 23 - Sergeant Gork
    6.9/10(118 votes)

    S5:E23

    While Fred is babysitting his soon-to-be grandson, Roger helps a customer and sells him some junk including three medals. After Fred learns of Roger's sale he envisions a story about just how he got those medals. Fred's story has him as a Patton like character fighting during World War II and battling espionage.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Sanford and Son Season 6 Episode 5 - The Stakeout
    6.9/10(111 votes)

    S6:E5

    Fred becomes smitten with a woman, Miss Wallace who comes to the Sanford residence looking for a place to stay at the Sanford Arms. Meanwhile, a thief has been spotted in the neighborhood and to get the reward money, Fred lets the cops set up a stakeout in his home. However, Fred is in for a shock since the thief has been in disguise as Miss Wallace.

    Director:Norman Abbott
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Sanford and Son Season 4 Episode 8 - My Kingdom For a Horse (a.k.a.) First Night Out
    7.0/10(146 votes)

    S4:E8

    Fred makes a deal and buys a horse with a great racing history. Fred tries to get the animal to breed so that he can have a lot of money making champions hoofing and stomping around the place. However, there is just one problem Fred must overcome, the horse he bought is a gelding, which has Lamont saying "I told you so" to yet another one of Fred's moneymaking schemes.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Sanford and Son Season 4 Episode 19 - Golden Boy
    7.0/10(142 votes)

    S4:E19

    Fred's friend, Yerby is the manager of a champion boxer, Junior Joe Louis. Fred goes in and buys half ownership. Fred then begins training the boxer for an upcoming fight but soon runs into trouble. For Junior is pulled from the fight because of to Fred's stubbornness.

    Director:Norman Abbott
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Sanford and Son Season 6 Episode 3 - The Hawaiian Connection (3)
    7.0/10(129 votes)

    S6:E3

    During a mishap at the airport Fred accidentally misplaces the suitcase with the diamonds and the crooks start chasing Lamont and him all over Hawaii, trying to get them back. Meanwhile, the cops close on in, but not before guns are drawn on Fred and Lamont as the crooks trap them on a boat.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Sanford and Son Season 5 Episode 7 - Della, Della, Della
    7.0/10(128 votes)

    S5:E7

    The Sanford home has become a campaign headquarters for the candidate Bob Williams and Fred wants nothing to do with it. However, once Fred discovers, Della Reese is working on the campaign of Williams' opponent, he goes all out for it even thought he's not for the candidate.

    Director:Mark Warren
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Sanford and Son Season 6 Episode 4 - California Crude
    7.0/10(121 votes)

    S6:E4

    Fred and Lamont have been busy planting a small garden in their yard when suddenly a professor stumbles in and suggests that they may be sitting on some oil. Later, Fred plants his scarecrow in the garden and actually strikes some oil. This leads to Fred and Lamont to ponder the fact that they may soon be millionaires.

    Director:Norman Abbott
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Sanford and Son Season 6 Episode 17 - A Matter of Silence
    7.0/10(115 votes)

    S6:E17

    The Sanford residence is in chaos and it is all due to Fred's sudden loss of hearing. Lamont is convinced Fred has a problem, but Fred denies it but Lamont takes him to a doctor just the same. However, after the doctor removes the wax build up, Fred decides to stay "deaf" just a little bit longer in an attempt to hold Donna's attention.

    Director:Russ Petranto
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Sanford and Son Season 6 Episode 13 - Sanford and Gong
    7.0/10(111 votes)

    S6:E13

    Lamont runs into Chuck Barris in a parking lot and he generously gives Lamont four tickets to a taping of The Gong Show, which happens to be Fred's favorite game show. Fred decides to try to be a contestant and sets up an act with his brother-in-law, Rodney and Lamont. However, at the last minute, Rodney hurts his back and can't be in the act.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Sanford and Son Season 5 Episode 22 - A Pain in the Neck
    7.0/10(105 votes)

    S5:E22

    Fred is being honored with the Watts Businessman-of-the-Year Award and he's all hyped up about accepting it. However, an unexpected turn of events lands Fred with a serious back problem and takes up means to try to get rid of it, including, acupuncture, meditation and a corset.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Sanford and Son Season 5 Episode 14 - Can You Chop This?
    7.1/10(134 votes)

    S5:E14

    Lamont has been saving for acting school and has just enough money. Meanwhile, Fred sees a commercial for a get rich quick scheme and decides to give it a try. Thus, he invests Lamont's money in a supply of Whopper Choppers that he must try to sell. However, selling them is the hard part.

    Director:Mark Warren
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Sanford and Son Season 6 Episode 8 - Committee Man
    7.1/10(110 votes)

    S6:E8

    Fred has been chosen to represent the Watt's businessmen on a community relatives committee and his first official decision is to allow the public library to be open an hour longer. However, his next decision doesn't seem to be so easy to decide after a crooked businessman tries to bribe Fred with $1000 to vote for a building expansion.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Garry Shandling

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  23. Sanford and Son Season 2 Episode 23 - The Kid
    7.2/10(166 votes)

    S2:E23

    A 9 year old runaway child shows up on the Sanfords' property and Fred is against having any little kids around to cause problems but Fred quickly lightens up the young boy despite his gruff exterior. Fred then takes it upon himself to teach the kid to appreciate what he's got at home.

    Director:Jack Shea
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Sanford and Son Season 2 Episode 19 - The Infernal Triangle
    7.2/10(149 votes)

    S2:E19

    Fred meets a young woman and he quickly announces to Lamont that he has proposed to her. However, Lamont is in for a big surprise when he meets Fred's fiancee who just happens to be Lamont's old flame, whom he would like to marry himself.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Sanford and Son Season 4 Episode 9 - Sanford and Niece
    7.2/10(148 votes)

    S4:E9

    Fred has a romantic night planned with Donna but Aunt Esther drops in at the last moment with some news, her neice, Elizabeth is in town and she wants Fred to have her stay with him. Fred is against the idea at first but when he takes one look at her he agrees, she is the spitting image of his late-wife, Elizabeth. However, there is another problem, Elizabeth is planning to move into an apartment in town and she will have two roommates, one female and the other male.

    Director:Norman Abbott
    Writer:Unknown

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Worst Episodes Summary

"The Family Man" is the worst rated episode of Sanford and Son. It scored 5.9/10 from 183 votes. Directed by Bud Yorkin and written by Unknown, it aired on April 25, 1975. This episode scored 0.8 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Hawaiian Connection (2)".

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