The show revolves around Fred G. Sanford (Redd Foxx), a widower who along with this son, Lamont (Demond Wilson) is a junk dealer in the Watts neighborhood in Los Angeles. Fred is a stubborn, argumentative old man who spends most of his time at home watching T.V. and "coordinating" the business and concocting get rich quick schemes with his friends Grady (Whitman Mayo) and Bubba (Don Bexley). Of course, the schemes usually target Grady and Bubba before blowing up in Fred's face, but the two are always ready to be swindled in Fred's next big idea.
Meanwhile, Lamont does all the work and is the reason the business is still running. Although he yearns for something more out of life, Lamont feels a sense of responsibility towards his father. That's not to say that Lamont doesn't also enter into a few "Get out of the ghetto" schemes of his own. These are usually the idea of his pal Rollo (Nathaniel Taylor), a local hood "businessman" and the would-be owner of the top spot on Fred's "it" list if Lamont's Puerto Rican friend Julio (Gregory Sierra) wasn't around. Lamont's schemes never end well either, prompting loads of verbal abuse from Fred, usually, "You big dummy!"
Most of the time, the two end up foiling each other's plans, though sometimes they get a little help from other reoccurring cast members, like Fred's Bible-thumping sister-in-law, Esther (LaWanda Page), or Officers Smitty (Hal Williams) and Hoppy (Howard Platt). Every episode with Esther is always a good one, especially when she and Fred get to trading verbal barbs.
The Sanford and Son: The Complete Series includes all six seasons of the show, though not every season is good one. Some of the best and most memorable shows come towards the beginning of the series, while it becomes obvious towards the middle that the writers were running out of things to do with the two. There's the parade of guest stars, including Blues legend B.B. King and Lena Horne, as well as the introduction of a kid to the series when Lamont begins to date a single mother.
The only downside to the set is the packaging. The cardboard box features a fold-in flap that lists the episodes while the discs are packaged together on a plastic spindle. It keeps the discs together, but it isn't the most ideal storage solution and ups the risk of damage if you aren't careful. But, for the price of $60 (nearly half the price of separate season purchases), Sanford and Son: The Complete Series is a good buy for fans who haven't already purchased the set or who are just getting into collecting TV shows.
