The BEST episodes of Sanford and Son season 3

Every episode of Sanford and Son season 3, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Sanford and Son season 3!

The misadventures of a cantankerous old man and his son, partners in the family junk business in Los Angeles' Watts neighborhood.

Last Updated: 9/3/2024Network: NBCStatus: Ended
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Fred Sanford, Legal Eagle
star
8.38
50 votes

#1 - Fred Sanford, Legal Eagle

Season 3 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/11/1974

When Lamont tries to contest a traffic ticket, Fred creates disorder in the court.

Directors: Bob Lahendro
Writer: Gene Farmer
Watch Now:Amazon
The Party Crasher
star
8.26
42 votes

#2 - The Party Crasher

Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/8/1974

Lamont and Rollo set up a rendezvous at Rollo's place with two girls that doesn't go as planned, but Fred stops by and saves the day.

Directors: Stan Lathan
Writer: Gene Farmer
Watch Now:Amazon
The Blind Mellow Jelly Collection (a.k.a.) The Chameleon
star
8.26
47 votes

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

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/16/1973

Fred donates a collection of Blind Mellow Jelly records to a library for a tax deduction, but after learning of the records' monetary value, he cooks up a scheme to get them back.

Directors: Mark Warren
Writer: Phil Mishkin
Watch Now:Amazon
Fred's Cheating Heart
star
8.24
34 votes

#4 - Fred's Cheating Heart

Season 3 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/1/1974

Fed up with all of Fred's fake heart attacks, Lamont forces his father to check into the hospital for tests.

Directors: Stan Lathan
Writer: Ilunga Adell
Watch Now:Amazon
Tyranny, Thy Name Is Grady
star
8.08
36 votes

#5 - Tyranny, Thy Name Is Grady

Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/1/1974

With Fred away in St. Louis, Grady rules the house with an iron fist.

Directors: Stan Lathan
Writer: Gene Farmer
Watch Now:Amazon
Libra Rising All Over Lamont
star
8.00
58 votes

#6 - Libra Rising All Over Lamont

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/21/1973

Inspired by a visit to an astrologist, Lamont seeks peace with his father, but Fred is convinced that his indigestion may be fatal.

Directors: Jack Shea
Writer: Ilunga Adell
Watch Now:Amazon
Hello, Cousin Emma...Goodbye, Cousin Emma
star
8.00
34 votes

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

Season 3 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/29/1974

Grady's cousin Emma comes to visit and tries to take advantage of his hospitality.

Directors: Hal Cooper
Writer: Bill Manhoff
Watch Now:Amazon
Fred, the Reluctant Fingerman
star
7.97
60 votes

#8 - Fred, the Reluctant Fingerman

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/28/1973

After Fred witnesses a burglary at Julio's place but refuses to identify the culprits, Lamont and Julio turn the tables to show Fred the value of being a good neighbor.

Directors: Jack Shea
Writer: Gene Farmer
Watch Now:Amazon
Wine, Women and Aunt Esther (a.k.a.) Leaving the Nest
star
7.96
51 votes

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

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/14/1973

After the death of a friend, Fred and his buddies throw a party to feel young again but run out of gas long before they can make time with a group of younger women.

Directors: Peter Baldwin
Writer: Ilunga Adell
Watch Now:Amazon
Lamont, Is That You?
star
7.94
54 votes

#10 - Lamont, Is That You?

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/19/1973

After Bubba spots Lamont and Rollo mistakenly entering a gay bar, an incredulous Fred tries to find out if his son has become a homosexual.

Directors: Peter Baldwin
Watch Now:Amazon
Lamont Goes Karate
star
7.94
34 votes

#11 - Lamont Goes Karate

Season 3 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/15/1974

Beaten up by a barroom bully, Lamont takes karate lessons to defend himself against the thug.

Directors: Bud Yorkin
Writer: Ilunga Adell
Watch Now:Amazon
Presenting the Three Degrees
star
7.94
49 votes

#12 - Presenting the Three Degrees

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/5/1973

Rollo and Lamont convince Fred to let their three-girl singing act stay at the house, but Fred and his rowdy friends ruin the opening performance.

Directors: Peter Baldwin
Writer: Ilunga Adell
Watch Now:Amazon
Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe
star
7.90
39 votes

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

Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/4/1974

Longtime family friend Grip comes to visit, with a shocking claim: he thinks he is Lamont's real father.

Directors: Jack Shea
Writer: Ilunga Adell
Watch Now:Amazon
Fuentes, Fuentes, Sanford & Chico
star
7.88
50 votes

#14 - Fuentes, Fuentes, Sanford & Chico

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/26/1973

Convinced that Lamont is abandoning the business, Fred takes a bed at a seedy flophouse.

Directors: Jack Shea
Writer: Gene Farmer
Watch Now:Amazon
Lamont as Othello
star
7.83
63 votes

#15 - Lamont as Othello

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/14/1973

While visiting the home of Lamont's white drama teacher, Fred surprises the woman's parents and exposes their prejudices as well as his own.

Directors: Peter Baldwin
Writer: Ilunga Adell
Watch Now:Amazon
Grady, The Star Boarder
star
7.78
40 votes

#16 - Grady, The Star Boarder

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 11/30/1973

To make some extra cash, Fred and Lamont take in Grady as a boarder but soon regret the decision.

Directors: Jack Shea
Writer: Gene Farmer
Watch Now:Amazon
This Land Is Whose Land?
star
7.74
34 votes

#17 - This Land Is Whose Land?

Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/18/1974

Angry with Julio for leaving junk on his property, Fred gets a surveyor to mark the property line but is not pleased with the results.

Directors: Peter Baldwin
Writer: Ilunga Adell
Watch Now:Amazon
A House Is Not a Poolroom
star
7.71
42 votes

#18 - A House Is Not a Poolroom

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/23/1973

Lamont regrets his birthday gift to Fred of a pool table, which has turned the house into a billiards room for Fred and his shiftless friends.

Directors: Jack Shea
Writer: Winston Moss
Watch Now:Amazon
Will the Real Fred Sanford Please Do Something?
star
7.71
34 votes

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

Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/22/1974

A confused woman visits the house, insisting that Grady is Fred, the man with whom she had spent a drunken evening.

Directors: Stan Lathan
Writer: Aaron Ruben
Watch Now:Amazon
The Members of the Wedding (a.k.a.) The Engagement
star
7.70
43 votes

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

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/9/1973

To spoil Fred's wedding plans with Donna, Lamont uses Esther and other family members to wreak havoc.

Directors: Jack Shea
Watch Now:Amazon
Superflyer
star
7.65
43 votes

#21 - Superflyer

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/2/1973

To claim an inheritance in St. Louis, a nervous Fred must take his first airplane flight.

Directors: Peter Baldwin
Watch Now:Amazon
The Way to Lamont's Heart
star
7.58
26 votes

#22 - The Way to Lamont's Heart

Season 3 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/15/1974

Spooked by his girlfriend's marriage ideas, Lamont uses Grady as the reason he can't tie the knot.

Directors: Hal Cooper
Watch Now:Amazon
This Little TV Went to Market
star
7.53
51 votes

#23 - This Little TV Went to Market

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/12/1973

Fred's new TV turns out to be one stolen from Grady, so Fred tries to unload it on Julio.

Directors: Peter Baldwin
Writer: Gene Farmer
Watch Now:Amazon
Aunt Esther and Uncle Woodrow Pffttt...
star
7.52
29 votes

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

Season 3 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/8/1974

Woody comes to stay with Lamont and Grady after a fight with Esther.

Directors: Bud Yorkin
Writer: Ilunga Adell
Watch Now:Amazon