The WORST episodes of Sanford and Son

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

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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The Family Man
star
6.29
17 votes

#1 - The Family Man

Season 4 - Episode 25 - Aired 4/25/1975

In this backdoor pilot for the '"Grady" spinoff series, Grady gives his daughter a tasteless painting to hang over the fireplace just in time for a high-class party.

Directors: Bud Yorkin
School Daze
star
6.64
11 votes

#2 - School Daze

Season 6 - Episode 25 - Aired 3/25/1977

Fred and Bubba take evening classes to earn their high-school equivalency diploma.

Directors: Carl McCarthy
The Older Woman
star
6.77
22 votes

#3 - The Older Woman

Season 4 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/7/1975

Fred tries to convince Lamont to end his romance with an older woman.

Directors: Alan Rafkin
Writer: Ted Bergman
The Will
star
6.83
18 votes

#4 - The Will

Season 6 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/18/1977

Fred draws up his will and holds a reading of it in the living room.

Directors: Russ Petranto
The Escorts
star
6.91
22 votes

#5 - The Escorts

Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/13/1976

Fred starts an escort service but must entertain three ladies at the same time.

Directors: Alan Rafkin
Writer: Jerry Ross
Sanford and Gong
star
6.94
17 votes

#6 - Sanford and Gong

Season 6 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/17/1976

Lamont, Fred and Bubba face the music as contestants on The Gong Show.

Directors: Bill Foster
The Over-the-Hill Gag
star
6.96
26 votes

#7 - The Over-the-Hill Gag

Season 4 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/14/1975

Mistakenly believing that Fred is dying, Lamont prepares a party and tries to get Lena Horne to visit.

Directors: Stan Lathan
Della, Della, Della
star
7.00
24 votes

#8 - Della, Della, Della

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/31/1975

An encounter with Della Reese causes Fred to support a political candidate whose opponent is backed by Lamont.

Directors: Mark Warren
A Matter of Silence
star
7.00
20 votes

#9 - A Matter of Silence

Season 6 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/28/1977

Fred uses his temporary hearing troubles to attract Donna's attention.

Directors: Russ Petranto
Writer: John T. Bell
When John Comes Marching Home
star
7.00
18 votes

#10 - When John Comes Marching Home

Season 6 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/4/1977

The surprise appearance of Janet's ex-husband threatens to spoil Lamont's plans to marry her.

Directors: Russ Petranto
Sergeant Gork
star
7.04
24 votes

#11 - Sergeant Gork

Season 5 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/12/1976

Fred's tall tales about World War II give way to fantasy sequences starring the entire cast.

Directors: Bill Wyse
Writer: Ted Bergman
Julio and Sister and Nephew
star
7.13
30 votes

#12 - Julio and Sister and Nephew

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/15/1974

When Julio's sister and nephew visit and must stay with the Sanfords, Fred becomes involved with the nephew's problems at school.

Directors: Alan Rafkin
Brother, Can You Spare an Act?
star
7.14
28 votes

#13 - Brother, Can You Spare an Act?

Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/17/1975

To help new brother-in-law Rodney, Fred teams up with an old friend to make Rodney's gig as nightclub impresario a success.

Directors: Bill Foster
The Engagement Man Always Rings Twice
star
7.15
20 votes

#14 - The Engagement Man Always Rings Twice

Season 5 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/20/1976

After Lamont pops the question to Janet, Fred worries that the marriage will cause him to be alone.

Directors: Lewis Gomavitz
Writer: Ted Bergman
The Reverend Sanford
star
7.17
18 votes

#15 - The Reverend Sanford

Season 6 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/11/1977

To avoid paying taxes, Fred becomes a clergyman in a disreputable church that could cost him dearly.

Directors: Russ Petranto
Writer: Jim Belcher
Fred the Activist
star
7.19
21 votes

#16 - Fred the Activist

Season 6 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/25/1977

Angered by a local store's discriminatory credit policy, Fred organizes a group of fellow senior citizens.

Directors: Russ Petranto
Fred Sings the Blues
star
7.21
24 votes

#17 - Fred Sings the Blues

Season 6 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/18/1977

The Sanfords meet blues legend B.B. King, who has something significant in common with Fred.

Directors: Russ Petranto
A Pain in the Neck
star
7.21
24 votes

#18 - A Pain in the Neck

Season 5 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/5/1976

Fred resorts to desperate measures to overcome his sudden back pain in time for an awards banquet in his honor.

Directors: Alan Rafkin
Aunt Esther Meets Her Son
star
7.21
19 votes

#19 - Aunt Esther Meets Her Son

Season 6 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/10/1976

Esther and Woody adopt a teenage boy whose attitude and beliefs don't sit well with Esther.

Directors: Al Rabin
Committee Man
star
7.24
21 votes

#20 - Committee Man

Season 6 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/12/1976

Fred's position as a community councilman draws the attention of a crooked slumlord looking to pass a bribe.

Directors: Chuck Liotta
California Crude
star
7.25
24 votes

#21 - California Crude

Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/8/1976

Fred's outdoor garden may actually be the site of a lucrative crude oil strike.

Directors: Norman Abbott
star
7.25
24 votes

#22 - The Hawaiian Connection (2)

Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/24/1976

Tower Power
star
7.28
25 votes

#23 - Tower Power

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/6/1974

Fred becomes inspired to create a work of art out of junk as his legacy for eternity.

Directors: Bill Foster
Writer: Calvin Kelly
The Hawaiian Connection (3)
star
7.29
21 votes

#24 - The Hawaiian Connection (3)

Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/1/1976

When Fred and Lamont discover stolen diamonds intended to be smuggled to the mainland, the thieves chase them all over Hawaii.

Directors: Alan Rafkin
My Kingdom For a Horse (a.k.a.) First Night Out
star
7.29
35 votes

#25 - My Kingdom For a Horse (a.k.a.) First Night Out

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/1/1974

Fred buys a racehorse for breeding purposes but soon finds the animal isn't fit for the task.

Directors: Bill Foster
Writer: Arnie Rosen