Aired: 1972-76
DAD: Fred G. Sanford (Redd Foxx) / Widower
DAD’S JOB: Junk Dealer
KIDS: Lamont (Demond Wilson) (almost 30)
WHERE’S MOM?: Dead a few years. Unknown cause.
STAND-IN “MOM”: Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page) / aunt
Fred Sanford pushed the limits of role reversal in the TV Single Dad framework. Fred’s world was basically financed by his son, Lamont. Lamont had no love for the situation he found himself in (caring for his incompetent Dad), but he realized his “duty” to Fred and continued operating the family junk business, no matter how difficult it was dealing with his father. This kind of child-guidance reversal of roles wasn’t matched by any other TV Single Dads’ show. In fact, the only show it comes near is the relationship between the niece Penny and her uncle in the animated series “Inspector Gadget” in 1982.