Ep 9. The Shootout
- TVPG
- November 17, 1972
- 25 min
-
7.8 (145)
Sanford and Son was a popular American sitcom that premiered on NBC in 1972. The show starred Redd Foxx as Fred Sanford, a cantankerous junk dealer who ran his business with his son Lamont, played by Demond Wilson. The second season of the show was particularly successful, drawing in a large audience and earning critical acclaim.
The ninth episode of Sanford and Son's second season, titled "The Shootout," aired on November 8, 1973. The episode opens with Fred and Lamont at home, watching a spaghetti western on television. Fred becomes enamored with the film's shootouts and gunfights and decides that he wants to buy a gun for himself. Lamont tries to dissuade him, pointing out that Fred has a history of getting into trouble when he gets agitated.
Despite Lamont's warnings, Fred goes ahead and buys a gun from a shady character he meets at a bar. He then proceeds to try and show off his new weapon to all of his friends around the neighborhood, causing a great deal of consternation among his family and neighbors. Lamont tries to convince his father to get rid of the gun, but Fred becomes increasingly defiant and refuses to give it up.
As the episode progresses, various characters get pulled into Fred's obsession with the gun, including his friend Bubba, who agrees to help Fred buy more weapons, and Grady, who accidentally gets handcuffed to Fred during an argument over the gun. All of this culminates in a chaotic scene in which Fred, Grady, and Lamont all end up pointing their guns at one another in a misguided attempt to prove who is the best shot.
Overall, "The Shootout" is a classic episode of Sanford and Son that showcases the show's trademark blend of humor and heart. The show was praised during its original run for its ability to tackle serious issues such as race and poverty while still maintaining a light touch and providing plenty of laughs. The second season of the show is widely regarded as one of its strongest, and "The Shootout" stands out as a particularly memorable episode from that era.
