TV Episode: "Mama's Baby, Daddy's Maybe" from "Sanford and Son"

This episode originally aired on January 4, 1974, and it is my number one favorite episode from "Sanford and Son". 

The day starts off pleasantly enough with Fred (Redd Foxx) anticipating a visit from one of his old friends from St. Louis, MO named Grip Madlock (Sonny Jim Gaines).  When Grady (Whitman Mayo) hears this, he tells Fred that the purpose of Grip's visit is to see his son -- Lamont (Demond Wilson).  Grip has a reputation as a practical joker, so Fred dismisses this as just another one of them.

When Grip arrives, Fred laughs as he tells him what Grady said.  The laughter turns to anger when Grip announces that he believes that he is Lamont's real father.  Grip maintains that he and Fred's late wife, Elizabeth, had a night together that produced Lamont.  Lamont comes in from working, and after having his memory jogged, he remembers who Grip is and warmly welcomes him.  Fred is steamed when it appears that Grip is making comparisons in an attempt to prove that Lamont looks like him.  But neither man says anything to Lamont about their conversation.

Later, Fred invites his sister-in-law Esther (LaWanda Page) over to the house to see Grip.  "Big Money Grip?  My sister Elizabeth was crazy about you!" she says upon seeing Grip.  Fred demands that his old friend tell Esther the reason for his visit.  When he does, it's Esther's turn to be angry, and her reaction to the news sounds like an ad-lib that wasn't in the script; the audience howls.  She goes on to declare that Elizabeth was as pure as the driven snow, to which Fred replies, "And you're looking at the only driver she ever had!"

Grip will not back off of his story, so Esther suggests to Fred that they both give Grip a beat down.  Lamont comes home, saving Grip.  Fred explains the situation to Lamont.  Lamont gives a heartfelt speech to Fred, stating that he'll always recognize him as his dad.  He also tells Grip that whatever happened between him and his late mother is their business, and he had nothing to do with it. 

Grip will not be swayed.  "Do I have to give the time, the date. . .?" he says.  He describes the house that Esther and her family lived in, and tells her that he came around to the window of the bedroom that belonged to Elizabeth.  Esther says that Grip is lying because that bedroom was hers.  It dawns on them that the woman Grip was with that night was Esther.  Fred, always eager to pick on Esther, tells her to give the full story.  Esther quotes Bible scripture then storms out of the house, as Grip looks horrified.

At the end of the episode, Lamont and Fred stop to think about what transpired between Esther and Grip and they shudder. 

"Sanford" (1980-1981)

This short-lived spin-off was the second one to come from "Sanford and Son" (1972-1977). It was not as good as the first show, but neither was it as bad as "The Sanford Arms"(1977), which had little to do with the original.

Fred Sanford was still his usual cranky and sneaky self. His son, Lamont, was not featured on this show, as he had taken a better job out of state. In his place was Cal Pettie (Dennis Burkley), a former co-worker of Lamont's, who agreed to be Fred's partner in the junk business. Cal was a jovial good 'ole boy who learned to deal with Fred's ranting and sarcasm.

Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page) and Lamont's best friend Rollo (Nathaniel Taylor) were back to serve as objects of Fred's non-stop insults. Fred had a new girlfriend, Eve Lewis (Margueritte Ray), who was wealthy and lived in Beverly Hills. Her mother, Cissy (Cathy Cooper), couldn't stand Fred, thinking that her widowed daughter could do better than a junkman.

There were some good moments in this series, but as they say, the magic was gone. The chemistry between Fred and Cal was no substitute for the rapport the old man had with Lamont. Cissy was similar to Aunt Esther in that she was a second disgareeable woman for Fred to mix it up with, and it's possible that character didn't need to be there.

Clinton Derricks-Carroll also appeared on this show as a relative of Aunt Esther's. It has long been rumored that Nathaniel Taylor is actually a relative of late soul singer Johnny Taylor, but that hasn't been proven.