The problem I had however honestly, was the fact that it seemed as if there was a disconnect in the writing and the mentality of the show creators and what was really going on within the culture. The characters came to life whenever the show was on, and Aunt Esther and Grady were two reoccurring characters that would build up their own following. Norman Lear was a vital force in pushing for black sitcoms and this would be one of his greatest creations in many ways, as Quincy Jones composed the infamous theme for the show. The story of Fred and Lamont Sanford was hilarity personified, and Redd Foxx put forth enough jokes, charisma, and wit to carry the show for 6 seasons with over 135 episodes. When referencing my favorite black sitcoms, I tend to look at most of the sitcoms from the 90's, as that's the decade I really became invested into television, but one sitcom from the 70's that always resonated with me was Sanford and Son. After a long run in standup that proved to be successful, Redd Foxx was given his own vehicle to star in a sitcom, one that would change television forever. He's in many ways one of the godfathers of comedy without a doubt. The beginning of the shift has to be attributed to Redd Foxx, I would say.
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