The Sanford Arms
Encyclopedia
The Sanford Arms is an American sitcom that aired from September to October 1977
on NBC
. The series is an attempted continuation of the sitcom Sanford and Son
.
After six seasons, Redd Foxx
left Sanford and Son to star in a variety show
for ABC
. The producers planned to continue the series with Demond Wilson
as Lamont, but Wilson left the project in a dispute over his expected salary as the star of the series. The producers decided to continue the project with a new character. Norman Lear
stepped down from his position as executive producer
but stayed on as a consultant
.
), a widower and old Army
buddy of Fred Sanford's. It was explained that Fred and Lamont had moved to Arizona
and they sold their property to Phil. Phil now lived in the Sanfords' old house with his two teenage children, Angie and Nat. The primary setting of the series, however, was the rooming house next door which Fred named "The Sanford Arms". Fred and Lamont bought the house in the penultimate season of the original series. The new series focused on Phil's attempts to turn the rooming house into a successful hotel
.
Most of the recurring character
s from the original series also starred in this series. Grady
(Whitman Mayo
) was now married to his girlfriend Dolly (who appeared in an episode of the original series). Bubba (Don Bexley
) now worked at the Sanford Arms as a bellboy and a maintenance man. Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page
) was left in charge helping Phil and collecting the mortgage
payments. Rounding out the cast of characters was Phil's girlfriend, Jeannie.
The attempt to continue a popular series without its two main stars turned out to be a failure. The ratings
were dismal and the show was cancelled after four episodes. When Redd Foxx returned to TV as Fred Sanford in the 1980-1981 spinoff Sanford
, the events of The Sanford Arms were completely ignored.
package with Sanford and Son. Eight episodes had been produced, but the final four episodes did not air before the series' abrupt cancellation. In 1991, BET
aired reruns of the series.
1977 in television
The year 1977 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1977.For the American TV schedule, see: 1977-78 American network television schedule.-Events:...
on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. The series is an attempted continuation of the sitcom Sanford and Son
Sanford and Son
Sanford and Son is an American sitcom, based on the BBC's Steptoe and Son, that ran on the NBC television network from January 14, 1972, to March 25, 1977....
.
After six seasons, Redd Foxx
Redd Foxx
John Elroy Sanford , better known by his stage name Redd Foxx, was an American comedian and actor, best known for his starring role on the sitcom Sanford and Son.-Early life:...
left Sanford and Son to star in a variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
for ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. The producers planned to continue the series with Demond Wilson
Demond Wilson
Grady Demond Wilson is an American actor, author, and pastor. He is best known for his role opposite Redd Foxx as Fred Sanford's long-suffering son, Lamont Sanford, in the 1970s’ NBC-TV sitcom Sanford and Son....
as Lamont, but Wilson left the project in a dispute over his expected salary as the star of the series. The producers decided to continue the project with a new character. Norman Lear
Norman Lear
Norman Milton Lear is an American television writer and producer who produced such 1970s sitcoms as All in the Family, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Good Times and Maude...
stepped down from his position as executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
but stayed on as a consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
.
Premise
The new lead character was Phil Wheeler (Theodore WilsonTheodore Wilson
Theodore "Teddy" Wilson was an American character actor best known for his recurring role as Sweet Daddy Williams on the CBS sitcom Good Times.-Career:...
), a widower and old Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
buddy of Fred Sanford's. It was explained that Fred and Lamont had moved to Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and they sold their property to Phil. Phil now lived in the Sanfords' old house with his two teenage children, Angie and Nat. The primary setting of the series, however, was the rooming house next door which Fred named "The Sanford Arms". Fred and Lamont bought the house in the penultimate season of the original series. The new series focused on Phil's attempts to turn the rooming house into a successful hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
.
Most of the recurring character
Recurring character
A recurring character is a fictional character, usually in a prime time TV series, who appears from time to time during the series' run. Recurring characters often play major roles in an episode, sometimes being the main focus...
s from the original series also starred in this series. Grady
Grady Wilson
----Grady Wilson is the name of a fictional recurring character on the NBC sitcom Sanford and Son played by the late Whitman Mayo. The character's name first appeared in the 1972 episode "The Dowry;" however, in this episode he was played by Albert Reed, Jr. and he was Fred's cousin...
(Whitman Mayo
Whitman Mayo
Whitman B. Mayo was an American actor best known for his character Grady Wilson on the 1970s television sitcom Sanford and Son....
) was now married to his girlfriend Dolly (who appeared in an episode of the original series). Bubba (Don Bexley
Don Bexley
Donald Thomas Bexley was an American actor and comedian, best known for playing Fred Sanford 's friend Bubba Bexley on the 1970s television sitcom Sanford and Son. He was a standup comedian on the Chitlin' Circuit as a solo act and as part of comedy teams, during which time he became acquainted...
) now worked at the Sanford Arms as a bellboy and a maintenance man. Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page
LaWanda Page
LaWanda Page , born Alberta Peal, was an American actress and comedienne best known for her portrayal of Aunt Esther in the 1970s TV sitcom Sanford and Son.-Early life and career:...
) was left in charge helping Phil and collecting the mortgage
Mortgage loan
A mortgage loan is a loan secured by real property through the use of a mortgage note which evidences the existence of the loan and the encumbrance of that realty through the granting of a mortgage which secures the loan...
payments. Rounding out the cast of characters was Phil's girlfriend, Jeannie.
The attempt to continue a popular series without its two main stars turned out to be a failure. The ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
were dismal and the show was cancelled after four episodes. When Redd Foxx returned to TV as Fred Sanford in the 1980-1981 spinoff Sanford
Sanford (TV series)
Sanford is an American situation comedy, which was the revival of the 1972–1977 sitcom Sanford and Son.-Background:In 1977, after six seasons of Sanford and Son, Redd Foxx decided to leave the NBC show to star in a variety show for ABC. His new show, The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour, was cancelled...
, the events of The Sanford Arms were completely ignored.
Episodes
| Series # | Season # | Title | Notes | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Bye, Fred, Hi, Phil | Fred and Lamont are gone, and Phil Wheeler takes control of "The Sanford Arms" hotel. Grady and his new wife Dolly (from Sanford and Son, "Grady and His Lady") check in to spend their honeymoon at the Sanford Arms, while Phil and Bubba try to find a way to come up with the rent money for the month. Note When Grady and Dolly check in, it is explained that Fred and Lamont moved to Arizona due to Fred's health. | September 16, 1977 |
| 2 | 2 | The Grandparents | Nathaniel's grandparents come for a visit. As usual, they pester Phil to allow Nat to come and live with them in their upscale home in San Diego, reasoning that Watts is no place to raise a 12-year-old boy. Nat decides to go and live with his grandparents--but only to prove to them they are too old to handle a child of his age, | September 23, 1977 |
| 3 | 3 | Phil's Assertion School | Phil's plan to teach people to be more assertive backfires when a student decides to sue him. The matter is worked out when Phil, with the help of one of his daughter's friends, gets the student to realize he can be assertive. | September 30, 1977 |
| 4 | 4 | Phil's Past | To Esther's dismay, Phil tries to obtain a liqour license for The Sanford Arms. His attempts are halted when a past incident stands in his way. | October 14, 1977 |
| 5 | 5 | The TV Show | No synopsis available. | Unaired |
| 6 | 6 | Young Love | No synopsis available. | Unaired |
| 7 | 7 | The Wedding Reception | No synopsis available. | Unaired |
| 8 | 8 | The Ernie Williams Memorial Golf Course | No synopsis available. | Unaired |
Syndication
The Sanford Arms was not included in the syndicationTelevision syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
package with Sanford and Son. Eight episodes had been produced, but the final four episodes did not air before the series' abrupt cancellation. In 1991, BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
aired reruns of the series.