Sanford and Son (TV Series) Sanford and Son and Sister Makes Three (1972) User Reviews

Richard Pryor scripts the last of two

[kevinolzak · 10/10 · 17 December 2016]

"Sanford and Son and Sister Makes Three" was Richard Pryor's second and final script, topping the hilarious "The Dowry" as if such a thing were possible. Fred is once again expecting company, this time old St. Louis flame Juanita Grismore (Ja'net DuBois), a fiery dancer with Spanish blood and a beautiful daughter named Alice (Emily Yancy). Though Lamont tries to get away for a date, one look at Alice and he offers to get their tail light fixed in a jiffy, as Fred cautions: "you better get it fixed, cause they death on a ni--er with one light!" Juanita starts reminiscing with Fred, discusses how her husband died, and how he went to his grave knowing that Alice wasn't his daughter. At first Fred isn't able to connect the dots, until Juanita reminds him of the Harvest Moon Ball: "oh I think I'm havin' a big one...if Alice is our daughter then Lamont is out with his sister!" Lamont wakes up in love, ready to pop the question after a late night spent under the Watts Tower! Juanita and Alice drop in to cook dinner, Lamont reduced to a whimper with every kiss from Alice, Fred wearing a brand new gift from Juanita: "it's a smoking jacket, you got somethin' to smoke?" Though the evening doesn't go as planned the audience wouldn't have it any other way. Pretty Emily Yancy was coming off a vampirized role in "Blacula," a comely victim of William Marshall, a long television career in her future. Richard Pryor, like so many black comics of his era, grew up listening to Redd Foxx, and in this instance happily paid tribute to his idol, later appearing on screen with Foxx in 1989's "Harlem Nights" (he also wrote for Flip Wilson and the Mel Brooks feature "Blazing Saddles"). It's no coincidence that with Pryor on board, Foxx would utter the 'N' word sooner or later!