"The Puerto Ricans Are Coming!" marked the debut appearance of Gregory Sierra as neighbor and rival junk dealer Julio Fuentes (first of 12), as well as the farewell performance of Redd Foxx's longtime comedy partner Slappy White, here in his fifth episode as Melvin White (his only one this second season). The property next door has been vacant for years, a place where the entire neighborhood dumps their trash, enabling Fred to clean it up and sell back to them! Now it's been purchased by a new tenant who has already introduced himself to Lamont by serving mofongo, a national Puerto Rican dish. This is enough to bring out the bigot in Fred, who blames the Hispanics for bringing cockroaches to Harlem, and growing 'Latin lettuce' to use in 'South of the border butts.' Before Julio makes his entrance we meet his bearded billy goat Chico, still enough to frighten the old junkman. Julio wonders if he has something against chickens or goats, then suggests that he doesn't like Puerto Ricans: "now you got it!" Julio's response is a classic: "I would rather live with a young goat who gives milk than an old goat who gives trouble!" Once he learns that Julio intends to make his place a junk yard Fred has a message for Lamont: "you can say adios to your Puerto Rican Marx brothers, Julio, Chico, and Mofongo!" This feud would last into the fourth season and viewers would rejoice.
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