Today in Black History the famous TV show Sanford and Son was released on January 14, 1972. The show starred Comedian Red Foxx and Desmond Wilson. This show aired on NBC for 5 years before ultimately being canceled on March 25, 1977.

Sanford and Son was a carbon copy of a British comedy called Steptoe and Sanford. This comedy ran from 1962-65 and then from 70-74. The show was based on a father and son who owned a junkyard business in London. Which is what Sanford and Son was about.

However, since comedian Redd Foxx’s real name is John Elroy Sanford, the NBC network decided to switch “Steptoe and Sanford” to the name “Sanford and Son”.