Revolution Televised.pdf

96 This Ain’t No Junk
Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page) is used to question Bible thumping in the black church.
to cast Sanford and Son into the category of stereotype is to ignore
its positioning within traditional African American folklore.
“The Great Sanford Siege” (March 3, 1972) illustrates the workings
of the trickster and also exemplifies another aspect of African
American humor, the physical component. 22 Fred’s constant complaints
of heart attacks or his arthritis with his flailing arms and
stumbling movements exemplify the ways in which the physical
combines with the verbal to present the nuances of African American
humor. The episode begins with Fred and Lamont discussing
the numerous final notices from unpaid bills. According to Fred the
“bills come in time but there has been a slight delay on the money.”
The lights and the gas in the house have been turned off, and the
two are stuck at home avoiding a summons server. A collection
agent from the Luau Layaway Furniture Company (Dick Van Patten)
arrives to repossess his furniture, and he eventually brings the
police. When Fred realizes that nothing will stop the repossession
of the furniture and the television, he fakes a back injury. Lamont
joins in the charade by helping his moaning father over to the
couch, telling the repossessor, “All I know is that you threw an old
man down the stairs.” The repossessor continues to protest while
Fred pulls out all the stops, “Hear that, Elizabeth, I’m coming to