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Sanford & Son: Fred Wins Big in 'By the Numbers'
- Damian Ali
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
When luck strikes the Sanford yard, family and trouble follow close behind.
Demond Wilson as Lamont Sanford and Redd Foxx as Lamont Sanford talk at their kitchen table in “By the Numbers,” a standout early episode from Season 2 of Sanford & Son.
Fred warns Lamont about disrespecting Lena Horne in the episode’s opening scene, titled “By the Numbers.” A very stubborn Fred goes against Lamont’s wishes to avoid gambling and hits it big when he bets on numbers he received in a dream.
For the uninitiated: Based on the British sitcom Steptoe and Son, Sanford & Son follows Fred and his son, Lamont Sanford, who run a small, family-owned salvage yard. Each episode plays out as a father-and-son clash, with trouble finding both Fred and Lamont as they chase money, independence, or personal schemes, often pulling each other into the mess.
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Fred and Lamont Sanford sit side by side at home in the Sanford & Son episode-By the Numbers: Courtesy of NBCUniversal
Fred picks the winning numbers after translating his dream using “Lucky Lucille’s Dream Book.” With plans to use his newfound riches to travel to a place of “intrigue, excitement, wildlife, and big game,” referring to Las Vegas, the question becomes: will Fred make it out of town once friends and family find out he has money in his pocket?
I won’t spoil it for you (because I want you to see it again, or for the first time), but if you haven’t seen it, trust me when I say this episode will have you laughing. Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson have great comedic timing playing father and son.
(Check out a clip of the episode below.)
Scenes from Sanford & Son Season 2, Episode 1, By the Numbers, featuring Beah Richards as Aunt Ethel and David Moses as a robber: Courtesy of NBCUniversal
Each of the cast members and guest stars in this episode has had an impressive career, adding to the history and lasting appeal of the show. Beah Richards, who plays Aunt Ethel, starred alongside Sidney Poitier, Spencer Tracy, Isabel Sanford, and Katharine Hepburn in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. She also played Mae Benton on the medical drama ER for eight episodes.
In 2021, David Moses, who appears in this episode, helped introduce the character Ruby when he played her husband, Mel, on the Fantasy Island revival series. Earlier in his career, he portrayed Mr. Bryant on Small Wonder and appeared on the Prime Video series Bosch: Legacy, playing a character named Marty. In this episode, you see both guest stars in the early stages of their careers.
Don Bexley as Bubba and Beah Richards as Aunt Ethel in Sanford & Son Season 2, Episode 1, By the Numbers: Courtesy of NBCUniversal
The episode introduced viewers to new characters Bubba, played by Don Bexley, and Aunt Ethel, portrayed by Beah Richards. How Fred handles family and friends who are suddenly in need is especially funny. 'By the Numbers' (Season 2, Episode 1) stars Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson, Don Bexley, Beah Richards, and David Moses. It aired on September 15, 1972, and runs approximately twenty-five minutes.
It’s a perfect episode for anyone with relatives who play the daily pick-four. I remember, when I was younger, heading to the corner bodega to pick up the numbers and a new issue of TV Guide for my family. It’s a great episode filled with talent. You can watch this episode, along with all other episodes of Sanford & Son, on Peacock.
As always, if you made it this far, thanks for reading. If you watch this episode, let me know what you think.
Keep it interesting and stay channel surfing,
— Damian
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