Sanford and Son (2025) is a bold, heartfelt, and smartly updated revival of the classic 1970s sitcom, reimagined for a new generation while paying loving tribute to the original’s iconic humor, characters, and cultural significance. Produced by a team including Kenya Barris and featuring executive input from the estates of Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson, the 2025 version blends sharp generational comedy, social commentary, and nostalgic callbacks in a fresh setting.
Set in modern-day South Central Los Angeles, the story now follows Lamont Sanford Jr., the witty and ambitious grandson of the original Lamont, who returns home after a failed tech startup to help his father, Lamont Sr., keep the family junk business afloat. The Sanford & Son salvage yard—still full of “treasures” and memories—is now surrounded by gentrification, rising rent, and changing values, yet remains a stubborn holdout of old-school pride.
Lamont Sr., played by a veteran actor in a role full of nods to Demond Wilson’s original character, has grown into a curmudgeonly version of his father Fred Sanford, full of biting one-liners, “back in my day” rants, and over-the-top heart attack fake-outs (“Elizabeth, I’m comin’!” makes a return—with a modern twist).
The generational clashes between Lamont Sr., Lamont Jr., and the community create the comedic tension. Jr. wants to modernize the business—sell online, turn the junkyard into a retro-chic boutique—while Sr. clings to tradition, pride, and a deep distrust of anything involving Wi-Fi.
The revival features a lively supporting cast, including:
- Aunt Esther’s granddaughter, now a firebrand preacher-influencer with social media clout and Esther’s trademark side-eye;
- Rollo’s son, a hustler with a heart who’s always selling something questionable;
- A local councilwoman, trying to buy the property and turn it into condos… or something more sinister.
Each episode mixes classic multi-cam sitcom structure with topical humor, addressing themes like family legacy, Black entrepreneurship, urban change, and the beauty (and chaos) of holding onto your roots in a world that keeps trying to move past them.
While full of laughs, the show doesn’t shy away from heart. Occasional flashbacks, old photos in the junkyard office, and even dream sequences allow for subtle tributes to Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx), whose presence is felt in spirit, timing, and sass.
The season finale ends with Lamont Jr. finally convincing his father to partner on a community art project using recycled junk—turning Sanford & Son into something old, something new, and something completely their own.
Sanford and Son (2025) proves that some things never go out of style—like family, laughter, and a perfectly timed insult. It’s both a celebration and a reinvention, bringing the spirit of Fred Sanford into a new era with swagger, heart, and one hell of a junkyard.