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Did You Know? How ‘Sanford and Son’ Took Over TV and Led to ‘The Brady Bunch’ Cancellation

sanford and son the brady bunch

In the early 1970s, two iconic sitcoms—Sanford and Son and The Brady Bunch—competed for audiences on Friday nights. While both are now recognized as staples of classic television, their head-to-head ratings battle shaped the fate of one show and solidified the legacy of the other.

When Sanford and Son premiered in 1972, it was an instant hit. Starring the legendary Redd Foxx alongside Demond Wilson, the show followed the hilarious, heartwarming, and at times chaotic relationship between a grumpy junk dealer and his son. The show’s fresh humor and relatable family dynamics resonated with viewers, quickly making it one of the most-watched programs of the decade.

Meanwhile, The Brady Bunch—ABC’s family-friendly sitcom chronicling the adventures of a blended family—had been on air since 1969. Despite its consistent ratings during its primetime run, the series never cracked the top 30 shows in the Nielsen rankings. And by the time Sanford and Son hit the airwaves, The Brady Bunch had begun to struggle in the ratings, unable to keep pace with NBC’s new comedic juggernaut. Sanford and Son consistently dominated the Friday night time slot, drawing millions of viewers and becoming a top-tier Nielsen ratings performer.

By 1974, The Brady Bunch couldn’t compete anymore. The show was canceled after five seasons, 117 episodes, and shortly after hitting the syndication threshold. And while it would eventually become a cultural phenomenon in syndication, its original run didn’t go out with the same bang. Meanwhile, Sanford and Son stayed at the top of its game for six seasons, cementing its place as one of the greatest sitcoms of its era.

More than just a ratings beast, Sanford and Son was groundbreaking. It was one of the first shows to feature a predominantly Black cast and brought authentic, relatable Black stories to primetime, paving the way for more diverse storytelling in Hollywood.

Though Sanford and Son may have been the show that pushed The Brady Bunch off the air, both left their marks on TV history. One brought us nostalgic family charm, while the other showed the power of telling bold, real, and hilarious stories. Together, they remind us of the ever-changing landscape of television and the moments that define an era.

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