The Big Party

The Big Party was the 29th episode of Sanford and Son. Also the 15th episode of the series' second season, it premiered January 5, 1973. Loosely based on Teleplay by Odie Hawkins and Aaron Ruben, the story was also written for the episode by Hawkins.

Synopsis
Behind on their bills, Fred and Lamont look to raise money by throwing a house party and charging admission, but to the demands of visiting gangsters Leader (Gabriel Dell) and Duane (Danny "Big Black" Rey), who gives them "an offer that they can't refuse" at the threat of a revolver, they must keep the party going, and allow the gangsters to become partners in the unwanted operation!

It takes until the next morning; a Sunday visit from Aunt Esther and her "Raiders" (or,Esther's Raiders, what Fred calls them), her church going sisters, to drive out the hoods and the partiers from the Sanford premises!

Notes: Gabriel Dell makes his second and final guest appearance; LaWanda Page makes her series episode debut as Esther. Billy Allyn makes his debut appearance as Billy, one of Fred's buddies, who asks to use the bathroom; he later appears in the episodes "A Visit from Lena Horne" and "Fred Sanford, Legal Eagle".

Storyline
Short on cash, as business has been slow, Fred and Lamont are having big trouble trying to pay the utility bills. Lamont's solution is to try to request an extension on them all, but Fred has, at least, in his reasoning, "a more stable" idea, borrowed from the old Harlem Rent parties that used to be common in the 1930's and 1940's, in which they can hold a party in their home, and charge money on the door. Lamont is reluctant, but eventually, reluctantly gives in. Assets of $30 aren't enough to take care of $200 in unpaid bills, but since Fred's left hand itches it's a sure sign of money. The knock on the door turns out to Aunt Esther: "my left hand lied to me!" Never approving of the 'deadbeat' that married her sister Elizabeth, the family feud has continued more than 20 years after her untimely death: "the day I married your sister I was loaded" "yeah you was loaded all right, you were so drunk you fell on the preacher!" "well, I had to get drunk to look at your ugly family...for years people going' around sayin' black is beautiful, they took one look at your family and said hold everything!" Esther wants to use Fred's home for one of her Sunday bible meetings with what he describes as her 'cackling sisters' - "this is a junkyard, not a henhouse!"

During their rent party, two gangsters (Gabriel Dell and Danny "Big" Black Rey) show up and give Fred and Lamont "an offer they can't refuse" by suggesting that they use the junk business as a front while secretly turning Sanford and Son into a speakeasy. They seem trapped until they call on the one source who can help them out, of all people Aunt Esther!