Much of the comedy revolved around the constant tension between Lamont and his father.
Their disagreements could be loud.
Their personalities were very different.
Lamont regularly appeared exhausted by the situations unfolding around him.
Yet beneath the frustration was loyalty.
That balance helped make the relationship believable.
Viewers could laugh at the conflict while still understanding that there was genuine affection between father and son.
Lamont was often the person audiences identified with
While the older Sanford could dominate a scene with his explosive personality, Lamont frequently represented the audience’s point of view.
He reacted.
He questioned.
He tried to bring order back into situations that had become increasingly ridiculous.
Sometimes all Wilson needed was an exhausted stare or a carefully timed pause.
His reactions became part of the humor.
Wilson understood the power of restraint
