"Sanford & Son" TV Series' Aunt Esther: One Example Of What 'Aunt' Sometimes Means In African American Culture

J.M.T. FLIX, Apr 10, 2020

Lawanda Page played Aunt Esther on Sanford and Son. These are some of her funniest moments. This was made strictly for entertainment purposes only.

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcase a YouTube video that presents clips of the character "Aunt Esther" from the African American comedy television series Sanford and Son.

Information about that series and its "Aunt Esther" character are given in this post along with selected comments from the discussion thread of that YouTube video

The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to  Lawanda Page, Red Foxx, and all others who starred in the Sanford and Son television series. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT SANFORD AND SON TELEVISION SERIES
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanford_and_Son
"Sanford and Son is an American sitcom television series that ran on the NBC television network from January 14, 1972, to March 25, 1977. It was based on the BBC Television programme Steptoe and Son, which had its original broadcast run in the United Kingdom from 1962 to 1974.[1]

 Known for its edgy racial humor, running gags, and catchphrases, the series was adapted by Norman Lear and considered NBC's answer to CBS's All in the Family. Sanford and Son has been hailed as the precursor to many other African-American sitcoms. It was a ratings hit throughout its six-season run, finishing in the Nielsens top ten for five of those seasons.

While the role of Fred G. Sanford was known for his bigotry and cantankerousness, the role of Lamont Sanford was that of Fred's long-suffering, conscientious, peacemaker son. At times, both characters involved themselves in schemes, usually as a means of earning cash quickly to pay off their various debts. Other colorful and unconventional characters on the show included Aunt Esther, Grady Wilson, Bubba Bexley,[2] and Rollo Lawson.[3]"...

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DESCRIPTION OF "AUNT ESTHER" FROM THE SANFORD AND SON TELEVISION SERIES
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Anderson_(Sanford_and_Son)
..."Esther Anderson is the Bible-toting sister-in-law of Fred Sanford. She is a staunchly religious Baptist who finds little use for humor and often criticizes Fred. Elizabeth, Esther's sister, was married to Fred, and Esther and the rest of the Winfield family were against the marriage from the outset. However, Esther often expressed that if anything good came out of the marriage it was her nephew, Fred's son, Lamont.

Lamont adored his aunt Esther, and would, against Fred's and Grady's wishes, allow her to stay in their house and often defended her against their insults. Since Esther and her family were the only real connection he had to his late mother, Lamont welcomed her often. She, in turn, was there to counsel Lamont on his life, and did her best to help him to get out of living in his father's junkyard house. She did so because she felt that Elizabeth would not have wanted Lamont, whom Esther felt was very intelligent, to remain in such a limited life.

Fred responded to Esther's entrances by making exaggerated grimaces. He would then proceed to ruthlessly insult her, likening her to animals and fictitious movie monsters. Fred often focused on Esther's looks, once telling her, "I could stick your face in some dough and make gorilla cookies!" He also often insulted her by calling her "ugly" and pronouncing it Ug-leee!.

Esther's usual reactions to Fred's antics were to scowl and say, "Watch it, sucka!" Sometimes, cracking from the constant barrage of insults, she would swing her purse wildly in Fred's direction while angrily calling him an "old fish-eyed fool" or "heathen", among other names. Once, during a public prayer, Esther made reference to Fred, calling him a "snaggle-toothed jackass." She also clashed with Fred's friend Grady Wilson, whom she disliked because he was Fred's friend.

Despite their constant arguments, some episodes reveal that Esther and Fred were capable of kindness towards each other, such as when Fred helped her adopt a child. In one episode, Fred gave Esther $100 he won gambling to help her church, leaving him 35 cents.

Esther's long-suffering but loving alcoholic husband Woodrow (played by Raymond Allen) appeared infrequently later in the series. Woodrow was constantly drunk and somewhat henpecked. He eventually became sober so he and Esther could adopt a young orphan, Daniel (Eric Laneuville) in "Aunt Esther Meets Her Son".
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Here's some information from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaWanda_Page about Lawanda Page the actress who portrayed Aunt Esther:  
"LaWanda Page (born Alberta Peal; October 19, 1920[2] – September 14, 2002)[4][5] was an American actress and comedian best known for her role as "Aunt" Esther Anderson in the popular television sitcom Sanford and Son, which originally aired from 1972 until 1977.[3] Page later reprised this role in the short-lived television shows Sanford Arms (1976–1977) and Sanford (1980–1981). She also co-starred in the 1979 short-lived series Detective School.[6]

[...]

Page had been performing her comedy routine in nightclubs in St. Louis and then Los Angeles for several years, but had planned to leave show business to move back to St. Louis to take care of her ailing mother. When Redd Foxx was offered the sitcom Sanford and Son in Los Angeles, he brought his childhood friend Page to the attention of one of the show's producers, who was already familiar with Page and her act. Foxx subsequently asked Page to read for the role of Esther Anderson ("Aunt Esther"), the sister of Fred Sanford's late wife Elizabeth. …. Page's Aunt Esther went on to become one of the most popular TV sitcom characters of the 1970s.[7] Page's Aunt Esther was a combination of devout churchgoer and tough-as-nails realist, unafraid to state whatever was on her mind. While her relationship with Foxx's character, Fred Sanford, was usually confrontational, she portrayed a tender side when it came to her nephew Lamont. Common issues between brother-in-law and sister-in-law were Sanford's lack of business success and lukewarm religious faith. Sometimes, primarily because of their shared love for Lamont and the late Elizabeth, the two adversaries managed to find common ground. Although Sanford and Son was clearly Foxx's vehicle, Page's Aunt Esther could hold her own against the show's star. The church-going act of Esther was a great contrast to the raunchy, expletive-filled material of Page's live act and records."...

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE VIDEO THAT IS EMBEDDED IN THIS POST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHb1Etc8w6M&ab_channel=J.M.T.FLIX

In addition to comments about that series and this actress and actors, I'm intersted in documenting what I believe are comments that refer to a particular  characterization of Black (African American) aunts/aunties. 

Numbers are added to these comments for referencing purposes only.

2020

1. Carrie Lucas
"Omg I LOVED AUNT ESTHER !!!!"

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2. Regal Baby 82
"Classic comedy team supreme...RIP  Lawanda Page and Redd Foxx. ❤️❤️❤️"

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3. markee k
"I love the way Lamont loves his Aunt Esther."

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4. Lord Leamington
"Aunt Esther was the best part of this show by far"

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5. Steve Kay
"No it was a great ensemble cast!!"

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6. aliasdyln33
"​ @Steve Kay  Both statements are 100 percent true. Gotta so love both Aunt Esther, Fred, Lamont, and the ensemble cast: Skillet, Donna, Grady, Bubba, Rollo, Melvin, Lucky Leroy, Hutch, Julio, Swanny, Otis, Doctor Caldwell, Smitty, Ah Chew, and do so reply with whoever of the many I must be leaving out . ."

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7. Sabrina Taylor
"Ester didn't bite her tongue she keeps it real 😆"

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8. Connie Avant
"This reminds me of the old schoolers in my family. I miss the good times I had with them, and most of all I miss their wisdom."

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9. Mr. Roboto
"Esther says to Fred " I have the Spirit of Christmas. Fred says to her... and the face of Halloween!"

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10. SING UNTO THE LORD Inspired by the holy spirit
"If looks could kill. Every man in this show would be dead other that Esther nephew"

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11. John Hanson
"Esther did not take crap from anybody. When she walked through that door you knew somebody was getting their ass kicked."

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12. Roseanne Milton
"If evil eyes could kill, Esther would have life without the possibility of parole...😹"

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13. Maria Ddub
"This was so fabulous to see!!  Aunt Esther is my favorite church lady of all time😂😂.  God fearing but will do battle with anyone at the drop of a hat.  I felt all those pocket book blows and they hurt😂😂.  I still watch this show to this day because I need all the laughter I can get and Sanford and Son never fails❤️❤️❤️❤️❤"

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14. Diane Calhoun
"Loved aunt Esther's comebacks to Fred's putdowns. Sooooo Sooooo funny. When God made her he brokje The mold."

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15. Northern California
"No one could deliver those lines like Lawanda Page"

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16. Joseph
"She made that character work"

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17. Mad Mike
"No telling how many times those scenes had to be retaken, 'cause the only person in the room with a straight face wouldve been Ms Page 😆🤣🤣"

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18. Jim Kasprzak
"She and Redd Foxx were the best of friends in real life"

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19. Marcel Walker
"Aunt Esther was as much a cartoon character as Fred and his friends...but the older I get, the more I understand where she was coming from. And she loved Lamont, so that counts for a lot."

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20. tmcmurra63
"Who didn't love Aunt Ester?  I know we grew up thinking she was all that.  And she kept a tight leash on Fred.  LOL

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21. sunshine712009
"7:58 Always saving the heathen's souls but right in the mix with 'em at the Juke Joint. Get it Aunt Esther!!"

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22. Maria Ddub
"This was so fabulous to see!!  Aunt Esther is my favorite church lady of all time😂😂.  God fearing but will do battle with anyone at the drop of a hat.  I felt all those pocket book blows and they hurt😂😂.  I still watch this show to this day because I need all the laughter I can get and Sanford and Son never fails❤️❤️❤️❤️❤"

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23. Noe Berengena

"Funny how Lawanda Page and Redd Foxx both had x-rated routines when they did stand-up. Back when there was actually ratings to alert people to filthy comedy routines. The old days"

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24. Eddie Landreth
"I still use my favorite Esther line to this day, which is "Don't make me have to knock you out!""

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25. Dee Hannibal
"Esther was GANGSTA!!😆👍🏾👏🏾"

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26.Ernestine Maloy
"Esther's raiders...man and that pocket book of hers was a lethal weapon...lmmfao....she even chased a gangster out of Fred's home with that thing...."

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27. Pat Moffit
"Only Aunt Ester can put the fear in my main man Rollo"

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28. emptyhand777
"I love how Rollo was afraid of Ester."

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29. Charles King, 2021
"It was RESPECT and fear..."

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30. Bigstooler0
" "Ain't that Rita Lawson's boy Rollo?" "

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31. 2u2
"Yep! But notice his reply...he said yes mam! Now let's fast forward to Todays young people...what you think their reply would be????"

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32. Sharon Jackson

"😂🤣😂🤣😂"

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33. b Ollie
"Classic 😂😂😂"

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34. Mz. Kendra
"When Rollo's cigarette fell out his mouth, I was done!!🤣😂"

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35. jlv3x
" @2u2  no matter how bad you thought you were, you knew you had to respect your elders back then!!!"

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36. 2u2
"@Caleb Mayfield  Well to enlighten you...in some cultures it doesn't matter how old you are.When talking to your elders....Saying yes ma'am or yes sir! used to be and in some cultures,still is... a sign of respect to those older than you.But I gotta remember a lot of people especially after those day's were and are not taught to speak in a manner of respect to older folks any longer."

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37. 2u2
"@Caleb Mayfield  Caleb also.Like

within some Asian communities their actions and the way they speak to their elderly are in a very respectful manner.Just like in the southern States of America...Whenever I used to visit.I would hear the young people when talking to the older people saying things like yes Sir and No Sir or Yes Ma'am or No Ma'am.It's just a way that the younger people respectful talk to older people that's all.They used say that,that was a form of southern hospitality shown to older people."

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38. 2u2
" @Caleb Mayfield  I've  seen 40 year old people talk to senior citizens using yes ma'am or yes Sir so I don't think being an adult means you stop respectfully speaking to those older than you just because they're now adults....that's all."

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39. Rhonda Saunders
"She asks him that every time she sees him. I be weak every time. 😂😂😂"

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40. Dr. Dee
"I grew up in Detroit,  but I formerly lived in Los Angeles, and I thought Aunt Esther was  portraying the role of a Sanctified matriarch, because there's so many Holiness churches in Los Angeles, but on the show, she was Missionary Baptist. When I was a kid, most of the churches in the black community were Missionary Baptist, and I never recall seeing the Baptist matriarchs shout like  Esther did, only in the Sanctified churches. She was hilarious. "Huuugh, glory!"

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41. Chief Pontiac
"One of the best shows ever. Did you know that Redd Foxx was only 42 years old when he starred in this show? All of his friends on the show, Aunt Ester, Big Boy Bubba, Lucky Leroy, Slick Skillet all used to play on the chitlin circuit back in the 40's and 50's as comedians. Check out LaWanda Paige's old comedy recordings. She was no saint!"

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42. Tricia Johansen
"She and Fred were good friends in real life. Redd threatened to quit if they got rid of Aunt Esther!😎"

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43. Ricoville
"He was born in 1922, so he was already 50 when the show debuted in '72, but his character was 65."

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44. Spency Chestang
"Great writing + Redd Foxx's & Demond Wilson's pinpoint timing/chemistry, toss in Lawanda Page, Whitman Mayo as Grady, Leroy Daniels, Ernest Mayhand (or "Skillet", ALL of whom had been friends of Redd for years before the show) and it all equals comedy gold excellence (!) Give me this show and "All In The Family", some Carol Burnett Show with Harvey Korman, and the one & only Tim Conway, and you can pretty much keep everything else."

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45. thequieterubcomethemoreuhear
"Epic laughter! And they could cut a rug & all that jazz too! 😎😎💞💞😂😂😂 Love these folks & this show! 💞

I couldn't handle their raw comedy outside this show but Sanford and Son was one of the greatest & still is! 😎"


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46. benHoda'ah Shedar'
"Aunt Esther : every  "Black" person in americas' ;  aunt , grandmother , mother , lady in the neighborhood......one of the cornerstones of the show"

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47. Phoenix85040
"I always wanted her as my aunt!"

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48. Jim F
"You don't have to be black to love Esther."

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49. benHoda'ah Shedar'
" @Jim F

that's not what I was saying"

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50. T Y
"Amen, dear BenHodah'ah Shedar' !!!"

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51. K Moore
"benHoda'ah Shedar' Relax! He was just chiming in. He wasn’t challenging what you said, geesh!"

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52. benHoda'ah Shedar'
"@k Moore

If so ; My apologies"

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53. DP Students
"My favorite Fred and Esther moment:

Esther: "When I was born, my body was blessed by Mother Nature."

Fred: "And as you got older, it was cursed by Father Time!""

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54. Rae Gasper
"Here’s my favorite moment: Fred: Goodbye “dear” Esther: oh you called me “dear” Fred: Why shouldn’t I call you “dear”, you look like Bambi’s father. Lol 😂"

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55. Maurice Doss
"Here's my favorite moment; Fred: "Ester what's wrong with you, Esther:"What's wrong with me,she had the nerve to call us witches. Fred:"And she was right you three ugly witches and you kissed your husbands and turned them into frogs."

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56. Savannah Rivers Amore
"I laughed when Fred Sanford came back from St. Louis and bought Esther a clear piece of plastic and she held it up to her face and he told her it was her Halloween mask I hollered"

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57. Faizel Harris
"That bag of Esther is deadly"

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58. Steven Dye
"We need Esther for this Virus , she would say get thee behind me satan."

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59. Tricia Johansen
" @Steven Dye  she would be the cure for the coronavirus!!!!😎🙏"

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60. J 5 mobile
"Coronavirus you old pickle eyed bear hugging fool begone"

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61. Hope Dunkel
"Aunt Esther's side eye and bad ass temper are goals."

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62.  Natleata Williams
" "Stop!🤚🏾 there's no peace says the Lord unto the wicked...😂"

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63. Zacharias3
"Loved how she could deliver a line and THAT evil eye. Acting perfection. Perfect comedy timing!!"

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64. Max Redman
"Best Aunt Esther line ever... "I wish I had some Dough, then I could stick your face in it and make Gorilla Cookies". Redd Foxx was hilarious."

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65. Diamond Kim71
"Here something we can all agree on, Aunt Esther did not play!!! Lol"

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66. Marcus Trice
"Admit it y'all. We all have a "Aunt Esther" in our family."

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2021

67. Jim Angler
"Ain't that Rita Lawson's boy ralo you ought to be ashamed of yourself LMFAO never gets olddddd"

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68. Tom Servo
"Rollo acting like a 5 year old caught with his hand in the cookie jar lol. My Dad even remembered this by quoting "Aren't you Rita Lawson's boy?!"

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69.Teshome Vaughn
"She reminds me of my grandma 😆"

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70. Bobby moore
"THIS HOUSE CORRUPTED EVEN MY FAVORITE NEPHEW,  AND BROKE HIS ARM JESUS LOL"

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71. Jon-Eric Phoenixx
"5:49 Eight day old collard greens wouldn't agree with Superman.

Only Aunt Esther's one liners, kept the show, tight like glue."

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72. Sportz N Sh*t
"Most black families has an Aunt Esther in there household love the lord but would cuss u out in second and tells it like it is 🤣🤣🤣"
-snip-
This is how that blogger’s name is written in that discussion thread.

In that comment "Black" probably specifically means "African American". 

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73. Lisa Guy
"THIS WOMAN GAVE THIS SHOW LIFE!!!!!"

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74. Robert Lanich
"I like when Aunt Esther said the three words Shame, Shame, Shame, I think she got that from Jim N."

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75. In this World
"This show is legendary. The Big Money Grip episode was one of the funniest TV episodes period. I also love when she had her entourage with her. When we had matriarch s to keep us in line.

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76. Faithful Forever
"The Lord will smite thee; but I can't wait!"  I absolutely love Aunt Esther.  "Fool!" "Heathens!"

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