He just helped Nottingham forest back to the top flight for the first time in over 20 years too, multi talented man indeed.

I know about "Steptoe and Son", but have never seen it. There are a bunch of episodes up on YouTube.
"My life is over. I might as well dance with Johnny Slash!"

There are enough of us in here to make a Tarzan movie.
I don't recall
Sanford and Son
airing on tv in NZ when I was a kid. I have mentioned this before, but it is a spinoff a popular British show
Steptoe and Son
, which was very popular.
Norman! What did you put in my tea?

This message has been deleted.

Lamont worked. He would go out and find junk and bring it back. Fred hardly ever seemed to work. But Fred was hilarious.
"My life is over. I might as well dance with Johnny Slash!"

And everything took place at his house instead of the store as depicted in the opening.
Or were they both one and the same?
Sanford and Son never worked.
So maybe every show took place on their day off?
LOL
"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

Ha! Hardly ever!
"My life is over. I might as well dance with Johnny Slash!"

I did not see too many S&S shows but I think I saw a good number of them.
Out of the ones I did watch, I don't recall ever seeing a customer ever buying any of the junk or stuff they sold.
Did anyone ever buy anything from them?
"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

Wonderful theme song and like you, I enjoyed those answering machine messages so much!
The Rockford Files theme song itself is only bettered by one other, imho.
"My life is over. I might as well dance with Johnny Slash!"

I was so impressed as a kid that I'd make up messages like that instead of leaving a normal message for my friends. One day, one of them got burgled. And there was still a recording on the machine of me saying, 'This is the burglar that just robbed you. If you have any heirlooms missing, you can find them at this pawn shop.'
I sort of fell out of that habit after that

There will NEVER be another "Rockford" Simply the best.
"I don't want your watch, man. I want your friendship!" - Lightfoot

Jim Rockford is my personal favorite TV detective of all time. And one of my favorite anti-heroes of any genre. Sostarting the show off with the phone message like it did was brilliant. (and was a great character defining tool as well)