When Lamont REALLY Acted Like a Dummy!

I just acquired the first two seasons of the show. Season two has an episode which I forgot called "Card Sharps". It's very well written and so clever.

Fred tries to advise Lamont not to play poker with a few acquaintances of his. He won the first time and was eager to play again. Fred warned him that it's an old hustler's trick. You lull someone into a false sense of security by allowing them to win. Then you REALLY take them to the cleaners!

Fred warned him during the game. But Lamont was so stubborn that he refused to listen and lost. Fred had his faults but he was clever and street smart. Lamont was intelligent but sometimes he exhibited the street smarts of a cloistered nun!

I also thought Lamont acted like a dummy when he was so rude to Fred's on again, off again fiancé Donna Harris. She was a lovely, sweet woman. She always tried to be kind and respectful to Lamont. She had a career as a nurse AND owned a car. She'd do the driving on her dates with Fred. She wasn't a gold digger.

Lamont's mother had died when he was about six. You'd think he'd be over the whole "don't replace my mommy" thing by then. He often expressed a desire to leave and strike out on his own. If his Pop was married, he wouldn't have had to worry about Fred being all alone. There was no need for him to call her "the barracuda" at every turn.