On the eve of Janice's wedding, a group of Banks women gather in the kitchen, unable to sleep, to snack on wedding treats and chat. He was the model for me of an actor. During filming, the studio was completely silent a rarity for a comedy with a live audience. . The entire temperature of the room shifts. I had always been interested in shows with fathers, because I grew up with a single parent, he said. When the police pull over Will and Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro) in a borrowed Mercedes, on the way to a Palm Springs vacation with Uncle Phil and Aunt Viv (Janet Hubert-Whitten), Carlton, covered in the security blanket of his class, his rational thinking, and the fact that his father is a judge, assumes they will explain what's going on and drive away no harm done. Then, she gives Ashley the agency and compassion he needs to make this decision moving forward: "Only you'll know when the time's right for you." : I'm sorry. Find the latest movie casting calls, TV auditions, Modeling jobs, acting opportunities, acting tips, and entertainment news for the biggest movies and TV shows filming across the world. Will assures Phillip he's grateful for everything Phillip has done for him, but he still needs to give his father a chance to be in his life, if he truly has changed. William 'Will' Smith (Via). ", The Real Story Behind the Most Heartbreaking Scene in 'The Fresh Prince of Bel Air'. You understand. The true story behind one of the saddest scenes in 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' History has finally been revealed. [Uncle Phil rushes forward to hug Will, and Will breaks down sobbing]. So is he a cop? 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He also recalls that unusually for a sitcom with a live audience, the audience was entirely silent during filming, comparing the average taping as like a football stadium but this taping like "being in a church.". Some of the episodes even made us cry. Every true Fresh Prince of Bel-Air fan knows the most emotional scene in the entire series. After all, given his upbringing, getting threatened by folks packing guns is an unfortunately common part of life. Will seemingly understands, but he realizes that Lou's just trying to weasel his way out of the situation, and their trip isn't going to happen at all. What millennial doesnt jump to finish the theme songs lyrics when prompted by Innnn West Philadelphia, born and raised? And it turns out, the reconciliation between father and son was all too good to be true. William 'Will' Smith Philip Banks Will's father is a deadbeat who left him and his mom flat. : This is the same guy who didn't think enough of you to pick up the damn phone! : The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air is a FANDOM TV Community. By Season 4 of The Fresh Prince, Will and Carlton have graduated from high school and are now beginning their college studies. Will has grown and learned immeasurably from his new circumstances and familial compassions, and these growths came so organically that he didn't even notice them happening. Will Smith on the series premiere of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." NBC. Well, one day, I just panicked and ran. Will Smith: Hey, Uncle Phil! Who needs him? Smith said that he was originally supposed to sit at the bench and reflect on his uncle's words. Behind the scenes, the episode was also meant to showcase Smiths dramatic acting chops. The trend of very special anti-drug family sitcom episodes was inspired explicitly byNancy Reagan, to the point where she literally appeared in an episode ofDiff'rent Strokesto deliver her anti-drug screed, and the relationship between the Reagan administration, drugs, and the Black community is a vile one to study (making the interpolation of "Just Say No" as "Just Say Yo" feel particularly gross). Atlantic records is now hiring content creators. Will then begins to cry and asks Phillip why his father doesn't want him. Washington Post Retrospective on the episode. Here's the Tumblr version of events that we've come to believe as the truth: "That awful moment when you learn that this wasnt scripted. Director Shelley Jensen describes this episode as a turning point in Smith's performance, noting his acting improved dramatically after it. He's fond of structure, of status, of systems. William 'Will' Smith : So why did you? Directed by Shelley Jensen with a script from David Zuckerman and Bill Boulware, Papas Got a Brand New Excuse is about Wills father, played by Ben Vereen, returning to his sons life after 14 years. The rest of the series includes commentary about Black relationships with the police (think DJ Jazzy Jeffinstinctually putting his hands up when a bailiff asks him to swear to tell the truth in court), but here, it did so explicitly and explosively. Will and his dad, Willard Carroll Smith, Sr., remained on good terms until he passed away in November 2016. She expresses her worries for Janice "as an African-American woman" for whom life has already stacked the deck against. Smith has given all the credit to Avery for helping him get through that moment. Will's father Lou shows up after 14 years and spends a lot of time with Will. But these are all catchy seasonings to a fundamentally kind, responsible, and curious main dish. Will runs up to him to give him a big hug. The first one went extremely well while the second album, not so much. The episode featured the man-hug loved (and memed) around the world as Uncle Phil (James Avery) doesnt so much embrace as completely envelop his nephew, who is coming to grips with the loss of his absentee father for a second time. Daddy-O! Will then, becoming a touch of a father figure himself, must set his cousin straight. Usually, the director would retake the scene, but really, nothing could replace this moment. Technical Specs, [after Lou cancels his trip with Will and leaves], [after discovering Will's father unexpectedly]. And to do so, he has to leave the building one final time. : : [He] wouldnt give me a damn inch, said Smith in a 2018 interview with podcast Rap Radar. (Video: The Washington Post). 2019 Ted Fund Donors That he knew struggles and overcame them. It's a brilliantly played scene, rife with warmth and gentility even as they discuss tricky stuff. Find talent. Lou awkwardly admits that he's got to take care of some business so the planned trip is going to have to wait a week or two, but most likely longer than that, and he promises to call to work it out. Will Smith, Alfonso Ribeiro, and Aunt Vivs Janet Hubert and Daphne Maxwell Reid return alongside the rest of the cast for HBO Max's unscripted 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion. Beyond its visceral, gut-punching thrills as a theatrical sequence, this moment is a stark reminder to Carlton, and to everyone watching: We can lose faith in systems that resort to violence, rightly so. Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to be part of an upcoming music vid "Dad was tough but not tyrannical," Smith told Essence. While working at the Los Angeles University student restaurant, Will recognizes a customer - his father - whom he has not seen for 14 years. Hed get this look that said, One more step, Will, and itll get ugly. He was an independent businessman-he set up refrigeration in supermarkets-and he always provided for us. One day there was a wall there again. Will and Carlton are determined to stop their female family member from having sex, using intercoms and interrogation tactics as devices to get in the way, to claim ownership over Ashley's body, to inherently view a young woman's sexual exploration as robbing her of her "purity." : But this constant poking at Uncle Phil's weight comes to a serious head in "Home Is Where the Heart Attack Is," an episode that, as you might guess, gives Uncle Phil a weight-induced heart attack to suffer through. I learned how to drive, I learned how to shave, I learned how to fight without him. Lou Smith During the episodes final scene, Smith was struggling to bring it all home. It's a simple trick, perhaps best-known in the final moments ofCheers. Will Smith described the scene where Will breaks down as one of his most difficult as a young actor, as he was unsure if he was able to properly convey the right emotions. And, thankfully, I don't think it's any big spoiler to reveal that Viola does come around and attend the wedding after all thanks to a wonderful speech delivered by Will to his mother, a representation of the hope of future generations changing established patterns and prejudices for the better. In fact, the issue with this point of view comes with calling his time a transition in the first place. It was a formula that clearly worked, considering theres a good chance well be seeing more of the Tanners soon, but it was super-corny, especially when compared to another so-called kids show that was on the same time, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. His acting from that moment on improved dramatically. You are forced to invest your time, family, and even your wallet to make your dream come true. William 'Will' Smith Instead, it shows slides of the end credits. It was 1994, and he had just come off Six Degrees of Separation, a dramedy about a young con man who charms his way into a rich White family. Some business came up I gotta handle. Published Feb 2, 2021. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. [pause] Avery immediately pulled him aside and gave him a pep talk, telling him to make eye contact with Uncle Phil, which would help guide the performance and get Smith into the emotional state Will needed to be in. Smith rarely resorts to out-and-out anger in his Fresh Prince performances, but we see it here, and it is warranted. We're doing alright, huh? But it means, more than ever, we can't lose faith in people. Got through my first date without him, right? I know my dad had been planning this for a long time. Actually, this works out better for me, you know. The young actor would go on to deliver one of the biggest emotional punches in Fresh Prince history. I remember someDavid Mametquote that said it doesn't matter how good an actor is; if the script is good, the final product is good. Lou Smith Insists that if Carlton goes through with this plan, he's just as bad as the guy who put Will in the hospital. Or Hillarys Playboy spread? : But the audience sobbing that you can make out in the background? It originally aired on May 9, 1994. He showed up, did this scene in one take, then disappeared again. The story behind Will Smiths iconic hug scene in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Roger Goodell, Muriel Bowser discussed future of RFK site in December call, Kyle Kuzma, Wizards start fast and dont look back in win over Raptors, Corey Dickerson aims to lead and have a bounce-back year with Nats. But smack-dab in the middle of this episode lies a beautiful one-on-one conversation, one of the best ever produced duringFresh Prince's run. Posted by ; words for deep love in other languages; : : I believe it's because of the show's big, beating, sincere, courageous heart. Philip Banks Ain't even nothing to talk about. are heading to New England themselves to be closer to their family. Will's very pleased with this. : : Will is thrilled at this news, ready to rekindle his paternal relationship without much skepticism apparent. His father, who had left him years before, claims he is finally ready to become a part of Will's life, again. He was born in 1973 in West Philadelphia. Hes a steady and positive figure in my life. What's up? Geoffrey Butler approaches the door and lets Will in. You saw the light bulb go off, he said. Why did it take so long? Phillip however, makes no effort to be civil towards Lou, showing downright hostility towards him, in questioning him over what possessed him to suddenly return, and why he isn't sending any money to his wife and child that he abandoned, when he's clearly making some with his profession as a truck driver. It's a stunning piece of performance that lays the groundwork for the series' deft juggling of silliness and sincerity perfectly. Whew, that was deep, Vereen said. Hey, he wasn't there to teach me how to shoot my first basket, but I learned, didn't I? Will Smith said he improvised his character's piano moment in the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" pilot. Or remember that time Aunt Viv just really wanted to dance? However Vivian has previously stated that hers, violas, Helens and Janices maiden name is Smith. It was also so unexpected. William 'Will' Smith The duo gets arrested and put in jail, alongside an operatic singing convict ("Any time you see a white guy in jail, you knowhe did something bad!" Are you a content creator looking for an opportunity to show your stuff? Those qualities are all self-weaponized, manifesting in self-destructive ways. : Lou Smith Will did not like it at all. Philip Banks Philip Banks By the time Phil and Viv show up to bail them out, and for Phil to deliver a typically fiery speech about what justice should look like in this country (delivered to a particularly weaselly-looking Hank Azaria), the damage is done. Boulware, who also wrote the episode of 227 in which a characters father pops back into the picture, drew from his own life experience for the script. Ain't like I'ma be sitting up every night asking my mom, "When's Daddy coming home? : Up until that point, they were thinking of [Smith] as a TV actor, Vereen said of the young mans burgeoning film career. At least he said goodbye this time. attentiveness vs attention will smith fresh prince dad scene script. If you listen closely, you can hear Karyn Parsons (Hilary) crying backstage. You know what, Aunt Viv? It killed me when I first saw it, and still gets to me now. : Dont act around me, act with me, Smith recalled Avery saying. We were standing there thinking, There will never, ever, be a wall here again. When Will calls him Lou, oh my God, his whole frame just shrunk because he realized at that point that hed lost his son. And I got pretty damn good at it too, didn't I, Uncle Phil? It's a special series to me, and to so many folks. For survival, please dont marry this man.". For six seasons, Will Smith and the rest of the hilarious cast made us laugh week after week with their shenanigans, but they also got our lives flipped-turned upside down whenever they addressed serious topics. The pair attempt to rebuild their relationship and even plan activities together, but when the time came for them to embark on their trip, Lou bailed. But during filming of this episode, director Jensen likened the mood of the normally wild show to being in church.. I told my parents I wanted to rap. I might have been 12 and my brother 9 when one day he decided he wanted a new front wall at his shop. [after Lou cancels his trip with Will and leaves] His father was a question mark, or, as cousin Hillary puts it in the episode, a deadbeat who left him and his mom flat.. For more onThe Fresh Prince, here's the latest intel on the upcoming reboot. In honor ofThe Fresh Prince's 30th anniversary, here are the 10 best times the sitcom got serious throughout its run, in chronological order. Will is at the Peacock when he sees a man staring at him. Several years after Fresh Prince ended, Will got a chance to really flex his own fatherly skills on the big screen when he starred in The Pursuit of Happyness and After Earth with his son Jaden. ", you know. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Hed get this look that said, One more step, Will, and itll get ugly. He was an independent businessman-he set up refrigeration in supermarkets-and he always provided for us. Did he actually accomplish anything during this time living with his upper-class relatives? That year we won the first Grammy given to a rap artist.". There is no funny outtake of the cast messing up their lines. Geoffrey Butler: Come with me, Master William. It's a scene even the most casual ofFresh Prince fans have committed to memory, effectively staged and played without a studio audience to give us any emotional relief. Ain't like I'm still five years old, you know. He eradicates the box of one proper Black identity not with force, but with precision. An emotional Will lets his frustration out in a conversation with Uncle Phil, but things got really sad when he finally breaks down in tears. Will William 'Will' Smith Will tells Uncle Phil (James Avery) that he, straight up, has forgotten where he came from. Gregory Lawrence (aka Greg Smith) is a writer, director, performer, songwriter, and comedian. Willard Carroll Smith II (born September 25, 1968), also known by his stage name the Fresh Prince, is an American actor, rapper, and producer.Noted for his work in music, television, and film, Smith has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, four Grammy Awards, and And, it lets Will have a "not what he seems" moment, too; when Uncle Phil leaves the room after this chat, he notices Will playing Beethovenon the piano. : Yeah, that's cool. I'm sorry, Will. The first time I held you, I didn't think I'd ever put you down. Recently, a rumor started to circulate that this scene wasn't scripted, and that Will Smith really lost it because his actual father was an absentee. The entire show was quiet, even during the funny parts, and I could not figure out why, a Reddit user wrote. Before he can do so, Will walks in, packed and ready to go. He made a mistake. Well, I hate to break it to you, but that's just not true. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was one of our favorite shows while growing up in the 90s. The most effective and illuminating emotional reaction to this doesn't orient around Will, however at least not directly. Will forgives him and is prepared to give him another chance. He and Uncle Phil embrace each other crying, as the camera zooms in on Will's present: a statue of an African father holding his young son. CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 23: Will Smith attends the 70th Anniversary during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2017 in Cannes, France. : The reviews were solid for the then-25-year-olds first dramatic movie role, so Smith was ready to do something that had a little bite to it, Zuckerman said. Get Discovered! Grab a hankie, whistle for a cab, and take a trip down memory lane with me. I just wish I hadn't wasted my money buying this stupid present. You know what? : Filled with investments. William 'Will' Smith: Got through my first date without him, right? He's now his own person, living in his new life, that he himself built this whole time. Firstly, Will Smith's father was very much present during his childhood. [after discovering Will's father unexpectedly] Will runs up to him to give him a big hug. Willard Carroll Smith II (born September 25, 1968), also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor and rapper.Known for variety of roles, Smith has received multiple accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award and four Grammy Awards. : This film was the first movie he ever worked on, and this really helped him make the giant leap from being a TV actor to a film actor. Oh yeah, I don't think so. He never even sent me a damn card! Within Smith's oeuvre, the Fresh Prince mode dominates in other roles like Oscar the fish in the animated film Shark Tale and the 1993 movie Made in America. And yet. His character was contending with all the things hed never be and Vereen was deep in that moment. : The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is a 1990s sitcom that stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself. We tried to make him not a bad guy sympathetic, explained Zuckerman, who wrote Papas Got a Brand New Excuse with veteran TV writer Bill Boulware after an initially disastrous table read of a different script had cast Wills father, Lou (to be played by Broadway alum Ben Vereen), as a pool shark who breezes into town. Just cool down. The entire show was quiet, even during the funny parts, and I could not figure out why. That awful moment when you learn that this wasnt scripted. However, Philadelphia is a large city and Smith is a common name worldwide. Frank Schaeffer Jr. (cousin) Reuben (great-uncle) Eleanor (great-aunt) William "Will" Smith (portrayed by Willard "Will" Smith) is a fictionalized version of Smith and main character in the 1990-1996 NBC television sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and the 2022 Peacock streaming television drama Bel-Air, portrayed in the latter series by . Will and Philip subsequently get into a heated argument over this, with Will claiming in anger that he doesn't care what Phillip thinks because Phillip is not his father, leaving Phillip visibly upset and at a loss for words. Looking for Disney, Game of Thrones, or Marvel movie casting calls? The most extreme (and false) version of this the rumor goes as far to claim that Smith actually ad-libbed the scene and that the episode was meant to end with Will brushing off his father's abandonment. Will knows the truth, however that these cops will take any chance they can get to subjugate two young Black men, especially given that they're driving a "stolen car." William 'Will' Smith: You know what? He's an associate editor for Collider and has written for Shudder, CBS, Paste Magazine, Guff, Smosh, Obsev Studios, and more. Yeah, yeah. Revealing that he bought Lou a present a sculpture of a father holding his son he insists that he's made it through his entire life, and all of his formative moments, without his dad, and that he'll just keep going. He waltzes in here after 15 years? That Will Smiths character was actually supposed to brush off the whole thing, but Wills father actually had left him when he was younger and he just fell apart on the set and the hug at the end was from one actor to another, not one character to another. : He showed up, did this scene in one take, then disappeared again," wrote Reddit user RajanKian, who was at the taping of the show. In the episode, Wills deadbeat father Lou (played by Broadway legend Ben Vereen) returns after a 14-year absence to spend time with his son. Now, let's get to the bottom of this rumor. The latter is a secondary part (Whoopi . People were crying for a long time when it was over, doing their best not to make noise before the director said cut. I was ten years old. Classic Black sitcoms like Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Living Single are finally streaming. When the time has come for Top Dog to choose his new candidate, Carlton assumes he'll get picked, and Will's foolishness will not be tolerated. Much of "Not with My Cousin You Don't," as you might guess by the title, is predicated on icky gender-role shenanigans. As such, "Mistaken Identity" served (serves?) Published Mar 12, 2022. All of these qualities make him one of our great television characters; all of these qualities make him rife for roasts from his cousin Will; all of these qualities add to the interesting playing with and subverting of what kinds of racial depictions we saw on television in the early '90s. William 'Will' Smith: No, you know what, Uncle Phil? They were all pretty the same: the dialogue would get cheesy (well, cheesier) and the music, sappy (sappier). But as he reveals to Will in a tense, hospital-set two-hander finale (staged this time, curiously,with a studio audience), he hopes deep down inside that he can meet the man who shot Will, and get his revenge. Although he was a "tough" man, Will told Essence Magazine that he was not "tryannical. There had been a lot of interest in an episode about Wills dad, according to Fresh Prince writer David Zuckerman, given that the entire premise of the show was based on Will being sent to live with his rich aunt and uncle because his mother, raising him alone, wants him out of their rough neighborhood. The two collapse into an embrace. : : You know, if there was something that l William 'Will' Smith By Awa | Whatever he needed, whether it was a pat on the head or a kick in the pants, I was there for him. 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