It was selfish and cowardly, but that's what I did. In fact, the issue with this point of view comes with calling his time a transition in the first place. 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. Geoffrey Butler: Master William, tradition dictates that a clean, unbreakable line be drawn between a family and their butler. Both parties have lots to positively learn about each other. It was great seeing you, son. Its fun to bash on Will Smiths career moves of late (After, ugh, Earth), but when he finds the right role, hes an excellent actor. : Why did it take so long? Will did not like it at all. When my father got out of the Air Force, he started his own refrigeration business. Before he can do so, Will walks in, packed and ready to go. This remains, by my estimation, the single greatest example of a television sitcom getting real and I wouldn't be surprised if it continues to be for the rest of the medium's history (gritty reboots be damned). Instead of reading him the riot act, Will is understandably enchanted. At 2:04 Will goes off script, so everything that happens after that is real. Zuckerman described Lou as "a guy that just wasn't cut out to be a father.". He tore the old one down it was probably 16 feet high and 40 feet long. No, he said. I started feeling trapped. Where does that leave Will? 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. : (Andrea Raffin / Shutterstock.com), Game Brain Starring Will Smith Open Casting Call, Watch DWTS Alfonso Ribiero Get Jiggy Wit It to Will Smiths Hit Song, Will Smith Quits the Movie Brilliance Weeks Before Production. Damn, I didn't think a scene from "The Fresh Prince" would hit me that hard. This pages comprises the full verbal transcript of the first episode of Season 1 - The Fresh Prince Project. Co-writer Bill Boulware based this episode on his own life experiences growing up with a single parent, noting he was always interested in shows about fathers due to his lack of one growing up. I had always been interested in shows with fathers, because I grew up with a single parent, he said. | 1 His First Major Movie Role Was In Six Degrees Of Separation. A powerful, teachable, simple lesson. Philip Banks Grab a hankie, whistle for a cab, and take a trip down memory lane with me. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Nov 11, 2021, 12:36 PM. But the audience sobbing that you can make out in the background? Uh, must have the wrong crib. 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. : William 'Will' Smith : Will Smith: Hey, Uncle Phil! Ain't like I'm still five years old, you know. Ribeiro plays this sequence like a man on a precipice, a fork in the road for Carlton, a thrillingly unpredictable piece of theater that even speaks to that common theater rule involving guns on stage. William 'Will' Smith: Got through my first date without him, right? He was born in 1973 in West Philadelphia. 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. Philip Banks Will makes it to the hospital, and even has a laissez-faire gallows sense of humor about the whole ordeal. Will and his dad, Willard Carroll Smith, Sr., remained on good terms until he passed away in November 2016. Fearing for his safety his mother sent him out to Bel Air. Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to be part of an upcoming music vid "Dad was tough but not tyrannical," Smith told Essence. CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 23: Will Smith attends the 70th Anniversary during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2017 in Cannes, France. Whew, that was deep, Vereen said. It's Carlton, Phil's son, whom we see suffer this trauma the most severely, even more so than Phil himself. (Via). : [Uncle Phil rushes forward to hug Will, and Will breaks down sobbing]. You are not my father! It was also so unexpected. So there you have it everyone! William 'Will' Smith: No, you know what, Uncle Phil? The thing I connect to is: I do not have to build a perfect wall today. William 'Will' Smith: You know what? Ain't like I'ma be sitting up every night asking my mom, "When's Daddy coming home? Man, I'm glad you're here. : Speaking of "Will's father is out of the picture". 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." 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 I'm a different man now. The slimmies of summer come to class wearing next to nothing, you know what I'm saying Philip Banks Will runs up to him to give him a big hug. However Vivian has previously stated that hers, violas, Helens and Janices maiden name is Smith. In reality, Smith's parents separated when he was 13 but his father remained a major figure in his life up to his death in 2016. Will never, ever, forget.. Behind the scenes, the episode was also meant to showcase Smiths dramatic acting chops. It killed me when I first saw it, and still gets to me now. But before all that, he was a sitcom star, someone who, it would not have been foolhardy to assume, couldnt handle more dramatic material. You might notice his hat coming off. Of course Im talking about Papas Got a Brand New Excuse.. Geoffrey Butler: You have the right house. I'm sorry. In the episode "Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse", Will Smith demonstrated his true acting abilities and showed the world when he is given the right role, he can do an amazing job. 'Bad Boys For Life', which filmed in Atlanta, Georgia. Carlton Banks ButThe Fresh Princemight be the most successful because of what it implies about the future of its characters, and how neatly it closes the arc for Will. Oh, come on. Every true Fresh Prince of Bel-Air fan knows the most emotional scene in the entire series. They said, Rap? My mother graduated from Carnegie Mellon. Will said that. This moment feels goodto watch, and feels like a cathartic piece of permission for Black folks who don't fit the typical mold you see on television to be exactly who they are, and be comfortable in that. Ain't like I'm still five years old, you know. Geoffrey Butler: I am not your Uncle Philip. Much of "Not with My Cousin You Don't," as you might guess by the title, is predicated on icky gender-role shenanigans. I'ma get through college without him, I'ma get a great job without him, I'ma marry me a beautiful honey, and I'ma have me a whole bunch of kids. Will tells Uncle Phil (James Avery) that he, straight up, has forgotten where he came from. Because he's not doing this for you, he's doing this for himself and if you think any differently, then you're a fool! Philip and Vivian Banks enter the living room to meet Will. I'm sorry, Will. Maybe a little longer. Adding, "You might notice his hat coming off. The story behind Will Smith's iconic 'hug' scene in 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' By Helena Andrews-Dyer September 11, 2020 at 7:00 a.m. EDT Will Smith, seen here in 1990, started "The. At least he said goodbye this time. William 'Will' Smith Phillip asks Vivian to allow him to talk to Lou in private, and Vivian agrees, on the condition that he doesn't hit Lou because she wouldn't want to miss that! We can talk about this another time. Whatever he needed, whether it was a pat on the head or a kick in the pants, I was there for him. Yeah, yeah. The Fresh Princeis unbelievably silly, no doubt, with its oft-arch performances and willingness to surreally break the fourth wall ("How come we can't afford ceilings?" Kim Kardashian Tackled to the Ground at Paris Fashion Event, Marvel's 'Ant-Man' Casting Call for Kids in Peachtree City, Georgia, NBA YoungBoy and Birdman Hire Director for 'Ballin Blocker 2', 'The Weeknd' To Star in a Movie He Co-Wrote and Produced, Michael B. Jordan Reunites with High School Reporter at 'Creed III' Premiere: 'I Was the Corny Kid, Right? Usually, the director would retake the scene, but really, nothing could replace this moment. I told my parents I wanted to rap. 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. William 'Will' Smith : So why did you? I had *fourteen* great birthdays without him. : Well, one day, I just panicked and ran. : This pages comprises the full verbal transcript of the first episode of Season 1 - The Fresh Prince Project . Will Smith said he improvised his character's piano moment in the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" pilot. This article was published more than2 years ago, This week marks the 30th anniversary of the premiere of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the classic 1990s sitcom that transformed a buoyant (and broke) young rapper into Will Smith, blockbuster movie star. This relationship needs to be attended to, now. I ain't need him then and I don't need him now. You know what, you ain't got to do nothing, Uncle Phil. [long pause as Will struggles to regain his composure]. When Will and Carlton are held up at gunpoint at an ATM, a shot is fired, and Will is the victim. While Will is forgiving and understanding, Phillip and Vivian not so much. Regrettably,The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airis full of fat-shaming jokes, particularly from Will toward Uncle Phil (and in one entire episode, they bring on royal guest starQueen Latifahjust to have her be a learning moment that overweight people have feelings too; Latifah and Smith sell the material, of course, but there's definitely a lack of depth in the exploration, which I guess means Mametwasright). 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. Lou exclaims that Phillip is a better man than himself, thinking that's what Phillip wants to hear, and asks him to break the news to Will, but Phillip refuses to do Lou's "dirty work", and Lou opts to duck out and call from the road. Wills delivery was so perfect it seems like it was in the moment.. Class and race issues are at the core of Will's journey from Philadelphia to Bel-Air, and after a series of fish-out-of-water shenanigans where Will's lower-class upbringing clashes with the Banks' upper-class upbringing during a dinner party, these tensions explode explicitly. No, you know what, Uncle Phil? 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. Just cool down. Will runs up to him to give him a big hug. Insists that if Carlton goes through with this plan, he's just as bad as the guy who put Will in the hospital. : [takes out a small statue of a father sitting with his son on his lap]. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. Is Viola's reaction mere prejudice, plainly spoken? The entire show was quiet, even during the funny parts, and I could not figure out why. It's a stunning piece of performance that lays the groundwork for the series' deft juggling of silliness and sincerity perfectly. Hey, why should I be mad? So when he has to break down and confess to the family that the amphetamines Carlton found were meant for him, making him tacitly responsible for Carlton's hospitalization, he commits to it beautifully. Following Avery's words, Smith pulled off the most iconic and emotional scene in the show's history. In its six seasons on NBC, the series a grittier version of The Cosby Show that juxtaposed hip-hop culture with Black upper-class ethos tackled everything from racism to sexism to a two-step dubbed the Carlton.. "Being Black isn't what I'm trying to be, it's what I am," says Carlton, plainly, making sure Top Dog knows he's the real sellout before leaving. Fresh Prince of Bel-Air - Will's Father leaves Charles Bentley 13.3K subscribers 381K 13M views 7 years ago There wasn't a good quality version of one of the most touching scenes in TV. He uses his emotions like an instrument, starting as strong as he can, until it can't help but fracture and fall. He showed up, did this scene in one take, then disappeared again. The story behind the episode is almost as good as the episode itself. : He reflected that there was an element of his character fully coming to terms with how much he had failed Will after being referred to by his name rather than as "Dad". Are you a content creator looking for an opportunity to show your stuff? Will. Who cares what you think? Stream It Or Skip It: 'Love at First Kiss' on Netflix, a Spanish Rom-Com About a Man Gifted with 'Romantic Clairvoyance' Stream It Or Skip It: 'Tonight You're Sleeping With Me' on Netflix, a . This leaves Phil and Will alone, and leaves Will the opportunity to spill out all of his feelings about his absent father. 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. Will says in one episode, while the camera tilts up to literally show the studio lights). 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. Will then, becoming a touch of a father figure himself, must set his cousin straight. 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. And when Carlton does buck up and speak to his father, vulnerability and everything, it's simply stunning television. : Will's father is out of the picture; Uncle Phil is by all accounts the closest to a dad he has. Uncle Phil, that is not cool, the way you dissing my father like that. : Lou Smith The latter is a secondary part (Whoopi . Where There's a Will, There's a Way (Part 1), Where There's a Will, There's a Way (Part 2). The true story behind one of the saddest scenes in 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' History has finally been revealed. Ain't even nothing to talk about. The show retains an important place in pop culture. So is he a cop? See production, box office & company info, [after Lou cancels his trip with Will and leaves]. Whatever. This wasnt the physical comedy at which Smith the rapper excelled. And insists that Carlton leaves the gun behind immediately. It was almost like time stood still.. So the only thing true about this rumor is the emotion conveyed by Will in the scene. Philip Banks I know my dad had been planning this for a long time. William 'Will' Smith : He's my father. I knew it was good, good television and it was really special.. William 'Will' Smith Find talent. William 'Will' Smith 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. 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. What's up? 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. That year we won the first Grammy given to a rap artist.". Tells him he grew up on the streets of Baltimore. : Instead, he laser-focuses on cleaning the house, taking care of everything except himself, feeling genuinely, scarily haunted. ", you know. : He tries to make the exit without Will noticing, but Will does. Did he actually accomplish anything during this time living with his upper-class relatives? Where There's a Will, There's a Way (Part 1), Where There's a Will, There's a Way (Part 2). "We agreed that I would take a year making music, and if it did not work out, I would go to college. : William 'Will' Smith: [shouts] To hell with him! (HBO Max) Will recalled the episode where his character's father resurfaces after 14 years. This was the first time the show just went there and stayed there and let it resonate, Zuckerman said of the episodes lasting impact. I'm Will's father Hilary Banks My father could kind of see doing something differently. We see this formative piece of growing up reacted to in two different ways a very problematic one, that happens to be driven by two leading men; and an incredibly sensitive, sincere, and real one, that happens to be driven by two leading women. I understand. : Actually, this works out better for me, you know. 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. ignorant of such targeted frissons. Watch popular content from the following creators: Tvseries Clips(@i_cole_world_i), Call_Me_Ville(@callme_ville), LeashRN-BSN(@leash_rn), EpicClips101(@epicclips101official), ciaran w(@rap_editszzz) . (Via). William 'Will' Smith William 'Will' Smith: I ain't need him then and I don't need him now. Lou Smith It's a special series to me, and to so many folks. 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. It was Avery, always the steady influence, that centered him, giving the rapper turned movie star memorable advice. as a startling wake-up call, albeit one couched in comfort, comedy, and familiar class dynamics. But hes a better parental figure than his actual dad, who lets his son down again. 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. I wanted him to approve of me., Fans of the show have long believed that Smith improvised that final scene in which his character builds to an emotional crescendo, loudly proclaiming all the milestones he got through without Lou, but every word was written by Bill and I, Zuckerman said. By Awa | Gregory Lawrence (aka Greg Smith) is a writer, director, performer, songwriter, and comedian. But Viola is ready to boycott the wedding, and forbid her son from going, too. Think back to any emotional scene on Full House. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airwas, and continues to be, a breath of fresh air. Filled with investments. In celebration of its 30th anniversary (the pilot aired September 10, 1990), I wondered why this show continues to play so wonderfully and warmly where so many other '90s sitcoms become forgotten. Papa's Got A Brand New Excuse is the 24th episode of Season 4. Fourteen years and acts like nothing has happened. Hes a steady and positive figure in my life. | [Uncle Phil rushes forward to hug Will, and Will breaks down sobbing]. Its already in there, you know what it is. She expresses her worries for Janice "as an African-American woman" for whom life has already stacked the deck against. Hilary's response is just a wonderfully stated, expertly performed piece of sisterly advice and love, undercut appropriately by in-character jokes (Parsons knows this character like a craftsman knows their tool). Guess what happens next. 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.". Now, let's get to the bottom of this rumor. ", There is a popular misconception that Smith himself was also abandoned by his biological father in real life when he was young and had "broken character" while delivering the rant which went from being directed towards Lou to being directed towards Smith's own real-life father. Thing is, hes not really acting here much of Wills speech was ad-libbed and based on his own traumatic childhood. Lou Smith James Avery was relentless on me to elevate. Lou is, indeed, going to walk out of Will's life again, having scammed the Banks family for what he needs. His acting from that moment on improved dramatically. Some of the episodes even made us cry. Tags: fresh prince of bel air, sad, scene, Will Smth, father, The Story Behind The Saddest "Fresh Prince" Scene Is Not What You Think, The Evolution of the Internet: 90s to Now. When they express how this is going to crush Will, Lou asks Phillip and Vivian to break the news to Will. : How come he don't want me, man? Philip Banks 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. What is the Spanish language plot outline for Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse (1994)? Will's father Lou shows up after 14 years and spends a lot of time with Will. William 'Will' Smith Oct 20, 2017. The rest of the family may find this all surprising, and Uncle Phil may at first think Frank (Baker) is a valet (in one of the best-staged act outs I've seen in a TV comedy; not to mention its sneakily provocative racial flip). That awful moment when you learn that this wasnt scripted. Make connections. Washington Post Retrospective on the episode. That changed with Papas Got a Brand New Excuse, the season four episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that aired 25 years ago today. Uncle Phil, however, thinks Lou will again disappoint his son. . Will's father is a deadbeat who left him and his mom flat. How you doin'? 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. Will Smith: Hey man, it's cool if you just call me Will, man. Hey, just cool it. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was one of our favorite shows while growing up in the 90s. Because you're my son and I love you. The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air is a FANDOM TV Community. But then, in an all-time line reading, Will simply asks his uncle, "How come he don't want me, man?" The much-acclaimed show recently completed its 30th anniversary. Philip Banks Dont act around me, act with me, Smith recalled Avery saying. Carlton is confidently, uniquely himself. While hes hugging me, he whispers in my ear, 'Thats f---ing acting right there, recalled Smith, who also revealed the motivation behind that performance. The Banks, especially Uncle Phil, see through Lous lies, but Will cant; hes so happy to be with his dad that he drops his trademark swagger and acts like an eager child again. So we're gonna have to put our trip on hold. I've been waiting for this for a long time, my whole life and ain't nobody gonna stop me. For more onThe Fresh Prince, here's the latest intel on the upcoming reboot. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Published Mar 12, 2022. Filming & Production William 'Will' Smith For more, www.smithlgreg.com, The Best Serious Moments in 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air', 'The Last of Us' Made Flashbacks Work, But Episode 7's Doesn't, The 10 Best 'South Park' Episodes of All Time, Ranked According to IMDb, 10 Best Villains from 'Batman: The Animated Series', Ranked. The idea was to have Wills father come back and leave again, disappointing his only son for a second time. 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. We're doing alright, huh? Will, it's all right to be angry. While working at the Los Angeles University student restaurant, Will recognizes a customer - his father - whom he has not seen for 14 years. Although he was a "tough" man, Will told Essence Magazine that he was not "tryannical. 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).