[shouts] Smith rarely resorts to out-and-out anger in his Fresh Prince performances, but we see it here, and it is warranted. : The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is a 1990s sitcom that stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself. 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. 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 . When my father got out of the Air Force, he started his own refrigeration business. It was written by David Zuckerman and Bill Boulware, and directed by Shelley Jensen. "I did not make the rules, but I do know how to play the game. Will makes it to the hospital, and even has a laissez-faire gallows sense of humor about the whole ordeal. : Will's father is out of the picture; Uncle Phil is by all accounts the closest to a dad he has. Instead of reading him the riot act, Will is understandably enchanted. Know the story behind Will Smith's iconic 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Adding, "You might notice his hat coming off. Will reminds us), and Carlton's pristine visions of fairness and equality (not to mention his wealth and status) are shattered in the face of abject racism. : The two collapse into an embrace. I believe it's because of the show's big, beating, sincere, courageous heart. ", "He kept me in line. The altercation purportedly began when the then neophyte actor felt a scene wasn't working on his sitcom, "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and unilaterally made some changes to the script . 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. Will runs up to him to give him a big hug. Fresh Prince wasnt a show that had done serious moments. 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). Lou Smith 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. 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. I'm ready to be part of your life if you'll let me. During filming, the studio was completely silent a rarity for a comedy with a live audience. Where There's a Will, There's a Way (Part 1), Where There's a Will, There's a Way (Part 2). Smith, whose most emotional scenes in the episode are opposite Avery, had to cry on camera for the first time. Who cares what you think? This episode, and especially this scene, tends to prove Mr. Mamet wrong. Release Dates Come tomorrow, I'm out of here. This erroneous claim first appeared in a Tumblr post in the early 2010s with no source given, nor has one emerged beyond the rumor simply being repeated verbatim uncited, including on IMDb. Well, one day, I just panicked and ran. Will's father Lou shows up after 14 years and spends a lot of time with Will. That year we won the first Grammy given to a rap artist. She expresses her worries for Janice "as an African-American woman" for whom life has already stacked the deck against. You might notice his hat coming off. Will says in one episode, while the camera tilts up to literally show the studio lights). : I had *fourteen* great birthdays without him. Lou Smith Its already in there, you know what it is. While the legend that Smith ad-libbed much of the scene based on his troubled relationship with his actual father is probably false, the sobbing was not. It wasnt an easy scene for Smith to film, either. Lou Smith : [to Will] You see, the day you were born was the happiest day of my life. So there you have it everyone! 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. 'Bad Boys For Life', which filmed in Atlanta, Georgia. 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). Episode director Shelley Jensen worked on the series for all six seasons and watched Smith, who started the show at 21, go from novice to supernova. Usually, the director would retake the scene, but really, nothing could replace this moment. Geoffrey Butler: Come with me, Master William. Uncle Phil, however, is worried that Will's father will simply disappoint Will again and disappoint Will he does. Official Sites Excuse me, bring the horses around would you, ha! It originally aired on May 9, 1994. Prior to 'Fresh Prince' both Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff were set on releasing albums. 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. Then, the waterworks. The latter is a secondary part (Whoopi . : Will Smith: Hey, Uncle Phil! Use me. Will said that. 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. Lou and Phillip get into a heated argument about Lou's responsibilities as a father with Lou again claiming he was scared to be a father, which Phillip rejects, claiming he too was scared to be a father, but unlike Lou, he didn't run out on his family, but rather remained present for his children's lives, as a good and responsible man is supposed to do. It's a simple trick, perhaps best-known in the final moments ofCheers. Before this scene, Will Smith disappeared. R.I.P.James Avery "Uncle Phil" 1948-2014 --ONE OF MY FAV SCENES--THROW BACK! Sheridan Smith beamed as she left the Duke of York's Theatre in London on Thursday after her West End show, Shirley Valentine. WatchMojo: Top 10 "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" Moments, NBC Studios - 3000 W. Alameda Avenue, Burbank, California, USA. The hell with your father. Atlantic records is now hiring content creators. Reply . It's a brilliantly played scene, rife with warmth and gentility even as they discuss tricky stuff. Lou is, indeed, going to walk out of Will's life again, having scammed the Banks family for what he needs. Will Smith cries remember James Avery during the 'Fresh Prince' reunion special. In that final scene, when Lou disappoints Will for the final time, Vereen himself broke down off-camera. Daddy-O! 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. Smith said that he was originally supposed to sit at the bench and reflect on his uncle's words. Will Smith Explains The "Dad Episode" of Fresh Prince, According to episode co-writer David Zuckerman, this episode was written to showcase Will Smith's dramatic acting talents, following his recent turn in the dramedy, The initial script for this episode cast Lou as a pool shark breezing through town. It was that specific episode for me as a director [that] I saw him connect and make it work. He's fond of structure, of status, of systems. 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. Let's come up with something better that you can call me. 5 Jun. And when it digs into this core, it doesn't need silly jokes. Whatever. William 'Will' Smith You are not my father! 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. Will forgives him and is prepared to give him another chance. Home; About. His father was a question mark, or, as cousin Hillary puts it in the episode, a deadbeat who left him and his mom flat.. Having three Black male actors in an intensely dramatic scene on a comedic series only added to the power of the moment. 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. 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. He was drawing from personal experience because his dad had left when he was a baby and when he became famous because of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air he turned up like nothing had happened. Damn, I didn't think a scene from "The Fresh Prince" would hit me that hard. Both parties have lots to positively learn about each other. 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. Will's very pleased with this. : 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. Usually, the director would retake the scene, but really, nothing could replace this moment. 2019 Ted Fund Donors But his words, as Uncle Phil's so often do, ring passionate with promise, with ideals, and with familial love. 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. 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. Following Avery's words, Smith pulled off the most iconic and emotional scene in the show's history. Will is originally from West-Philadelphia but was forced to move soon after participating in a fight with a couple of thugs. Lou Smith : I just wasn't ready to be a father. Look at me. They said, Rap? My mother graduated from Carnegie Mellon. 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!" Philip Banks 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. The 'Fresh Prince' Deadbeat Dad Reflects On Heartbreaking Scene With 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. : And he told us that this was going to be our gig over the summer. I love when classic multi-cam sitcoms feel like excuses to put classic theater on television for the masses, and this episode has a wondrous scene that vaults into this hallowed ground. At 2:04 Will goes off script, so everything that happens after that is real. Will then begins to cry and asks Phillip why his father doesn't want him. Lou seems hurt by this, but he can't think of anything else to say, and after reflecting for a moment, he quickly walks out without another word. And she thinks she might be ready to enter a sexual relationship with a partner (Jaleel White, of course), despite their relationship being inherently long distance. as a startling wake-up call, albeit one couched in comfort, comedy, and familiar class dynamics. : However, Smith revealed in his 2021 memoir. I just wish I hadn't wasted my money buying this stupid present. 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. However, Lou announces to Vivian and Phillip that he has to leave immediately to make a business shipment, and he's gotta be open for more shipments, so the trip he promised Will isn't going to happen as he planned it. But hes a better parental figure than his actual dad, who lets his son down again. 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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. 1 His First Major Movie Role Was In Six Degrees Of Separation. Here's the Tumblr version of events that we've come to believe as the truth: Philip Banks: I'm sorry. Will Smith is a two-time Oscar nominee and one of the most popular actors (and genies) of his generation. Therefore, it is necessary for the operation of the household that you address me as Geoffrey, and I in turn address you by your proper title, Master William. That year we won the first Grammy given to a rap artist.". I rarely cried for a sitcom, but this is it. It was almost like time stood still.. Ben Vereen (Lou) stated in an interview that he broke into tears himself after walking out of the camera shot. The two were locked in that epic embrace when Avery doled out even more encouragement. : You probably remember the goofy dancing scenes and guest appearances from DJ Jazzy Jeff, but every so often, The Fresh Prince would attempt something legitimately poignant. 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. Just lay one brick, dude. (Via). Some of the episodes even made us cry. Why Will Smith Memorized Every Early 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' Script So is he a cop? It's tricky to reckon with "Just Say Yo" with modern eyes. He tries to make the exit without Will noticing, but Will does. I started feeling trapped. Yeah, you did.