Will never, ever, forget.. 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. At least he said goodbye this time. 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 selfish and cowardly, but that's what I did. He waltzes in here after 15 years? Hes a steady and positive figure in my life.. William 'Will' Smith ignorant of such targeted frissons. Vivian Banks Phillip understands, and wishes Will the best. 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." Yeah, you did. But his words, as Uncle Phil's so often do, ring passionate with promise, with ideals, and with familial love. He uses his emotions like an instrument, starting as strong as he can, until it can't help but fracture and fall. 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. 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. You know what, Aunt Viv? 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. [after discovering Will's father unexpectedly] But Carlton is actually, literally Phil's son. Filled with investments. Will Smith is a two-time Oscar nominee and one of the most popular actors (and genies) of his generation. You too Lou. The show retains an important place in pop culture. We agreed that I would take a year making music, and if it did not work out, I would go to college. People were crying for a long time when it was over, doing their best not to make noise before the director said cut.". He never even sent me a damn card! Yeah, yeah. William 'Will' Smith Hilary and Ashley are heading to New York, Carlton is heading to Princeton, and Phil and Viv (and Nicky; remember Nicky?) 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 . Gregory Lawrence (aka Greg Smith) is a writer, director, performer, songwriter, and comedian. 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.. His father was a question mark, or, as cousin Hillary puts it in the episode, a deadbeat who left him and his mom flat.. What's up? A powerful, teachable, simple lesson. Fearing for his safety his mother sent him out to Bel Air. Will Smith: What are you, Robo-Butler, man? 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. 5 Jun. So there you have it everyone! William 'Will' 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. And he told us that this was going to be our gig over the summer. And I got pretty damn good at it too, didn't I, Uncle Phil? Has this period, reactionary and transitory in intention, ended with an anticlimactic ellipses rather than an emphatic exclamation? 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. I've been waiting for this for a long time, my whole life and ain't nobody gonna stop me. So is he a cop? The entire show was quiet, even during the funny parts, and I could not figure out why. Philip Banks Although he was a "tough" man, Will told Essence Magazine that he was not "tryannical. If you listen closely, you can hear Karyn Parsons (Hilary) crying backstage. It's purely powerful stuff, the kind of moment that immediately casts the rest of the episode in a better glow. It's a brilliantly played scene, rife with warmth and gentility even as they discuss tricky stuff. Philip Banks You are forced to invest your time, family, and even your wallet to make your dream come true. I was honored to be there at the launch.. 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) . Is Viola's reaction mere prejudice, plainly spoken? 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. It kinda stinks, is what I'm saying, even when these two male knuckleheads eventually learn their lesson. 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. Now that the building is done, he gets to live in it. At first Will seems okay with Lou abandoning him, as at least he said goodbye, but Will now wishes he hadn't spent money on a present for Lou. They plan a cross-country trip together, but Uncle Phil (James Avery) warns Will that he shouldnt get his hopes up; this is the man who abandoned him, after all. : Lou Smith Home; About. [Uncle Phil rushes forward to hug Will, and Will breaks down sobbing]. Up until that point, they were thinking of [Smith] as a TV actor, Vereen said of the young mans burgeoning film career. 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. Are you a content creator looking for an opportunity to show your stuff? Wake up, Will. 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. Relax. It was Avery, always the steady influence, that centered him, giving the rapper turned movie star memorable advice. And I'm a different man now. 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. Lou Smith However, Philadelphia is a large city and Smith is a common name worldwide. 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! Posted by ; words for deep love in other languages; Youwillcry at the acapella song the family sings over the credits. Philip: Yeah, then why did he say it? William 'Will' Smith Will and his dad, Willard Carroll Smith, Sr., remained on good terms until he passed away in November 2016. You know the episode, and you definitely know THE scene. Wisely, his apology tends to stay out of the socioeconomic implications of drugs, and more into the personal point of view of "I am a member of this family who has hurt another member of this family." Before this scene, Will Smith disappeared. Philip Banks It's a shocking, plainspoken admission of society's privilege, one that gives the character tons of empathy and understanding. Papa's Got A Brand New Excuse is the 24th episode of Season 4. Will's father Lou shows up after 14 years and spends a lot of time with Will. William 'Will' Smith Having three Black male actors in an intensely dramatic scene on a comedic series only added to the power of the moment. But that specific episode? : Even if the performance wasnt real, it was real enough to be remembered 20 years later. For four years, I treated that boy like my own son. We were standing there thinking, There will never, ever, be a wall here again. (Via), Smith: My father was in the military, so everything was really regimented.. And insists that Carlton leaves the gun behind immediately. Some of the episodes even made us cry. Im messing up the lines because I wanted it so bad, Smith said in the podcast interview. 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. Make connections. 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. Oct 20, 2017. But the audience sobbing that you can make out in the background? 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. William 'Will' Smith Will Smith recalls iconic "how come he don't want me" scene + Being pushed by James Avery Streaming Black 3.83K subscribers Subscribe 3.3M views 4 years ago Black Press Media Group, July 2018. He's my father. After more than a decade of being absent from his life, Will's father Lou (Ben Vereen) returns, eager to spend time with his son Will here in the fancy hills of Bel-Air. 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.". (HBO Max) Will recalled the episode where his character's father resurfaces after 14 years. The two awkwardly find themselves talking with Lou claiming he's a self-employed truck driver now, and that he recently spoke to Will's mother, who informed him that Will was now in Bel-Air with his Uncle Phil and Aunt Vivian, so he drove down to see his son. I learned how to drive, I learned how to shave, I learned how to fight without him. : Will Smith: Oh, okay, well uh, cheerio and all that Walter now. Not quite. Company Credits The hell with your father. In that final scene, when Lou disappoints Will for the final time, Vereen himself broke down off-camera. Whew, that was deep, Vereen said. Usually, the director would retake the scene, but really, nothing could replace this moment. To hell with him! 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. Excuse me. There is no funny outtake of the cast messing up their lines. 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 . 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! 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. 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. William 'Will' Smith 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. When they express how this is going to crush Will, Lou asks Phillip and Vivian to break the news to Will. He loves dancing, especially to Tom Jonesand theSugarhill Gang. At 2:04 Will goes off script, so everything that happens after that is real. : Come tomorrow, I'm out of here. His father, who had left him years before, claims he is finally ready to become a part of Will's life, again. 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. : 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. : Philip Banks: I'm sorry. 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. Atlantic records is now hiring content creators. But it wasnt until the fourth season, with its characters deeply established, that the show decided to tackle the subject in depth. He might be leaving this Bel-Air home for good, but this is still the first half of his new life, his new identity. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airwas, and continues to be, a breath of fresh air. The Post's Candace Buckner, David Betancourt and Tramel Raggs explore how current demonstrations against racial inequality are echoing memorable sports movies. We went brick by brick for the entire summer and into winter and then back into spring. He tore the old one down it was probably 16 feet high and 40 feet long. 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. Smith has given all the credit to Avery for helping him get through that moment. Behind the scenes, the episode was also meant to showcase Smiths dramatic acting chops. She expresses her worries for Janice "as an African-American woman" for whom life has already stacked the deck against. ', Atlantic Records is Now Hiring Content Creators, Extras Richmond Casting Call for 1770s Types, $4,000 Casting Call for Women with Migraines, SCAD Documentary Casting Call for Church Types, "She Buries Me" Open Casting Call in Philadelphia, $125/Day Fort Lauderdale Music Video Casting Call, Paramount+ Series Casting Call for 2-Year Old Actors, "His Story: The Musical" Open Casting Call, $350/Day Docu-Style Project Casting Call for Blonde Actors, $1,500 Commercial Casting Call for Skiers in Colorado. The first time I held you, I didn't think I'd ever put you down. February 24, 2022 armstrong siddeley cars for sale armstrong siddeley cars for sale 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. He was the model for me of an actor. Its already in there, you know what it is. Use me. And when Carlton does buck up and speak to his father, vulnerability and everything, it's simply stunning television. He's now his own person, living in his new life, that he himself built this whole time. 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. (Via). The first one went extremely well while the second album, not so much. After landing a role on Fresh Prince, Will also snagged a leading role in the 1993 film adaptation of Six Degrees of Separation. William 'Will' Smith: No, you know what, Uncle Phil? Will William 'Will' Smith That year we won the first Grammy given to a rap artist. But there is one episode that stands head and shoulders above the rest. Classic Black sitcoms like Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Living Single are finally streaming. All of the Banks are planning on leaving their palatial Bel-Air estate, which we've gotten to know and love over six seasons. I'll be a better father than he ever was, and I sure as hell don't need him for that, 'cause ain't a damn thing he could ever teach me about how to love my kids! Vivian and Carlton are excited to see their Uncle Lou, and Ashley (who was a baby when Lou walked out) and baby Nicky get to meet him for the first time. Will. Thus, the hunt for a fraternity is on, and the two decide to attend a rush event for a Black frat on campus, run by Top Dog (Glenn Plummer). Where does that leave Will? 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". Lou Smith You know what? As of 2023, his films have grossed over $9.3 billion globally, making him one of Hollywood's most bankable stars. When Will and Carlton are held up at gunpoint at an ATM, a shot is fired, and Will is the victim. TIL that during Will Smith's monologue about his father on Fresh Prince, it was so heart-wrenching that audience members can be heard crying after it is over. Before he can do so, Will walks in, packed and ready to go. 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. Philip Banks Who needs him? : Well, one day, I just panicked and ran. Insists that if Carlton goes through with this plan, he's just as bad as the guy who put Will in the hospital. Think back to any emotional scene on Full House. William 'Will' Smith: Got through my first date without him, right? 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. It was written by David Zuckerman and Bill Boulware, and directed by Shelley Jensen. Carlton refuses to see his father after this moment of vulnerability and mortality. Yeah, whatever. as a startling wake-up call, albeit one couched in comfort, comedy, and familiar class dynamics. : With Wednesday's press night under her belt and a standing ovation to . So why did you? Prior to 'Fresh Prince' both Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff were set on releasing albums. Will runs up to him to give him a big hug. And yet. William 'Will' Smith: You know what? Uncle Phil, that is not cool, the way you dissing my father like that. "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. Smith: Oh, yeah, he was very serious about things being a certain way. William 'Will' Smith We didnt realize it had affected that many people until years later., Did any of us know this show would become what it has become in the last 30 years? Smith was known for his clean lyrics, and his hits were . Yeah, that's cool. : 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. [pause] Geoffrey Butler approaches the door and lets Will in. William 'Will' Smith Did he actually accomplish anything during this time living with his upper-class relatives? William 'Will' Smith Lou Smith I might have been 12 and my brother 9 when one day he decided he wanted a new front wall at his shop. : How come he dont want me, man? Will asks, lip quivering as he starts to break down and cry. However, Philadelphia is a large city and Smith is a common name worldwide. For survival, please dont marry this man.". I'm sorry, Will. Of course Im talking about Papas Got a Brand New Excuse.. Will Smith is, like,sucha good actor. Maybe a little longer. 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. Geoffrey Butler approaches the door and lets Will in. I'm Will's father Hilary Banks Will Smith on the series premiere of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." NBC. Will believes that Uncle Phil is jealous and tells him that hes not his real dad. Wills father introduces himself as Lou Smith, which would mean that Violas (Wills mother) married name is smith. Will Smith: Hey, Uncle Phil! William 'Will' Smith: Hey, why should I be mad? But Avery eventually calmed Smith down by telling him, Its already in there, you know what it is. It came in the series' fourth season and 24 th episode called "Papa's Got A Brand New Excuse", and it's an amazing example of Will Smith 's acting ability. 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. The latter is a secondary part (Whoopi . William 'Will' Smith HD1080p WILL'S DAD EMOTIONAL SAD SCENE ON THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIRNEW 2013 OF. I didn't know there was so many brothers living in the neighborhood. 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. And Will sets himstraight. Oh, come on. 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. The slimmies of summer come to class wearing next to nothing, you know what I'm saying Philip Banks Baker is the husband-to-be of Janice (Charlayne Woodard), who's set to be married in the Banks' spacious Bel-Air backyard if Will's mother Viola (Verne Watson-Johnson) doesn't blow a gasket first. 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. Look at me. In honor ofThe Fresh Prince's 30th anniversary, here are the 10 best times the sitcom got serious throughout its run, in chronological order. 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).