How Many Of These 90s One Hit Wonders Can You Name. : Lou is, indeed, going to walk out of Will's life again, having scammed the Banks family for what he needs. William 'Will' Smith I understand. February 24, 2022 armstrong siddeley cars for sale armstrong siddeley cars for sale 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. But Top Dog makes the opposite decision, deciding that WIll is more "authentically Black," calling Carlton a "sellout.". Maybe a little longer. Well, one day, I just panicked and ran. 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. Published Feb 2, 2021. : Classic Black sitcoms like Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Living Single are finally streaming. I just wish I hadn't wasted my money buying this stupid present. : She then exits, but not without warning Lou that if he walks out now, he will not be welcome at the Banks mansion again. He's an associate editor for Collider and has written for Shudder, CBS, Paste Magazine, Guff, Smosh, Obsev Studios, and more. [3] The man turns out to be Will's father, Lou Smith, whom Will hasn't seen in 14 years, since he abandoned the family. The entire show was quiet, even during the funny parts, and I could not figure out why, a Reddit user wrote. | After the following perfect take, which made it into the final episode, Avery whispered in Smith's ear during Will and Uncle Phil's hug, "That's fucking acting right there. 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 : So why did you? We were all in the moment. Atlantic records is now hiring content creators. For more onThe Fresh Prince, here's the latest intel on the upcoming reboot. [takes out a small statue of a father sitting with his son on his lap]. That happened. Lou Smith But Avery eventually calmed Smith down by telling him, Its already in there, you know what it is. But then, in an all-time line reading, Will simply asks his uncle, "How come he don't want me, man?" I'm sorry. Having three Black male actors in an intensely dramatic scene on a comedic series only added to the power of the moment. William 'Will' Smith The two later return to the Banks mansion, where Vivian is less than happy to see Lou, but maintains a civil presence around him for Will's sake. All of the Banks are planning on leaving their palatial Bel-Air estate, which we've gotten to know and love over six seasons. 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. Zuckerman firmly squashed the rumor in a 2020 article, stating the entire episode and that scene in particular were tightly scripted, citing Smith's acting ability as a testament to it seeming spontaneous. But before all that, he was a sitcom star, someone who, it would not have been foolhardy to assume, couldnt handle more dramatic material. 1 His First Major Movie Role Was In Six Degrees Of Separation. Will Smith is a two-time Oscar nominee and one of the most popular actors (and genies) of his generation. Oct 20, 2017. Following Avery's words, Smith pulled off the most iconic and emotional scene in the show's history. There are around 148 episodes over six seasons, but one episode titled Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse made many fans emotional. It was selfish and cowardly, but that's what I did. This version of the character was received poorly by Will Smith at the initial table read, and so Lou was rewritten as a somewhat more sympathetic character, who at least had a legitimate job as a truck driver. See production, box office & company info, [after Lou cancels his trip with Will and leaves]. So is he a cop? 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. Wake up, Will. Lou claims it was great to see Will again, and Will responds "You too Lou" instead of Dad, officially disowning Lou as his father. Release Dates The two were locked in that epic embrace when Avery doled out even more encouragement. 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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. That year we won the first Grammy given to a rap artist.". In that final scene, when Lou disappoints Will for the final time, Vereen himself broke down off-camera. Will runs up to him to give him a big hug. Fresh Prince wasnt a show that had done serious moments. 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. What millennial doesnt jump to finish the theme songs lyrics when prompted by Innnn West Philadelphia, born and raised? Right from the jump, from episode 1,The Fresh Princehad more on its mind than its aesthetics might initially hint. "How come he don't want me, man?" Directed by Shelley Jensen with a script from David Zuckerman and Bill Boulware, "Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse" is about Will's father, played by Ben Vereen,. It was also so unexpected. The young actor would go on to deliver one of the biggest emotional punches in Fresh Prince history. Will's father is a deadbeat who left him and his mom flat. : It's a simple trick, perhaps best-known in the final moments ofCheers. Geoffrey Butler approaches the door and lets Will in. But hes a better parental figure than his actual dad, who lets his son down again. No, he said. Philip Banks: [after Lou cancels his trip with Will and leaves] I'm sorry, Will. Philip, for God's sake. The latter is a secondary part (Whoopi . Will Smith: Hey, Uncle Phil! . In the episode, Wills father shows up unexpectedly after a 14-year absence. Behind the scenes, the episode was also meant to showcase Smiths dramatic acting chops. Uncle Phil, however, thinks Lou will again disappoint his son. 5 Jun. 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. William 'Will' Smith 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. Will Smith: Oh, okay, well uh, cheerio and all that Walter now. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was, and continues to be, a breath of fresh air.Originally airing from 1990 to 1996 for six seasons, the sitcom broke Will Smith through to superstardom in a series of . The slimmies of summer come to class wearing next to nothing, you know what I'm saying Philip Banks: Will, it's all right to be angry. The scene is iconic, ingrained in the brains of all who grew up watching "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air": a young Will Smith, eager to jet off on a trip with his biological father, only to be let down when his dad skips out on him once again.Will turns cold at the rejection, calling his dad only "Lou," then later rants to Uncle Phil about life without his dad. [to Will] Gregory Lawrence (aka Greg Smith) is a writer, director, performer, songwriter, and comedian. It is Fresh Princes most iconic half-hour the moment in which Will, the goof who plays it cool, became human, and Smith became an actor. : Will is originally from West-Philadelphia but was forced to move soon after participating in a fight with a couple of thugs. 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. flips the racial dynamics, bringing home a white husband (an atypically suave Diedrich Bader) to upset the extended Banks family. How you doin'? 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. Prior to 'Fresh Prince' both Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff were set on releasing albums. William 'Will' Smith 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. While Will and Lou bond at a carnival, Lou tells him that the real reason that he abandoned him was because he was scared of having a kid. At least he said goodbye this time. When Will and Carlton are held up at gunpoint at an ATM, a shot is fired, and Will is the victim. Will is at the Peacock when he sees a man staring at him. Smith would even come out himself and hype up the audience. Smith rarely resorts to out-and-out anger in his Fresh Prince performances, but we see it here, and it is warranted. Before this scene, Will Smith disappeared. Official Sites A powerful, teachable, simple lesson. are heading to New England themselves to be closer to their family. This pages comprises the full verbal transcript of the first episode of Season 1 - The Fresh Prince Project. 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. 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. Hey, why should I be mad? Will never, ever, forget. Carlton, however, self-weaponizes and assumes too much responsibility again, and his faith in an inherent sense of decency in the systems of life is shattered again. And I got pretty damn good at it too, didn't I, Uncle Phil? Just lay one brick, dude. (Via). You might notice his hat coming off. It wasnt an easy scene for Smith to film, either. The most effective and illuminating emotional reaction to this doesn't orient around Will, however at least not directly. : It's Carlton, Phil's son, whom we see suffer this trauma the most severely, even more so than Phil himself. At 2:04 Will goes off script, so everything that happens after that is real. When Will was five years old, he was abandoned by his father, Lou, leaving his mother, Viola, to raise him in poverty. Philip and Vivian Banks enter the living room to meet Will. : Looking for Disney, Game of Thrones, or Marvel movie casting calls? If you listen closely, you can hear Karyn Parsons (Hilary) crying backstage. William 'Will' Smith Ashleys first date with R&B princeling Tevin Campbell? Home; About. : How come he don't want me, man? 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. Ben Vereen (Lou) stated in an interview that he broke into tears himself after walking out of the camera shot. Will's father is out of the picture; Uncle Phil is by all accounts the closest to a dad he has. I ain't need him then and I don't need him now. Lou Smith I'm sorry that everybody can't be as perfect as you, Uncle Phil, but if I can forgive him, how come you can't? 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His acting from that moment on improved dramatically. : And yet. : For four years, I treated that boy like my own son. He resorts to buying a gun himself, ostensibly for protection. 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). What's up? During the episodes final scene, Smith was struggling to bring it all home. attentiveness vs attention will smith fresh prince dad scene script. : That awful moment when you learn that this wasnt scripted. 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. 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. Wills father introduces himself as Lou Smith, which would mean that Violas (Wills mother) married name is smith. He never even sent me a damn card! You are not my father! : Lauderdale, Florida. 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? Well, one day, I just panicked and ran. As such, "Mistaken Identity" served (serves?) Where There's a Will, There's a Way (Part 1), Where There's a Will, There's a Way (Part 2). Im messing up the lines because I wanted it so bad, Smith said in the podcast interview. The two are prepared to take a cross-country trip around the country for the remainder of the summer, but Philip sees that this reunion and trip is in Lou's favor rather than Will's. 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. William 'Will' Smith : Will believes that Uncle Phil is jealous and tells him that hes not his real dad. Hes a steady and positive figure in my life. The idea was to have Wills father come back and leave again, disappointing his only son for a second time. Ain't like I'ma be sitting up every night asking my mom, "When's Daddy coming home? However Vivian has previously stated that hers, violas, Helens and Janices maiden name is Smith. Will Smith: Check this - "His royal freshness" - that's dope! Hey, he wasn't there to teach me how to shoot my first basket, but I learned, didn't I? Ain't like I'ma be sitting up every night asking my mom, "When's Daddy coming home? He waltzes in here after 15 years? 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. : The entire show was quiet, even during the funny parts, and I could not figure out why. Will Smith on the series premiere of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." NBC. But Viola is ready to boycott the wedding, and forbid her son from going, too. Smith said that he was originally supposed to sit at the bench and reflect on his uncle's words. He tore the old one down it was probably 16 feet high and 40 feet long. R.I.P.James Avery "Uncle Phil" 1948-2014 --ONE OF MY FAV SCENES--THROW BACK! Look, I'll call you next week and we'll iron out the details. Much of "Not with My Cousin You Don't," as you might guess by the title, is predicated on icky gender-role shenanigans. 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! Lou Smith I wanted him to want me. The actor went off-script and played . William 'Will' Smith: No, you know what, Uncle Phil? I'm ready to be part of your life if you'll let me. I just wish I hadn't wasted my money buying this stupid present. 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. His character was contending with all the things hed never be and Vereen was deep in that moment. Before he can do so, Will walks in, packed and ready to go. I didn't know there was so many brothers living in the neighborhood. Well, I hate to break it to you, but that's just not true. : Up until that point, they were thinking of [Smith] as a TV actor, Vereen said of the young mans burgeoning film career. This was the first time the show just went there and stayed there and let it resonate, Zuckerman said of the episodes lasting impact. Think back to any emotional scene on Full House. And Will sets himstraight. : Now that the building is done, he gets to live in it. Well, I hate to break it to you, but that's just not true. 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! 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. : Not quite. I was actually at the taping. Uncle Phil grabs Will and hugs him fiercely, as he wished his father would. Avery, a trained Shakespearean actor, represented the strong father figure; Smith, four years into his first acting gig, the young man coming into his own manhood; and Vereen, a theater vet, was a man lost. You know, if there was something that l William 'Will' Smith : 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 . :