When we started the series, Will was definitely not there, but he grew as a man and as an actor, he said. If you listen closely, you can hear Karyn Parsons (Hilary) crying backstage. 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. The episode title is a reference to the James Brown song. Those qualities are all self-weaponized, manifesting in self-destructive ways. 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 . It was great seeing you, son. "Before this scene, Will Smith disappeared. [takes out a small statue of a father sitting with his son on his lap]. It's tricky to reckon with "Just Say Yo" with modern eyes. Although he was a "tough" man, Will told Essence Magazine that he was not "tryannical. 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). Here's the Tumblr version of events that we've come to believe as the truth: 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). He was born in 1973 in West Philadelphia. 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. I was actually at the taping. Atlantic records is now hiring content creators. 5 Jun. 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. That happened. See production, box office & company info, [after Lou cancels his trip with Will and leaves]. It kinda stinks, is what I'm saying, even when these two male knuckleheads eventually learn their lesson. : But then, in an all-time line reading, Will simply asks his uncle, "How come he don't want me, man?" Becoming an actor, model, or performer is tough. And I got pretty damn good at it too, didn't I, Uncle Phil? Will runs up to him to give him a big hug. : Ted's Bio; Fact Sheet; Hoja Informativa Del Ted Fund; Ted Fund Board 2021-22; 2021 Ted Fund Donors; Ted Fund Donors Over the Years. Find talent. Geoffrey Butler approaches the door and lets Will in. : You see, the day you were born was the happiest day of my life. Will says in one episode, while the camera tilts up to literally show the studio lights). 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! Will. William 'Will' Smith : He's my father. People were crying for a long time when it was over, doing their best not to make noise before the director said cut.". Actually, this works out better for me, you know. Hilary and Ashley are heading to New York, Carlton is heading to Princeton, and Phil and Viv (and Nicky; remember Nicky?) Following Avery's words, Smith pulled off the most iconic and emotional scene in the show's history. Will Smith: Hey, Uncle Phil! 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. You know what, Aunt Viv? Let's refresh our memories: "Papa's Got A Brand New Excuse," the 24th episode of the fourth season, is arguably the saddest moment of the entire series. Even if the performance wasnt real, it was real enough to be remembered 20 years later. It was also so unexpected. 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. You too Lou. Or Hillarys Playboy spread? 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. I just wish I hadn't wasted my money buying this stupid present. 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. 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). 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. William 'Will' Smith | I'm Will's father Hilary Banks Will Smith is a two-time Oscar nominee and one of the most popular actors (and genies) of his generation. You understand. Will Smith is, like,sucha good actor. 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. 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? Oh yeah, I don't think so. Who needs him? Geoffrey Butler: You have the right house. Daddy-O! He might be leaving this Bel-Air home for good, but this is still the first half of his new life, his new identity. I started feeling trapped. 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. Filming & Production We went brick by brick for the entire summer and into winter and then back into spring. The entire show was quiet, even during the funny parts, and I could not figure out why, a Reddit user wrote. The young actor would go on to deliver one of the biggest emotional punches in Fresh Prince history. Just for a couple of weeks. 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. And insists that Carlton leaves the gun behind immediately. I had always been interested in shows with fathers, because I grew up with a single parent, he said. Will and his dad, Willard Carroll Smith, Sr., remained on good terms until he passed away in November 2016. 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. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. Some of the episodes even made us cry. 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. Young Ashley Banks (Tatyana Ali) is growing up. I ain't need him then and I don't need him now. 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. : Vivian Banks That childlike sense of rage, coupled with his newfound maturity, rises into his throat; his final act of defiance is to refuse to call his father "Dad," opting for his name instead. 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. 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. All this "Master William" stuff, I'm not down with that, make it sound like we back on the plantation or something, we like "Massa William, Massa William!" Just lay one brick, dude. (Via). : 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. Carlton Banks William 'Will' Smith His father was a question mark, or, as cousin Hillary puts it in the episode, a deadbeat who left him and his mom flat.. You are not my father! : But that specific episode? It's a simple trick, perhaps best-known in the final moments ofCheers. Geoffrey Butler: Master William, tradition dictates that a clean, unbreakable line be drawn between a family and their butler. But Top Dog makes the opposite decision, deciding that WIll is more "authentically Black," calling Carlton a "sellout.". 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. During the episode, Will reunites with his father, Lou, who was absent from his life for 14 years. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airwas, and continues to be, a breath of fresh air. During an average taping, The Fresh Prince set was like a raucous football stadium. Borrowing its title fromGuess Who's Coming to Dinner, the 1967 film in whichKatharine Houghtonbrings home fianc Sidney Poitierto her white parents to examine interracial relationships in a lightly comedic purview, "Guess Who's Coming to Marry?" 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. Carlton is confidently, uniquely himself. 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 . Smith was known for his clean lyrics, and his hits were . 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. Smith would even come out himself and hype up the audience. 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. : [long pause as Will struggles to regain his composure]. He just had that acting power that I wanted to have.. He tore the old one down it was probably 16 feet high and 40 feet long. So there you have it everyone! I wanted him to want me. Yeah, whatever. You know what, you ain't got to do nothing, Uncle Phil. We can talk about this another time. William 'Will' Smith WatchMojo: Top 10 "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" Moments, NBC Studios - 3000 W. Alameda Avenue, Burbank, California, USA. He's now his own person, living in his new life, that he himself built this whole time. 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. : When they express how this is going to crush Will, Lou asks Phillip and Vivian to break the news to Will. Those qualities I assigned Carlton regarding the previous episode? ', 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. Will makes it to the hospital, and even has a laissez-faire gallows sense of humor about the whole ordeal. Usually, the director would retake the scene, but really, nothing could replace this moment. You know what? Philip Banks While working at the Los Angeles University student restaurant, Will recognizes a customer - his father - whom he has not seen for 14 years. The entire show was quiet, even during the funny parts, and I could not figure out why. Vivian helps Phillip realize that he is being selfish to Will due to his hatred for Lou, and both Phillip and Will apologize for their behavior. Uncle Phil grabs Will and hugs him fiercely, as he wished his father would. 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. 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. Instead, he laser-focuses on cleaning the house, taking care of everything except himself, feeling genuinely, scarily haunted. I worked my ass off trying to keep him in line! : Will, it's all right to be angry. I started feeling trapped. His father, who had left him years before, claims he is finally ready to become a part of Will's life, again. Director Shelley Jensen describes this episode as a turning point in Smith's performance, noting his acting improved dramatically after it. CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 23: Will Smith attends the 70th Anniversary during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2017 in Cannes, France. During the episodes final scene, Smith was struggling to bring it all home. And then, Viola enters. The man turns out to be Will's father, Lou Smith, whom Will hasn't seen in 14 years, since he abandoned the family. Will Smiths acting in it was flawless, the words and script were so real too. Yeah, that's cool. The actor went off-script and played . Lou Smith Fourteen years and acts like nothing has happened. It was not one of our best moments, said Zuckerman. Lou Smith How you doin'? This relationship needs to be attended to, now. We were all in the moment. He loves pizza and the Mortal Kombat movie. He said, Now, dont you all ever tell me theres something you cant do. And he walked into the shop. : 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?" Fearing for his safety his mother sent him out to Bel Air. William 'Will' Smith: Hey, why should I be mad? William 'Will' Smith: No, you know what, Uncle Phil? Much of "Not with My Cousin You Don't," as you might guess by the title, is predicated on icky gender-role shenanigans. Geoffrey Butler: Master William, walk this way. 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. He resorts to buying a gun himself, ostensibly for protection. The hell with your father. Smith: Oh, yeah, he was very serious about things being a certain way. Carlton's response comes not as a surprise, but as a well-practiced speech, something he's been having to reckon with his entire life. 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 said that. Lauderdale music video casting call in Fort. : :