[long pause as Will struggles to regain his composure]. Dont act around me, act with me. The advice worked. 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! Philip Banks I started feeling trapped. William 'Will' Smith 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. What millennial doesnt jump to finish the theme songs lyrics when prompted by Innnn West Philadelphia, born and raised? He loves dancing, especially to Tom Jonesand theSugarhill Gang. Gregory Lawrence (aka Greg Smith) is a writer, director, performer, songwriter, and comedian. : He's my father. The actor was so convincing in his delivery that the entire audience started crying. But Viola is ready to boycott the wedding, and forbid her son from going, too. He uses his emotions like an instrument, starting as strong as he can, until it can't help but fracture and fall. So why did you? WatchMojo: Top 10 "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" Moments, NBC Studios - 3000 W. Alameda Avenue, Burbank, California, USA. And he told us that this was going to be our gig over the summer. CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 23: Will Smith attends the 70th Anniversary during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2017 in Cannes, France. Geoffrey Butler: I am not your Uncle Philip. Philip Banks While Will is forgiving and understanding, Phillip and Vivian not so much. But during filming of this episode, director Jensen likened the mood of the normally wild show to being in church.. When we started the series, Will was definitely not there, but he grew as a man and as an actor, he said. In another interview with Reader's Digest, he explained that his father actually supported his dreams of pursuing a career in music. The first time I held you, I didn't think I'd ever put you down. The duo was forced to pivot when 'Fresh Prince' came along. Will Smith: Hey, Uncle Phil! : Official Sites Thing is, hes not really acting here much of Wills speech was ad-libbed and based on his own traumatic childhood. Will has grown and learned immeasurably from his new circumstances and familial compassions, and these growths came so organically that he didn't even notice them happening. He never even sent me a damn card! Yeah, you did. 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.". In the episode, Will's deadbeat father Lou (played by Broadway legend Ben Vereen) returns after a 14-year absence to spend time with his son. 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. 1 His First Major Movie Role Was In Six Degrees Of Separation. By Awa | 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. He showed up, did this scene in one take, then disappeared again. 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. I knew it was good, good television and it was really special.. Smith: Oh, yeah, he was very serious about things being a certain way. It's entirely possible that two people named Smith that are completely unrelated could meet, fall in love, and start a family. : 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. It was selfish and cowardly, but that's what I did. I worked my ass off trying to keep him in line! And it turns out, the reconciliation between father and son was all too good to be true. You are forced to invest your time, family, and even your wallet to make your dream come true. William 'Will' Smith : He's my father. 1.3k. 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. During the first take, he found himself stumbling over words so much that director Shelley Jensen called cut so as not to spoil the final line for the audience, prompting Smith to yell in frustration. Atlantic records is now hiring content creators. She then exits, but not without warning Lou that if he walks out now, he will not be welcome at the Banks mansion again. Both parties have lots to positively learn about each other. William 'Will' Smith Will Smith: Oh, my fault, man. Technical Specs, [after Lou cancels his trip with Will and leaves], [after discovering Will's father unexpectedly]. 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. [pause] William 'Will' Smith: How come he don't want me, man? During filming, the studio was completely silent a rarity for a comedy with a live audience. 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. 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. I ain't need him then and I don't need him now. When Will was five years old, he was abandoned by his father, Lou, leaving his mother, Viola, to raise him in poverty. Like, James Avery wouldnt give me a damn inch, the actor recalled on TIDALs Rap Radar podcast series. I know my dad had been planning this for a long time. It was not one of our best moments, said Zuckerman. Lou Smith 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) . 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. He's now his own person, living in his new life, that he himself built this whole time. The slimmies of summer come to class wearing next to nothing, you know what I'm saying Philip Banks : Well, I hate to break it to you, but that's just not true. 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. William 'Will' Smith: No, you know what, Uncle Phil? (Via). When my father got out of the Air Force, he started his own refrigeration business. I was actually at the taping. | Becoming an actor, model, or performer is tough. Or so the widely-spread legend goes. Philip and Vivian Banks enter the living room to meet Will. You might notice his hat coming off. 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. (Via). 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! For more onThe Fresh Prince, here's the latest intel on the upcoming reboot. Will's very pleased with this. eegyvudluk pootoogook / stacey and dave forsey net worth / will smith fresh prince dad scene script. But the audience sobbing that you can make out in the background? I was actually at the taping. 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. "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 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. How you doin'? [Uncle Phil rushes forward to hug Will, and Will breaks down sobbing]. So there you have it everyone! We were standing there thinking, There will never, ever, be a wall here again. I just wasn't ready to be a father. Published Mar 12, 2022. But that specific episode? It wasnt an easy scene for Smith to film, either. 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. But it wasnt until the fourth season, with its characters deeply established, that the show decided to tackle the subject in depth. William 'Will' Smith How come he don't want me, man? 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. We agreed that I would take a year making music, and if it did not work out, I would go to college. 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. ignorant of such targeted frissons. After all, given his upbringing, getting threatened by folks packing guns is an unfortunately common part of life. He's an associate editor for Collider and has written for Shudder, CBS, Paste Magazine, Guff, Smosh, Obsev Studios, and more. 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. Smith said that he was originally supposed to sit at the bench and reflect on his uncle's words. This pages comprises the full verbal transcript of the first episode of Season 1 - The Fresh Prince Project . The latter is a secondary part (Whoopi . Before this scene, Will Smith disappeared. I just wish I hadn't wasted my money buying this stupid present. Will and his dad, Willard Carroll Smith, Sr., remained on good terms until he passed away in November 2016. The man turns out to be Will's father, Lou Smith, whom Will hasn't seen in 14 years, since he abandoned the family. 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. In fact, the issue with this point of view comes with calling his time a transition in the first place. 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. During an average taping, The Fresh Prince set was like a raucous football stadium. Okay? 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! : (One year later, Rodney King's beating by police will spark a series of protests and clashes in Los Angeles.) : 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. For four years, I treated that boy like my own son. 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? Will Smith: Check this - "His royal freshness" - that's dope! [shouts] No, you know what, Uncle Phil? Uncle Phil grabs Will and hugs him fiercely, as he wished his father would. You too Lou. The two collapse into an embrace. They said, Rap? My mother graduated from Carnegie Mellon. 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. That happened. Explore the latest videos from hashtags: #freshprienceofbelair, #freshprinceofbelairscene, #fresh_prince_of . Will Smith cries remember James Avery during the 'Fresh Prince' reunion special. Just lay one brick, dude. (Via). Geoffrey Butler: You have the right house. : However, Smith revealed in his 2021 memoir Will that the relationship was occasionally turbulent due to his father's abuse of his mother. will smith fresh prince dad scene scriptanson county warrant list. 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. Ashley speaks with her sister, the oft-materialistic and flighty Hilary (Karyn Parsons), to ask her, directly, when she knew she was ready for sex. And Will sets himstraight. That he knew struggles and overcame them. Of course Im talking about Papas Got a Brand New Excuse.. Because you're my son and I love you. The shot frames this moment alongside the sculpture; subtly, but decidedly, communicating that this is the real father-son relationship at the center of Fresh Prince, at the center of Will's life. Use me. No, he said. 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. You know what, you ain't got to do nothing, Uncle Phil. Hey, he wasn't there to teach me how to shoot my first basket, but I learned, didn't I? 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. She thought college was the only way. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Transcript The show begins with Will Smith at the door singing and knocking on the door. 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). Will never, ever, forget.. Carlton refuses to see his father after this moment of vulnerability and mortality. attentiveness vs attention will smith fresh prince dad scene script. 2019 Ted Fund Donors The show retains an important place in pop culture. 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? It's a special series to me, and to so many folks. For survival, please dont marry this man.". The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was one of our favorite shows while growing up in the 90s. The Banks, especially Uncle Phil, see through Lou's. Lou Smith You know, if there was something that l William 'Will' Smith: You know what, you ain't got to do nothing, Uncle Phil. 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? 5 Jun. Will runs up to him to give him a big hug. William 'Will' Smith : Insists that if Carlton goes through with this plan, he's just as bad as the guy who put Will in the hospital. Im messing up the lines because I wanted it so bad, Smith said in the podcast interview. Who needs him? : When they express how this is going to crush Will, Lou asks Phillip and Vivian to break the news to Will. : Lou Smith Geoffrey Butler approaches the door and lets Will in. Every true Fresh Prince of Bel-Air fan knows the most emotional scene in the entire series. And yet. The theme, extended in this pilot, summarizes the "pauper to prince" narrative of Will's initial journey with catchy, goofy flavor, but it doesn't stop the inherent complexities of this initial narrative's center from being any less pertinent. 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). Discover short videos related to fresh prince of bel air father scene on TikTok. : 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. 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. Smith was known for his clean lyrics, and his hits were . At least he said goodbye this time. Look at me, use me. This episode, and especially this scene, tends to prove Mr. Mamet wrong. Will is originally from West-Philadelphia but was forced to move soon after participating in a fight with a couple of thugs. Smith, playing a version of himself, lives with his extended family, and everyone lives, learns, laughs, loves, and grows with each other. It's purely powerful stuff, the kind of moment that immediately casts the rest of the episode in a better glow. 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. I'm sorry, Will. And when Carlton does buck up and speak to his father, vulnerability and everything, it's simply stunning television. I understand. Maybe a little longer. Smith gave his first highlight-reel performance, and it wouldnt have been possible with Uncle Phil, who whispered something in Smiths ear while they were hugging on camera: To read more about the episode, click here. He was the model for me of an actor. Geoffrey Butler: Come with me, Master William. It was also so unexpected. Is Viola's reaction mere prejudice, plainly spoken? Uncle Phil, however, thinks Lou will again disappoint his son. 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. Adding, "You might notice his hat coming off. Philip Banks Fresh Prince wasnt a show that had done serious moments. 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. The actor went off-script and played . : Will's father Lou shows up after 14 years and spends a lot of time with Will. 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. Smith, whose most emotional scenes in the episode are opposite Avery, had to cry on camera for the first time. He tries to make the exit without Will noticing, but Will does. Those qualities I assigned Carlton regarding the previous episode? We were all in the moment. Lou Smith : I just wasn't ready to be a father. 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. 'Bad Boys For Life', which filmed in Atlanta, Georgia. After landing a role on Fresh Prince, Will also snagged a leading role in the 1993 film adaptation of Six Degrees of Separation. And, all of these qualities are challenged directly in "Blood Is Thicker Than Mud," a standout episode for Alfonso Ribeiro. Why did it take so long? William 'Will' Smith Company Credits William 'Will' Smith By Season 4 of The Fresh Prince, Will and Carlton have graduated from high school and are now beginning their college studies. (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. Uh, must have the wrong crib. 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. We can talk about this another time. 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. (HBO Max) Will recalled the episode where his character's father resurfaces after 14 years. However, Philadelphia is a large city and Smith is a common name worldwide. 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. Dont act around me, act with me, Smith recalled Avery saying. The episode title is a reference to the James Brown song. The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air is a FANDOM TV Community. R.I.P.James Avery "Uncle Phil" 1948-2014 --ONE OF MY FAV SCENES--THROW BACK! His and Boulwares new script recast Lou as a troubled trucker and a guy that just wasnt cut out to be a father., Vereen, who was overjoyed to join the cast for May sweeps week, remembers feeling something special. : The entire show was quiet, even during the funny parts, and I could not figure out why, a Reddit user wrote.