This was the first time the show just went there and stayed there and let it resonate, Zuckerman said of the episodes lasting impact. Willard Carroll Smith II (born September 25, 1968), also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor and rapper.Known for variety of roles, Smith has received multiple accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award and four Grammy Awards. Smith has given all the credit to Avery for helping him get through that moment. Will Smiths acting in it was flawless, the words and script were so real too. I'm sorry. Lauderdale, Florida. 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. I had *fourteen* great birthdays without him. Having three Black male actors in an intensely dramatic scene on a comedic series only added to the power of the moment. 1.3k. William 'Will' Smith : So why did you? I believe it's because of the show's big, beating, sincere, courageous heart. What's up? He was the model for me of an actor. 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. The show begins with Will Smith at the door singing and knocking on the door. 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 Smith on the series premiere of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." NBC. I was honored to be there at the launch.. Will's father Lou shows up after 14 years and spends a lot of time with Will. ", you know. I started feeling trapped. Geoffrey Butler: Master William, walk this way. So there you have it everyone! She expresses her worries for Janice "as an African-American woman" for whom life has already stacked the deck against. The entire show was quiet, even during the funny parts, and I could not figure out why, a Reddit user wrote. Usually, the director would retake the scene, but really, nothing could replace this moment. : Lou Smith : [to Will] You see, the day you were born was the happiest day of my life. 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. I rarely cried for a sitcom, but this is it. 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". | William 'Will' Smith Will never, ever, forget.. But during filming of this episode, director Jensen likened the mood of the normally wild show to being in church.. (Video: The Washington Post). 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. However, Smith revealed in his 2021 memoir. The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air is a FANDOM TV Community. 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! [He] wouldnt give me a damn inch, said Smith in a 2018 interview with podcast Rap Radar. Will's father is a deadbeat who left him and his mom flat. Technical Specs, [after Lou cancels his trip with Will and leaves], [after discovering Will's father unexpectedly]. That year we won the first Grammy given to a rap artist. We all knew we were having a great time. [3] 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). In honor ofThe Fresh Prince's 30th anniversary, here are the 10 best times the sitcom got serious throughout its run, in chronological order. : He's now his own person, living in his new life, that he himself built this whole time. That awful moment when you learn that this wasnt scripted. Casting Calls and news is updated daily get the industry news here! 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. And yet. [to Will] During the episode, Will reunites with his father, Lou, who was absent from his life for 14 years. Who needs him? (Via), Smith: My father was in the military, so everything was really regimented.. How you doin'? The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airwas, and continues to be, a breath of fresh air. The hell with your father. He might be leaving this Bel-Air home for good, but this is still the first half of his new life, his new identity. Whatever. Although he was a "tough" man, Will told Essence Magazine that he was not "tryannical. While Will is forgiving and understanding, Phillip and Vivian not so much. : 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 Smith: Hey, Uncle Phil! 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. 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. 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." Following Avery's words, Smith pulled off the most iconic and emotional scene in the show's history. I am Geoffrey, your uncle's butler. James Avery (Uncle Phil) is also visibly in tears. No, he said. "I did not make the rules, but I do know how to play the game. 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. 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. (One year later, Rodney King's beating by police will spark a series of protests and clashes in Los Angeles.) Will and his dad, Willard Carroll Smith, Sr., remained on good terms until he passed away in November 2016. Originally airing from 1990 to 1996 for six seasons, the sitcom brokeWill Smiththrough to superstardom in a series of episodes articulating his transition from life on the mean streets of West Philadelphia to life in the palatial mansions of Bel-Air (hmm, if only there was a catchy summary of this inciting incident). Uncle Phil, however, is worried that Will's father will simply disappoint Will again and disappoint Will he does. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! HD1080p WILL'S DAD EMOTIONAL SAD SCENE ON THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIRNEW 2013 OF. 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. This is the same guy who didn't think enough of you to pick up the damn phone! He showed up, did this scene in one take, then disappeared again. Transcript The show begins with Will Smith at the door singing and knocking on the door. 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. 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 much-acclaimed show recently completed its 30th anniversary. William 'Will' Smith Where There's a Will, There's a Way (Part 1), Where There's a Will, There's a Way (Part 2). 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. We were standing there thinking, There will never, ever, be a wall here again. Geoffrey Butler: If you will follow me, I will show you to your room, Master William. : The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was one of our favorite shows while growing up in the 90s. 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. Posted by ; words for deep love in other languages; 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? He also played Richard Williams, father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, in King Richard. Ain't like I'ma be sitting up every night asking my mom, "When's Daddy coming home? Just cool down. Will seemingly understands, but he realizes that Lou's just trying to weasel his way out of the situation, and their trip isn't going to happen at all. William 'Will' Smith: You know what? [long pause as Will struggles to regain his composure]. Instead of reading him the riot act, Will is understandably enchanted. Will Smith: Oh, my fault, man. The most effective and illuminating emotional reaction to this doesn't orient around Will, however at least not directly. The first time I held you, I didn't think I'd ever put you down. Or Hillarys Playboy spread? Philip Banks Philip Banks 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) . [after discovering Will's father unexpectedly] "Before this scene, Will Smith disappeared. 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 . Much of "Not with My Cousin You Don't," as you might guess by the title, is predicated on icky gender-role shenanigans. 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. Lou Smith Those qualities I assigned Carlton regarding the previous episode? I'm Will's father Hilary Banks So the only thing true about this rumor is the emotion conveyed by Will in the scene. : That he heard Malcolm X, whom Will had deified earlier in the episode, speak in person. The latter is a secondary part (Whoopi . I ain't need him then and I don't need him now. I didn't know there was so many brothers living in the neighborhood. You know what? He was born in 1973 in West Philadelphia. It's a brilliantly played scene, rife with warmth and gentility even as they discuss tricky stuff. Official Sites I just have to lay a perfect brick. In the episode, Wills father shows up unexpectedly after a 14-year absence. : Make connections. Lou Smith : I just wasn't ready to be a father. : Vivian Banks I learned how to drive, I learned how to shave, I learned how to fight without him. How come he dont want me, man? Will asks, lip quivering as he starts to break down and cry. His father, who had left him years before, claims he is finally ready to become a part of Will's life, again. It's tricky to reckon with "Just Say Yo" with modern eyes. 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 She thought college was the only way. William 'Will' Smith [Uncle Phil rushes forward to hug Will, and Will breaks down sobbing]. For four years, I treated that boy like my own son. But then, in an all-time line reading, Will simply asks his uncle, "How come he don't want me, man?" 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. We were all in the moment. And finally, just like any great play, she tells her sister Janice what's really going on. 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. Will Smith cries remember James Avery during the 'Fresh Prince' reunion special. Will Smith: What are you, Robo-Butler, man? 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. : At least he said goodbye this time. I had always been interested in shows with fathers, because I grew up with a single parent, he said. Smith would even come out himself and hype up the audience. attentiveness vs attention will smith fresh prince dad scene script. February 24, 2022 armstrong siddeley cars for sale armstrong siddeley cars for sale I worked my ass off trying to keep him in line! Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. I was actually at the taping. He's fond of structure, of status, of systems. 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. 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." So is he a cop? They were all pretty the same: the dialogue would get cheesy (well, cheesier) and the music, sappy (sappier). 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. Usually, the director would retake the scene, but really, nothing could replace this moment. Well, I hate to break it to you, but that's just not true.