will smith fresh prince dad scene script will smith fresh prince dad scene script

[shouts] : That he knew struggles and overcame them. William 'Will' Smith While working at the Los Angeles University student restaurant, Will recognizes a customer - his father - whom he has not seen for 14 years. Ribeiro plays this sequence like a man on a precipice, a fork in the road for Carlton, a thrillingly unpredictable piece of theater that even speaks to that common theater rule involving guns on stage. After landing a role on Fresh Prince, Will also snagged a leading role in the 1993 film adaptation of Six Degrees of Separation. 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. This pages comprises the full verbal transcript of the first episode of Season 1 - The Fresh Prince Project. (Via). 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. Im messing up the lines because I wanted it so bad, Smith said in the podcast interview. : The show wasn't afraid to tackle issues like drugs, sex, drunk driving, sexism, racism, and violence to teach us an important lesson or two about life. William 'Will' Smith I was honored to be there at the launch.. Geoffrey Butler: If you will follow me, I will show you to your room, Master William. Lou Smith 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. 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's purely powerful stuff, the kind of moment that immediately casts the rest of the episode in a better glow. William 'Will' Smith That year we won the first Grammy given to a rap artist. The two collapse into an embrace. Lauderdale, Florida. Philip Banks How you doin'? During filming, the studio was completely silent a rarity for a comedy with a live audience. 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. Some of the episodes even made us cry. I learned how to drive, I learned how to shave, I learned how to fight without him. 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. The entire show was quiet, even during the funny parts, and I could not figure out why. are heading to New England themselves to be closer to their family. Posted by ; words for deep love in other languages; Will Smith is, like,sucha good actor. : 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. Director Shelley Jensen describes this episode as a turning point in Smith's performance, noting his acting improved dramatically after it. Vivian 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. William 'Will' Smith: I ain't need him then and I don't need him now. Will knows the truth, however that these cops will take any chance they can get to subjugate two young Black men, especially given that they're driving a "stolen car." [takes out a small statue of a father sitting with his son on his lap]. 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. 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. It's a simple trick, perhaps best-known in the final moments ofCheers. I've been waiting for this for a long time, my whole life and ain't nobody gonna stop me. Hey, he wasn't there to teach me how to shoot my first basket, but I learned, didn't I? Filming & Production It kinda stinks, is what I'm saying, even when these two male knuckleheads eventually learn their lesson. William 'Will' Smith Release Dates 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. But these are all catchy seasonings to a fundamentally kind, responsible, and curious main dish. The latter is a secondary part (Whoopi . For four years, I treated that boy like my own son. I am Geoffrey, your uncle's butler. 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. Look at me. How Many Of These 90s One Hit Wonders Can You Name. 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). He showed up, did this scene in one take, then disappeared again. : This leaves Phil and Will alone, and leaves Will the opportunity to spill out all of his feelings about his absent father. Will Smith: Oh, okay, well uh, cheerio and all that Walter now. Who needs him? The fatherhood episode was pivotal, Jensen added, because it marked Smiths arrival as a force to be reckoned with. However Vivian has previously stated that hers, violas, Helens and Janices maiden name is Smith. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was one of our favorite shows while growing up in the 90s. It's Carlton, Phil's son, whom we see suffer this trauma the most severely, even more so than Phil himself. His father, who had left him years before, claims he is finally ready to become a part of Will's life, again. 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 Every true Fresh Prince of Bel-Air fan knows the most emotional scene in the entire series. 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. Phillip understands, and wishes Will the best. 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.". 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. Becoming an actor, model, or performer is tough. : Uncle Phil grabs Will and hugs him fiercely, as he wished his father would. Geoffrey Butler: Master William, walk this way. | I'm sorry, Will. Carlton Banks He just had that acting power that I wanted to have.. However, Philadelphia is a large city and Smith is a common name worldwide. 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. 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. 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. He tries to make the exit without Will noticing, but Will does. Uncle Phil, however, is worried that Will's father will simply disappoint Will again and disappoint Will he does. I just wish I hadn't wasted my money buying this stupid present. Will and Carlton are determined to stop their female family member from having sex, using intercoms and interrogation tactics as devices to get in the way, to claim ownership over Ashley's body, to inherently view a young woman's sexual exploration as robbing her of her "purity." Prior to 'Fresh Prince' both Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff were set on releasing albums. [3] At least he said goodbye this time. : Whew, that was deep, Vereen said. Official Sites Emotional and great. Grab a hankie, whistle for a cab, and take a trip down memory lane with me. Look at me, use me. The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air is a FANDOM TV Community. The entire show was quiet, even during the funny parts, and I could not figure out why, a Reddit user wrote. 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. We went brick by brick for the entire summer and into winter and then back into spring. Wills father introduces himself as Lou Smith, which would mean that Violas (Wills mother) married name is smith. William 'Will' Smith So is he a cop? And when it digs into this core, it doesn't need silly jokes. Will Smith: Hey, Uncle Phil! Directed by Shelley Jensen with a script from David Zuckerman and Bill Boulware, Papas Got a Brand New Excuse is about Wills father, played by Ben Vereen, returning to his sons life after 14 years. 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. Reply . Will forgives him and is prepared to give him another chance. Smith would even come out himself and hype up the audience. The first time I held you, I didn't think I'd ever put you down. A powerful, teachable, simple lesson. [after discovering Will's father unexpectedly] Is Viola's reaction mere prejudice, plainly spoken? William 'Will' Smith attentiveness vs attention will smith fresh prince dad scene script. So what's the real story behind the tear-jerking scene, you ask? 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). And to do so, he has to leave the building one final time. But during filming of this episode, director Jensen likened the mood of the normally wild show to being in church.. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airwas, and continues to be, a breath of fresh air. Insists that if Carlton goes through with this plan, he's just as bad as the guy who put Will in the hospital. 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? William 'Will' Smith: How come he don't want me, man? ", you know. 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. No, you know what, Uncle Phil? : : Philip Banks Lou Smith 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. : Okay? 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. That he heard Malcolm X, whom Will had deified earlier in the episode, speak in person. Will Smith: What are you, Robo-Butler, man? 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. 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). Even if the performance wasnt real, it was real enough to be remembered 20 years later. 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. : Transcript The show begins with Will Smith at the door singing and knocking on the door. And then, Viola enters. : He loves dancing, especially to Tom Jonesand theSugarhill Gang. 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. 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. Boulware, who also wrote the episode of 227 in which a characters father pops back into the picture, drew from his own life experience for the script. 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. I know my dad had been planning this for a long time. 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. However Vivian has previously stated that hers, violas, Helens and Janices maiden name is Smith. : William 'Will' Smith William 'Will' Smith In the episode, Wills father shows up unexpectedly after a 14-year absence. ", you know. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is a 1990s sitcom that stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself. William 'Will' Smith 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. William 'Will' Smith And insists that Carlton leaves the gun behind immediately. 'Bad Boys For Life', which filmed in Atlanta, Georgia. (One year later, Rodney King's beating by police will spark a series of protests and clashes in Los Angeles.) During the episodes final scene, Smith was struggling to bring it all home. Technical Specs, [after Lou cancels his trip with Will and leaves], [after discovering Will's father unexpectedly]. Before he can do so, Will walks in, packed and ready to go. The idea was to have Wills father come back and leave again, disappointing his only son for a second time. 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. With Wednesday's press night under her belt and a standing ovation to . William 'Will' Smith: Hey, why should I be mad? An emotional Will lets his frustration out in a conversation with Uncle Phil, but things got really sad when he finally breaks down in tears. In 1990, when "Mistaken Identity" first aired on NBC, a gurgling of tensions and resentments between the Black community and the police, founded on an entire history's worth of subjugation and explicitly race-based violence, were churning nearly at a breaking point. as a startling wake-up call, albeit one couched in comfort, comedy, and familiar class dynamics. : The three of them were like a range of Black manhood, Boulware said. Hilary, this is Lou Smith During an average taping, The Fresh Prince set was like a raucous football stadium. I told my parents I wanted to rap. Will Smith on the series premiere of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." NBC. Will William 'Will' Smith Dont act around me, act with me. The advice worked. 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. Home; About. Geoffrey Butler: You have the right house. Uncle Phil, that is not cool, the way you dissing my father like that. It killed me when I first saw it, and still gets to me now. 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. eegyvudluk pootoogook / stacey and dave forsey net worth / will smith fresh prince dad scene script. He never even sent me a damn card! 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. Uh, must have the wrong crib. You probably remember the goofy dancing scenes and guest appearances from DJ Jazzy Jeff, but every so often, The Fresh Prince would attempt something legitimately poignant. He showed up, did this scene in one take, then disappeared again," wrote Reddit user RajanKian, who was at the taping of the show. I just have to lay a perfect brick. Hes a steady and positive figure in my life.. Will Smith: Hey, Uncle Phil! As of 2023, his films have grossed over $9.3 billion globally, making him one of Hollywood's most bankable stars. Classic Black sitcoms like Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Living Single are finally streaming. James Avery was relentlessly on me to elevate. That year we won the first Grammy given to a rap artist.". Will then, becoming a touch of a father figure himself, must set his cousin straight. He was born in 1973 in West Philadelphia. Think back to any emotional scene on Full House. 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. At least he said goodbye this time. : [He] wouldnt give me a damn inch, said Smith in a 2018 interview with podcast Rap Radar. Or Hillarys Playboy spread? You know what? William 'Will' Smith : He's my father. All of the Banks are planning on leaving their palatial Bel-Air estate, which we've gotten to know and love over six seasons. But then, in an all-time line reading, Will simply asks his uncle, "How come he don't want me, man?" Ashleys first date with R&B princeling Tevin Campbell? ", There is a popular misconception that Smith himself was also abandoned by his biological father in real life when he was young and had "broken character" while delivering the rant which went from being directed towards Lou to being directed towards Smith's own real-life father. 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. It wasnt an easy scene for Smith to film, either. : 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). The reviews were solid for the then-25-year-olds first dramatic movie role, so Smith was ready to do something that had a little bite to it, Zuckerman said. : Philip Banks: [after Lou cancels his trip with Will and leaves] I'm sorry, Will. Daddy-O! The first time I held you, I didn't think I'd ever put you down. In fact, the issue with this point of view comes with calling his time a transition in the first place. Will Smith helped co-write the script for this scene. 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. Following Avery's words, Smith pulled off the most iconic and emotional scene in the show's history. Sometimes, to end an sitcom, you need the main character of your sitcom to look around a now-empty set for the last time, turn off the lights, and leave. 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. ", "He kept me in line. Relax. He made a mistake. He's now his own person, living in his new life, that he himself built this whole time. 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. . Will never, ever, forget. Here's the Tumblr version of events that we've come to believe as the truth: Ain't like I'm still five years old, you know. Will Smith is a two-time Oscar nominee and one of the most popular actors (and genies) of his generation. I remember someDavid Mametquote that said it doesn't matter how good an actor is; if the script is good, the final product is good. This erroneous claim first appeared in a Tumblr post in the early 2010s with no source given, nor has one emerged beyond the rumor simply being repeated verbatim uncited, including on IMDb. 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. "We agreed that I would take a year making music, and if it did not work out, I would go to college. "I did not make the rules, but I do know how to play the game. You too Lou. William 'Will' Smith Fourteen. : : The actor went off-script and played . Washington Post Retrospective on the episode. The most effective and illuminating emotional reaction to this doesn't orient around Will, however at least not directly. Sheridan Smith beamed as she left the Duke of York's Theatre in London on Thursday after her West End show, Shirley Valentine. What's up? Having three Black male actors in an intensely dramatic scene on a comedic series only added to the power of the moment. Really shows how good of an actor Will Smith is. 5 Jun. Its fun to bash on Will Smiths career moves of late (After, ugh, Earth), but when he finds the right role, hes an excellent actor. If you listen closely, you can hear Karyn Parsons (Hilary) crying backstage. I knew it was good, good television and it was really special.. Just lay one brick, dude. (Via). This is the same guy who didn't think enough of you to pick up the damn phone! 2019 Ted Fund Donors I had always been interested in shows with fathers, because I grew up with a single parent, he said. Has this period, reactionary and transitory in intention, ended with an anticlimactic ellipses rather than an emphatic exclamation? [to Will] The episode title is a reference to the James Brown song. It was written by David Zuckerman and Bill Boulware, and directed by Shelley Jensen. : The two were locked in that epic embrace when Avery doled out even more encouragement. Lou claims it was great to see Will again, and Will responds "You too Lou" instead of Dad, officially disowning Lou as his father. Uncle Phil helps his nephew find a new California apartment on his own, and he'll continue his collegiate studies in the state, too. I believe it's because of the show's big, beating, sincere, courageous heart. Who cares what you think? By Awa | Lou Smith : [to Will] You see, the day you were born was the happiest day of my life. 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. And he told us that this was going to be our gig over the summer. Lou Smith ignorant of such targeted frissons. Will then launches into an emotional rant about how he learned to do things growing up without Lou and how he will continue to live his life and be successful without Lou, including being a better father than Lou was, and Lou especially can't teach him anything about how to be a father. Yeah, yeah. I'm sorry. Lou is, indeed, going to walk out of Will's life again, having scammed the Banks family for what he needs. His father was a question mark, or, as cousin Hillary puts it in the episode, a deadbeat who left him and his mom flat.. 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! Get Discovered! 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. Instead, it shows slides of the end credits. Philip: Yeah, then why did he say it? James Avery (Uncle Phil) is also visibly in tears. But before all that, he was a sitcom star, someone who, it would not have been foolhardy to assume, couldnt handle more dramatic material. 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. 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. | : : I rarely cried for a sitcom, but this is it. Lou Smith When they express how this is going to crush Will, Lou asks Phillip and Vivian to break the news to Will. Philip and Vivian Banks enter the living room to meet Will. Will believes that Uncle Phil is jealous and tells him that hes not his real dad. The man turns out to be Will's father, Lou Smith, whom Will hasn't seen in 14 years, since he abandoned the family.