Speaking of "Will's father is out of the picture". Will Smith helped co-write the script for this scene. 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. And finally, just like any great play, she tells her sister Janice what's really going on. Therefore, it is necessary for the operation of the household that you address me as Geoffrey, and I in turn address you by your proper title, Master William. So the only thing true about this rumor is the emotion conveyed by Will in the scene. 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! By Awa | Why did it take so long? : The true story behind one of the saddest scenes in 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' History has finally been revealed. 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. Will believes that Uncle Phil is jealous and tells him that hes not his real dad. Lou Smith Philip Banks Man, I'm glad you're here. Think back to any emotional scene on Full House. Look at me. Will Smith: What are you, Robo-Butler, man? Philip Banks Willard Carroll Smith II (born September 25, 1968), also known by his stage name the Fresh Prince, is an American actor, rapper, and producer.Noted for his work in music, television, and film, Smith has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, four Grammy Awards, and As such, "Mistaken Identity" served (serves?) 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. He eradicates the box of one proper Black identity not with force, but with precision. Will Smith: Oh, okay, well uh, cheerio and all that Walter now. If you listen closely, you can hear Karyn Parsons (Hilary) crying backstage. Will says in one episode, while the camera tilts up to literally show the studio lights). 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 two collapse into an embrace. [to Will] : Oh yeah, I don't think so. Looking for Disney, Game of Thrones, or Marvel movie casting calls? You know, if there was something that l William 'Will' Smith: You know what, you ain't got to do nothing, Uncle Phil. 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. 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's father is a deadbeat who left him and his mom flat. 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? That year we won the first Grammy given to a rap artist.". : : Thing is, hes not really acting here much of Wills speech was ad-libbed and based on his own traumatic childhood. Ain't like I'ma be sitting up every night asking my mom, "When's Daddy coming home? Vivian Banks For four years, I treated that boy like my own son. 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. The Fresh Prince Project/Transcript | The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air | Fandom Because you're my son and I love you. Will runs up to him to give him a big hug. 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. Smith and his musical partner DJ Jazzy Jeff were already big names on the hip-hop scene when the Fresh Prince opportunity presented itself. 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. Will and his dad, Willard Carroll Smith, Sr., remained on good terms until he passed away in November 2016. Will Smith Improvised 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' Piano Scene - Insider 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. ", you know. 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. 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. : Yeah, you did. Smith, whose most emotional scenes in the episode are opposite Avery, had to cry on camera for the first time. 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. William 'Will' Smith: No, you know what, Uncle Phil? The Truth Behind 'Fresh Prince's' Most Emotional Scene - TheThings With Wednesday's press night under her belt and a standing ovation to . Youwillcry at the acapella song the family sings over the credits. I'm ready to be part of your life if you'll let me. You see, the day you were born was the happiest day of my life. 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. In fact, the issue with this point of view comes with calling his time a transition in the first place. When we started the series, Will was definitely not there, but he grew as a man and as an actor, he said. The show begins with Will Smith at the door singing and knocking on the door. Philip and Vivian Banks enter the living room to meet Will. William 'Will' Smith: I ain't need him then and I don't need him now. Before this scene, Will Smith disappeared. I am Geoffrey, your uncle's butler. Will, as he is wont to do, acts a fool; and Carlton, as he is wont to do, hops over every task with a double front-flip, cleaning up the joint while he's at it. ButThe Fresh Princemight be the most successful because of what it implies about the future of its characters, and how neatly it closes the arc for Will. Find talent. The two were locked in that epic embrace when Avery doled out even more encouragement. The most effective and illuminating emotional reaction to this doesn't orient around Will, however at least not directly. Casting Calls and news is updated daily get the industry news here! Fearing for his safety his mother sent him out to Bel Air. The first time I held you, I didn't think I'd ever put you down. 2019 Ted Fund Donors 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. The Banks, especially Uncle Phil, see through Lou's. 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. 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! Filled with investments. : Here's What James Avery Secretly Whispered To Will Smith During 'Fresh It was selfish and cowardly, but that's what I did. William 'Will' Smith Some business came up I gotta handle. "I did not make the rules, but I do know how to play the game. The Real Story Behind the Most Heartbreaking Scene in 'The Fresh Prince That he has no idea what life on the streets is like. : Adding, "You might notice his hat coming off. Who needs him? The altercation purportedly began when the then neophyte actor felt a scene wasn't working on his sitcom, "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and unilaterally made some changes to the script . Prior to 'Fresh Prince' both Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff were set on releasing albums. 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. There are around 148 episodes over six seasons, but one episode titled Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse made many fans emotional. : How you doin'? [Uncle Phil rushes forward to hug Will, and Will breaks down sobbing]. Fresh Prince of Bel-Air - Will's Father leaves - YouTube He might be leaving this Bel-Air home for good, but this is still the first half of his new life, his new identity. Before this scene, Will Smith disappeared. will smith fresh prince dad scene scriptanson county warrant list. How you doin'? Well, one day, I just panicked and ran. Nov 11, 2021, 12:36 PM. I'm sorry, Will. Philip Banks 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". Carlton refuses to see his father after this moment of vulnerability and mortality. He showed up, did this scene in one take, then disappeared again. In that final scene, when Lou disappoints Will for the final time, Vereen himself broke down off-camera. 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. But before all that, he was a sitcom star, someone who, it would not have been foolhardy to assume, couldnt handle more dramatic material. Washington Post Retrospective on the episode. It's a brilliantly played scene, rife with warmth and gentility even as they discuss tricky stuff. When Will and Carlton are held up at gunpoint at an ATM, a shot is fired, and Will is the victim. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airwas, and continues to be, a breath of fresh air. : 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. Daddy-O! His father, who had left him years before, claims he is finally ready to become a part of Will's life, again. . : But hes a better parental figure than his actual dad, who lets his son down again. 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. I had *fourteen* great birthdays without him. Uncle Phil, however, thinks Lou will again disappoint his son. 11 Best New Shows on Netflix: March 2023's Top Upcoming Series to Watch 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. Well, one day, I just panicked and ran. I started feeling trapped. : You know, if there was something that l William 'Will' Smith No, he said. : I understand. He said, Now, dont you all ever tell me theres something you cant do. And he walked into the shop. Now that the building is done, he gets to live in it. Wills father introduces himself as Lou Smith, which would mean that Violas (Wills mother) married name is smith. 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). Did he actually accomplish anything during this time living with his upper-class relatives? Philip: Yeah, then why did he say it? Sheridan Smith rocks 'Scouse bird' earrings as she leaves the theatre Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! That year we won the first Grammy given to a rap artist. Geoffrey Butler: You have the right house. Relax. He uses his emotions like an instrument, starting as strong as he can, until it can't help but fracture and fall. It wasnt an easy scene for Smith to film, either. Smith said that he was originally supposed to sit at the bench and reflect on his uncle's words. 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 . Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. It was not one of our best moments, said Zuckerman. By Season 4 of The Fresh Prince, Will and Carlton have graduated from high school and are now beginning their college studies. At least he said goodbye this time. Will then begins to cry and asks Phillip why his father doesn't want him. One day there was a wall there again. Before he can do so, Will walks in, packed and ready to go. Will tells Uncle Phil (James Avery) that he, straight up, has forgotten where he came from. Of course Im talking about Papas Got a Brand New Excuse.. : 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. Fourteen years and acts like nothing has happened. : Will never, ever, forget.. Will Smith: Check this - "His royal freshness" - that's dope! : 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. Tells him he grew up on the streets of Baltimore. Hey, why should I be mad? But in fact, Wills dad was an active participant in his sons life, and even encouraged him. (Video: The Washington Post). [takes out a small statue of a father sitting with his son on his lap]. Just lay one brick, dude. (Via). It's Carlton, Phil's son, whom we see suffer this trauma the most severely, even more so than Phil himself. Hey, just cool it. Will. It's entirely possible that two people named Smith that are completely unrelated could meet, fall in love, and start a family. 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." 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. His father was a question mark, or, as cousin Hillary puts it in the episode, a deadbeat who left him and his mom flat.. Ain't even nothing to talk about. We all knew we were having a great time. Oh, come on. Uncle Phil grabs Will and hugs him fiercely, as he wished his father would. Lou Smith : 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. She then exits, but not without warning Lou that if he walks out now, he will not be welcome at the Banks mansion again. 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 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. The Post's Candace Buckner, David Betancourt and Tramel Raggs explore how current demonstrations against racial inequality are echoing memorable sports movies. : 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." The show retains an important place in pop culture. Ashleys first date with R&B princeling Tevin Campbell? William 'Will' Smith The 'Fresh Prince Of Bel Air' Father Episode Aired 25 Years - UPROXX He just had that acting power that I wanted to have.. Will Smith: Yo yo, G, G, G, let me rap to you for a second man. (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. 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. February 24, 2022 armstrong siddeley cars for sale armstrong siddeley cars for sale Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's Saddest Part Was Will's Dad - CBR While working at the Los Angeles University student restaurant, Will recognizes a customer - his father - whom he has not seen for 14 years. However, Philadelphia is a large city and Smith is a common name worldwide. : Uncle Phil, that is not cool, the way you dissing my father like that. You know what, Aunt Viv? I learned how to drive, I learned how to shave, I learned how to fight without him. Or remember that time Aunt Viv just really wanted to dance? That he heard Malcolm X, whom Will had deified earlier in the episode, speak in person. I learned how to drive, I learned how to shave, I learned how to fight without him. Will, it's all right to be angry. 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. Ain't like I'm still five years old, you know. Uncle Phil, however, is worried that Will's father will simply disappoint Will again and disappoint Will he does. Company Credits The 'Fresh Prince' Deadbeat Dad Reflects On Heartbreaking Scene With Guess what happens next. 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. He resorts to buying a gun himself, ostensibly for protection. Will Smith: Hey man, it's cool if you just call me Will, man. Geoffrey Butler: Master William, tradition dictates that a clean, unbreakable line be drawn between a family and their butler. Lou Smith James Avery (Uncle Phil) is also visibly in tears. But Viola is ready to boycott the wedding, and forbid her son from going, too.