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

Director Shelley Jensen describes this episode as a turning point in Smith's performance, noting his acting improved dramatically after it. 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. It's tricky to reckon with "Just Say Yo" with modern eyes. : That he has no idea what life on the streets is like. Classic Black sitcoms like Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Living Single are finally streaming. Uncle Phil, his characters influential father figure, is concerned and makes his disgust with Lou known. : Will Smith: Hey man, it's cool if you just call me Will, man. Will Smith is, like,sucha good actor. 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! Geoffrey Butler approaches the door and lets Will in. He was the model for me of an actor. 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. It was written by David Zuckerman and Bill Boulware, and directed by Shelley Jensen. Usually, the director would retake the scene, but really, nothing could replace this moment. 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. Every true Fresh Prince of Bel-Air fan knows the most emotional scene in the entire series. Thing is, hes not really acting here much of Wills speech was ad-libbed and based on his own traumatic childhood. If you listen closely, you can hear Karyn Parsons (Hilary) crying backstage. Technical Specs, [after Lou cancels his trip with Will and leaves], [after discovering Will's father unexpectedly]. Where There's a Will, There's a Way (Part 1), Where There's a Will, There's a Way (Part 2). Will says in one episode, while the camera tilts up to literally show the studio lights). William 'Will' Smith: Got through my first date without him, right? Smith, playing a version of himself, lives with his extended family, and everyone lives, learns, laughs, loves, and grows with each other. It originally aired on May 9, 1994. Will Smith: Check this - "His royal freshness" - that's dope! But before all that, he was a sitcom star, someone who, it would not have been foolhardy to assume, couldnt handle more dramatic material. Look, why are you telling me this now? 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? Uncle Phil, however, thinks Lou will again disappoint his son. 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. And to do so, he has to leave the building one final time. He tries to make the exit without Will noticing, but Will does. The entire show was quiet, even during the funny parts, and I could not figure out why, a Reddit user wrote. 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. While working at the Los Angeles University student restaurant, Will recognizes a customer - his father - whom he has not seen for 14 years. 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. Having three Black male actors in an intensely dramatic scene on a comedic series only added to the power of the moment. It's a special series to me, and to so many folks. as a startling wake-up call, albeit one couched in comfort, comedy, and familiar class dynamics. Will then, becoming a touch of a father figure himself, must set his cousin straight. He showed up, did this scene in one take, then disappeared again. The most effective and illuminating emotional reaction to this doesn't orient around Will, however at least not directly. I just have to lay a perfect brick. 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. Papa's Got A Brand New Excuse is the 24th episode of Season 4. It's a scene even the most casual ofFresh Prince fans have committed to memory, effectively staged and played without a studio audience to give us any emotional relief. 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. The entire temperature of the room shifts. 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). 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 was honored to be there at the launch.. Yeah, yeah. The actor went off-script and played . Will did not like it at all. He was born in 1973 in West Philadelphia. Got through my first date without him, right? Lou Smith : I just wasn't ready to be a father. Well, one day, I just panicked and ran. Ain't like I'ma be sitting up every night asking my mom, "When's Daddy coming home? 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. Lou Smith I'm Will's father Hilary Banks He might be leaving this Bel-Air home for good, but this is still the first half of his new life, his new identity. You know what, Aunt Viv? : When Will was five years old, he was abandoned by his father, Lou, leaving his mother, Viola, to raise him in poverty. Smith would even come out himself and hype up the audience. James Avery was relentlessly on me to elevate. 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. Emotional and great. Think back to any emotional scene on Full House. : Geoffrey Butler: If you will follow me, I will show you to your room, Master William. Much of "Not with My Cousin You Don't," as you might guess by the title, is predicated on icky gender-role shenanigans. William 'Will' Smith Lou claims it was great to see Will again, and Will responds "You too Lou" instead of Dad, officially disowning Lou as his father. Hilary and Ashley are heading to New York, Carlton is heading to Princeton, and Phil and Viv (and Nicky; remember Nicky?) This pages comprises the full verbal transcript of the first episode of Season 1 - The Fresh Prince Project . Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! William 'Will' Smith : So why did you? For more onThe Fresh Prince, here's the latest intel on the upcoming reboot. 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. ", 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. Will runs up to him to give him a big hug. : Or Hillarys Playboy spread? Will runs up to him to give him a big hug. 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. You saw the light bulb go off, he said. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. Explore the latest videos from hashtags: #freshprienceofbelair, #freshprinceofbelairscene, #fresh_prince_of . But it wasnt until the fourth season, with its characters deeply established, that the show decided to tackle the subject in depth. 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. William 'Will' Smith : : Will is originally from West-Philadelphia but was forced to move soon after participating in a fight with a couple of thugs. 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 . He's my father. 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 . But that specific episode? Use me. Prior to 'Fresh Prince' both Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff were set on releasing albums. And then, Viola enters. 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. We went brick by brick for the entire summer and into winter and then back into spring. 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. Geoffrey Butler: Master William, walk this way. And she thinks she might be ready to enter a sexual relationship with a partner (Jaleel White, of course), despite their relationship being inherently long distance. 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. The Banks, especially Uncle Phil, see through Lou's. Up until that point, they were thinking of [Smith] as a TV actor, Vereen said of the young mans burgeoning film career. You might notice his hat coming off. Will Smith: Oh, okay, well uh, cheerio and all that Walter now. attentiveness vs attention will smith fresh prince dad scene script. At least he said goodbye this time. Plus, the specific choice of drugs amphetamines and the specific effects we see Carlton dancing himself into a frenzy unfortunately brings to mind other campy very special episodes, particularly the infamousSaved by the Bellcaffeine pills debacle. 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. Becoming an actor, model, or performer is tough. Make connections. It's a shocking, plainspoken admission of society's privilege, one that gives the character tons of empathy and understanding. 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. And I got pretty damn good at it too, didn't I, Uncle Phil? Fourteen. 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. Washington Post Retrospective on the episode. Philip Banks Carlton, however, self-weaponizes and assumes too much responsibility again, and his faith in an inherent sense of decency in the systems of life is shattered again. : : It kinda stinks, is what I'm saying, even when these two male knuckleheads eventually learn their lesson. The three of them were like a range of Black manhood, Boulware said. When they express how this is going to crush Will, Lou asks Phillip and Vivian to break the news to Will. Philip Banks Who needs him? It's a brilliantly played scene, rife with warmth and gentility even as they discuss tricky stuff. Hey, he wasn't there to teach me how to shoot my first basket, but I learned, didn't I? Although he was a "tough" man, Will told Essence Magazine that he was not "tryannical. The much-acclaimed show recently completed its 30th anniversary. ignorant of such targeted frissons. We agreed that I would take a year making music, and if it did not work out, I would go to college. And he told us that this was going to be our gig over the summer. 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'm sorry. Maybe a little longer. 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. : Everything I said, everything I did for James Avery was like nope, not good enough. Avery demanded absolute committed perfection from his young co-star, so when it came time to shoot the scene together, Im messing up the lines because I want it so bad, Smith recalled. Wake up, Will. But Top Dog makes the opposite decision, deciding that WIll is more "authentically Black," calling Carlton a "sellout.". [pause] In honor ofThe Fresh Prince's 30th anniversary, here are the 10 best times the sitcom got serious throughout its run, in chronological order. In its six seasons on NBC, the series a grittier version of The Cosby Show that juxtaposed hip-hop culture with Black upper-class ethos tackled everything from racism to sexism to a two-step dubbed the Carlton.. 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.". I knew it was good, good television and it was really special.. I rarely cried for a sitcom, but this is it. Lou Smith Is Viola's reaction mere prejudice, plainly spoken? William 'Will' Smith I know my dad had been planning this for a long time. William 'Will' Smith Well, I hate to break it to you, but that's just not true. You are not my father! 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. But there is one episode that stands head and shoulders above the rest. It killed me when I first saw it, and still gets to me now. 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." CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 23: Will Smith attends the 70th Anniversary during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2017 in Cannes, France. At first Will seems okay with Lou abandoning him, as at least he said goodbye, but Will now wishes he hadn't spent money on a present for Lou. Filled with investments. [long pause as Will struggles to regain his composure]. William 'Will' Smith Hilary, this is Lou Smith : Now that the building is done, he gets to live in it. This leaves Phil and Will alone, and leaves Will the opportunity to spill out all of his feelings about his absent father. I am Geoffrey, your uncle's butler. Instead, he laser-focuses on cleaning the house, taking care of everything except himself, feeling genuinely, scarily haunted. It's Carlton, Phil's son, whom we see suffer this trauma the most severely, even more so than Phil himself. 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. Will's very pleased with this. Will William 'Will' Smith 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. Before he can do so, Will walks in, packed and ready to go. William 'Will' Smith: How come he don't want me, man? 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. Zuckerman described Lou as "a guy that just wasn't cut out to be a father.". 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. 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! [to Will] : Atlantic records is now hiring content creators. Ben Vereen (Lou) stated in an interview that he broke into tears himself after walking out of the camera shot. I'm ready to be part of your life if you'll let me. Will Smith is a two-time Oscar nominee and one of the most popular actors (and genies) of his generation. It was that specific episode for me as a director [that] I saw him connect and make it work. Published Feb 2, 2021. I was actually at the taping. : The Post's Candace Buckner, David Betancourt and Tramel Raggs explore how current demonstrations against racial inequality are echoing memorable sports movies. It was Avery, always the steady influence, that centered him, giving the rapper turned movie star memorable advice. | William 'Will' Smith The first time I held you, I didn't think I'd ever put you down. No, he said. Lou is, indeed, going to walk out of Will's life again, having scammed the Banks family for what he needs. 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." Will tells Uncle Phil (James Avery) that he, straight up, has forgotten where he came from. : See production, box office & company info, [after Lou cancels his trip with Will and leaves]. What millennial doesnt jump to finish the theme songs lyrics when prompted by Innnn West Philadelphia, born and raised? 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. Olivia Singh. Did he actually accomplish anything during this time living with his upper-class relatives? 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. Lou Smith : Whatever he needed, whether it was a pat on the head or a kick in the pants, I was there for him. (One year later, Rodney King's beating by police will spark a series of protests and clashes in Los Angeles.) : Sheridan Smith beamed as she left the Duke of York's Theatre in London on Thursday after her West End show, Shirley Valentine. [after Lou cancels his trip with Will and leaves] Will's father is out of the picture; Uncle Phil is by all accounts the closest to a dad he has. Wills delivery was so perfect it seems like it was in the moment.. William 'Will' 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. [Uncle Phil rushes forward to hug Will, and Will breaks down sobbing]. 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. 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. 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. Home; About. : They plan a cross-country trip together, but Uncle Phil (James Avery) warns Will that he shouldnt get his hopes up; this is the man who abandoned him, after all. William 'Will' Smith We're doing alright, huh? When we started the series, Will was definitely not there, but he grew as a man and as an actor, he said. 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. And when it digs into this core, it doesn't need silly jokes. That he knew struggles and overcame them. What's up? 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. 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. 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. Adding, "You might notice his hat coming off. Lou awkwardly admits that he's got to take care of some business so the planned trip is going to have to wait a week or two, but most likely longer than that, and he promises to call to work it out. He's now his own person, living in his new life, that he himself built this whole time. There are around 148 episodes over six seasons, but one episode titled Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse made many fans emotional. : 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. The man turns out to be Will's father, Lou Smith, whom Will hasn't seen in 14 years, since he abandoned the family. [shouts] Yeah, you did. The show retains an important place in pop culture. Will never, ever, forget.. Grab a hankie, whistle for a cab, and take a trip down memory lane with me. Firstly, Will Smith's father was very much present during his childhood. Are you a content creator looking for an opportunity to show your stuff? 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. (Video: The Washington Post). Instead, it shows slides of the end credits. Ain't like I'm still five years old, you know. Oh yeah, I don't think so. 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). It was almost like time stood still.. Just for a couple of weeks. Where does that leave Will? Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! You might notice his hat coming off. 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. People were crying for a long time when it was over, doing their best not to make noise before the director said cut.". 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 forgives him and is prepared to give him another chance. And Uncle Phil, in the first of Avery's many perfect performances, sets him straight. William 'Will' Smith Discover short videos related to fresh prince of bel air father scene on TikTok. William 'Will' Smith For survival, please dont marry this man.". : Hey, why should I be mad? Will Smith said he improvised his character's piano moment in the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" pilot. The slimmies of summer come to class wearing next to nothing, you know what I'm saying Philip Banks Actually, this works out better for me, you know. Nov 11, 2021, 12:36 PM. 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. Yeah, that's cool. Fearing for his safety his mother sent him out to Bel Air. Smith was known for his clean lyrics, and his hits were . will smith fresh prince dad scene scriptanson county warrant list. He also recalls that unusually for a sitcom with a live audience, the audience was entirely silent during filming, comparing the average taping as like a football stadium but this taping like "being in a church.".