Will then begins to cry and asks Phillip why his father doesn't want him. By Awa | Will said that. William 'Will' Smith: I ain't need him then and I don't need him now. William 'Will' Smith Wills father introduces himself as Lou Smith, which would mean that Violas (Wills mother) married name is smith. 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. : Will. When Will was five years old, he was abandoned by his father, Lou, leaving his mother, Viola, to raise him in poverty. Man, I'm glad you're here. He's joyful, performative, and cares not what others think about him. And, all of these qualities are challenged directly in "Blood Is Thicker Than Mud," a standout episode for Alfonso Ribeiro. I'm sorry. Look, I'll call you next week and we'll iron out the details. 2019 Ted Fund Donors Yeah, whatever. Usually, the director would retake the scene, but really, nothing could replace this moment. 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. Lou Smith The episode featured the man-hug loved (and memed) around the world as Uncle Phil (James Avery) doesnt so much embrace as completely envelop his nephew, who is coming to grips with the loss of his absentee father for a second time. Will Smith: Hey, Uncle Phil! [after discovering Will's father unexpectedly] So we're gonna have to put our trip on hold. 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. Did he actually accomplish anything during this time living with his upper-class relatives? At least he said goodbye this time. Philip Banks: [after Lou cancels his trip with Will and leaves] I'm sorry, Will. Director Shelley Jensen describes this episode as a turning point in Smith's performance, noting his acting improved dramatically after it. : Philip, for God's sake. His acting from that moment on improved dramatically. 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. The two were locked in that epic embrace when Avery doled out even more encouragement. William 'Will' Smith 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. 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. 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. During the episodes final scene, Smith was struggling to bring it all home. 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. Will Smith is a two-time Oscar nominee and one of the most popular actors (and genies) of his generation. He tore the old one down it was probably 16 feet high and 40 feet long. 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. I had *fourteen* great birthdays without him. : Wills father introduces himself as Lou Smith, which would mean that Violas (Wills mother) married name is smith. While working at the Los Angeles University student restaurant, Will recognizes a customer - his father - whom he has not seen for 14 years. 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. 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. 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. Philip Banks They were all pretty the same: the dialogue would get cheesy (well, cheesier) and the music, sappy (sappier). However Vivian has previously stated that hers, violas, Helens and Janices maiden name is Smith. Get Discovered! (Via), Smith: My father was in the military, so everything was really regimented.. He's an associate editor for Collider and has written for Shudder, CBS, Paste Magazine, Guff, Smosh, Obsev Studios, and more. [long pause as Will struggles to regain his composure]. Look at me, use me. Will's father Lou shows up after 14 years and spends a lot of time with Will. I was actually at the taping. For four years, I treated that boy like my own son. Or remember that time Aunt Viv just really wanted to dance? It was written by David Zuckerman and Bill Boulware, and directed by Shelley Jensen. William 'Will' Smith 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." Excuse me. Hilary, this is 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. Who cares what you think? 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 . Will Smith on the series premiere of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." NBC. Really shows how good of an actor Will Smith is. 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. : He said, Now, dont you all ever tell me theres something you cant do. And he walked into the shop. Carlton refuses to see his father after this moment of vulnerability and mortality. | Hed get this look that said, One more step, Will, and itll get ugly. He was an independent businessman-he set up refrigeration in supermarkets-and he always provided for us. 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. He waltzes in here after 15 years? His father, who had left him years before, claims he is finally ready to become a part of Will's life, again. At least he said goodbye this time. Stream It Or Skip It: 'Love at First Kiss' on Netflix, a Spanish Rom-Com About a Man Gifted with 'Romantic Clairvoyance' Stream It Or Skip It: 'Tonight You're Sleeping With Me' on Netflix, a . William 'Will' Smith Will forgives him and is prepared to give him another chance. William 'Will' Smith: Hey, why should I be mad? But much of white America remained (remains?) Ashley asks her if she was nervous, and Hilary responds that she absolutely was, but she "was ready." "Being Black isn't what I'm trying to be, it's what I am," says Carlton, plainly, making sure Top Dog knows he's the real sellout before leaving. It was also so unexpected. We all knew we were having a great time. Young Ashley Banks (Tatyana Ali) is growing up. 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. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was one of our favorite shows while growing up in the 90s. : Oh, come on. 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." : William 'Will' Smith Instead, it shows slides of the end credits. Geoffrey Butler: Master William, walk this way. The show retains an important place in pop culture. Of course Im talking about Papas Got a Brand New Excuse.. Smith, whose most emotional scenes in the episode are opposite Avery, had to cry on camera for the first time. I rarely cried for a sitcom, but this is it. Firstly, Will Smith's father was very much present during his childhood. However, Philadelphia is a large city and Smith is a common name worldwide. The young actor would go on to deliver one of the biggest emotional punches in Fresh Prince history. The Post's Candace Buckner, David Betancourt and Tramel Raggs explore how current demonstrations against racial inequality are echoing memorable sports movies. Looking for Disney, Game of Thrones, or Marvel movie casting calls? 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. 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. It killed me when I first saw it, and still gets to me now. James Avery was relentlessly on me to elevate. 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. What's up? He's my father. Before he can do so, Will walks in, packed and ready to go. William 'Will' Smith He's now his own person, living in his new life, that he himself built this whole time. How you doin'? 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. 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. And then, Viola enters. Its already in there, you know what it is. I knew it was good, good television and it was really special.. 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.". When Will and Carlton are held up at gunpoint at an ATM, a shot is fired, and Will is the victim. eegyvudluk pootoogook / stacey and dave forsey net worth / will smith fresh prince dad scene script. And Will, in one of the all-time tension diffusers, hypes up his cousin's speech with bravado. It's entirely possible that two people named Smith that are completely unrelated could meet, fall in love, and start a family. So what's the real story behind the tear-jerking scene, you ask? Tells him he grew up on the streets of Baltimore. Look at me. Borrowing its title fromGuess Who's Coming to Dinner, the 1967 film in whichKatharine Houghtonbrings home fianc Sidney Poitierto her white parents to examine interracial relationships in a lightly comedic purview, "Guess Who's Coming to Marry?" How come he don't want me, man? : In fact, the issue with this point of view comes with calling his time a transition in the first place. You know, if there was something that l William 'Will' Smith The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airwas, and continues to be, a breath of fresh air. 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). 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. Will Smith: Check this - "His royal freshness" - that's dope! Philip and Vivian Banks enter the living room to meet Will. In that final scene, when Lou disappoints Will for the final time, Vereen himself broke down off-camera. : Hey, he wasn't there to teach me how to shoot my first basket, but I learned, didn't I? And I got pretty damn good at it too, didn't I, Uncle Phil? Reply . Philip Banks I was actually at the taping. Fresh Prince wasnt a show that had done serious moments. : Even if the performance wasnt real, it was real enough to be remembered 20 years later. He and Uncle Phil embrace each other crying, as the camera zooms in on Will's present: a statue of an African father holding his young son. : I ain't need him then and I don't need him now. We can talk about this another time. The duo was forced to pivot when 'Fresh Prince' came along. : William 'Will' Smith Is Viola's reaction mere prejudice, plainly spoken? 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Release Dates Becoming an actor, model, or performer is tough. Speaking of "Will's father is out of the picture". Lou Smith No, he said. 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. But then, in an all-time line reading, Will simply asks his uncle, "How come he don't want me, man?" It's a brilliantly played scene, rife with warmth and gentility even as they discuss tricky stuff. But hes a better parental figure than his actual dad, who lets his son down again. It was that specific episode for me as a director [that] I saw him connect and make it work. 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. This leaves Phil and Will alone, and leaves Will the opportunity to spill out all of his feelings about his absent father. Philip Banks Will Smith: Hey man, it's cool if you just call me Will, man. William 'Will' Smith [Uncle Phil rushes forward to hug Will, and Will breaks down sobbing]. Look no further than Atlantic Records' $125/Day Fort. Lou Smith : [to Will] You see, the day you were born was the happiest day of my life. That he has no idea what life on the streets is like. : Will Smith cries remember James Avery during the 'Fresh Prince' reunion special. 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? For survival, please dont marry this man.". But Top Dog makes the opposite decision, deciding that WIll is more "authentically Black," calling Carlton a "sellout.". Those qualities I assigned Carlton regarding the previous episode? 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. But there is one episode that stands head and shoulders above the rest. : Geoffrey Butler: You have the right house. In another interview with Reader's Digest, he explained that his father actually supported his dreams of pursuing a career in music. When they express how this is going to crush Will, Lou asks Phillip and Vivian to break the news to Will. It's Carlton, Phil's son, whom we see suffer this trauma the most severely, even more so than Phil himself. Philip Banks Will did not like it at all. I'm sorry, Will. Or so the widely-spread legend goes. 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. You know, if there was something that l William 'Will' Smith: You know what, you ain't got to do nothing, Uncle Phil. (One year later, Rodney King's beating by police will spark a series of protests and clashes in Los Angeles.) The actor was so convincing in his delivery that the entire audience started crying. Actually, this works out better for me, you know. : But it means, more than ever, we can't lose faith in people. Before this scene, Will Smith disappeared. Atlantic records is now hiring content creators. 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. 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. 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. CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 23: Will Smith attends the 70th Anniversary during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2017 in Cannes, France. Up until that point, they were thinking of [Smith] as a TV actor, Vereen said of the young mans burgeoning film career. 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 story behind the episode is almost as good as the episode itself. But Viola is ready to boycott the wedding, and forbid her son from going, too. 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. He made a mistake. I worked my ass off trying to keep him in line! You understand. Much of "Not with My Cousin You Don't," as you might guess by the title, is predicated on icky gender-role shenanigans. He showed up, did this scene in one take, then disappeared again," wrote Reddit user RajanKian, who was at the taping of the show. : Where There's a Will, There's a Way (Part 1), Where There's a Will, There's a Way (Part 2). Official Sites People were crying for a long time when it was over, doing their best not to make noise before the director said cut.". He resorts to buying a gun himself, ostensibly for protection. 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. : Whatever he needed, whether it was a pat on the head or a kick in the pants, I was there for him. William 'Will' Smith: How come he don't want me, man? And I got pretty damn good at it too, didn't I, Uncle Phil? It kinda stinks, is what I'm saying, even when these two male knuckleheads eventually learn their lesson. Oct 20, 2017. We were all in the moment. You know what, you ain't got to do nothing, Uncle Phil. This relationship needs to be attended to, now.