The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is not only one of the best sitcoms of all time, but it launched Will Smith to superstardom. The Oscar-winning actor starred as a fictionalized version of himself on the ‘90s NBC series, and to this day it’s a favorite among fans. While Smith developed bad acting habits while on Fresh Prince, his co-star Alfonso Ribeiro revealed the scene that proved Smith could be a superstar.
Fresh Prince had a lot of memorable moments throughout its six-season run, most of them hilarious. Of course, there were some darker episodes as well and emotional moments that are just as memorable. Ribeiro, who played Will’s cousin Carlton Banks, recalled on Byron Scott’s Fast Break podcast what it was like being on set for one of those emotional moments. Namely when Will broke down while talking with Uncle Phil (James Avery) about his absentee father:
That was a powerful moment, right? It was truly the first time that we saw the superstar that Will became, right? You know, he was a clown. He was silly. He had learned how to act, right? He wasn't an actor when we started. That moment was when he realized that you've got to be true to the moment for yourself and create whatever connections you need to create.
From the moment that viewers meet Will in the first episode, he’s silly, he doesn’t know how to fit in with his wealthy extended family, and he’s rarely ever serious. Season 4, Episode 24, “Papa’s Got a Brand New Excuse,” saw a much more serious side to Will when his father, Lou, comes back into his life. Will’s excited and they plan a cross-country road trip... and then Lou abandons him again. Will’s conversation with Uncle Phil in the living room is arguably one of the most talked-about scenes in Fresh Prince’s history, maybe even sitcom history. And it's the most special episode to Smith.
It’s raw, it’s heartbreaking, and it definitely showed off Smith’s range after he was playing a pretty silly and unserious character for four years. Ribeiro couldn’t help but praise Smith, who was able to draw from his real life for the emotional moment. And he knew that Smith was truly an actor at that point:
And so there were things that were happening in his life that he was able to draw on in that moment to create such a powerful moment with Uncle Phil, right, as it pertained to his dad. There were things in his life that he was able to draw on. And so we got to sit back and watch him turn into an actor. And that was the day that it was like, ‘And there you go. You're there. You've now reached the point where you're not just playing roles. You are an actor.’
That scene is definitely one of my favorites. And no matter how many times I’ve seen it, I cry every time. I can’t imagine what the atmosphere was like on set that day, not only with Smith but everyone who was watching it film because it is such an important moment. If it wasn’t evident before, it also showed that Fresh Prince was not afraid to get a little serious at times. Any sitcom that is able to successfully mix the serious in with the comedy is a masterpiece, and Fresh Prince is one of those shows.
For those interested in watching the pivotal scene, all six seasons of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air are streaming with a Hulu subscription. There are plenty of other memorable moments on the show, both funny and serious, that fans can watch over and over again and never get tired of. It's also perfect for your next long-binge.
