According to CBR.com, the outcry from fans was loud and strong, forcing the network to change its mind. Jada Pinkett Smith was originally supposed to play Lisa, but was too short for the role (opposite a 62 Will Smith), thus leaving Long to take the part. 1 Where There's a Will, There's a Way (1) 2 Where There's a Will, There's a Way (2) 3 All Guts, No Glory. Jacqueline "Jackie" Ames is a recurring character in the fourth season of the 90s hit TV sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. After Jackie became engaged to stock broker John Husted Jr. in the early 1950s, her mother found out he was making $17,000 a year, and told Jackie to drop . There's no doubt the Banks children enjoy financial privilege in their lives. Copyright 2023 WABC-TV. While the show made a comedic nod to the casting swap, it never addressed the reason for Vivian's sudden personality change. So what was even the point? Despite that, during the shows first few episodes she is said to be 9, then she is referred to as 10 during the first seasons Deck the Halls only to celebrate her 12 birthday nine episodes later in Just Infatuation. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is one of the most celebrated shows of the 90s. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. There's a real history and chemistry between them that the series fails to take advantage of when Jackie is suddenly missing in action for no reason. She claimed that she wasn't fired, but turned the role down (via CinemaBlend). 1- 1 10 Sep 90 The Fresh Prince Project 1- 2 17 Sep 90 Bang the Drum, Ashley 1- 3 24 Sep 90 Clubba Hubba 1- 4 1 Oct 90 Not With My Pig, You Don't 1- 5 8 Oct 90 Homeboy, Sweet Homeboy Growing up in London, Ontario, Canada, Matthew developed a love for storytelling that he loves to share with others through his writing. With that in mind, it. Jackie, one of Will's good friends from back in Philadelphia, arrives in season 4 when she also turns out to be attending UCLA. You all know the story of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: a troubled kid . Please. Cookies help us deliver our Services. But I can see where I made the set very difficult for Janet., Hubert and Smith appear to be on good terms, as she tweeted on November 18, Thank you all for the lovethe understanding especially you Will. With this in mind, now is the perfect time to take a look back at the show that started it all and some of the storylines that seemingly disappeared during its 6-year run. However, the thing that most of us fail to remember is the song has another verse about Wills time on a plane that only appears during the intro to a handful of the early episodes. By 1956, Jackie purportedly told her mom she was ready to split . But she still ends the series in one of the best positions ofall the main characters. At the end of the day, when most people watch a show like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air they dont put much thought into why the actors agreed to star in the series. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. My agent said you cannot accept this. As a result, his potential basketball career comes to an end. "I waited a long time to hear those words," Hubert told Bookman. While Hilary is shown to struggle from time to time with her career, it doesn't take long for her to bounce back. We got along great.. Jeffrey Allen Townes aka DJ Jazzy Jeff looked back on the scene in which his character was testifying in court and at-first didnt want to put his hands down because the white bailiff had a gun, noting that they focused on stories that had a truth to them. It felt like it was a show it wasnt a TV show, it was a show, Ribeiro said. Shes mad now but shes been mad all along. And they agreed not to sleep in the same room. Geoffrey is always one of the most reliable voices of reason and sources of humor acrossFresh Prince's six-season run. Then, out of nowhere, she becomes a weather person on the news, despite being incredibly underqualified for the role. The reunion featured some behind-the-scenes footage inside Smiths dressing room where the cast said music would be booming on tape nights. He felt ready to say goodbye to television, as he'd just landed a career-boosting role as Mike Lowrey in Michael Bay's hit franchise "Bad Boys." Luckily, their conversation allowed some old wounds to heal just not the one we have about Vivian's massive personality change. why did jackie leave fresh princeoffice furniture liquidators chicago June 14th, 2022 mazda 3 2021 bose sound system As we mentioned during this articles intro, millions of the shows fans can recite its theme song from the heart. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Portrayed by Tyra Banks, the West Philadelphia native plays a prominent role in the first half of season 4, but then disappears for the remainder of the series. This article was originally published on April 3, 2017, The Real Story Of How 'Gilmore Girls' Got Its Name, Joshua Jackson Reveals Truth Behind *That* Viral 'Dawson's Creek' Scene, At 28, Julia Louis-Dreyfus Joined 'Seinfeld' & Bought Too Many Throw Pillows, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. Not only that, but they let so many supporting characters go unused or die off such as: Jazz, Jackie, and the divas Photo by Chris Cuffaio/NBCU Photo Bank. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. The answer was yes, he learned everybodys dialogue and his strong memorization skills are visible if you go back and look at those early episodes, now in streaming. Will reveals that he and Jackie once hooked up back in Philly, but Jackie maintains that they are still just friends. No diapers. In fact, he owed so much that the IRS seized 70% of his salary from the show during the first 3 years. In it, she discussed her version of events of what exactly seemed to cause such a feud on the Fresh Prince set, and it sounds as though she was frustrated with Smith for not doing more for the supporting cast. #FreshPrince30th. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. But in the end, Will is left alone. She gets a job at the campus store, the Peacock Stop, and hires Will to be one of her employees. NEW YORK (WABC) -- Janet Hubert, who played the original Aunt Viv in the hit 1990s sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," is setting the record straight about why she left the show -- and opening up about her feud with Will Smith. But beneath all of the shows high moments remains one mystery: why the original Aunt Viv left the series. Unfortunately for Carlton, things don't go according to plan, as it turns out Jackie and Will know each other from their time living in Philadelphia and quickly rekindle their friendship. So that meant my salary was cut, I had a new baby and a husband who was out of work. This is the first season to feature Daphne Maxwell Reid as Vivian Banks after Janet Hubert-Whitten's departure. Their parents get married instead, making them step-siblings. Given the varying accounts as to what actually happened on the set of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, its clear that there will never be a consensus on exactly went wrong. It was almost like the producers and writers wanted to reboot the series and give it a fresh makeover after two seasons, however successful they were with the fandom. one of Will's good friends from back in Philadelphia, 10 Things To Watch If You Liked The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, 10 Things That Make No Sense About The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, only ever dreamed of one real concrete goal, The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air: 10 Reasons Will And Carlton Aren't Real Friends. Its hard enough being a dark-skinned Black woman in this business.. An emotional moment where Jock Zonfrillo supported a MasterChef contestant struggling with his mental health has resurfaced as Australia mourns the loss of the celebrity chef. However, they eventually decide not to go through with it. Jackie also seems to have learned to play basketball from Will, as she mentions in the same episode that Will was the one who taught her how to do a proper jump shot. RIP James. Advertisement. And then, just like that, she's gone. 0 comments Due to the fact that Will Smith wasnt a professional actor before starring in this show, he cared so much about doing well that at first when he read scripts he would memorize all of them. Even though it truly was a silly joke, every time Uncle Phil threw Jazz out of his home we laughed really hard. The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air is a FANDOM TV Community. Jack's father Joe Kennedy offered her $1 million to stay knowing that a divorce would destroy Jack's political future," writes Porter and Prince in the biography. In fact, they were far too alike to ever really make it work. 4 Father of the Year. After Janet Hubert left Fresh Prince, a new actor stepped in to replace her as Aunt Viv. Will Smith and Janet Hubert, who originally played Aunt Viv on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, offered apologies and explanations to each . Ironically, the series' own main character is perhaps the oneperson most underserved by the way things end. #FreshPrince30th, A post shared by Will Smith (@willsmith) on Sep 10, 2020 at 4:30pm PDT. Janet Hubert, who played the original Aunt Viv in the hit 1990s sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," is setting the record straight about why she left the show -- and opening up a. While that is understandable, it blows us away that a famous performer like Queen Latifah played 2 different Fresh Prince characters and Nia Long played someone Will took to a dance seasons before Lisas debut. Perhaps that is why we overlooked the fact that the show reused the same footage of Jazz flying past the camera each time. The role ultimately went to Nia Long. She eventually forgives him when he tells her that the reason he didn't call was because he missed her too much, and they resume their friendship after their reconciliation. And according to her IMDb page, this role was Banks' first official acting credit. At one point in the show, she's in the running to host alongside the famous news presenter Regis Philbin. NBC, Frank Micelotta Archive/Getty Images. Why was she replaced? However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Janet Hubert left over a bad deal but felt banished by Smith RELATED:10 Things To Watch If You Liked The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air. For instance, if you put yourself in Carlton's shoes, it would be really unpleasant to have a cousin move in and mock your every move. She leaves West Philadelphia and moves to Bel-Air after accepting a basketball scholarship offered to her by UCLA, which, coincidentally, is also Will's college of choice. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. But in the end, Will is left alone. Born in Philadelphia in 1965, Jeffrey Allen Townes first became interested in DJing when he was just ten years old. The actress opened up to Smith, confessing that she struggled during the third season with both a pregnancy and an abusive marriage, the Los Angeles Times reported. ' During the scene in which Will goes off on not needing his father but then ends up breaking down and asking his uncle why the man doesnt want him, Smith also shared that he flubbed the line at first, Avery reset him by telling him to use me, and then at the end of the take when they were embracing, Avery whispered in his ear, Now thats acting.. In 1992, Janet got pregnant, and although her real-life pregnancy was written into the show (this is why were were introduced to Nicky Banks, Will's cousin), her pregnancy violated her contract with NBC. Thank you Will I love you. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Since the shows end, the cast has gone on to varying amounts of fame. According to Vidal . I wasnt unprofessional on the set; I just stopped talking to everybody, because I didnt know who to trust, because I had been banished. The show ran for six successful seasons, and catapulted Will Smith AKA The Fresh Prince to international fame, introduced us to The Carlton Dance, and entertained households all over the world from 1990-1996. When asked if she was surprised other cast members didn't support her, Hubert said, "No I wasn't surprised. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. But within that family, no two characters were entirely alike, even if many of their circumstances were similar (and privileged). Unfortunately, part of this restructuring meant getting rid of Jackie with little explanation about where she went or why. How is ATP made and used in photosynthesis? However, after her character had been developed over 7 episodes, she completely disappeared after a minor argument with Will. "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" ran for a total of 6 seasons. Never to be seen again. This decision wasn't the result of studio interference, but rather due to the choice of one actor: Will Smith. Lisa is introduced in Episode 6, "Will's Misery." What Happened To Bruno Mars After Being Sued Multiple Times For His Best Song. I think Will simply needed to win, and I think sometimes when you get caught up in a lie and those things never happened. Will and Jackie have a great rapport with one another, with rapid-fire insult humorand cheeky flirting in spades. Could Will and Janet have put their differences aside? Hilary often whines when she doesn't get her way, runs to Daddy for financial help, and remains completely oblivious to the world around her. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Sometimes the actors were able to influence these elements of the show or at least specific lines of dialogue, as Reid recalled telling the writers at a table read that Tatyana Ali had a line that would make her lose her teeth if she actually said it to her father in a Black family. The man's interview goes about as expected, with him publicly bashing Uncle Phil, leaving Hilary at a loss for words on live television. Why did she leave the series? When Fresh Prince draws to a close, all of the core characters are moving on with their lives, most of whom are relocating to the East Coast. My family said, Youve ruined our name.. Background 1st Season 1990. As the character with arguably the most bizarre narrative journey in the series, Hilary Banks somehow ends the series on top of the world. After season 3 of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Hubert left the series. The way the series ends for Ashley is a surprising one, but ultimately completely satisfying for her character. It lasted six seasons, airing 148 episodes. I wasnt perceptive, and now that Ive had three kids, Ive learned some things that I did not know at the time, and I would do things very differently. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Here are the Top 7 things learned from HBO Maxs Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunion: Smith admits to being a line-mimicker I said, I have a family. During that time of her pregnancy, I wasnt sensitive, he told Hubert, according to USA Today. Will and the entire Banks family vacation in Will's hometown, Philadelphia and learn a surprising secret about Will's reputation in the neighborhood. Tatyana Ali was only 11 when she joined the cast of Fresh Prince, but she had previously started acting at the age of 6 with appearances on the beloved childrens show, Sesame Street. I lost everything reputation, everything, she continued. Throughout the series, Will has many romantic interests that come and go. Still, when Nicky went from being a newborn to a preschooler in between seasons it was off-putting. But why? Daphne Maxwell Reid turned down the role of Aunt Viv at first "The cast was offered money to take me down," Hubert continued. Karyn Parsons was a huge part of the show's success, taking on the role of Hilary Banks. Things aren't going well for the show. He. At the time, Smith said on a radio show, as reported by Us Weekly, "I can say straight up that Janet Hubert wanted the show . Not even a little bit. Will Smith and Alfonso destroyed a 20-year career with untruths. No matter how entertaining The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is, there is still no doubt that there are aspects of the series that were unfortunate. Be blessed, this is my story all about howhealing happened., READ NEXT: Bravos Andy Cohen Locks In Another Reality Show. Tyriq is the third member of Jazz and Will's friendship trio in the early seasons ofFresh Prince. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent. Katerina is a List Writer here at Screen Rant with a background in literary criticism and creative writing. Hilary Banks is arguably the most spoiled and ditzy of her siblings (with Carlton as a close second). When it comes to the aspects of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that are inconsistent, there is none more jarring than the fact that two women who look extremely different played Aunt Vivian. Where There's a Will, There's a Way (Part 1), Where There's a Will, There's a Way (Part 2), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, This article is about 1990s series. It was initially reported that she left due to "creative differences" (which is a catch-all term that could literally mean anything and nothing), but some believed it had to do with her fighting with Will Smith. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. "They told me I had to go into my dressing room in between takes because I wasn't laughing at Will's jokes," she explained. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. For another three seasons, until Fresh Prince eventually ended, Aunt Viv was played by Daphne Maxwell Reid. The first actor to play Aunt Vivian sat down with Smith to discuss why she left the show, sharing that during the third season (her last), she was pregnant but her home life was not good at all and she was no longer laughing, smiling, joking because of it. Jackie is portrayed by "America's Next Top Model" herself, Tyra Banks. Almost 25 years after The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air signed off of NBC, the sitcoms stars sat down on a meticulously recreated Banks family living room set to film a reunion special for HBO Max. All Rights Reserved. His thing was, I am in such a unique position, and that responsibility, you must elevate your craft. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". They even show the entry hallway on a few occasions. According to Smith, the character he portrays in the sitcom was an extension of himself, so he felt that, as an actor, he needed a different role to sink his teeth in. A streetwise, poor young man from Philadelphia is sent by his mother to live with his aunt, uncle and cousins in their Bel-Air mansion. Remarkably enough, however, during the shows early episodes the living room is a lot smaller and lacks a staircase. The showrunners and the actress herself realized that it would be best for her to leave the show and after she left the show, she shortly began residential treatment. It also offers a rare opportunity for the series to capitalize on the bond between opposite sisters Hilary and Ashley, as they will now be living together in their own apartment in the city. It's always really awkward when characters on TV shows and movies get re-cast especially if they've already been on the show for a few seasons, or the first installment of a trilogy (i.e. To put it lightly, it's an incredibly exciting move. Even the staircase to the second floor moves. Much of the special was devoted to walking the fans of the show through the process of making the show (from Tuesday and Wednesday rehearsals, to tape nights on Fridays), as well as sharing fond memories from their time working together (and featuring a surprise appearance by Ross Bagley, who played Nicky). The problem with that is that earlier in the series he played a rival judge that Uncle Phil couldnt stand. The show never lets us in on the secret. What are differences between Japanese cuisine and Chinese cuisine? Maybe in his callback he spruced things up because of course he was hired and the rest, as they say, was history. 3 Who was Will Smith dating during Fresh Prince of Bel-Air? Smith told the LA Times that saying goodbye to the character was difficult but necessary, saying, "We've all grown as actors and as people, we had an incredibly talented cast, but the show is just limiting.". Yes its fun to watch, but the idea of it translates to so many different places, said Will Smith. Did the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air have a live audience? It's not super uncommon, but when it does happen, there's always a lot of interest around why the actor left, and what happened. As all of his children face new and exciting ventures in New York and the general Northeast area, Uncle Phil is quick to make the choice with Aunt Vivian to accompany them there. It's a relative downer of an ending for the series and the character, too. Once Will learns that either he or that rival player will get the scholarship and his competition needs it more, he throws the game. It had been 27 years since he had sat down with Janet. A few years ago a popular thread on Reddit discussed the actors apparent mouthing of other performers dialogue in scenes in the hit 1990s sitcom. For most Fresh Prince fans, thinking about the shows lead actors is bound to bring a smile to their face. After all, it's been such a long time. Queen Latifah portrays two separate characters in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." She is seen portraying Hilary's tough-as-nails boss Marissa Redman for an episode in Season 1, "Working It Out . The fourth season of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premiered on September 20, 1993 and concluded on May 23, 1994. She is seen portraying Hilary's tough-as-nails boss Marissa Redman for an episode in Season 1, "Working It Out." So were doin something for yall a for real Banks Family Reunion is comin soon to @HBOmax! Here's why Jackie exited The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air rather abruptly. She's last seen in the 12th episode of Season 4, where it's revealed that she's dating someone new. Here are the biggest unanswered questions from the show you may have forgotten about. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. All Rights Reserved. How old was Tatyana Ali when she joined the cast of Fresh Prince? Another example of a recognizable person who played more than one Fresh Prince character, Sherman Hemsley appeared in 5 episodes of the show and portrayed two notable characters. In the past, Matthews work has been published by Cracked.com, Watchmojo, The Richest, The Talko, The Sportster, and The Things among others. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast reunited for a 30th anniversary reunion. Sure, the show acknowledged the situation once with a joke, but still. According to E!, Will told an Atlanta radio station in 1993, "I can say straight-up that Janet Hubert wanted the show to be The Aunt Viv of Bel Air Show because I know she is going to dog me in the press. Although Long was cast in a previous episode of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" as a different character in Season 2, as Lisa she manages to steal Will's heart and put a stop to his womanizing ways. Contrary to what many people assumed, Hubert was not fired from the show. Offers may be subject to change without notice. ", Karl Lagerfeld legacy showcased in Met exhibit, Tips for dealing with flood-related losses after the storm, Manhunt enters 3rd day for alleged Texas mass killer. So all we can do is praise the original Aunt Viv for the incredible character she truly was. Published on February 18, 2019 04:21 PM. Taken for granted time and again, Geoffrey is seldom given the narrative importance he deserves, apart from a few episodes that find him at the center of schemes cooked up by Will and Carlton, and even his own biological son. Uncle Phil also benefits from the many surprising changes that come about inFresh Prince's final episodes. Why didn't Reid play Vivian the same way Hubert did? Generally speaking, Jazz as a character is greatly underused and underappreciated during the later years of the series, once Will and Carlton make the jump to their college years. Tyra and Will remain close friends and even have inside jokes. With 26 episodes, this is the longest season of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.Season 4 was originally meant to be the final season of the show, but NBC renewed the show for . Smith made the announcement earlier this year on September 10, 2020, exactly 30 years since the the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air first debuted. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The idea that we, as a Black show on TV one of three at the time there werent really us in the writers room, said Alfonso Ribeiro. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. The Will vs. Aunt Viv lore boiled up again in 2011, nearly 18 years after the fact, when Smith posted a Fresh Prince cast pic that did not . If she's not ranting about characters who deserved better or typing away at one of her many fan fiction epics, she's probably asleep. The Reason Will Smith Agreed To Star In The Show, Them Always Using The Same Clip When Jazz Was Thrown Out, How Close In Age Jane Hubert and Karyn Parsons Are, Famous Actors Playing More Than One Character, Will Smith Mouthing Along With The Other Actors' Lines, Janet Huberts Anger Towards Her Former Co-Stars, Sherman Hemsley Playing Two Completely Different and Highly Memorable Characters, The Banks Family Living Room Completely Changing, Ray Romano's Salary On Everybody Loves Raymond Was So Insane That It Almost Destroyed His Television Career, Tamar Braxton Vs. Kandi Burruss: The Truth Behind Their Explosive Accusations And Never-Ending Feud.