Bel-Air is a new dramatic take on the original series, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Will is still from West Philadelphia and he definitely finds trouble in his neighborhood, his mom sends him to live with this Uncle Phil, played by Adrian Holmes and Aunty Viv played by Cassandra Freeman.
Adrian Holmes and Cassandra Freeman step into the iconic roles of Phil and Vivian Banks in the re-imagined series, ‘Bel-Air’. The pair discuss why the original series, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is such a staple in American pop culture they also talk about the takes on these on Uncle Phil and Aunt Viv.
Amazing job on this show. I absolutely love it. I've only seen the first three episodes and I can't wait for the rest. It's an amazing show. The first question I have for you guys is about the original series. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is one of the most iconic sitcoms in television history. Why has it stood the test of time for such a long amount of time? That's for both of you guys.
Cassandra Freeman: It's a timeless story about family, that's all. This family happens to be dealing with class, and also race, and America. But it's mostly just a story about family. You can't get more timeless or universal than that story. The thing that Will Smith did that was genius, is that it happened to be surrounded by hip hop. There you go.
Adrian Holmes: They didn't shy away from topics that were real, real serious heavy topics, and explored it with laughter and comedy. A lot of people could relate to the original show because it addressed a lot of issues that we were all dealing with and going through.
Cassandra Freeman: And being aspirational at the same time. I mean, this is universal people. This is how you do it.
The biggest difference between The Fresh Prince and Bel-Air is that Will has to leave Philly in this show. Rather than getting a better experience for education. This seems like Will has to go to Bel-Air, and it seems like the family's really unprepared for it. Can you guys talk to me about how the Banks family all reacts to Will have to show up and live with them for the foreseeable future? And we'll go with you, Adrian.
Adrian Holmes: My character Philip Banks is running for DA at this time. He's got a campaign to run. There are things that he did that he has to keep quiet and so it's a slippery slope. He is being very careful. I think it's a positive addition to the family. He really helps us see who we really, who we are. Philip can identify with a lot of himself in Will.
Cassandra Freeman: He's like a mirror.
Adrian Holmes: He's like a mirror. He helps Carlton see the other side. There are so many positives, so many pros, to having him with us in the family.
You know, one of the fascinating relationships I find in this show, Cassandra is Vive's relationship with Hillary. Can you talk to me about their relationship, and how Hillary's relationship differs with Vive, as it does with Adrian's character?
Cassandra Freeman: Well you know mothers and daughters, fathers and their daughters. I have a son. He can do no wrong. But you have a daughter you see yourself, in your same-sex reflection usually. You have higher standards. I think that's what that is. But it's also a disconnect that Vivian has about technology and social media. Also, there's a disconnect between her and her daughter about, we're in a time where this generation says, no, I'm going to say something today about what I don't like, and ask people to change today. We're, from a generation where we're like, oh, it's conservative. Every older generation is always more conservative than the new one. You just have those two forces. At the same time, she's a mirror to what ambition I used to have that is gone. Maybe she shall stoke the flame for it back to come back again.
Adrian Holmes: Who knows.
Later on, in one of the episodes, we get to see Phil reconnect with his old college friends, his fraternity. The first question I have for you, Adrian, is how hard was it stepping in a fully fitted suit?
Cassandra Freeman: Yo.
Adrian Holmes: It had its challenges for sure.
Cassandra Freeman: Was that the tight suit?
Adrian Holmes: It was a fitted suit. Yeah, it was. I had to definitely open that button. But yeah, it was fun. I really enjoyed that day. We had so many of the Alpha Phi Alphas onset, the original guys. They were so honored to be a part of the show. That doesn't happen too often. I've always admired fraternities, and I'd never been a part of one myself. This is like getting to live out a dream on screen for me. It was fun. The routine we got it down pretty quick. Well, a few days we rehearsed a couple of days before.
Cassandra Freeman: You killed it.
Adrian Holmes: Thank you. We did our day.
Well, look, this show is phenomenal. Let me also just say that the music in this show is the best.
Cassandra Freeman: This is what I'm saying.
Adrian Holmes: Remember back in the day when soundtracks were the thing? Every time you'd watch a movie or a certain show, you couldn't wait to get the soundtrack.
Yes.
Adrian Holmes: I think that this show is going to be bringing back the soundtrack. The tracks that we have are so nostalgic.
Cassandra Freeman: Don't you feel like it's re-watchable because of the music too?
Immediately. As soon as I finished watching the first episode, I was like, yo, is the soundtrack available on iTunes? This is incredible. The way that the music, it's kind of a journey in its own right. It's fantastic.
Cassandra Freeman: Listen, the music that, you know, and also Terrence Blanchard and there's another musician.
There's another. They're geniuses. Even the music they create, some of these scenes, I wanted to stop and Shazam it. Can I buy even the new music? Yeah. Between the new music, and current music coming together, I feel like it's exactly what we deserve. I hope that's how people feel about it.
Adrian Holmes: And what we need. You know, it's been a long time since we've had that, that vibe on screen.
Bel-Air is now streaming on Peacock.