Fans of the '90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air were excited to catch the reunion show, which streamed on HBO Max in late November.
The series, which starred now A-list Hollywood actor Will Smith, aired on NBC for six seasons from 1990 to 1996. Now, 24 years later, Smith brought the old cast together for a reunion special that fans could watch as well.
Chances are, plenty of tissues were grabbed during the one-hour special, which was funny and touching but also deeply emotional for a number of reasons. These were some particularly special moments.
Will Recalling How The Show Came To Be
Smith's story about how he went from an impromptu audition for NBC executives at a party at Quincy Jones' house to filming the sitcom six weeks later was fascinating. He noted how he, as a young man, was sat down in Jones' office, next to massive posters of superstars like Michael Jackson and countless Grammys and told that he needed to convince the executives that night to move forward with the show.
His co-stars, including Alfonso Ribeiro, noted how they had never heard that story in all these years.
The Initial Meet-Up
Seeing the cast all walk into the room, one by one, shedding tears, hugging, and looking at people they spent every day with for six years and who they likely hadn't seen in decades, was so touching.
The funniest part was Ribeiro poking his head around at the top of the stairs, just as he had often done in the show. Even Ross Bagley, who played the youngest child, Nicky Banks for the final season, also showed up towards the end.
Re-Living The Best Scenes
The show had some iconic moments but replaying some of the best scenes on the show brought back tons of memories for fans. Among them included Janet Hubert's fierce dancing scene, the scene when Will and Carlton blackmail Hilary and she slaps them and barks like a dog at the dinner table, and Philip's inspired and terrifying speech at the police station urging the cops to release his nephew and son.
But one of the most emotional scenes ever on the show was Will screaming about his biological father, falling into his Uncle Phil's arms in tears. He revealed that during the scene, James Avery, who played Uncle Phil, whispered to him "now that's acting."
Will Mouthing Lines
Many fans already noticed this, but in the first season of the series, Smith had a habit of not only learning his own lines but learning everyone else's. Because of this, he could often be seen mouthing the lines someone else was saying, as they said them, before actually speaking his own.
It was funny and understandable given that he had no acting experience at all at the time. But it shows just how far Smith has come as an actor.
Discussing The Show's Impact
While many remember the sitcom as just a funny show, many forget how impactful it was. This was a show in the '90s that portrayed class divisions and a Black family, showing both sides of the equation.
Often times, the comedic undertones were actually a delivery mechanism for truth, such as the scene when Will and Carlton get pulled over while driving and Carlton doesn't understand why Will urges him to keep his hands on the wheel as the officer approaches. Or when Jazz, while on the stand in court, is afraid to put his hands down when instructed to do so because the bailiff has a gun.
Behind-The-Scenes Musical Intros
Scenes showed how the cast would liven the audience up before a taping by each grabbing musical instruments and jamming out to make music and beats and get the energy level up.
They also showed behind-the-scenes in Smith's dressing room where he would play music and they would have dance parties. It was clear there was some serious camaraderie among everyone.
Tribute to James Avery
Sadly, James Avery, who played Philip Banks, passed away in 2013 at the age of 68 from complications from open-heart surgery, according to his publicist. He was, as the cast mentioned, the heart of the show.
A talented and prolific actor already prior to the show, everyone recalled how he inspired them and taught them to be better actors. Several scenes featuring Uncle Phil were shown in a beautiful and emotional montage as the cast discussed Avery's love of jazz music and his towering yet comforting presence.
Will Smith And Janet Hubert Finally Making Up
For decades, rumors abounded and words publicly exchanged relating to the fractured relationship between Will Smith and Janet Hubert, who played the original Aunt Vivian on the series, as well as the story behind why her role was re-cast.
For the first time in 27 years, Hubert and Smith met up and hashed out what happened, clearing the air about the fact that Hubert was never actually fired, and confirming that there were a lot of misunderstandings at the time. It was really emotional and sweet.
Janet Hubert Talking About Her Struggles
In addition to confronting Smith about his treatment of her during the time that she left, Hubert revealed some intimate details of her life. She noted that she was pregnant and was offered what she felt was an unfair deal to continue in the role that she did not accept. She also noted that she had personal things going on in her life, including being stuck in an abusive marriage.
Smith admitted that he was a kid back then and, now that he has been married, divorced, and has three kids of his own, he better understands the way he treated her. They both apologized and embraced in what was the most touching scene of the entire reunion.
The End Song
In the end, Smith took the mic and sang the theme song that is known around the world and that viewers likely sang along to while watching at home. Of course, they then switched it up to play Ton Jones' "It's Not Unusual," urging Ribeiro to head up on stage and do "The Carlton" dance to which he, of course, obliged.
It was a big party and a sweet end to a reunion that brought together a cast of one of the most influential and iconic sitcoms of the '90s.