“I lost everything,” Hubert tells Smith, directly citing his role in ending her run on the show. It calls attention to the damning label “difficult” for a Black woman in Hollywood, especially in the 1990s. Hubert meets with Smith for a truly gut-wrenching exchange. But the “Fresh Prince” reunion goes there. To create a 30-year homage without Hubert would rightly be incomplete, a historical revision that mutates something authentic into spin, easy TV divorced from conflict. “I have no interest in seeing any of these people on that kind of level.” “There will never be a true reunion of the Fresh Prince,” she said on Facebook at the time. Hubert had choice words for Ribeiro before condemning the alleged “reunion.” The tension between Hubert and Smith glittered headlines ever since, coming to a head in March 2017 when Ribeiro posted an Instagram photo of “Fresh Prince” colleagues noting only one absence, Avery. Janet Hubert killed the role, but season four kicked off with Reid subbing until the series concluded three years later. Halfway through, Aunt Viv underwent a recast. (photo courtesy of HBO Max)ĭuring the 1990s, the NBC series would not go unscathed by controversy. Will Smith and Janet Hubert, who portrayed Aunt Viv on the “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” but left the show under controversy, shared some poignant moments during the reunion. Of course, that happens in the absence of not one but two parents. The reunion is charming, each player laughing and sharing memories like a family as they explore the creation of a fictional one enjoyed by millions. The cast fondly remembers his best moments, both comedic and profound, presenting him as a masterful performer who elevated “Fresh Prince” in each scene. Perhaps the most poignant analysis comes when Smith briefly notes how relevant the series remains today for the worse, a reminder that some things have not improved for the better.Įach surviving member on screen creates a clear line between “Fresh Prince’s” authenticity and the late James Avery, the masterful actor behind Uncle Philip Banks. The juxtaposition between class and race prevailed across multiple seasons, poked fun at in Carlton’s love of Tom Jones and sincerely addressed in clashes with police officers. But a central topic, one emphasized by each cast member with pride, is what “Fresh Prince” tried to accomplish, not merely as comedy but media of substance. Unfortunately, Joseph Marcell, who played the (almost always) very formal house butler Geoffrey Butler, enjoys a few moments during the reunion (the show served him much better), while Daphne Reid, who played Aunt Vivian come season four, remains rather quiet throughout.Ī host of topics are covered, like casting rituals, on-set dynamics and recurring motifs. And Karyn Parsons must confront the audition she once submitted for valley girl Hilary Banks.Įven DJ Jazzy Jeff – simply Jazz on the show – enjoys some screen time, though the many times Uncle Phil throws him out of the house seem to go unnoticed. Tatyana Ali discusses the anxieties of growing up while portraying the youngest Banks sibling, Ashley. Of course, Alfonso Ribeiro breaks down the Carlton, the prominent dance named after his character that keeps popping up across pop culture. He might control all the pieces, but plenty of reflections paint a picture of a novice uninitiated to the acting craft, some quite hilarious. Of course, Smith leads the discussion, as he led the show until its end in 1996. Most of the old crew return, with one glaring absence (more on that later, folks). The cast converges in familiar terrain, the living room they shared for six seasons, portraying a culture clash between affluent relatives the Banks family in Bel Air and a cousin sent away from west Philly when “a couple of guys who were up to no good started making trouble,” Smith rapped at the start of 148 episodes. This is the crème de la crème of reunions, no buffering issues or lost resolution along the way. In the game of reunions, only one rules them all: HBO Max’s official “Fresh Prince” special, celebrating the series’ premiere 30 years ago. Perhaps that was merely a teaser of something more epic to come. Like the others, it came and went, a quaint appetizer for 12 minutes. Check out Josh Gad’s YouTube series “Reunited Apart” for a host of options.Įven “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” earned such social media exposure on Will Smith’s YouTube channel in March. In a year of media limbo, nostalgia replaces film and TV delays with casts of recent and late classics recording Zoom parties for all to enjoy. Most of the memorable cast led by Will Smith, left, returned for “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion.” (photo courtesy of HBO Max)
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