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The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
S4.E24
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IMDbPro

Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse

  • Episode aired May 9, 1994
  • TV-PG
  • 23m
IMDb RATING
9.7/10
4.2K
YOUR RATING
Will Smith and Ben Vereen in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
SitcomComedy

Will's father Lou shows up after 14 years and spends a lot of time with Will. Will's very pleased with this. Uncle Phil, however, thinks Lou will again disappoint his son.Will's father Lou shows up after 14 years and spends a lot of time with Will. Will's very pleased with this. Uncle Phil, however, thinks Lou will again disappoint his son.Will's father Lou shows up after 14 years and spends a lot of time with Will. Will's very pleased with this. Uncle Phil, however, thinks Lou will again disappoint his son.

  • Director
    • Shelley Jensen
  • Writers
    • Benny Medina
    • Jeff Pollack
    • Andy Borowitz
  • Stars
    • Will Smith
    • James Avery
    • Daphne Reid
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    9.7/10
    4.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Shelley Jensen
    • Writers
      • Benny Medina
      • Jeff Pollack
      • Andy Borowitz
    • Stars
      • Will Smith
      • James Avery
      • Daphne Reid
    • 22User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos3

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    Top cast9

    Edit
    Will Smith
    Will Smith
    • Will Smith
    James Avery
    James Avery
    • Philip Banks
    Daphne Reid
    Daphne Reid
    • Vivian Banks
    • (as Daphne Maxwell Reid)
    Alfonso Ribeiro
    Alfonso Ribeiro
    • Carlton Banks
    Karyn Parsons
    Karyn Parsons
    • Hilary Banks
    Tatyana Ali
    Tatyana Ali
    • Ashley Banks
    • (as Tatyana M. Ali)
    Joseph Marcell
    Joseph Marcell
    • Geoffrey Butler
    Ben Vereen
    Ben Vereen
    • Lou Smith
    Marcus T. Paulk
    Marcus T. Paulk
    • Little Boy
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Shelley Jensen
    • Writers
      • Benny Medina
      • Jeff Pollack
      • Andy Borowitz
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews22

    9.74.1K
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    Featured reviews

    10theteamavengers

    Best episode of Fresh Prince

    This was one of the easiest 10/10 i ever gave. Man. this episode emotional. Incredible performances by Will Smith and James Avery. This is the episode that truly made Will Smith one of the greatest actors ever. The plot of the episode is fantastic. Will's father shows up after 14 years, and leaves again. It doesn't matter if the episode has less jokes, it didn't really needed them. I barely cry in a movie but the final conversation between Uncle Phil and Will made me tear up. HOW COME HE DON'T WANT ME MAN? I cried there. Bravo to everyone who worked on this episode.
    9askeland89

    Wow!

    I don't even know what to say.. I never really thought this show had any depth, I thought it was solely for laughs and I always thought of Will Smith as nothing more than a comedy object. I'm happy to admit that I was wrong, he delivers one of the best and most believable performances I have ever seen on television. This episode takes a very serious turn near the end and I could actually hear to audience crying, couldn't help but shed a few tears myself.
    10alfatuakli

    Amazing episode, touching on real issues

    As the son of a deadbeat father, this makes me tear up every time.. Such a shame there are so many deadbeats out there and so few Uncle Phils.
    10sebastianbuettner

    This scene gets me EVERY time

    Man, I watch the show like 10 times. So this episode isn't any new to me. But the last minutes, with the last scene, get's me every time!!! Avery and Smith are owning the screen here.
    10brycecharlie

    Best Episode of this show

    This Episode is full of humour and emotion like any good episode should do but this episode cranks the emotion up to 10 with the ending

    Related interests

    Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, and Matthew Perry in Friends (1994)
    Sitcom
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Laurence Fishburne was offered the role of Lou but producers felt his demeanour was too laid back for the part. It was later offered to Ben Vereen. Coincidentally, Will Smith turned down the opportunity to appear in The Matrix (1999) alongside Fishburne, and whose sequels featured Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
    • Goofs
      Will's father introduces himself as Lou Smith, which would make Viola's married name Smith, although it was previously established that Viola, Vivian, Helen, and Janice have the maiden name Smith. However, Philadelphia is a large city, and Smith is a common name worldwide. It's entirely possible that two unrelated people named Smith could meet, fall in love, and start a family.
    • Quotes

      Philip Banks: [after Lou cancels his trip with Will and leaves] I'm sorry, Will.

      William 'Will' Smith: You know what? Actually, this works out better for me, you know. The slimmies of summer come to class wearing next to nothing, you know what I'm saying...

      Philip Banks: Will, it's all right to be angry.

      William 'Will' Smith: Hey, why should I be mad? I'm saying at least he said goodbye this time. I just wish I hadn't wasted my money buying this stupid present.

      [takes out a small statue of a father sitting with his son on his lap]

      Philip Banks: I'm sorry. You know, if there was something that l...

      William 'Will' Smith: You know what, you ain't got to do nothing, Uncle Phil. Ain't like I'm still five years old, you know. Ain't like I'ma be sitting up every night asking my mom, "When's Daddy coming home?", you know. Who needs him? Hey, he wasn't there to teach me how to shoot my first basket, but I learned, didn't I? And I got pretty damn good at it too, didn't I, Uncle Phil?

      Philip Banks: Yeah, you did.

      William 'Will' Smith: Got through my first date without him, right? I learned how to drive, I learned how to shave, I learned how to fight without him. I had *fourteen* great birthdays without him! He never even sent me a damn card! TO HELL WITH HIM!

      [long pause as Will struggles to regain his composure]

      William 'Will' Smith: I ain't need him then and I don't need him now.

      Philip Banks: Will...

      William 'Will' Smith: No, you know what, Uncle Phil? I'ma get through college without him, I'ma get a great job without him, I'ma marry me a beautiful honey, and I'ma have me a whole bunch of kids. I'll be a better father than he ever was, and I sure as hell don't need him for that, 'cause ain't a damn thing he could ever teach me about how to love my kids!

      [long pause; Will starts to cry]

      William 'Will' Smith: How come he don't want me, man?

      [Uncle Phil rushes forward to hug Will, and Will breaks down sobbing]

    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Saddest Sitcom Moments (2014)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 9, 1994 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • NBC Studios - 3000 W. Alameda Avenue, Burbank, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • The Stuffed Dog Company
      • Quincy Jones-David Salzman Entertainment
      • NBC Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 23m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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