Current Events > Will Smith believes FPoBA took a turn for the worse w/Carlton gun episode

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Will Smith knew his hit sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was coming to an end well before the last curtain call.

In is new memoir, Will, the actor said he could recall exactly when he knew the show had begun taking a turn for the worse. The storylines were becoming increasingly hokey and it was difficult to maintain the Freshness,' wrote Smith.

His memoir details moments from childhood well into adulthood that shaped the mega stars life and outlook on his journey of personal evolution. In it, he also details career benchmarks, such as recognizing that the Fresh Prince was becoming less of a conversation starter and more of a 30-minute space filler with each script.

Anyone who has ever been on a sitcom can tell you the episode in which their show jumped the shark. Ours was season 5, episode 15, Bullets Over Bel-Air, the one in which I got shot and Carlton started carrying a gun, said the actor-rapper. He goes on to explain at that point, he found himself at a career crossroads where he could finish the sixth and final contracted season of the show, or he could go on to make blockbuster movies, leaving the sitcom in his past.

It was then that Smith found the sage advice on moving forward he needed from Good Times family patriarch James Evans, played by actor John Amos. Years earlier, Amos found himself written out of the popular 80s sitcom when he disagreed with the direction of the show. Smith recalled Amos telling him to take care of his family of co-stars, and most importantly to allow them and himself to walk away with dignity.

I had successfully fulfilled a promise to myself that I would never get caught in a cycle of deterioration without having the next thing on tap, wrote the first-time author. So he made the decision to pull the cast aside. I told everyone that season six would be our final season and that they should take the year to make whatever plans or preparations they felt necessary. I promised them that we would go out with style and grace.

The show ended in 1996, and while Smith and Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Carlton, maintained a publicly close friendship, it would not be until 2020 that fans would see the entire cast reunite.

https://news.yahoo.com/never-caught-cycle-deterioration-smith-143100824.html

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I actually remember that episode fondly, but I haven't seen it in years. It might not hold up to a rewatch.

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That episode wasnt bad at all imo solely cuz of Will and Carltons acting

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GATTJT posted...

I actually remember that episode fondly, but I haven't seen it in years. It might not hold up to a rewatch.

Same, I remember it being a well done episode. Carlton keeps that motherfuckin thang on him

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But weren't hoodlums causing trouble the whole reason he was sent to Bel Air in the first place

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Now people will apply revisionist history to claim it was always bad just because Will said so.

I don't think Fresh Prince ever jumped the shark. Well, maybe when Aunt Viz was recast? I thought it was weird how the second actress looked so different to the first.

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Will is full of shit, that episode was a great, memorable episode

Scotty_Rogers posted...

I don't think Fresh Prince ever jumped the shark

This also

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I think those involved in a project (showrunners, writers, actors, etc.) might have their own vision as to how they want it to go, and even if it's well-received/well-executed, if it doesn't match that vision, then it might affect how much they might want to be involved with it.

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That 70s Show jumped the shark when Eric left.
Family Matters jumped the shark when Urkel became the center of attention.
But Fresh Prince? There's no moment that comes to mind.

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AlCalavicci posted...

Will is full of shit, that episode was a great, memorable episode

This also

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That episode was good. Idk what Wills talking about.

Personally I wanted the series to keep going.

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I never thoroughly watched Fresh Prince, though; I only ever watched random reruns of it as a kid. Although I remember a lot of episodes, my memories of them are disjointed. Same thing with other sitcoms; I haven't watched That 70s Show or Family Matters from start to finish, either, although I can pretty clearly tell when those two jumped the shark (and while I could still enjoy That 70s Show after Eric left, the show was definitely unwatchable after Kelso left). I'm sure there was a point where it lost steam and was being padded out. Looking it up, I'd say the most natural point to have ended the show would have been when Will moved back to Philadelphia at the end of season 4. That actually brought the story full circle; he finally returns to his hometown and makes peace with the guy he fought in the intro. NBC was actually going to cancel the show after season 4, because ratings weren't very high; it only continued for two more seasons to appease hardcore fans. Just look at the synopsis for the first episode in season 5:

The episode picks up where it left off with Will having decided to move back to Philadelphia. NBC decides to intervene, reminding Will the show isn't 'The Fresh Prince of Philadelphia' before kidnapping him and taking him back to Bel-Air, restoring the status quo.

If that's not an artificial way to continue a show, nothing is. So, I can see why people would say it jumped the shark afterwards; most people already lost interest by that point.

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Scotty_Rogers posted...

Now people will apply revisionist history to claim it was always bad just because Will said so.

I don't think Fresh Prince ever jumped the shark. Well, maybe when Aunt Viz was recast? I thought it was weird how the second actress looked so different to the first.

I was more concerned with what an asshole Viv 2 was compared to Viv 1. The character completely changed personality from a stern and intelligent yet also fun and sassy good mom to, uh, I don't even know what. Viv 2 was a mean nag to Philip and I can't recall a single tender, heartfelt moment between her and her kids/nephew.

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If your show takes a downturn in Season 5, I'd say it's had a good run.

Another weird thing about the show after season 4 is that Nicky was randomly retconned to be a preschooler when he was just a baby before.

I wasn't a fan of Will's girlfriend Lisa, either. Anyway, I don't think Fresh Prince ever became bad, but it's pretty obvious that it was burnt out after season 4. To say it jumped off with the Will gets shot episode is silly, though; that was probably the highlight of the season.

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Whats funny is I remember one of the most baffling things about the show was how Lisa just disappeared into the aether after the wedding didnt work out, but if it had worked out, it definitely wouldve been the shark jump, because marriage always is in sitcoms (Perfect Strangers, Family Matters, Boy Meets World, etc).