"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse (1994)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Shelley Jensen

Writers:

Andy Borowitz (creator)
David Zuckerman (writer)

TV Series:

"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (1990)

Original Air Date:

9 May 1994 (Season 4, Episode 24)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family

Plot:

Will's father Lou shows up after fourteen 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. |

Plot Keywords:

Father Son Relationship | Estranged Father | Insult | Wealth | California

US TV Schedule:

Thur. July 23

9:00 AM

TBS

Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse

#4.24

Cast

Will Smith	...	William 'Will' Smith
James Avery	...	Philip Banks
Daphne Reid	...	Vivian Banks (as Daphne Maxwell Reid)
Alfonso Ribeiro	...	Carlton Banks
Karyn Parsons	...	Hilary Banks
Tatyana Ali	...	Ashley Banks (as Tatyana M. Ali)
Joseph Marcell	...	Geoffrey
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ben Vereen	...	Lou Smith

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Quotes:

[last lines]
William 'Will' Smith: Hey, you know what, you ain't got to do nothing, uncle Phil. You know, ain't like I'm still five years old, you know? Ain't like I'll be sitting 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 it, 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 to do my first date without him, right? I learned how to ride, 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.
[shouts]
William 'Will' Smith: To hell with him!
[pause]
William 'Will' Smith: I didn't need him then I won't need him now.
Philip Banks: Will...
William 'Will' Smith: No, you know what, uncle Phil? I'll get through college without him, I'll get a great job without him, I'll marry me a beautiful honey and I'm having 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 there ain't a
[...]

Extremely emotional.

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This is by far the most emotional episode of the fresh prince of bel-air, and one of the most emotional of any sitcom I've ever seen. When Will's father Lou suddenly returns 14 years after he left him, he leaves just as quickly. This causes Will to realize the closest thing he's ever had to a father is Uncle Phil.

The acting is astounding, and the ending nothing short of heartbreaking. Will Smith stands out as the best actor in this episode. Few jokes are told in this episode, and it does indeed pay of in the end when Will and Uncle Phil embrace after Lou leaves Will. Will realizes he doesn't want or need Lou in his life. A truly special episode.