History Trivia / TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir

* ExecutiveMeddling: At the start of Season 4, Janet Hubert-Whitten was replaced by Daphne Maxwell Reid. Smith eventually explained in a 1995 ''Jet'' magazine article, as well as in subsequent interviews throughout the years, that there was tension between him and the former. Hubert-Whitten claims that it was ultimately Smith's behavior that played a role in her sacking.

** Janet Hubert-Whitten being fired from the show was known information at the time it happened, but it took some time to reveal what happened. James Avery and Alfonso Ribeiro confirmed that the whole cast was like one big family, except for Janet Hubert-Whitten, who was being difficult to work with and toxic to be around, and really killed the mood on set. In particular she was upset at how Will Smith dominated the show, seeing him as an immature kid who didn't take the job very seriously and she felt the show should be more about Phil and Vivian. [[https://ew.com/tv/fresh-prince-bel-air-reunion-highlights/ It wouldn't be until November 2020]] when Smith and Hubert-Whitten reconciled, more information came to light about Hubert-Whitten dealing with a troubled marriage at the time and finding little relief from her castmates on top of that. Smith expressed regret for his behavior, better understanding now the professionalism of acting, the struggles of divorce as well as juggling your career and family.

** Alfonso Ribeiro confirmed that the whole cast was like one big family, except for Janet Hubert-Whitten, who was difficult to work with and toxic to be around, and really killed the mood on set. She was allegedly fired from the show due her conflict with Will Smith. [[https://ew.com/tv/fresh-prince-bel-air-reunion-highlights/ It wouldn't be until November 2020]] when Smith and Hubert-Whitten reconciled.

** A literal case with the fifth and sixth seasons; the show was actually cancelled during the fourth.

** The title of the script from Will Smith's impromptu audition at Quincy Jones' house read "Failed Morris Day Pilot". Apparently, the show was originally created with him as the star.

** Interesting case with Janet Hubert -- sometimes she seemed as though she's came to regret taking the role, [[FlipFlopOfGod sometimes she didn't]]. The times she did were mainly due to her conflict with Will Smith, and she's even requested for fans [[IAmNotSpock not to refer to her as Aunt Viv]]. The times she didn't, she seemed to look back on her role with pride, as she posted various fan-created memes claiming her to be "the true Aunt Viv" on her social media accounts. This would change in November 2020 when she and Will Smith reconciled.

** Alfonso Ribeiro confirmed that the whole cast was like one big family, except for Janet Hubert-Whitten, who was difficult to work with and toxic to be around, and really killed the mood on set. She was allegedly fired from the show due her conflict with Will Smith. [[https://ew.com/tv/fresh-prince-bel-air-reunion-highlights/ It wouldn't be until November 2020]] when Smith and Hubert-Witten reconciled.

** Interesting case with Janet Hubert -- sometimes she seems as though she's come to regret taking the role, [[FlipFlopOfGod sometimes she doesn't]]. The times she does are mainly due to her conflict with Will Smith, and she's even requested for fans [[IAmNotSpock not to refer to her as Aunt Viv]]. The times she doesn't, she seems to look back on her role with pride, and has reposted Hubert-Whitten various fan-created memes claiming her to be "the true Aunt Viv" on her social media accounts. This would change in November 2020 when she and Will Smith reconciled.

** Alfonso Ribeiro confirmed that the whole cast was like one big family, except for Janet Hubert-Whitten, who was difficult to work with and toxic to be around, and really killed the mood on set. This was further corroborated by James Avery in a June 2013 edition of ''OMG! Insider'', in which he remarked that he constantly had to remind her that the show was ''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'', not "''Philip and Vivian of Bel-Air''." She was allegedly fired from the show due her conflict with Will Smith which lasts to this day.

** In “When You Hit Upon a Star”, Carlton buys an expensive ice cream cake called “Sonny the Seal” for Will’s birthday. (It ended up melting and the remains subsequently poured on Will’s head during the credits). In real life, Milton Bradley produced a ring toss game named “Sonny the Seal”.

** Interesting case with Janet Hubert -- sometimes she seems as though she's come to regret taking the role, [[FlipFlopOfGod sometimes she doesn't]]. The times she does are mainly due to her conflict with Will Smith, and she's even requested for fans [[IAmNotSpock not to refer to her as Aunt Viv]]. The times she doesn't, she seems to look back on her role with pride, and has reposted various fan-created memes claiming her to be "the true Aunt Viv" on her social media accounts.

** The role of Vivian Banks was recast after Janet Hubert-Whitten violated her contract when she became pregnant; the pregnancy and birth of her character's child, Nicky Banks, was worked into the plot to accommodate the situation. After she was fired, Hubert-Whitten's character was played by Daphne Maxwell Reid for the remainder of the show's run. According to both Will Smith and Hubert-Whitten, they had difficulties working together long before her pregnancy. The other cast members also admitted to having difficulties working with Hubert-Whitten, mainly due to her being toxic to be around. She also wanted a higher salary, and for the show to be centered on Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil. She allegedly felt insulted that Will was earning more money than her. As of 2017, [[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/original-aunt-vivian-fresh-prince-reunion-janet-hubert-989770?facebook_20170329 the drama still continues.]]

* WrittenByCastMember: Will Smith co-wrote the episode "Ain’t No Business Like Show Business" as well as the monologue from "Papa’s Got a Brand New Excuse".

* AuthorExistenceFailure: James Avery died on December 31, 2013, and the surviving cast members have unanimously agreed that so much as a reunion special is now out of the question.

** Subverted with Joseph Marcell, Geoffrey actor. He was born in St. Lucia, but moved to the UK when he was 9.

** Creator/LaurenceFishburne was offered the role of Lou, Will's father, in "Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse", but the producers felt his demeanor was too laid back for the part. It was later offered to Ben Vereen.

* TheWikiRule: The [[http://freshprince.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Wiki]], another [[http://thefreshprinceofbelair.wikia.com/wiki/The_fresh_prince_of_bel_air_Wiki The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Wiki]], and another [[http://the-fresh-prince-of-bel-air.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Wiki]].

** Frank Schaeffer was played by Diedrich Bader in Season 2, and by Robert Torti in Season 3. Both actors would go on to appear together on ''Series/TheDrewCareyShow''.

* WrittenByCastMember: Will Smith co-wrote the episode "Ain’t No Business Like Show Business" as well as the monologue from "Papa’s Got A Brand New Excuse".

** Apparently, a reunion special featuring the surviving cast members was proposed, but ultimately scrapped. The special would've seen Will and the surviving Banks family coming together in the wake of Uncle Phil's death, which would've made Phil a case of TheCharacterDiedWithHim.
** According to Will himself, the show's now-famous ThemeTuneRap almost didn't happen. The show was going to use a Quincy Jones composition, until Will's musical partner DJ Jazzy Jeff showed him a beat, and convinced him to record the show's theme song over it.

* WrittenByCastMember: Will Smith co-wrote the episode “Ain’t No Business Like Show Business” as well as the monologue from “Papa’s Got A Brand New Excuse”.

** Alfonso Ribeiro was 20 when he began playing Carlton, who's stated a year younger than Will.[[note]]A Season 1 episode establishes Will as having been born in 1973, and Carlton in 1974.[[/note]]

** Another common story is that Smith ad-libbed his ending monologue. This hasn't been independently verified by anyone connected with the show, although many cite James Avery's clearly blindsided reaction as evidence of this. What ''is'' known is that Avery was greatly impressed by the raw emotion of Smith's performance, complimenting his acting skills after the scene had concluded. Karyn Parsons also stated that while the monologue was scripted, Smith had done it another way in the rehearsals. He didn't go in the dramatic route it took until the day it was taped.

* AuthorExistenceFailure: James Avery died on December 31st 2013, and the surviving cast members have unanimously agreed that so much as a reunion special is now out of the question.

** Subverted with Geoffrey himself -- Joseph Marcell was born in St. Lucia, but moved to the UK when he was 9.

* PopCultureUrbanLegends: The RealitySubtext behind the ending scene of the famous episode "Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse" has taken on a life of its own:

** The role of Vivian Banks was recast after Janet Hubert-Whitten violated her contract when she became pregnant; the pregnancy and birth of her character's child, Nicky Banks, was worked into the plot to accommodate the situation. After she was fired, Hubert-Whitten's character was played by Daphne Maxwell Reid for the remainder of the show's run. According to both Will Smith and Hubert-Whitten, they had difficulties working together long before her pregnancy. The other cast members also admitted to having difficulties working with Hubert-Whitten, mainly due to her being toxic to be around. She also wanted a higher salary, and for the show to be centered on Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil. She allegedly felt insulted that Will was earning more money than her. As of 2017 [[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/original-aunt-vivian-fresh-prince-reunion-janet-hubert-989770?facebook_20170329 the drama still continues.]]

* PopCultureUrbanLegends: The RealitySubtext behind the ending scene of the famous episode "Papa's Got A Brand New Excuse" has taken on a life of its own:

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The show is laden with contemporary pop culture references, especially in the earlier seasons, which not only had many late 1980s fashion lingering around, but also had frequent references to early 1990s politics such as Operation Desert Storm and Dan Quayle, and celebrity scandals such as Zsa Zsa Gabor's slapping of a police and evangelist Jimmy Swaggart's arrest for solicitation. This reaches the point that a gag in ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' mocking the worst excesses of the decade used the typeface of the show's title card.

** The role of Vivian Banks was recast after Janet Hubert-Whitten violated her contract when she became pregnant; the pregnancy and birth of her character's child, Nicky Banks, was worked into the plot to accommodate the situation. After she was fired, Hubert-Whitten's character was played by Daphne Maxwell Reid for the remainder of the show's run. According to both Will Smith and Hubert-Whitten, they had difficulties working together long before her pregnancy. The other cast members also admitted to having difficulties working with Hubert-Whitten, mainly due to her being toxic to be around. She also wanted a higher salary, and for the show to be centered on Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil. She allegedly felt insulted that Will was earning more money than her. [[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/original-aunt-vivian-fresh-prince-reunion-janet-hubert-989770?facebook_20170329 The drama continues to this day.]]

-->'''Laura Petrie:''' "There isn't a bone in my body that isn't screaming out "for heaven's sake! Lie down in a hot tub!""
-->'''Vivian Banks:''' "There isn't a part of my body that isn't aching for Ben-Gay!"

** The most common story is that Will Smith drew from his experiences with his own deadbeat dad. However, in RealLife, although his parents did separate when Smith was young, his father continued to have an active role in his upbringing and was even the person who encouraged his rap career. Some sources instead cite Smith drawing experience from his ''friends'', many of whom had deadbeat dads of their own although he had not.
** Another common story is that Smith adlibbed his ending monologue. This hasn't been independently verified by anyone connected with the show, although many cite James Avery's clearly blindsided reaction as evidence of this. What ''is'' known is that Avery was greatly impressed by the raw emotion of Smith's performance, complimenting his acting skills after the scene had concluded.
*** Karyn Parsons stated that while the monologue was scripted, Smith had done it another way in the rehearsals. He didn’t go the dramatic route until the day it was taped.

** Creator/WillSmith plays Will Smith. However, in real life, Will's actual name is Willard, while in-show, Will's name is William. On an episode of ''[[Creator/DavidLetterman Late Show with David Letterman]]'', and again on ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFjwbKMlmF4&feature=relmfu The Graham Norton Show]]'', Smith said that Alfonso Ribero advised him to do this, because people would be calling him by his character's name for the rest of his life, as demonstrated by the fact they went out and were called "Will!" and "Carlton!"

* AuthorExistanceFailure: James Avery died on December 31st 2013, and the surviving cast members have unanimously agreed that so much as a reunion special is now out of the question.