Random Behind The Scenes History Of 'The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air' Most People Don't Know (12 items)

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  (#7) Will Smith Is Embarrassed By His Acting On 'The Fresh Prince'

  Previous to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Smith's only acting credit was as in an ABC afterschool special. Needless to say, he was a total novice when he signed onto the show in order to kick his IRS debt. Though the actor was brimming with raw talent, Smith admits he was a little embarrassed by his earlier performances. 

  "I was trying so hard," Smith said of the early days of the show, continuing:

  I would memorize the entire script, then I'd be lipping everybody's lines while they were talking. When I watch those episodes, it's disgusting. My performances were horrible.
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  (#9) The Soundtrack Was Originally Only Released In The Netherlands

  Though everyone should know the words to The Fresh Prince's famed theme song, you might have a lot of trouble actually finding the physical album. The soundtrack was only released on CD and vinyl in the Netherlands, where the theme song peaked on the charts at #3 in 1992.

  But thanks to the magic of the internet, you can now listen to the track on Amazon.
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  (#2) Will Smith Made The Whole Audience Cry, Which Started Rumors About His Relationship With His Dad

  "Papa's Got A Brand New Excuse" was undoubtedly the single most emotional episode of the series. It's often misreported that Smith ad-libbed the ending's gut-wrenching monologue after channeling the real-life experience of being abandoned by his father. The truth is, Smith and his dad had a loving relationship. In fact, he described his parents as rather typical (they wanted him to go to college instead of become a rapper - whoops!).  

  The reason the scene is so gut-wrenching is because of Smith's raw acting talent. He definitely ad-libbed it, but not for the reason everyone thinks. And according to a former audience member, the monologue was so emotional that it had the entire audience in tears:

  I was actually at the taping. The entire show was quiet, even during the funny parts, and I could not figure out why. Before this scene, Will Smith disappeared. He showed up, did this scene in one take, then disappeared again. You might notice his hat coming off. Usually, the director would retake the scene, but really, nothing could replace this moment. People were crying for a long time when it was over, doing their best not to make noise before the director said 'cut.' I was ten years old. Will never, ever, forget.

  And to think, Smith never even had any formal acting training.
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  (#4) The Cast Had A 'Mean Girls'-Style Burn Book Filled With Juicy Gossip

  The cast on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air wasn't short on gossip. They kept a Mean Girls-style "Burn Book" hidden in a drawer in the set's kitchen island. Actors and crew would regularly write gossip about fellow cast members, like "James is getting on my nerves." They'd also fill it with less juicy content, like silly poetry and notes.

  Actor Karyn Parsons (who played Hilary Banks) kept the diary after the show was canceled. "I need to pull that out, especially now that James has passed, because I know he's written in there," Parsons told ABC about the gossip-filled relic. "I know he was written about."
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  (#12) Rumors Said Janet Hubert Was Allegedly Kicked Off The Show Because She Got Pregnant

  Janet Hubert (the original Aunt Vivian) may have had major tensions with Will Smith, but some people believe that isn't the reason she was booted from the show in 1993. According to some sources, it was a pregnancy that caused Hubert to lose her role. The outspoken actor became pregnant, which allegedly voided a clause in her contract.

  She left the show halfway through its six year run and was replaced by Daphne Reid.
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  (#6) 'Fresh Prince' Was Based On The Life Of Benny Medina, A Producer And Manager Whose Dad Was Involved In A Drug Cartel

  Will Smith's dad was missing for the majority of The Fresh Prince. Only later was he introduced and the reason he left Will revealed (he wasn't ready to be a father). The truth is that the real Fresh Prince had a father who was deep into drugs, but he wasn't absent because he wasn't ready to have kids: he was in prison.

  Smith's character was inspired by Benny Medina, a producer and manager who was in and out of foster homes with brief stints at his aunt's house in Watts, a neighborhood in South Los Angeles. When he was 9 years old, his mother died of cancer and his father left after numerous stints in prison for using and dealing drugs. In an interview with The Marshall Project, Medina's father (also named Benny Medina), spoke about his struggles as a drug-dealing parent.

  I kept all five of my kids the best I could but I was involved with a cartel dealing drugs, so I could supply myself with money for a babysitter and drive a nice car and have drums.

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