The Fresh Prince Reunion: An Hour Of Reminiscing And Finding Closure

24 years after it ended, the cast of the 90s sitcom reunite to share old memories
entertainment · 3 min
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The closure is something that alludes to many of us in one form or another. Past conflicts that are left unresolved have a way of eating away at us and creating bitterness in the process. However, once you can somehow find that closure, it opens the door to new beginnings and perhaps even healing relationships. One such place where this type of closure took place for the world to see is the recent Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air reunion. 

From 1990 to 1996, the Fresh Prince Of Bel Air was a show that provided many laughs, tears, and a platform for its star Will Smith to branch out into movies. Despite ending 24 years ago, the show has proven to have a lot of staying power in syndication and is still to this day a fan favorite. With nostalgia for shows of the past becoming rampant these days, it was only a matter of time before the Fresh Prince hopped on the bandwagon. 

Photo courtesy of the Independent

Found on HBO Max, the Fresh Prince Of Bel Air reunion brings back together with the whole original cast (including one big surprise). The old crew reunite on the show's original set and reminisce about their time on the show. From how the show was created, filming the pilot, and running gags throughout the series, it was clear the cast had many fond memories working together for that six-year period. 

The reunion takes an emotional turn when they play a video tribute to the late James Avery, who played Uncle Phil on the show. Once the video concluded, the entire cast is left in tears and goes on to speak of how much the late actor meant to them.

The story that stood out most was Will Smith reminiscing on the famous scene in which his character lashes out over his father abandoning him and once Avery grabs him for a hug, he whispers in his ear "Now that's acting."  As someone who was always trying to impress Avery with his acting skills, it was at that moment where Smith felt that he had finally earned his respect.

In perhaps the most talked about part of the reunion special, Will reunites with actress Janet Hubert, who played Vivian Banks for the first three seasons. Hubert left the show after season three due to a bad contract offer, as well as a, falling out with Smith. As a result, Hubert and Smith have had a very public feud that had lasted ever since.

In their first meeting since then, the two air out their grievances which includes Smith accepting responsibility for the role he played in their feud. After an emotional reconcile with Smith, Janet later visits the set to reunite with the rest of the cast including her first-ever meeting with Daphne Maxwell Reid, the actress who replaced her.

The reunion concludes with Will Smith performing the show's theme song that is arguably one of the most iconic in TV history. For anyone who was or still is a fan of the show, this reunion special is a fun trip down memory lane. While also providing us with nostalgia, it also gave us an insight into how important it is to find closure. No matter how much time may pass, this showed that it is never too late to find a new beginning.

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Opinions and Perspectives

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Holistic_Eats_333 commented Holistic_Eats_333 3 years ago

The chemistry between the cast is still amazing after all these years.

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DarkMatterX commented DarkMatterX 3 years ago

Their tribute to James Avery was absolutely perfect.

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Nourish-Flourish_101 commented Nourish-Flourish_101 3 years ago

This reunion showed the power of forgiveness and growth.

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BlackAndWhite_Film_Fan commented BlackAndWhite_Film_Fan 3 years ago

The stories about filming the pilot were fascinating.

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Melanie_Light commented Melanie_Light 3 years ago

Seeing them all together again felt like a family reunion.

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MelanieButler commented MelanieButler 3 years ago

The healing between Will and Janet was beautiful to watch.

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Jonathan-Scott commented Jonathan-Scott 3 years ago

This reunion did justice to the show's legacy.

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TechSurgeX commented TechSurgeX 3 years ago

James Avery's influence on the show was truly special.

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Savannah-Reed commented Savannah-Reed 3 years ago

The honesty about past conflicts was refreshing to see.

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HolisticGlow commented HolisticGlow 3 years ago

Watching them revisit the old set brought back so many memories.

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OscarNomineeExpert commented OscarNomineeExpert 3 years ago

This reunion showed that it's never too late for reconciliation.

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MelanieT commented MelanieT 3 years ago

You could feel the genuine love and respect between cast members.

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Oliver-John commented Oliver-John 3 years ago

The show's impact on television history is undeniable.

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Lang_Ledger commented Lang_Ledger 3 years ago

Never realized how much drama was happening behind the scenes.

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Lena_Sunset commented Lena_Sunset 3 years ago

The way they handled the James Avery tribute was perfect and respectful.

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Adeline_Skies commented Adeline_Skies 3 years ago

This reunion hit different because it wasn't just about nostalgia.

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BobaFettFanboy commented BobaFettFanboy 3 years ago

Will Smith's growth from that young rapper to where he is now is incredible.

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IntentionalLiving commented IntentionalLiving 3 years ago

The stories about James Avery really showed what a father figure he was to everyone.

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RawEnergy-Eats_55 commented RawEnergy-Eats_55 3 years ago

Seeing both Aunt Vivs together was something I never thought would happen.

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AnnabelleH commented AnnabelleH 3 years ago

This wasn't just about remembering good times, it was about healing old wounds.

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Horror_FX_Artist_333 commented Horror_FX_Artist_333 3 years ago

Love how they addressed serious issues while keeping the show's spirit alive.

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Ella_Blossom commented Ella_Blossom 3 years ago

The reunion showed how much everyone has grown and matured over the years.

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HBOSeriesGuru_45 commented HBOSeriesGuru_45 3 years ago

It's rare to see celebrities be this honest about past conflicts.

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Eva_Whisper commented Eva_Whisper 3 years ago

Watching them perform the theme song together brought back so many memories.

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VincentC commented VincentC 3 years ago

The stories about James Avery mentoring the young cast were beautiful.

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Soundtrack_Lover_333 commented Soundtrack_Lover_333 3 years ago

I gained a whole new respect for Janet Hubert after hearing her story.

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WarpSpeedX commented WarpSpeedX 3 years ago

This reunion proved that some TV families become real families.

1
EpicExplorer commented EpicExplorer 3 years ago

The way Will Smith owned up to his past mistakes was really admirable.

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Gabriella_Journey commented Gabriella_Journey 4 years ago

Amazing how they managed to balance the fun memories with the serious moments.

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SeriesFinaleDebater_100 commented SeriesFinaleDebater_100 4 years ago

That father abandonment scene hit differently after hearing Will's personal connection to it.

4
FlowWithNature commented FlowWithNature 4 years ago

This wasn't just a nostalgia trip. It was about healing and growth.

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BoxOfficeKing commented BoxOfficeKing 4 years ago

The cast's reaction to James Avery's tribute showed just how real their bond was.

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OBrien_Observations commented OBrien_Observations 4 years ago

Seeing Janet Hubert share her side of the story was eye-opening. We never knew what she went through.

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StephanieH commented StephanieH 4 years ago

I love how they didn't shy away from addressing the controversial aspects of the show's history.

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Wellness_Vision_101 commented Wellness_Vision_101 4 years ago

This reunion showed us that growth and forgiveness are possible even after decades of conflict.

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Maddy_Rose commented Maddy_Rose 4 years ago

The impact James Avery had on the young cast members was really touching to see.

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Winter_Bloom commented Winter_Bloom 4 years ago

Watching this made me want to rewatch the entire series again.

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LostFrequency commented LostFrequency 4 years ago

This reunion did more than just reminisce. It actually helped heal old wounds.

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MovieDirector_Wannabe commented MovieDirector_Wannabe 4 years ago

Can we talk about how emotional it was seeing both Aunt Vivs finally meet? Such a powerful moment.

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HorrorMovieFreak99 commented HorrorMovieFreak99 4 years ago

The behind the scenes stories were fascinating. Never knew half of these things happened.

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PeacefulVibes commented PeacefulVibes 4 years ago

It's amazing how this show remains relevant even after all these years.

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GravityRiderX commented GravityRiderX 4 years ago

Really appreciated how honest everyone was about the ups and downs of working on the show.

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Carr_Chronicle commented Carr_Chronicle 4 years ago

This reunion showed us how important it is to address past conflicts rather than letting them fester.

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Raelynn_Magic commented Raelynn_Magic 4 years ago

The way they recreated iconic moments from the show was brilliant. Pure nostalgia!

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FlicksAndChills commented FlicksAndChills 4 years ago

Will Smith has come such a long way from being that young rapper turned actor.

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QuantumDreamer commented QuantumDreamer 4 years ago

Sometimes it takes years to find closure. This reunion proved it's never too late to heal old wounds.

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MiraX commented MiraX 4 years ago

I'm not crying, you're crying... that James Avery tribute was incredibly moving.

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Outdoor_Explorer_77 commented Outdoor_Explorer_77 4 years ago

The show's impact on popular culture is undeniable. Kids today still know the theme song!

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HollywoodInsider commented HollywoodInsider 4 years ago

Watching them all cry during James Avery's tribute made me realize how much of a family they really were.

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Victoria_Star commented Victoria_Star 4 years ago

That scene with Will and Janet Hubert felt so raw and honest. You could feel decades of hurt being addressed.

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JaylaM commented JaylaM 4 years ago

I actually understand both sides of the Aunt Viv situation better now. Time really does give perspective.

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SerenitySeeker commented SerenitySeeker 4 years ago

Remember how revolutionary this show was? A predominantly Black cast in a primetime sitcom wasn't common then.

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TateCodes commented TateCodes 4 years ago

The way they handled sensitive topics in this reunion was really well done. Nothing felt forced.

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FutureProphet commented FutureProphet 4 years ago

Seeing Geoffrey again was such a treat. Joseph Marcell hasn't aged a day!

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RedCarpetInsider_87 commented RedCarpetInsider_87 4 years ago

I wish they'd spent more time talking about some of the classic episodes. So many great moments to cover.

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Marley-Hudson commented Marley-Hudson 4 years ago

The chemistry between the cast is still there after all these years. You can't fake that kind of bond.

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CamilleM commented CamilleM 4 years ago

That moment when Will talked about James Avery whispering Now thats acting really got to me.

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GoldenEraHollywood_88 commented GoldenEraHollywood_88 4 years ago

Interesting how Will admitted he was young and insecure back then. It explains a lot about the whole Janet situation.

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MultiverseVoyager commented MultiverseVoyager 4 years ago

This show taught me so many life lessons growing up. Seeing them reunite brought all those memories back.

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TarantinoFan_X commented TarantinoFan_X 4 years ago

Anyone notice how Alfonso still has those Carlton dance moves? Some things never change!

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BryanH commented BryanH 4 years ago

The fact that they got both Aunt Vivs in the same room was amazing. Never thought I'd see that happen.

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GlowMode-On_17 commented GlowMode-On_17 4 years ago

I think this reunion was perfectly timed. We all needed something uplifting like this right now.

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CoralineX commented CoralineX 4 years ago

The way they honored James Avery was beautiful. You could see how much the cast truly loved him.

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SciFi_Nerd_3000 commented SciFi_Nerd_3000 4 years ago

Will owning up to his part in the Janet Hubert feud shows real growth. We were all young and made mistakes.

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Skylar_Giggles commented Skylar_Giggles 4 years ago

Watching this made me realize how groundbreaking this show was for its time. It tackled serious issues while staying funny.

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SpotifyAddict commented SpotifyAddict 4 years ago

I disagree with how they portrayed the Janet Hubert situation. There were clearly faults on both sides.

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RadiateHappiness commented RadiateHappiness 4 years ago

Never knew about the behind-the-scenes drama until this reunion. Makes me see certain episodes differently now.

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VesperH commented VesperH 4 years ago

The theme song performance at the end was pure nostalgia. I still know every word by heart.

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Tammy-Townsend commented Tammy-Townsend 4 years ago

You can really see how young Will Smith was when the show started. He's grown so much as an actor since then.

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LiviaX commented LiviaX 4 years ago

I'm glad they addressed the whole Aunt Viv situation. It's been the elephant in the room for decades.

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MonsterVerse_Kaiju_101 commented MonsterVerse_Kaiju_101 4 years ago

That scene where Will breaks down about his father abandoning him still gives me chills to this day.

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SilentObserver commented SilentObserver 4 years ago

Anyone else love how they recreated the original set? Brought back so many memories of watching this show after school.

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Villain_Obsessed_666 commented Villain_Obsessed_666 4 years ago

What touched me most was seeing how much James Avery meant to Will Smith's development as an actor.

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PureBliss_Vibes_360 commented PureBliss_Vibes_360 4 years ago

Really? The original Aunt Viv brought such depth to the role. Her dance scene in her audition episode was legendary.

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YogaFlowDaily commented YogaFlowDaily 4 years ago

I actually preferred the second Aunt Viv. Janet Hubert's attitude always seemed a bit off to me.

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Leah_Parker commented Leah_Parker 4 years ago

The reconciliation between Will and Janet Hubert was long overdue. It shows how misunderstandings can fester for years.

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FitnessWith_Intention_101 commented FitnessWith_Intention_101 4 years ago

I couldn't hold back tears during the James Avery tribute. Uncle Phil was such a powerful father figure on TV.

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GlowUp_Nutrition_365 commented GlowUp_Nutrition_365 4 years ago

This reunion really hit me in the feels. Seeing them all come together after so many years was incredible.

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