Now, this is a story all about how the internet got flipped-turned upside down. And I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there, and I’ll tell you about a reunion of some folks from Bel-Air. Sorry, had to be done. Just in case you weren’t feeling old enough, the cast of 90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which ran from 1990 to 1996, reunited earlier this week. Carlton himself, Alfonso Ribiero, posted a photo of the reunited cast on Instagram.
Alfonso, 45, captioned the photo, “Always amazing to spend an afternoon with my Fresh Prince family. Wishing that James Avery was still with us to make this complete.” James, who played Uncle Phil on the series, died in 2013 due to complications from open heart surgery. He was only 68. In the photo, Alfonso posed with Tatyana Ali (Ashley), Karyn Parsons (Hilary), Will Smith (Will), Daphne Reid (the second – and sane – Aunt Viv) and Joseph Marcell (Geoffrey).
Fresh Prince nostalgia has been making headlines as of late. A few weeks ago, Will got the internet buzzing when he posted a video of himself bungee jumping off the Victoria Falls Bridge in Zambia, and, in one frozen moment, an upside down still shot of his face, the 48-year-old looked exactly like Uncle Phil.
Despite the ongoing love for the show – and the fact that the Fresh Prince cast seems to be a close knit bunch, don’t let that lead you to believe that a televised reunion is in the works. Despite reboots of Full House, Gilmore Girls and the upcoming return of Will and Grace, there are no plans to bring the show back to the small screen. Will told E! News last year that he’d reprise his role “pretty close to when hell freezes over.” I am glad that, as he put it, “we’re going to leave that one alone,” as these reboots, for the most part, are usually disappointing. If I have a Fresh Prince jones, I can catch a rerun. I am sad, however, that the DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince reunion tour discussed a few years ago never materialized. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to dust off my vinyl copy of “A Nightmare on My Street” and wax nostalgic about the good ol’ days.
Photos: Getty Images, WENN.com, Fame Flynet
I discovered Fresh Prince during Alfonso’s appearance on DWTS (love the Carlton dance). Such a fun, lighthearted show.
The photo of Will does look like Uncle Phil!
Aww!!! I loved this show so damn much. I still tear up at the scene with Uncle Phil and Will after Will’s father walks out the door on Will again. One of the few moments where Will was actually emoting.
I see the superior Aunt Viv is still on the outs with Will, but I completely understand why because she has been trashing the man for about twenty years now.
Yes, that scene is so heartbreaking!
She alrwady responded to this picture and called Alfonso Ribera, Will’s hoes. It was funny and very bitter.
I love this show. Not only was it funny, it also touched on many different serious topics.
One of my favorite scenes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI4Mv8R0mE0
Damn, now I’m all teared up. Still hard to watch after all these years.
But where’s the first Aunt Viv? Loved her!
Janet Hubert and Will Smith don’t like each other. Google it, you’ll get a lot of articles about it.
They really should bury the hatchet. I totally get where the friction was originally but like…it was 20 years ago! From the latest I heard (I think she did an interview a few years ago) she’s still really holding on to the feud and he’s well moved on- which makes sense because her career never recovered and his took off.
I know I’m just being snarky – I just loved her as aunt Viv. So much more snark! 🙂
Alfonso Riberio has also had not so pleasant things to say about Janet Hubert. I’m guessing quite a few cast members had issues with Hubert ( and no I don’t believe Will Smith ordered than to feel that way!) but they are smart enough to keep schtum.😶
She is living a nice quiet life in NJ. I boarded my horse at the same barn as her many years ago. A truly kind, lovely lady who just wanted to shut the door on all the past nonsense.
I loved her on Gilmore Girls as Michel’s mom. She’s a delightful actress, who I wish we saw more of.
Yet she keeps opening that door doesn’t she? Look I don’t care if she hates Will nobody really does but honestly for someone who claims to not care or be above it she sure brings it up every chance she gets.
At this point only she looks bad here.
yeah I want to see the real Aunt Viv, not the faux one
The cast is pretty close. There have been several photos of some to most of the cast together over the years.
They all look AMAZING. And the show is still funny as hell.
The ‘sane’ Aunt Viv? Oh, you mean the driest, dullest recast ever.
Janet Hubert foreva!
+1 for Janet Hubert!! Love her forever
Same. I don’t think Will could handle her talent. She is a fierce dancer and singer!
From my understanding of the feud, she wanted to be the lead on a show that was clearly about him. She was AMAZING though I’ll never forget her dancing in that white leotard. And telling Will and Carlton off about African studies. That said…now in hindsight, she was clearly a ‘supporting’ character and I kinda wish she had stayed on, even though I admire her ambition.
+10000
Eh she signed her own recast when she pulled a diva move wanting to be the lead. I love her but the show was never about Aunt Viv not even close. Will Smith was just a young punk to her that was the lead of the show (and I’m sure had an ego to match) and it didn’t sit with her.
Yes, Janet was ambitious, but it was also her pregnancy. I recall that she was given a hard time about it and many resented that it was written into the show. Plus, her pregnancy wasn’t very easy for her. She conceded that she was very moody and emotional during that time
I KNOW this wasn’t a Black Person that wrote “the saner Aunt Viv” cause we KNOW this , the Black Delegation was is and will continue to be in Perpetuity #DarkSkinnedAuntVivFOREVER LOL we make Halloween Costumes and Side By Side whole tumblrs about Queen THE REAL AUNT VIV
Folks who make this ignorant comment about the the “dark skinned” Aunt Viv, not nothing about Daphne Maxwells Reid and her legacy in Hollywood. Shame on you!
Sweetie I Know her Legacy, Her character was poorly written and developed after Jane left and that’s Facts
Original Aunt Viv was irreplaceable! No offense to Daphne Reid but Janet Hubert had such an amazing screen presence. She was so captivating and vivacious and the character never felt the same after she left. It’s such a shame that she and Will couldn’t work things out.
Honking for the OG Aunt Viv!!!
OOMP CHAIN!!!
RIP Uncle Phil. Where is Aunt Viv 1.0? the show was never as funny after she left. Her and James Avery had great chemistry. Hillary still looks stunning
God I loved/love that show. It was funny as hell. And I love how close they remained. I think Will said on a talkshow that Alfonso taught one of his sons to drive? Something like that. And Karyn Parsons must’ve been the most beautiful face on TV.
I loved the fresh prince of bel air so much Geoffrey was my favourite. I am currently enjoying Black-ish; which I think is on par with the fresh prince of Bel air. This past sunday’s episode was hilarious; the one about the black republicans, mind you that here in South Africa we are only on season one, we are behind.
Oh I was about to say that was NOT what happened last episode. Blackish is a really good show. A Lot happens in coming seasons…I don’t want to spoil anything for you so I’ll just shut up lol.
Omg the nostalgia!! I’m glad they won’t make a reboot though, some (good) things needs to be left alone.
Janet Hubert forever!!!
This was one of my fav shows growing up. I remember scheduling everything around when this show was on lol. I hated when it ended.
lol, Hubert just called Ribiero a “media hoe”, and she’s dropping a book