The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (TV Series) Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse (1994) User Reviews

Extremely emotional.

[Roger_Sterling · 10/10 · 9 April 2007]

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.

Will Smith can act...

[soontobedeparted · 10/10 · 3 July 2008]

This is one of my favourite episodes of a great sit-com.

The episode does lack jokes, but it doesn't need them. The character of 'Will Smith' is fully exposed in this episode and it teaches the show's fans why Will desperately needed to go to Bel-Air. Uncle Phil has become the father figure, and by the conclusion of the 4th season, Will can easily be mistaken to be Phil's own son. Will just fits perfectly into the Banks family.

This episode over turns this, and we see that Will has conflicting emotions about who he really sees as the father-figure in his life. There is the shouting match between the Phil and Will and this in itself conveys that Will is leaving the Banks' home for the wrong reason. He hardly knows his father, and Phil makes the telling point that Lou couldn't even 'pick up the d*** phone' to contact his son.

What the episode really does though is prove Will Smith's ability as an actor. The final scene where Will firstly attempts to show Lou that he isn't bothered about Lou leaving is beautifully subtle, and then the emotions start to rise. When Will discusses how he 'doesn't need' his father, Smith builds up the tears, and perfectly holds them back until his final line. It's a great emotional scene for any sit-com, and the fans who are truly devoted to the show can only weep with Will. James Avery doesn't say much in this scene, Uncle Phil's input has been made in previous scenes. All Avery does is build up tears too, and look helplessly at Will, who only admits the frustrations and anger at his selfish father.

The episode is fantastic and puts the 'Fresh-Prince' in a different light. 'Will Smith' the character becomes three-dimensional, and the relationships between the characters are never more prominent than in this episode.

"How come he don't want me, man?"

[phildogg21 · 10/10 · 2 July 2013]

The last words in this episode that Will utters will send chills down your spine.

There came a time in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air era where you will get that special episode that will guarantee a high level of emotions and prove Will Smith has the knack for being very serious (emotional) and not always providing the laughs. This was one of them.

Classic episode as we are introduced to Will's father Lou in the very first scene and immediately the awkwardness that shrouds these two. When I first caught this show when growing up when it was airing, I always wondered if they would develop an episode that would involve Will's father.

Earlier in the season in "Home Is Where The Heart Attack Is" after Carlton tells Will he doesn't want to see tubes up his father's nose, Will snarls at Carlton: "Everybody's father! Except mine, 'cause I don't know where the hell he is!" Another significant element in this episode is Uncle Phil's loving/caring nature towards his nephew - he treats Will like his own son (very evident as Phil even told him that during the show). The sad thing about this is the scene where Will screams at Uncle Phil that "You are not my father!" and storms out. Powerful, powerful stuff.

And of course, this episode is technically nothing without the last scene. If I had a countdown for Top 10 Fresh Prince emotional scenes or something, this would probably be #1.

Will's downfall at the very end is a defining moment not to be missed. He talks about he can live his life without his father and how he'll be a way better father than he ever was.

Thank God we have one of the greatest talented actors in Will Smith, as he proves to us yet again that the brother can act. His last line, asking Uncle Phil 'How come he don't want me, man?' (as he and Phil embrace) is a touching moment that will have you in tears. As they embrace, Phil shoves Will's hat onto the ground --

-- and the camera pans to that beautiful little statue that Will bought for his Daddy...

... a statue of a father hugging his son - a sign that Lou missed of being there for his son.

Wow!

[askeland89 · 9/10 · 2 March 2020]

I don't even know what to say.. I never really thought this show had any depth, I thought it was solely for laughs and I always thought of Will Smith as nothing more than a comedy object. I'm happy to admit that I was wrong, he delivers one of the best and most believable performances I have ever seen on television. This episode takes a very serious turn near the end and I could actually hear to audience crying, couldn't help but shed a few tears myself.

Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse (#4.24)

[ComedyFan2010 · 10/10 · 1 May 2018]

Will's father suddenly shows up. Him and Will reconnect and he promises to take Will on a road trip with him. But at the end he again walks out on him.

This episode is definitely a masterpiece. It has just enough funny moments to remind us that it is a sitcom. But pretty much all of it is build on emotions and it is done perfectly. The acting is wonderful. I love seeing how Will is changing towards his father. How at first he is a bit reluctant. Then he opens up and even feels some pride. He is happy. And then in the final conversation we see how he starts to feel betrayed again. And uncle Phil is just perfect as well. I loved his character in this episode. We see how protective of Will he is. How he feels hurt by Will but then realizes that he needs to let Will go. How he is mad at Lou for hurting him again. And how he listens to Will at the end trying to be his support as he has been now for years. He is his father now since he acted like it. I felt emotions during the whole episode but the last scene just got me to cry. I again loved this connection between Will and uncle Phil. One is sad for Will that his father is such a douche. But at the same time one is happy because he has uncle Phil in his life, a true man who will never let him down.

Best episode of Fresh Prince

[theteamavengers · 10/10 · 24 November 2020]

This was one of the easiest 10/10 i ever gave. Man. this episode emotional. Incredible performances by Will Smith and James Avery. This is the episode that truly made Will Smith one of the greatest actors ever. The plot of the episode is fantastic. Will's father shows up after 14 years, and leaves again. It doesn't matter if the episode has less jokes, it didn't really needed them. I barely cry in a movie but the final conversation between Uncle Phil and Will made me tear up. HOW COME HE DON'T WANT ME MAN? I cried there. Bravo to everyone who worked on this episode.

One of the Fresh Prince's finest

[schultzclan6 · 10/10 · 29 July 2006]

Will- meet your father. His name is Lou. He is a poor truck driver who has made his way to Bel-Air to "see his son" and spend some time with him. He will make you love him and then abandon you forever.

This is exactly what this episode is about.

This is one of the few Fresh Prince episoded that tries very few jokes. It uses more of an emotional build-up. Throughout the episode, Will spends lots of time with his father, who is being pulled away from Uncle Phil by Lou. It even causes will to yell at Phil "Who cares what you think? You are NOT my father!" At the end, Will goes to leave with his father, but will says there is an extra trucker and cannot fit his son. He tells him sorry and goodbye. Will finally understads that this man is not his real father and says "Goodbye- Lou." And Lou once and for all leaves Will's life. Will first starts yelling that he "had 14 great yeas of his life. I learned how to fight without him, I learned how to play basketball, and I got pretty good at it, too. When I grow up, I'm gonna have me a whole bunch of kids and I'll be a better father than he ever was. Cause there ain't a d*** thing he can teach me how to raise my kids! TO H*** WITH HIM!" With that Will finally breaks down crying and says "How come he don't want me, man". And for once, Uncle Phil and will have a real touching moment.

Probably the best episode.

Best sitcom episode

[masondbk-599-80448 · 10/10 · 4 August 2018]

Fresh Prince isn't my favorite sitcom of all time but it is in my top 10. As with most sitcoms there is one episode that is more dramatic than the rest. Family Matters had The Gun Episode, Roseanne had Crime and Punishment but this one takes drama in a comedy show to the highest level yet. In the episode Will is reunited with his father Lou and see's this as an opportunity to bond with is estranged father. There are some jokes in the episode but the reason this is so memorable is because of the ending. Lou decides to abandon Will again for his own selfish reasons. At first Will pretends he is okay with it even though you can tell that he is holding back his emotions. After Lou leaves Will goes through a disturbingly realistic portrayal of how a teenager would react if something like that happened just like that. But the real reason this episode is the best is simply the last line: "why doesn't he want me man?" which is a question no one should ask about their father. Will Smith's acting takes center stage and is so perfect that when he breaks down crying the audience cries with him. In fact the actress who played Hilary can be heard crying in the background if you listen closely. This was probably because Will Smith ad libbed the last scene since he went through something similar in his youth and the best part is it fits with the character. It takes true talent to achieve that which is why this episode is the best of the series and my favorite episode of any sitcom.

Best episode of Fresh Prince of Bel Air (no exaggeration)

[jsn_hylnd · 6 November 2016]

This was and still is my favorite sitcom of all the live sitcoms that aired on television in the 90s because it brought that new spice and witty humor and I'm pointing this out because although Papa's Got A Brand New Excuse, which was the most emotional showing of the series, was my favorite episode, I do appreciate and treasure all other episodes that were just plain hilarious and also the other few tear-jerkers of the series were favorites as well.

*Spoilers* In this episode we first see Will working at his job at the college peacock where a mysterious man is watching Will's every move, this mysterious and nosy man turns out to be his long-lost father who had left him and his mother when he was five and is now back into his life seemingly wanting to get to know his son and to make up for lost times. Things go pretty smoothly even when his aunt and cousins get wind of this but his Uncle Phil had a big say in the matter who was very distrusting and wasn't as forgiving of Lou as the others because he knows he's not making up with Will for Will, but for himself and this causes a rift between Will and his uncle and it leads to Will shouting back at his strict but lovable uncle Phil for the first time in the series. Shortly after the heated argument Phil apologizes as things were said but assures he was only trying to save him from more hurt he knows Lou is capable of causing. Towards the climax of the episode, Lou has a big way to start off this father-son bonding as he plans to take Will on a business trip with him which would mean he would spend more time with him during the summer but Lou comes in at the last minute to call off the whole thing because his business was more important and to make things more heart-wrenching, he asks Phil to deliver the news so as to not have to face his son. Finally, Phil has had enough of Lou's selfishness and this leads to Phil hitting Lou with the hard truth about what a father should be and also says "I will not do your dirty work for you" and "Will is not a coat that you put in a closet and try it on when you're ready to wear it, his life goes on!" During the midst of this argument between Phil and Lou, Will comes in and catches his father just before he heads out the door, Lou delivers the news, and Will fights very hard the anger and hurt he is feeling at that moment combined with the hurt of Lou leaving in the past and it only shows when Will refuses to call him "dad" but instead refers to him as Lou. After Lou carelessly walks out, Will Smith gives the performance of a lifetime as he confides in his uncle Phil and first tries to play off the hurt he is feeling but the anger and hurt he is feeling in the current moment and also from the past finally catch up with him as he understandably expresses his feelings in anger as uncle Phil listens which then lead to sadness with Will ultimately breaking down in tears and uttering the words softly "how come he don't want me man" to which Phil responds by grabbing Wills head and he burying it into his shoulder which make for one of the most touching and beautiful scenes in the entire series.

This episode was so full of emotion and you just couldn't help but cry at the end for poor Will who's father had basically abandoned him all over again and then of course we had that big hug between him and his uncle Phil who had been his father figure for the past four years and it's in that moment when they hug that kind of lets us know he will be alright because Uncle Phil is basically his father as he has evidently straightened Will out, sent him to a nice school, jokes with him, spends time with him, laughs with him, and teaches him about life and it's hardships. The character of Uncle Phil was tremendous in this episode as well as he is the voice of reason and is the only one who shows great emotion and anger when he sees Lou again while everyone else was funny about it trying to kill the tension, this ep really shows that Phil cares deeply for his often-troublesome nephew who he considers another son. Great episode, well-written and every Fresh Prince fan should see it if you hadn't done so already.

Incredible performance, nothing better on TV

[keppy-81611 · 10/10 · 25 March 2020]

Find me a better performance in a television episode, I dare you I have watched that scene so many times that I have memorized that monologue It is just amazing

Emotional

[born_naughty · 10/10 · 15 August 2020]

Like another review said before me: up until this episode Fresh Prince of Bel Air was nothing but a comedy show. There was no substance and no emotional depth to any of the characters. The closest thing to emotional depth that it has to offer is the sadness that is Geoffrey. And I don't mean that in a bad way. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a show that is only for laughs with no depth. On the contrary, often that is exactly what I want to see. This one episode is an exception though. Just like for many people father/son relationships is very soft spot for me. Even though I don't have kids of my own I know a little bit of how it feels and I can relate to both sides in these kinds of stories. In this case the relatee would be Will though. It's easy to get me emotional when it comes to these kinds of issues but this episode made me cry. And I don't cry. Not because I'm some macho man but because it's difficult to do. And I cried my eyes out at the end of this episode. I'm writing this now with tears in my eyes. It's definitely not the funniest episode, not funny at all even, but it is the most meaningful episode in Fresh Prince history and I think it will keep a special place in my heart.

Absolutely incredible performance by Will Smith

[andreitirla · 10/10 · 25 February 2019]

The performance Will Smith gave in this episode was outstanding and one of the most incredible thing I have ever watched. Really emotional episode. Great job by Will

We, are ...FAMILY!

[indi5tinct1ve · 10/10 · 14 March 2019]

I believe this episode is what cemented Will Smith as the founder of his own career. Being a believer of love and family (and more of an Uncle Phil figure than I'd like to admit,) this episode stands out from the rest and in its own way too.

Mr Smith sets up the finale and his performance based on experiences that his friends had and even now I can't imagine anything as tough as that. Having a father figure in your life is something that as much as you might have disliked - or even hated in your life - you'd appreciate as a maaaaan! And boi, the audience appreciate that as it's being delivered through this series.

I commend you Will Smith. And I commend you series producers for showing that such a series that shows comedy, can ask show the REAL meaning of family alongside it.

10/10 from me - and from everybody else too!

Masterpiece

[baderbod · 10/10 · 30 May 2020]

I mean Other than Will Smiths outstanding performance this is the only tv show that made my eyes explode

Honestly one of the best episodes of a sitcom ever

[could_do_better-9-33007 · 10/10 · 11 August 2020]

This is just perfection, superbly acted and scripted and contains so much emotion for a single episode. The dynamic between Will, Phil, his dad and Vivian is so believable and so visceral you honestly forget how lighted a show you're actually watching. I don't think I've made it through the ending without tears! Tremendous achievement.

Best Episode of this show

[brycecharlie · 10/10 · 31 December 2020]

This Episode is full of humour and emotion like any good episode should do but this episode cranks the emotion up to 10 with the ending

Amazing episode, touching on real issues

[alfatuakli · 10/10 · 2 January 2021]

As the son of a deadbeat father, this makes me tear up every time.. Such a shame there are so many deadbeats out there and so few Uncle Phils.

I rarely cried for a sitcom, but this is it.

[schokoladeneisberg · 10/10 · 29 April 2021]

Emotional and great. Really shows how good of an actor Will Smith is.

This scene gets me EVERY time

[sebastianbuettner · 10/10 · 28 September 2021]

Man, I watch the show like 10 times. So this episode isn't any new to me. But the last minutes, with the last scene, get's me every time!!! Avery and Smith are owning the screen here.

Will Smith

[jenkothetarheel · 10/10 · 22 April 2022]

Wow what an episode! If you can watch this episode without atleast getting a little teary eyed then you are dead inside. What a performance by Will! The rest is history!

That ending hits hard!

[fiosean83 · 10/10 · 26 November 2023]

I've seen this episode a good few times over the years, and it's certainly one that stays with you.

I watched the ending again today, while holding my 2 year old son, and the tears were literally streaming down my face.

The acting from is raw and powerful, and James Avery accompanies the scene perfectly, just by being there for Will (unlike his dad).

"Why doesn't he want me, man?", followed by the embrace between Will & Uncle Phil (and the way the cap is swotted to the floor).......it's so emotionally charged, and leaves you wanting to give Will a big hug, too.

A beautiful, yet heartbreaking scene from a truly wonderful show.

The greatest episode of all time

[tsbhollis · 26 March 2022]

This episode is single handedly the greatest piece of film ever made, the magnum opus of a tv episode. It hits in the emotions every time, legitimally changed my life.