I think I had read for Karyn Parsons role [Hilary] and then I read [for the role of Cindy] and ended up finally getting that part. Jasmine Guy: The most fun I had is when the two of usme and Willhad to go toe to toe with "mama" jokes. This movie is going to be huge for us." Episodes: S05 E25 "For Whom the Wedding Bells Toll" and S06 E21 "I, Stank Hole in One". To be able to say that the great, bomb-ass Pam Grier was my mother and that Will had sex with her, and that I was part of that whole episode is still a very nice memory that I have. I remember being like, "Thank God hes tall," and I remember he was nice, but he was really confident. Episode: S03 E05 "Mama's Baby, Carlton's Maybe". I didnt want to leave. I look back at some of those episodes like, "Wow, I really needed to tone down the attitude." Like, what did we have on? Ya damn right, he does! One look at this super model, and it's easy to see why after setting Geoffrey up on a blind date with her, Will wants to keep her for himself. It's not unusual for Carlton to have school-related anxiety, so luckily when Will gets an interview for Princeton and Carlton doesn't, he's visited by his guardian angel Tom Jones. Fox: It was totally hilarious. Longtime "Newlywed Game" host wins when he steps into his familiar role as game show host in this classic episode. Then afterwards, talking to Tisha Campbell and a couple of other people within the show, I realized that he gave the speech to every girl that did the show. Always looking out for his cuz, Will sets up Hilary on a date with his buddy Duane. Before playing Ray Romano's quirky and morose brother in "Everybody Loves Raymond," Garett portrayed a mobster in this tall tale of an episode. All of them may not harbor pride for this feat, but they understand how that designation aligns with the shows legacy. Like, he was a real actor. A young girl coming from Brooklyn who lived in South Central, Los Angeles born to a single momthat doesnt happen every day. I actually have a Polaroid from the episode where Will has on like, tuxedo shorts. Fox: I think I had met him because I remember one time, I did a little bit of stand-in work for Jasmine Guy. Taking a break from portraying Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor's oldest son, Zachery heads to Bel Air. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. l'm the last chance for the whole damn family and you have no idea what that feels like. 'Try Me' was produced by Full Force and features Xcape with Candy Burgess. Vivica A. Jasmine amassed this wealth via acting in a number of box office successes. It was just the right vehicle to make him shine and make you see him in a different light, and I think he transitioned really well. I guess that one episode was sort of my audition, and then after that, they invited me back to do most of the following season. Episode: S04 E13 "Twas the Night Before Christening". Lela Rochon: You know what? So when we sit down the first day, he says to me: "Were going to do this kissing scene. Like, "Is he really saying this? But whats shocking and amazing is the fact that he went straight into it and was so good at it. The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air is a FANDOM TV Community. Decades before singing her way to stardom in "Glee," Naya helps Hilary ponder the joys of having a child employee. Nia Long: We had so much fun; he was so silly all the time, on camera and off. Episode: S05 E18 "The Wedding Show" (Psyche!). Lela Rochon: You know what, I guess because now I have kids and Wills still very popular, now I just pop my collar and say, "Yeah, I was one of his girlfriends, whatever." If youve interviewed any of the other actresses who were cast opposite of him, I know someone told you that he gives a speech, right? It all worked together beautifully, and it was Benny Medinas brainchild. It was already a hit when I auditioned, and when I read that Pam Grier was playing my mother and I was [going to be playing] Will Smiths girlfriend, it was just really a lot of fun. In 1991, she released her self-titled album on Warner Bros. Records, featuring the hit single 'Try Me'. In one of television's most epic meeting of minds, Carlton gets a chance to perform his self-titled dance for none other than Don Cornelius from "Soul Train.". l got four older sisters, all of them mamas before they were 18. Nia Long: Lisa was so spicy. Absolutely. No tongue. So he was advising me.. Elise Neal:I posted a flashback picture of me and Pam Grier on Instagram recently, and it almost got a thousand likes. Elise Neal: Im not surprised by it. William 'Will' Smith: You dropped out of high school? Just face it, Professor. You fit in here. (Season 3, Episode 19 as "Cindy"), Episodes: The Script Formerly Known As and Not, I Barbecue (Season 2), Episode: "Kiss My Butler" (Season 1, Episode 10 as "Helen"), Episode: Recurring character for 16 episodes as "Lisa", Episode: "M Is For The Many Things She Gave Me" (Season 4, Episode 22 as "Janice"), Episodes: "Working It Out" (Season 1, Episode 25 as "Marissa Redman"); "She Ain't Heavy" (Season 2, Episode 8 as "Dee Dee"), Episode: "Cold Feet, Hot Body" (Season 5, Episode 23 as "Denise"), Episode: "Clubba Hubba" (Season 1, Episode 3 as "Mimi Mumford"), Episode: "When You Hit Upon A Star" (Season 4, Episode 17 as "Michelle Michaels"), Episode: "Did The Earth Move For You?" I think I had done one of his early videos. Ritualistic? Her parents were of African American and Portuguese descent. Appearing opposite Will was a revolving door of Jet Beauty of the Week candidates who matched wits with the young actor, keeping him on his toes. Zsa Zsa may be the paradigm of glitz and glamor, but that doesn't stop Will and Carlton from becoming convinced that her character, movie star Sonya Lamor, has stolen Aunt Viv's silverware. What I love about the show is that it started a great history of friendships, and Im still good friends with all of them to this day. Parents Just Dont Understand but Andy Borowitz Gets It, We Must Stop Will Smith From Rebooting The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, I had met Will before as a dancer. Kayla Samuels (Jasmine Guy) is tells Will (Will Smith) about their jokes right now, and Will (Will Smith) is hugging with Kayla Samuels (Jasmine Guy)! Like, "Is he really saying this? Oscar nominee Cheadle plays against his sophisticated image as Will's friend from Philly. If he could do it, so could I. Im still trying to be like Will Smith [Laughs]. You're not my legal guardian. Its been 24 years, so I dont remember if Will and I had ever met before the show. Fox: I was doing The Young and the Restless, and I remember asking my agent why I didnt get a chance to audition for Independence Day. So I was a fan of the showyou always watch the jobs you dont get; thats why I watched the showand I really liked it. Download to watch offline and even view it on a big screen using Chromecast. It wasnt like, "Oh, Im on this show with this guy. She was recognized as one of her era's leading actresses. Twenty years later, Im finishing up the sequel. Kathleen 1 episode, 1991 Lela Rochon . She was so cool, and Ill say: she may have played Foxy Brown, but Pam Grier is just a sweet, beautiful soul. Birthday: Mar 10, 1962 Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, USA Dancing is what fueled Jasmine Guy's passion growing up in Massachusetts in the 1960s. So he was advising me.. They were like, "Youre on a soap opera, honey." He came back hard and authentic and I knew he was a great talent whether the show got picked up or not. So I spent most of my time in my dressing room just trying to be on point. So when I did get offered the role to play his girlfriend, I figured it would be fun. I studied really hard, and I went in there and nailed it. Furthermore, that finesse helped the TV-version of Will Smith score the attention of some of the most talented and desirable young actresses of that era. l know what it feels like to clean hotel rooms during the day and go to school at night to get the high school diploma l didn't get. I didnt. They literally put on hip-hop music and everyone danced and did a little solo; it was so fun. After years on Broadway and touring the globe, Jasmine landed the role of Whitley Gilbert on the Cosby Show spin-off 'A Different World'. Jasmine Guy is an American actress, director, singer, and dancer. Thats his gift, and Will was lucky to have collaborated with him to do a show that resonated with everyone. Elise Neal: I posted a flashback picture of me and Pam Grier on Instagram recently, and it almost got a thousand likes. Hes a star." I knew he was really special because, even at that time, he had such a successful music career that you knew he was different. Episodes: S05 E12 "Same Game, Next Season," S05 E13 "Three's A Crowd," S05 E18 "The Wedding Show (Psyche! Everybody was watching it and thats why being part of it, even if you werent a series regular, was a great thing because it always meant a lot on your resume. Hes down to earthhes just a class act. The Saxophone genius Branford Marsalis wins over Hilary and shows Will a thing or too about how to use the sax for sex appeal. She has starred in or directed many productions, including: 'For Colored Girls Who have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf; 'Miss Evers' Boys'; 'Blues for an Alabama Sky'; 'The Colored Museum'; 'The Fourposter'; 'The Nacirema Society'; 'Broke-ology'; 'Fool For Love', and most recently, 'God of Carnage' at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre, where she also directed the world premiere of the opera 'I Dream', celebrating the life and journey of Martin Luther King, Jr. They were like, "Youre on a soap opera, honey." Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil start to worry when he takes a liking to Hilary. Youre just like, "This cannot be real," but it was so real. Fox: Hes been an inspiration for my career for many years because hes such a gentleman. Carlton's power hungry ways threaten to put a damper on Will's chances with this "Drew Carey Show" beauty. Lela Rochon: I remember they said we were going to go into Wills dressing room and do a group prayer, but before we did the prayer, they did a dance. You usually do a prayer before you shoot a scene or begin filming to make sure everything is good. Will became a style icon overnight due to his classic high-top fade and flawless Jordan collection. At that moment in time, it couldve been anyone on the show, but it really showed me that it was doable. Nia Long: Lisa was so spicy. I started off all nice, and then when we got to dinner, I just turned on him. Keeping up with the show's tradition featuring of winning sports cameos, Ken Griffey Jr. lends one of baseball's best arms to Carlton's carnival game and offers Will some valuable dating advice. Jasmine Guy Birth Place: Boston, Massachusetts, United States Profession Actor, singer, dancer, songwriter, director, writer Actor 66 Credits Queen 2022 Reunion Road Trip 2021 Grey's Anatomy 2019. The fact that it has lasted this long and is iconic, and universally known as "ours," shows that timing is everything. 2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. On The Fresh Prince, he was playing a character closer to who he really is, but once I realized that he played this character that couldnt be more unlike him, I gained a whole new respect for him. Nia Long: I met Will, we talked for a little bit and then I hung out and watched their process, and then I did one episode. I remember going to see him in Bad Boys, and when he came running down the street with that shirt open I was like, "Oh shit, my boy evolved! Nia Long: I think that when youre in the moment, youre not worried about that. Recording behemoth Quincy Jones was a producer on the show, so it makes sense that he makes a cameo in every single episode as the cab driver in the opening credits to whom Will yells "Smell ya later!". Lela Rochon: You know what, I guess because now I have kids and Wills still very popular, now I just pop my collar and say, "Yeah, I was one of his girlfriends, whatever." Proving that dads will go to great heights to protect their daughters, Witherspoon plays Augustus Adams, a militant father intent on scaring Will out of dating his baby girl. I looked at him like, "Oh, thats Will Smith. Nia Long: I was scared to death pretty much every day I was there, and I tried not to show it. Vivica A. Sure for a star-studded fantasy that reflects Will's excitement about his new celebrity-filled domicile. Fox: I had kind of just started acting and was coming off of soap operas, and graduating to doing nighttime television, sitcoms, and dramas. Ms. It was early in my career and one of the biggest roles I had gotten at that point. The Wonderful World Of Will: Will Smith's 20 Best Girlfriends On The Fresh Prince. Elise Neal: The whole experience was really a great time. She began her professional career at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City. I didnt. I think part of the amazing work comes from being pretty vulnerable and open, so I was just a young girl trying to live my dream, and Will was great. He got some muscles!". As lavish as the Banks mansion is, let's face it, it will always be second fiddle to Bel Air's naughtiest domicile. Vivica A. I realized Id never be the female version of Tiger Woods, but I tried. Then I got a couple of other sitcoms and the rest is history. She is best known for her starring role as Whitley Gilbert in the television sitcom A Different World and Roxy in Dead Like Me . Episode: S04 E19 "You'd Better Shop Around". [Laughs]. He had other things going on besides the show. Lela Rochon: When I saw Bad Boys, I remember being so surprised and taken aback. People related to that guy who could rap, who was a little goofy, who was from the hood but moved to such a nice area and was living the dream. Fox: I had kind of just started acting and was coming off of soap operas, and graduating to doing nighttime television, sitcoms, and dramas. Vivica A Fox: Working with them was like working with family. She can be seen currently in the film 'October Baby'. Other actresses spoke about what happened prior to filming an episode. I was just happy to be there, and I was excited that I was getting to play such a cool role and do a lot of different fun scenes. . [Seeing him] take it to the next level was kind of beautiful, and its always amazing to me who joins you on that journey when your life is about to make a huge change. lt took me years to get back. It doesnt even happy every other day, so when I look back on those times, I have more appreciation for certain things now than I did then because I think was so naive. If youre at a level of success and you want to take the next step, then you have to let your team know thats what you want to make it happen. He has natural, raw talent, but he was still learning as an actor, as well. I wanna b ur fantasy and maybe u could be mine! The fusion of charm, savoir faire, and touching honesty youve seen in his best work was honed during the shows six-season run. Born March 10, 1962 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Related: Seven Life Lessons Learned From The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, Episode: S01 E08 "Someday Your Prince Will Be in Effect" (Part 1). As Janet, Jazz's sister, Vivica A. Fox: Well, you know he had the best of the best, so it makes me feel really good to be in the company of those hot chicks! No. (JASMINE GUY) begins dating Will, her grades slide, threatening her scholarship. ", Goof: In this episode, Will says he's no good with math, but in ". Then, all of a sudden, he was the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Episode: S03 E22 "Ain't No Business Like Show Business". One of Vivian's students, Kayla Samuels (Jasmine Guy) comes over for dinner and Will tries to impress her, but fails. 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