The main cast of the hit ’90s show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunited for a TV special where they shared laughter and shed tears as they talked about the six seasons working together on the series.
Will Smith (Will), Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton), Karyn Parsons (Hilary), Joseph Marcell (Geoffrey), Daphne Maxwell Reid (Vivian), Janet Louise Hubert (former Vivian), DJ Jazzy Jeff (Jazz) and Tatyana Ali (Ashley) participated in the reunion. (Ali is Afro-Panamanian on her mother’s side.)
During the 30th reunion, the cast came together on the sitcom’s living room set, which was recreated for the special, and reminisced about everything from their audition experiences to the groundbreaking storylines the show produced to their memories of late actor James Avery (Uncle Phil), who died in 2013. Everyone on the show agreed Avery was the heart of the series.
“I learned that what we do is not for us, it’s not about us,” Ali said. “We are here to bring dignity, to represent, to expand, to push forward, and I learned that here, at [James’] feet.”
Ali also discussed the episode that made her the most anxious. It was during a scene where she had to kiss a boy. The kiss, she said during the reunion, turned out also to be her “first kiss” ever.
“I had my first kiss on the show,” Ali said. “Like my actual first kiss. I was so nervous and we’re about to do the scene, and I swear to you I see Alfonso, Will, and Karyn peek out from behind the camera like, ‘Oh!’”
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air‘ reunion is currently streaming on HBO Max.