Watch Will Smith hilariously recount his roller coaster journey to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Will Smith recounted his meandering path from Philadelphia to Bel-Air in a Thursday video, describing the one life-changing moment that made him a star.
After Smith's first hit record, when he was rapping as The Fresh Prince alongside DJ Jazzy Jeff, the hip-hop duo hit some hard times. In his telling, Smith spent all his money on cars and motorcycles before his second album "flopped," and that's when he ran into some trouble with the IRS. He "didn't forget" to pay his taxes, exactly, but ruthless Uncle Sam came and took his belongings anyway to make up the difference, Smith said.
A broke and downtrodden Smith went to appear on The Arsenio Hall Show after his girlfriend insisted he get out of the house and, well, "do something." A chance meeting there led him to producer Quincy Jones, who wanted Smith to audition for a new show he had in mind. Instead of a traditional network audition process, Jones wanted Smith to audition in his living room, right then and there.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"You could take 10 minutes, right now, and you can change your life forever," Jones told Smith, the actor said. Smith bucked up and "let it rip," leading to an NBC contract for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air — and the rest is history. Watch Smith tell the full, hilarious story below. Summer Meza
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Why au pairs might become a thing of the past
Under The Radar Brexit and wage ruling are threatening the 'mutually beneficial arrangement'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
'A direct, protracted war with Israel is not something Iran is equipped to fight'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 17, 2024
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - political anxiety, jury sorting hat, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published