Random Behind The Scenes History Of 'The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air' Most People Don't Know (12 items)

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  (#6) 'Fresh Prince' Was Based On The Life Of Benny Medina, A Producer And Manager Whose Dad Was Involved In A Drug Cartel

  Will Smith's dad was missing for the majority of The Fresh Prince. Only later was he introduced and the reason he left Will revealed (he wasn't ready to be a father). The truth is that the real Fresh Prince had a father who was deep into drugs, but he wasn't absent because he wasn't ready to have kids: he was in prison.

  Smith's character was inspired by Benny Medina, a producer and manager who was in and out of foster homes with brief stints at his aunt's house in Watts, a neighborhood in South Los Angeles. When he was 9 years old, his mother died of cancer and his father left after numerous stints in prison for using and dealing drugs. In an interview with The Marshall Project, Medina's father (also named Benny Medina), spoke about his struggles as a drug-dealing parent.

  I kept all five of my kids the best I could but I was involved with a cartel dealing drugs, so I could supply myself with money for a babysitter and drive a nice car and have drums.
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  (#1) Will Smith Was Forced To Star In 'The Fresh Prince' Because He Had $2.8 Million In IRS Debt

  If Will Smith never got into major financial trouble, we might not have the critically acclaimed movie star version of Will Smith we love today (you know, the one that delivered such blockbuster greatness as Men In Black and Independence Day).

  Smith rose to fame with his work in the hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. The duo landed Grammy awards for their hits "Parents Just Don't Understand" and "Summertime." And with great fame came lots of money, which Smith poorly managed. After failing to pay sufficient income taxes, Smith owed the government $2.8 million. The IRS seized his belongings and his income.

  With bankruptcy looming over his head, Smith had no choice but to star in Benny Medina's semi-autobiographical The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, a role he was picked for by producer Quincy Jones. For the first three years, he paid 70% of his salary from Fresh Prince to the IRS.
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  (#7) Will Smith Is Embarrassed By His Acting On 'The Fresh Prince'

  Previous to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Smith's only acting credit was as in an ABC afterschool special. Needless to say, he was a total novice when he signed onto the show in order to kick his IRS debt. Though the actor was brimming with raw talent, Smith admits he was a little embarrassed by his earlier performances. 

  "I was trying so hard," Smith said of the early days of the show, continuing:

  I would memorize the entire script, then I'd be lipping everybody's lines while they were talking. When I watch those episodes, it's disgusting. My performances were horrible.
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  (#9) The Soundtrack Was Originally Only Released In The Netherlands

  Though everyone should know the words to The Fresh Prince's famed theme song, you might have a lot of trouble actually finding the physical album. The soundtrack was only released on CD and vinyl in the Netherlands, where the theme song peaked on the charts at #3 in 1992.

  But thanks to the magic of the internet, you can now listen to the track on Amazon.
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  (#2) Will Smith Made The Whole Audience Cry, Which Started Rumors About His Relationship With His Dad

  "Papa's Got A Brand New Excuse" was undoubtedly the single most emotional episode of the series. It's often misreported that Smith ad-libbed the ending's gut-wrenching monologue after channeling the real-life experience of being abandoned by his father. The truth is, Smith and his dad had a loving relationship. In fact, he described his parents as rather typical (they wanted him to go to college instead of become a rapper - whoops!).  

  The reason the scene is so gut-wrenching is because of Smith's raw acting talent. He definitely ad-libbed it, but not for the reason everyone thinks. And according to a former audience member, the monologue was so emotional that it had the entire audience in tears:

  I was actually at the taping. The entire show was quiet, even during the funny parts, and I could not figure out why. Before this scene, Will Smith disappeared. He showed up, did this scene in one take, then disappeared again. You might notice his hat coming off. Usually, the director would retake the scene, but really, nothing could replace this moment. People were crying for a long time when it was over, doing their best not to make noise before the director said 'cut.' I was ten years old. Will never, ever, forget.

  And to think, Smith never even had any formal acting training.
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  (#8) Smith And Jazzy Jeff Entered A Lawsuit With Their Record Label Over 'The Fresh Prince'

  Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff (Jeff Townes), the other half of the popular hip-hop duo, were Grammy-winning stars by the time Smith signed on to do The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Much like their music, the TV show was a hit, and they used it to promote their rap careers. DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince released the music video iconic single "Summertime" at the end of an episode.

  It got three million views as a result, but their label wasn't thrilled. According to Townes: 

  [Jive] realized if these guys want to stop doing music they can, because they have another form of income. That scared people [at the label]... We went through a lawsuit with [Jive] because they said our extracurricular activities were interfering with our ability to make music.

  Turns out, the label missed out, as Townes flourished as a DJ and producer and Smith went on to become a multi-platinum artist and movie star.

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