NBC's streaming platform Peacock has already given a two-season order to the reimagining of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from director Morgan Cooper and executive producer Will Smith .
As theGRIO previously reported, the project is described as a dramatic retelling "that leans into the original premise of Will's complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. With a reimagined vision, Bel-Air will dive deeper into the inherent conflicts, emotions and biases of what it means to be a Black man in America today, while still delivering the swagger and fun nods to the original show."
Alfonso Ribeiro , who played Carlton Banks on the beloved 90's sitcom, wants fans of the series to know that the upcoming Bel-Air project is in no way a Fresh Prince reboot.
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"A reboot would be taking the actual show and characters and bringing it back,” he said in an interview with E! News . “This is a totally different show. It's not even based on the show. It's based on the theme song. It's a completely different thing. It's drama. It's not comedy. I have nothing to do with it so I don't really know anything more."
Ribeiro believes the concept of Bel-Air is far more intriguing than a reboot of the comedy series.
"I actually appreciate it even more than a reboot.Let's take a concept and turn it into a different show. I'm like, roll the dice. Go ahead and try it and see what happens,” he said.
Smith, Ribeiro, along with the late James Avery , Janet Hubert Whitten (and then Daphne Maxwell Reid ), Karyn Parsons , Tatyana Ali , Joseph Marcell and Smith's rap partner DJ Jazzy Jeff starred on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for six seasons from 1990-1996 on NBC. In September 2020, the cast reunited for an HBO Max special. Smith also had an "emotional reunion and a candid conversation," with Hubert for the first time in 27 years. The actress played his Aunt Viv before she was replaced by Reid.
"We're a family and we love each other dearly. It was great to be able to get together and I think the audience will experience kind of what it was like for us to shoot the show, and the chemistry and the connection that we all have,” Ribeiro previously told theGrio .
Alfonso Ribeiro joins the APGA tour in Las Vegas | KSNV
Alfonso Riberio: 'Bel-Air' is 'Not Even Based' on Original 'Fresh Prince' | Complex
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is keeping up with recent trends by revamping the iconic series for a new generation. Yet instead of giving the show the typical reboot treatment, original cast member, Alfonso Ribeiro , claims that the new Fresh Prince will be a creative spin on the show’s concept.
During an exclusive interview with E! News ’ Justin Sylvester, Ribeiro describes the new series as a “reimagining” of the original Fresh Prince.
“I like to call it a reimagining,” he said before explaining that this upcoming series will be a whole new look at the idea. “We sometimes throw a lot of things into one word, one concept. A reboot would be taking the actual show and characters and bringing it back. This is a totally different show.”
Ribeiro went on to detail how the show will differ from the original series. For starters, the new Fresh Prince won’t be a fun-loving family sitcom. Instead, it will be a dramatized take on the story told in the show’s iconic theme song.
“It’s not even based on the show. It’s based on the theme song. It’s a completely different thing. It’s drama. It’s not comedy. I have nothing to do with it so I don’t really know anything more,” he continued. “But I actually appreciate it even more than a reboot. Let’s take a concept and turn it into a different show.”
Ribeiro played Will Smith’s polar-opposite cousin Carlton in the series that ran from 1990 to 1996. In September 2020, Smith and the cast announced that NBC’s Peacock streaming service gave them a deal with a two-season order of a reimagined version of The Fresh Prince.
The new series is based on Morgan Cooper’s Fresh Prince mock trailer. The clip went viral prompting Smith and his team to create a concept set in modern-day Bel-Air.
“Set in modern-day America, BEL-AIR is a serialized one-hour dramatic analogue of the 90’s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that leans into the original premise: Will’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air,” a release from Peacock said at the time. “With a reimagined vision, BEL-AIR will dive deeper into the inherent conflicts, emotions, and biases that were impossible to fully explore in a 30-minute sitcom format, while still delivering swagger and nods to the original show.”
Alfonso Ribeiro has warned fans of 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' that the upcoming reboot is a
Family Matters Actor Releasing Steve Urkel-Themed Weed Brand
Originally expected to simply be a one-time character, Urkel's immediate popularity on the series – which focused on a Black suburbanite family in Chicago, necessitated a recurring role. Eventually Urkel was turned into the show's main character and his catch-phrases, which were uttered in the character's inimitably nasal tone, included such comedic gems as "Did I do that?" and "Got any cheese?" The character's success came at a time where another sitcom nerd, Carlton Banks (Alfonso Ribeiro), was also an instant fan-favorite on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air . Unlike Carlton, however, Urkel proved to be far more divisive, with many viewers put off by the character's abrasive voice and downright annoying tendencies. Yet despite these traits, Urkel's fanbase was strong enough to keep Family Matters on the air for several seasons longer than the acclaimed Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
With Family Matters long since behind him, White's acting career has continued in sitcom television. Most recently, he's become the host of his own talk show, Ever After With Jaleel White. But while TV remains an integral part of his career, White is taking his Urkel persona in an entirely different direction – one that some might argue betrays the character's family-friendly nature. According to Forbes , White is on the verge of launching his own marijuana brand called ItsPurpl. The line of products capitalizes on the Purple Urkle cannabis strain, after White realized that no companies were focusing exclusively on it. White said:
The thing that always stood out to me was there no clear brand leader for fire purple weed. It made no sense to me, that no company of significance had claimed this lane, so why not me?
ItsPurpl will officially launch on April 20, 2021, though initially it will only be available in the state of California . Depending on its success, White is hoping to expand the brand's availability in the near future. Packaging for the product is Urkel-centric, though subtle enough as to not render it gimmicky. It features an ombre-purple outline of Urkel's face on a solid black background. In addition to the weed, which will be available in eighths, vape pens and hand-rolled joints called Noodle Doinks - which use a piece of uncooked fusilli pasta as a filter, White will also be launching some limited ItsPurpl merchandise, which includes a waffle iron that features the company's Urkel logo.
As the legalization of marijuana becomes increasingly more common around the world, numerous celebrities have gotten into the competitive cannabis industry. Seth Rogen, Snoop Dogg, Mike Tyson and Willie Nelson are just a handful of the names associated with their own brands of weed. White certainly has his work cut out for him with ItsPurpl, but given the fondness that many people still have for Family Matters , the idea of smoking Steve Urkel's weed will be a tough temptation for some to resist.
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Plus, Mama's Kitchen serves its 10 millionth meal, and a celebrity golf tournament raises money for reconstructive surgery for disadvantaged kids
Mama's Kitchen celebrated a milestone last week when representatives delivered its 10 millionth meal. Mama's Kitchen CEO Alberto Cortés and Mayor Todd Gloria passed off the commemorative meal to Jimmy G., a Skyline Hills resident and retired respiratory therapist who has used the service since 2019. The nonprofit delivers more than 11,000 medically tailored meals a week to critically ill San Diegans.
Fresh Start Surgical Gifts , which provides no-cost reconstructive surgery to kids and teens with physical deformities, will host its 29th annual Celebrity Golf Tournament next week. Longtime supporter Alfonso Ribeiro, aka Carlton from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, will once again host the event at Morgan Run Club & Resort in Rancho Santa Fe. The goal is to raise $800,000, the cost of providing specialized medical care to 30–45 kids over the course of two weekends.
"I love supporting such an incredible cause year after year," Ribeiro said. "Fresh Start is important to me because of the significant transformations gifted to the children of Fresh Start that I've witnessed myself at surgery weekends, as well as following their journeys long after."
The day will begin with a physically distanced social hour and putting contest and will conclude with an after-party featuring an auction and awards ceremony.
"DWTS" Pro Keo Motsepe Says This Celebrity Was His Worst Partner
Keo Motsepe revealed all about his time on the show so far, including the worst and best competitors.
South African dancer Keo Motsepe has been a cast member of Dancing With the Stars since 2014, when he became the first Black male pro on the popular competition series. And so far, he's partnered nine celebrities on the dance floor, with varying levels of success. Speaking to Us Weekly recently, Motsepe spilled the tea on all things DWTS , including his most and least favorite pairings. To find out which celebrity partner this DWTS pro says was the worst dancer, read on. And for stars who weren't interested in the Mirrorball Trophy, check out 17 Celebrities Who Turned Down Dancing With the Stars .
"I don't want to say this," Motsepe began his answer as to who the worst celebrity dancer was, with his heads in his hands. "I'll say Chaka Khan ."
"I remember asking her, 'Why do we have to rehearse like at 11:00 p.m.? Like every night!'" the pro said of the singer. "And she goes, 'That's when I started working.' That's when she starts recording her music, and I was like, 'Oh, so you sleep during the day? So, your morning is, like, South African time, pretty much?' And she goes, 'Yes, honey!'"
He went on to explain that he had to change his schedule to meet her needs. And the results weren't great—the two were the first couple to be eliminated in Season 21.
Motsepe also danced with Lolo Jones , Jodie Sweetin , Charo , Barbara Corcoran , Jennie Finch Daigle , and Anne Heche on the show, and two other stars who stand out for the right and wrong reasons. Read on to find out who they were, and for another celebrity the pros weren't impressed with, check out The Worst Dancing With the Stars Contestant Ever, According to the Pros .
On the other hand, Motsepe's highest-ever finish on the show was with Harry Potter star Evanna Lynch in Season 27. The two placed third in the competition, and Motsepe remains impressed with her commitment.
"She came in and I remember she was like, 'I never danced before. I don't know music, I don't know this,' and I was like, 'Why do you want to do the show?'" he recalled. "And she said, 'I want to know how to dance ,' and I said, 'Okay.'"
Motsepe shouted out Lynch for being adaptable and a fast learner. He also said that she worked really hard on her own time, asking him to send her videos of other dancers he wanted her to emulate and then studying them.
Bob Saget returns to Hard Rock for a pair of socially-distant shows that will unite us in
When Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City announced that big-name comedy acts would be returning this month, just about everyone was excited. After more than a year of lockdowns and canceled events, it's natural to want to get out and see a show in a real venue.
But nobody was more excited than Bob Saget, who comes to town for a pair of shows 7 and 10 p.m., Saturday, April 17, at Hard Rock's Etess Arena.
Saget's return serves as a return to form for Hard Rock, as he was one of the last headliner acts to perform there in late February 2020, just weeks before the casino – and much of the world – shut down completely.
Since then, like most of us, Saget has laid low, building up a burning desire to get back on the stage in a town that he holds dear to his heart.
"My response back then was: 'It's called acting. Anthony Hopkins doesn't really eat people either!'" he recalls.
And though he earned a reputation for shocking people with his act, these days his focus has changed. In a country so divided by politics and other sensitive topics, all Saget wants to do this Saturday is make sure everyone has a good time.
Entertaining both sides has become trickier than ever, as the rise of oversensitivity and cancel culture seems to have most comics stuck between a rock and a hard place. But Saget seems at peace with the changes.
"I think having a collective experience with people again is going to be a really special thing. I know it is."
If you don't know Bob Saget from his role on "Full House," you almost certainly know him as the original host of "America's Funniest Home Videos," the ABC hit show that made its debut in 1989 and is still on the air today. But even with the advent of YouTube and other spaces online that offer up an endless stream of amateur based video content, somehow the show's survival still makes sense to Saget.
Dancing With The Stars: 10 Professionals With The Most Instagram Followers
Although the biggest selling point of ABC's Dancing With The Stars is getting to see famous singers , actors, athletes, and other celebrities on the dance floor. However, the loyal fans of the reality competition series have come to adore the professional dancers who lead the way for these stars.
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It has hit a point where many of them have amassed strong followings all across social media. It's pretty interesting to see which professional dancers have the most followers on Instagram, as it usually coincides with how long they've been on the show and how often they've been crowned the winner.
Mark Ballas is something of a jack of all trade. Obviously, he's a tremendous dancer who has found success on Dancing With The Stars but he has also done so much more with his career. That includes work as a songwriter, musician, and even as an actor.
Ballas is a two-time champion, winning alongside Kristi Yamaguchi in season six and Shawn Johnson in season eight. He also finished in the top three on seven other seasons. His Instagram features many clips dancing and singing with his lovely wife Jean.
Like Mark Ballas, Peta Murgatroyd is a two-time champion on Dancing With The Stars . It started rough as her debut season saw her eliminated first with Metta World Peace. However, she has since won with NFL player Donald Driver and model Nyle DiMarco.
Murgatroyd is one of the more consistent professional dancers on the show in recent years. Her strong following has helped her get some sponsored posts. Most of Murgatroyd's Instagram account is filled with family photos and even some glamorous modeling shots.
Although she has more followers than the previous two entries, Sharna Burgess has won Dancing With The Stars fewer times than them, only coming out as champion a single time. That came during season 27 when she was partnered with radio host Bobby Bones.
Despite only one win, Burgess has been runner-up on multiple occasions and helped host the Australian version of the competition show. She still competes on the show and her Instagram is beloved for how active she is. She also has a pretty great TikTok account.
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