There are certain scenes from films and series that live rent-free in our minds. The 90s hit sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is one such TV series that made a huge impact on its audience. Throughout the series, there are many scenes that could make you roll on the floor laughing.
Among those scenes, there’s the iconic dance scene featuring Alfonso Ribeiro, which is undeniably one of the most memorable ones. Interestingly, the scene was never written in the way it was presented by the actor. Ribeiro improvised the entire scene and indeed stole the show.
Alfonso Ribeiro’s iconic scene was improvised by him
The popular NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air aired for six seasons. The Iconic portrayal of the actors was indeed commendable. One of the most notable performances was of Alfonso Ribeiro who portrayed the character of Carlton Banks, Will’s (lead protagonist Will Smith) preppy and usually clueless cousin.
There is a scene in the series where Carlton demonstrates his comical dance moves that became a highlight of the show. In the scene, Ribeiro used the slapstick approach and made the dance scene iconic. But the big question is who is the creator of the iconic scene?
During an interview with Variety, Ribeiro revealed that the scene was never meant to be funny, as in the script there was no mention of the required emotion and it simply read ‘Carlton Dances’. According to Ribeiro, he improvised the entire scene. The actor said, “The Carlton Dance was created when it said in the script: ‘Carlton dances.’ It was never even intended to be funny; it was just that he was dancing.”
Ribeiro went on to share that his dance was inspired by Courteney Cox in Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing in the Dark music video and Eddie Murphy’s dance moves in his comedic video Delirious.
The actor revealed that he imagined Carlton’s dance to be funny so he tried every dance move that looked absurd. Considering the popularity of the scene, Ribeiro was indeed successful with his thought.
Also Read: “It’s terrible”: Will Smith Hates Watching the First Season of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
All about the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Renowned American sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was nothing less than a classic. The series revolves around a teenage boy Will Smith (played by Will Smith) who settles with his rich Aunt and Uncle who lives in their Bel-Air mansion.
The disparity in his life, culture, and lifestyle leads to many comical moments throughout the series. The beauty of the series is that while maintaining the essence of humor it subtly touches the serious topics as well.
The charm and impact of the series are so that it is still remembered for its humor. The sitcom undoubtedly left a significant impact on its viewers.
Source: Variety
