Reunion specials — they’re so hot right now.
Fans of ’90s pop culture can add “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” to the list, as the old NBC sitcom has been tabbed for an upcoming reunion special, it was announced on Monday. (Other recent reunions: “30 Rock,” “The West Wing” and maybe eventually “Friends”)
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the “Fresh Prince” reunion is scheduled to tape on Sept. 10 — the 30th anniversary of the sitcom’s debut — and will air on HBO Max sometime around Thanksgiving.
The show’s principal cast — which includes Will Smith (Will), Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton), Tatyana Ali (Ashley), Karyn Parsons (Hilary), Daphne Maxwell Reid (Vivian) and Joseph Marcell (Geoffrey) — will be featured on the reunion, as will DJ Jazzy Jeff.
It won’t be a complete “Fresh Prince” reunion, though: Original cast member Janet Hubert, who played Aunt Vivian for the show’s first three seasons, will likely not be included, as she has feuded with Smith for years, claiming Smith had her fired from the show; and James Avery, who played Uncle Phil, died in 2013 of complications from open-heart surgery.
According to HBO Max, the special will feature music, dancing and some surprise guests. CNN reported that it will be “an unscripted special looking back at the series and the cultural impact the series has had since its debut.”
“Fresh Prince” has been a hot topic in 2020. The cast reunited in April via conference call on Smith’s Snapchat show “Will From Home.” And in August it was announced that Smith’s production company, Westbrook Media, would be rebooting “Fresh Prince” as a drama, under the new title “Bel-Air.” That dramatic reimagining is reportedly being written by Chris Collins (“The Wire,” “Sons of Anarchy”) and Morgan Cooper.