Fresh Prince of Bel-Air fans are remembering James Avery‘s performance as Uncle Phil after the trailer for the Reunion Special dropped today. HBO Max has been hyping this project for a while now, and it’s easy to see why. All these years after going off-the-air, The Fresh Prince is still a beloved cultural artifact. In fact, one could say that Avery’s words as the wise older judge have only gotten to be more profound over time. So, seeing most of the cast together, but Uncle Phil being absent is definitely going to stir some emotions with fans. The actor passed back in 2013, but it feels like once a year the Internet brings back that clip of him embracing Will after his father abandons him again. Those moments still bring a tear to many viewers’ eyes. There will be some real joy when the special hits HBO Max in November.
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The Fresh Prince actor saw some clips of his words with the Uncle Phil actor and couldn’t contain his emotion. During a show to get everyone involved with Fresh Prince together on Snapchat, he said, “That just makes me teary. The first couple times that I’m seeing clips of James, you know?”
Now this is a story all about how the Freshest family on TV is getting back together ๐คฉ๐ฅณ Join the Banks family for the #FreshPrinceReunion November 19 only on HBO Max! pic.twitter.com/8xRsGPUW4X
โ HBO Max (@hbomax) November 13, 2020
He had more insight to share during that short clip as well. Smith said some kind words about the beloved actor. “โฆOur show wouldn’t have been HALF what it was without the talent and light that was James Avery,” Smith wrote under a tribute reel on Instagram. “We all love and miss you, James.”
Hilary Banks actress Karyn Parsons and Geoffrey actor Joseph Marcelo also talked about how it felt to bring the band back together earlier this year.
“Extraordinary, extraordinary. It was something you wished for and hoped for, and when it happened, and to see people and the way we’ve changed,” Marcell laughed. “However, it was still the same. The same old jokes, it was wonderful.”
“It was beautiful. What’s really nice about the relationship that we all have is we kind of slide right back into it,” Parsons offered. “It’s like family that you haven’t seen in a while. Some of us have seen each other here and there over time, but it’s nice. It’s very familial. We just fall back in, pick up where we left off kind of thing.”
Are you down for the Fresh Prince Reunion special? Let us know in the comments! Check out the reactions below:
R.I.P.
FIRST THINGS FIRST REST IN PEACE UNCLE PHIL
โ memory lane (@bitchim999) November 13, 2020
FOR REAL pic.twitter.com/ra2jHjmXNl
Classic stuff
Saw Uncle Phil trending on Twitter so Imma just drop this classic on The TL: pic.twitter.com/JbZZMwEFKs
โ ๐ถ๏ธ ๐ง ๐น ฮฮฟฯ ฮถฮฎ ฮฮฟฯฮตฮฝ ๐น ๐จ๐บ ๐ค๐พ (@IAmGuzzyBowen) November 13, 2020
Who is cutting onions?
This scene between uncle Phil and will smith will always be goated pic.twitter.com/n6dzrQWASw
โ John (@iam_johnw) November 13, 2020
Such a wild ride
Uncle Phil and Darkskin Aunt Viv gonna make me shed unlimited gangsta tears man Iโm so geeked for this ๐ฅบ https://t.co/adNmohe9ar
โ Big Chungerโข (@HEYO_ChavLee) November 13, 2020
Cole World
First things first. RIP to Uncle Phil https://t.co/27DpBIkBxy
โ Steaminโ Willie Beamen ๐ค (@sayitaintteej) November 13, 2020
Nobody is.
Iโm not ready for when they start talking about Uncle Phil ๐ pic.twitter.com/ZNjPFwk8Tg
โ Matt Fassnacht (@fuzznacht) November 13, 2020
Need a moment
We miss uncle Phil ๐ pic.twitter.com/E4Xnti5cSb
โ Rawan albluwi (@drRawanJ) November 13, 2020
Real tears
Fresh prince of bell air reunion will 100% make me cry. I miss Uncle Phil. Uncle Phil was everybodyโs uncle.
โ Russ Parson (@NetWarriorPoet) November 13, 2020
