**fresh prinCe/vivian banks**

  • Wanna Join? New users you can now register lightning fast using your Facebook or Twitter accounts.

emma

Sicc OG
Apr 5, 2006
5,237
2,051
0
38
#23
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Fresh_Prince_of_Bel-Air_characters#Vivian_Smith-Banks



Vivian Smith-Banks
The character of Vivian Smith-Banks (Aunt Viv) was portrayed by Janet Hubert-Whitten from 1990 to 1993, and by Daphne Reid (credited as Daphne Maxwell-Reid) from 1993 to 1996. This change of the actress portraying her also causes Will to comment on the change of her appearance in the opening episodes of the new season. She is a professor of Black History and Literature at an undisclosed university, and in one early episode takes a temporary job as a teacher for a unit in Black History at Bel-Air Academy, the fictional upscale preparatory high school attended by Will and Carlton. She has three sisters: Helen, Janice, and Will's mother Vy (Viola).
Vivian's personality and role in the show changes over the run of the series. During the Janet Hubert-Whitten years she's a no-nonsense, forthright, career-minded woman who plays a part in the show equal to the character of Philip. After Maxwell-Reid took the part in 1993 and baby Nicky was added to the cast, the writers seemed to de-emphasize her former persona and generally portrayed her as a loving, supportive, non-confrontational homemaker with a smaller role in the show's plotlines.
 

pAc0

Sicc OG
Feb 8, 2006
2,174
64
0
61
#25
off topic.......anybody remember the tv sitcom "Silver Spoons" the best thing about the show was that the kid had an arcade in his house and he would ride around on his mini-train that was layed out throughout the house......

the reason silver spoons popped in my head was because they did the same thing with the "wife"......they replaced her wit another actress....

this happens all the time......epecially with sitcoms, but it was weird watching Chapelle's Show: Lost Season and having Charlie and his buddy introduce the sketches...... without having chapelle do it.
 
Jun 30, 2002
1,351
0
36
#31
ZigZagBurna said:
off topic.......anybody remember the tv sitcom "Silver Spoons" the best thing about the show was that the kid had an arcade in his house and he would ride around on his mini-train that was layed out throughout the house......

the reason silver spoons popped in my head was because they did the same thing with the "wife"......they replaced her wit another actress....

this happens all the time......epecially with sitcoms, but it was weird watching Chapelle's Show: Lost Season and having Charlie and his buddy introduce the sketches...... without having chapelle do it.
carlton (alfonso r something) was also in silver spoons... maybe that's why it reminded you that too...
 

og MS

Member since 1997
Apr 25, 2002
5,533
100
63
50
www.killavalley.com
#33
Janet Hubert-Whitten left the show over contract issues and creative differences with Will Smith, who by the last season was the executive producer of the show. Daphne Maxwell-Reid was her replacement. Many fans point to this cast change as the moment when the show "jumped the shark."