Carlton feels overshadowed by Will, who's become a basketball star at school.
WAR
34.3
Wins Above Replacement
“Courting Disaster” ranks #54 of 148 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 77.9 — Great. The episode packs 46 scored jokes at 2.5 per minute, averaging 6.8 on craft and 6.7 on impact, with Will landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
Coach Smiley: Half the time, I didn't want to be there. And quite frankly, I usually ducked out a little early.
Coach Smiley: Frankly, I think there's been way too much emphasis over the years... on putting the ball actually through the hoop.
Will: I'm sorry. You don't have a hoop outside. And Jazz is getting tired of standing on the second-floor balcony... holding a pool skimmer.
Will Visual Gag Absurdist ★ Rewatch Alumnus · Coach Smiley: Coach. What do you think the team's prospects are this year? For what? For winning.
Hilary: You were great. You didn't make any baskets or anything... but you looked cute in your uniform. I think it's great how you don't get it too sweaty. I guess it's 'cause you don't run too fast. Smart move.
Hilary Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch All Jokes — 46 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Philip: Being a lawyer stinks, Geoffrey. No matter how good a job you do... your clients still compare you to Harry Hamlin.
Geoffrey: Yes. The resemblance is quite striking.
Geoffrey Irony/Sarcasm Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Will: Come on, baby. Get on the soul train.
Will Character Comedy Visual Gag DJ: That was Papa's Got a Brand New Bag... recorded 25 long years ago by James Brown... the Granddaddy of Soul. We'll be right back after this message from Geritol.
Vivian: Will, don't play inside. You might break something. Or something might break you.
Vivian Escalation Misdirection ★ Rewatch Will: I'm sorry. You don't have a hoop outside. And Jazz is getting tired of standing on the second-floor balcony... holding a pool skimmer.
Will Visual Gag Absurdist ★ Rewatch Jazz: Come on, Prince, man. I know a playground in my neighborhood. 'Course we can only play half-court. They use the other end to sell stolen appliances.
Jazz Dark/Subversive Observational ★ Rewatch Vivian: Carlton's on the basketball team? How do they do? They try hard, but to tell you the truth, they haven't won a game so far.
Vivian Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Will · Jazz · Hilary: Aunt Viv, don't you think if we went down to watch them practice... Carlton would be a little embarrassed? - Let's go. - Let's go.
Will · Jazz: Man, these guys need help. Help? They need a telethon.
Carlton · Opponent · Coach: He threw that ball to me. I'm on the other team. I'm supposed to try and get it. - You don't have to be rude about it. - You two, make up right now.
Coach Smiley: Frankly, I think there's been way too much emphasis over the years... on putting the ball actually through the hoop.
Alumnus · Coach Smiley: Coach. What do you think the team's prospects are this year? For what? For winning.
Will: Mr. Thorvald, straight up, about that fire alarm: I don't know who pulled it.
Will Character Comedy Misdirection Jazz · Headmaster: Jazz, man. Of course, Mr. Jazzman.
Jazz · Headmaster: Man, I ain't even in this school. I'm willing to look past that if you are.
Coach Smiley: All right. I'll give you my car.
Will: Your team doesn't need a playbook. They need a prayer book.
Will Setup/Punchline Wordplay/Pun Will: Carlton, you got it wrong already. It's more like this. This is me. And this is you.
Will Visual Gag Character Comedy Will: This is my brain... and this is your brain. This is my handsome face. And this is your ugly little Frankenstein face.
Will: Here, Ashley, finally there's an adult in the room.
Will Setup/Punchline Irony/Sarcasm Geoffrey: You've met your match, Master William.
Geoffrey Character Comedy Physical/Slapstick Philip · Will: How'd you like it if I went into your room and started throwing chalk around? I'd be devastated.
Vivian · Philip · Geoffrey: All right. You were a football god. Okay. Who knows, it might do him some good. Nothing like a little organized sport to straighten a guy out. Yes. It did wonders for Pete Rose.
Hilary: If I didn't show up to support him, what kind of cousin would I be? It'll be three hours well spent. Three hours?
Hilary Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Will: I'm going to Disneyland!
Coach Smiley: Don't make an assumption... because you will be an ass... and the ump will shun you.
Carlton · Coach Smiley: But I was late, and I have to run 10 laps. Twenty laps. Now, shut up.
Coach Smiley · Banks: Okay, Banks, not paying attention? Ten laps. Not paying attention? Look at Will. He's asleep. Mind your own business, Banks. That's 20 laps.
Banks: Not paying attention? Look at Will. He's asleep.
Banks Observational Irony/Sarcasm Isaiah Thomas · Will: How do you do it, Prince? Easy, Isaiah. Air Fresh gym shoes. Just pass it to Will.
Hilary: You were great. You didn't make any baskets or anything... but you looked cute in your uniform. I think it's great how you don't get it too sweaty. I guess it's 'cause you don't run too fast. Smart move.
Hilary Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Hilary: He did turn around to the guy behind him once and say: 'Shut up. That's my son you're talking about.'
Hilary Setup/Punchline Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Hilary: Besides, if that basket were two feet lower... you'd be just as good as he is.
Hilary Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Geoffrey · Vivian · Jazz: True, madam, but I have found that any game can be made interesting... if you put a little money on it. $50 says Bel-Air wins it. Who'd take that bet? You rang, beautiful?
Hilary · Jazz: Jazz, you bet against Will? Yeah. He screws up, I'm loaded.
Coach Smiley: I see a lot of new faces out here tonight... faces I didn't see when we were losing. People who did not support this team in its darkest hour. All I can say is, I don't blame you one bit. Half the time, I didn't want to be there. And quite frankly, I usually ducked out a little early.
Coach Smiley: Half the time, I didn't want to be there. And quite frankly, I usually ducked out a little early.
Coach Smiley · Hunt: Very funny. That'll be 10 laps, chowderhead. What's the right answer? Pass it to Will.
Jazz · Geoffrey: Thirty, forty, fifty! There. Thanks, man. Nice doing business with you.
Geoffrey · Jazz: Would you care to place a wager? I don't know anything about snooker. Don't worry. I'll tell you everything you need to know.
Will · Carlton: Excuse me, your name is Spalding? Dad gave it to me for my birthday three years ago. It's my ball. Give it.
Will: Boy, you're lucky that was just a starter's pistol.
Will: I been here for two months. I been getting yelled at at home... screamed at at school, I been sent to detention, grounded... threatened with expulsion on almost a daily basis. I finally do something I get credit for, and you can't take it.
Will Character Comedy Escalation Will: No, I came up with all that fly stuff myself.
Carlton: Did I mention I was elected editor of the yearbook?
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