Will proposes a black history class be instituted at Bel-Air Academy, and gets a surprise when Aunt Viv arrives to teach it.
WAR
28.4
Wins Above Replacement
“The Ethnic Tip” ranks #119 of 148 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 72.1 — Solid. The episode packs 44 scored jokes at 2.1 per minute, averaging 6.7 on craft and 6.6 on impact, with Carlton landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
Get weekly comedy rankings
Join comedy fans getting new analyses, score drops, and the funniest moments each week. Free, no spam.
Top Jokes
Will: Last night, I had a dream that I went to the prom with Harriet Tubman.
Will Absurdist Escalation Callback Vivian: You're looking at her. See you in a month.
Vivian Setup/Punchline Escalation Geoffrey: Because I've always been partial to food and shelter.
Geoffrey Deadpan/Understatement Observational Professor Smiley: I don't know a lick more than what's in this book. So forget it.
All Jokes — 44 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Carlton: My guess is you don't have the right stuff.
Will: Sorry about that, Coach, but... I thought I'd run a few laps before class. Help out the old basketball team.
Will Character Comedy Misdirection Professor Smiley: Professor Smiley. And for that little slip of the tongue, 20 laps.
Carlton · Will: I think I aced this one. How about you, Will? I think I did just fine.
Will: And the little smiley face you use to dot your 'I'... shows that you got way too much time on your hands.
Will Observational Setup/Punchline Will: Handsome movie star, who will only be happy... if you spend obscene amounts of money.
Will Observational Character Comedy Carlton: One look at my signature and he deduced that I was valiant... ingenious, and have the strength of 10.
Carlton Character Comedy Setup/Punchline Will: No, Uncle Phil. You deserve a fresh piece of paper.
Will Visual Gag Setup/Punchline Carlton: Getting you and Mom to sign his 'Hall of Shame' History exam.
Ashley Reaction Beat Deadpan/Understatement Will · Vivian · Carlton: You will? You will? You will?
Headmaster Armstrong: This should certainly be fly.
Headmaster Armstrong: The last movie I saw was Dead Poets Society.
Headmaster Armstrong: With the right headmaster... that would have been a completely different story.
Professor Smiley: I don't know a lick more than what's in this book. So forget it.
Headmaster Armstrong · Uncle Phil: Article 4, Section 9. / Where'd you get ahold of that book?
Professor Smiley: A month off? Armstrong, I think the kid's got something here.
Vivian: You're looking at her. See you in a month.
Vivian Setup/Punchline Escalation Will · Carlton: What, are you tripping? How do you figure that? Because the teacher's my mommy.
Aunt Viv · Carlton: What did you call me, Mr. Banks? / What I always call you: 'Mom.' / My name is not 'Mom.' My name is Professor Banks.
Vivian: That was very well put, Mr. Smith, but you're wrong.
Vivian Setup/Punchline Escalation Vivian: That covers about 250 years, Mr. Smith. Care to narrow it down a bit?
Vivian Setup/Punchline Deadpan/Understatement Will: That's what I meant.
Will Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Carlton: Congratulations, Will. What an honor.
Carlton Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Will · Carlton: This course was a brilliant idea. She's your mom!
Carlton: He used to say, 'Extra work for you... means extra work for me.'
Carlton Character Comedy Observational Callback Carlton: I'm Carlton Banks. That's right, the Carlton Banks.
Carlton: Excuse me, miss. Maybe you can help me out here. I've lost the feeling in my lips.
Carlton Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Will: It's right around the corner from the Pencil School?
Will Wordplay/Pun Cringe/Discomfort Vivian: Look at you. Honestly, Will... those eyebrows!
Vivian Visual Gag Character Comedy Carlton: The tall one really liked me.
Carlton Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Callback Geoffrey: Because I've always been partial to food and shelter.
Geoffrey Deadpan/Understatement Observational Hilary · Geoffrey: It's like, I mean... Leave me alone! You're hired.
Will: My body needs a certain amount of microwaves.
Will Absurdist Wordplay/Pun Will: Last night, I had a dream that I went to the prom with Harriet Tubman.
Will Absurdist Escalation Callback Carlton · Will: Umoja. What? Umoja. It's Swahili for 'unity.' Dope, huh?
Carlton Reaction Beat Deadpan/Understatement Carlton · Will: After you, Will. / No, you go ahead first. / I insist. / She's your mom. / This class was your idea.
Carlton: I hope you don't take this the wrong way... but you made our lives a living nightmare.
Carlton: This whole ugly episode... it's not going to affect my grade, will it?
Carlton: And you're very beautiful, Mommy.
Carlton: And you're very beautiful, Mommy.
Carlton Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Will: Aunt Viv, I read The Autobiography of Malcolm X three times.
Will Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Top Episodes — The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air