Series clips illustrate family recollections as the kids put together a scrapbook for Vivian and Philip, who want to renew their vows on their anniversary.
WAR
21.3
Wins Above Replacement
“The Way We Were” ranks #132 of 148 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 70.2 — Solid. The episode packs 49 scored jokes at 3.5 per minute, averaging 6.5 on craft and 6.4 on impact, with Will 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: How come they just couldn't give him some cereal?
Will Observational Callback Callback Will: Well, that's right, y'all, and that's why I came out here... 'cause you people really need help.
Will Meta/Self-Referential Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Uncle Phil · Will: I'm guessing. If only that power could be used for good.
Will: Come on, Uncle Phil, it didn't work on your wedding night... and it ain't going to work now.
Will Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Will: So, where shall we scatter the ashes?
Will Dark/Subversive Escalation All Jokes — 49 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Will Misdirection Physical/Slapstick Uncle Phil · Geoffrey · Will: Exceptional buns, Geoffrey. - Thank you, sir. Yes, I think he's been doing the StairMaster.
Will: Or 25 days ago, for that matter.
Will Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Hilary: I wish I could find a guy to lie to me like that.
Hilary Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Will: G, how's he supposed to remember what he had for dinner 25 years ago?
Uncle Phil: Well, we started out with some chicken pot pie... and some delicious coleslaw. And then there was some really, really great baked beans, with, what, molasses. And for dessert, we had a big huge chunk of chocolate devil's food cake.
Uncle Phil · Will: I'm guessing. If only that power could be used for good.
Uncle Phil · Vivian: Maybe I'll go upstairs to try to cheer up your mother. I'm so fat! On second thought, I'll call her from the car.
Carlton: Look, here's me at the beach. And here's me in my carriage. Look, and here's me at the park.
Ashley: I knew we should have gotten them those Ginsu knives.
Ashley Deadpan/Understatement Observational Will: Well, that's right, y'all, and that's why I came out here... 'cause you people really need help.
Will Meta/Self-Referential Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Will: Carlton Banks is wearing an elegant, yet masculine cotton-silk combination... designed by Will St. LeCarlton.
Will Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Will: Say... is that Philip Banks or Blair Underwood?
Will Observational Character Comedy Uncle Phil: I look like Little Richard, attorney at law.
Philip: A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop, a-lop-bam-boom.
Philip Physical/Slapstick Character Comedy Callback Will: Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the star of Heidi Comes To Harlem.
Will Wordplay/Pun Observational Ashley: Mom, if you make me go to school like this... I'm going to write a book when I grow up.
Ashley Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Hilary: Welcome to the Briny Deep... where none of our prices are ever too steep. We've got fresh fish, you can look in our tank. To get to the bathroom, make a left at the plank. Follow me.
Hilary Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun Hilary: Will Smith is the scum of the earth.
Hilary Meta/Self-Referential Escalation ★ Rewatch Hilary: Your Montrose vase... attracts dust like a magnet!
Hilary Absurdist Character Comedy Jazz: Philip, I have $1,000 with your name on it. Do the family a favor, get Viv some cooking lessons.
Jazz Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Ashley · Jazz: Vroom, vroom? Very clever. I'll get you two. Vroom, vroom, vroom.
Will: How come they just couldn't give him some cereal?
Will Observational Callback Callback Uncle Phil: And if you put me on the Bench, I'll take a real bite out of crime. Bite. Bite. Bite.
Hilary: Kill him? I want to know the name of his decorator.
Hilary Misdirection Character Comedy Will · Vivian: Look, a Donna Karan suit, right in the middle of the kitchen floor. What color? You gotta come out to see that.
Will: I think it's time you came out of the closet.
Will Wordplay/Pun Misdirection Carlton · Will: Will, check out the talent. She's cool. She's hot. She's... your baby sister, man!
Will: Hey, I didn't know Mom was a ventriloquist. Look at that funny-looking little dummy on her knee.
Will Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Ashley: Ashley, that's Carlton.
Ashley Deadpan/Understatement Callback Callback Will: So, where shall we scatter the ashes?
Will Dark/Subversive Escalation Uncle Phil · Will: I was eating. That narrows it down.
Jazz: I'm guessing the bride won't be wearing white.
Jazz Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Hilary: I wouldn't draw you a cartoon.
Hilary Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Will: My family. Can't live with 'em, can't turn your back on 'em.
Will Observational Wordplay/Pun Carlton: Well, Bob, let's back it up for a moment and define this thing called friendship. You see, the ancient Mayans...
Jazz: I'm sorry, Bob, this is a bad time.
Jazz Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Will: You gotta act like you got this tic, right? Like the army did this experiment on you, right, that just went terribly wrong. You're like, back up! Back up! Mind your business, that's all. Mind your business.
Will Character Comedy Physical/Slapstick Ashley · Carlton: I work all day trying to keep this house nice for you. I cook and clean and work my fingers to the bone. And this is the thanks I get? Well, I bust my hump at school all day... and you just sit around here watching soap operas and eating bonbons.
Ashley · Carlton: Wait a minute. We sound like an old married couple. So now I'm old.
Carlton: And I gave you the best years of my life.
Carlton · Ashley: No, you ate them all without offering me one. Can't have my toothpick, either. Did I ask you?
Ashley · Carlton · Ashley: What's the magic word? Now. Guess again.
Will: Come on, Uncle Phil, it didn't work on your wedding night... and it ain't going to work now.
Will Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Will: Everybody, duck. I think she's about to blow.
Will Physical/Slapstick Observational Jazz: It's just, always a bridesmaid, never a bride.
Jazz Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Uncle Phil: No, I don't. I take her for much more than that. For my lover... my life companion... my very best friend.
Uncle Phil · Vivian: Thanks, kids, but... Look, Vivian, there's something I have to tell you. I lost my wedding ring. You mean this one? You found it! Yeah, I took it to have it inscribed. See, look. 'To a hundred years more.'
Top Episodes — The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
