Ben Vereen plays Will's long-lost father, who breezes into town and promises Will the moon, which angers an unforgiving Philip.
WAR
33.5
Wins Above Replacement
“Papas Got A Brand New Excuse” ranks #43 of 148 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 79.0 — Elite. The episode packs 36 scored jokes at 1.8 per minute, averaging 7.2 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
Geoffrey: The master lives a life of ease / While we live life upon our knees / Waste not your tears / And save your breath / For soon he'll die a violent death
Geoffrey Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Geoffrey Deadpan/Understatement Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Geoffrey: You're not gonna hit him, are you? Because I don't wanna miss that.
Geoffrey Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Will: I just wish I hadn't wasted my money buying this stupid present.
Will Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Hilary: He's like a genie on Valium. Make a wish, hurry.
Hilary Setup/Punchline Observational ★ Rewatch All Jokes — 36 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Will · Carlton: Man, you ever feel like you was being watched? / All the time. When you look this good, you have to get used to it.
Will · Carlton: When you talk that stupid, you have to get used to this, man: [Will presumably hits Carlton]
Will · Carlton: See that dude over there? He been scoping me since he got here. I think he's a cop. / Turn yourself in, Will. It's the only way.
Will: You're right. You're right. [pause] Wait a minute, man. I ain't do nothing.
Will Misdirection Reaction Beat Carlton: Uncle Lou, it's me, Carlton. Did you bring me anything?
Carlton Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Carlton: I guess we all have a lot of catching up to do. Let's see, where do I begin? Well, when I was 6, we all moved from the hood... And here I am today. Excuse me.
Carlton Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Lou · Will: When did you get so tall? / Mostly during the '80s.
Lou Will Setup/Punchline Observational ★ Rewatch Carlton: Wow, 14 years. You must feel like you're on a roller coaster of emotions.
Carlton Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Carlton: Let me hold you. [presumably awkward hug]
Carlton Physical/Slapstick Cringe/Discomfort Lou: Still a stone cold fox.
Lou Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Will: I asked Geoffrey to tell you. I thought it might be more fun this way. And I was right.
Will Setup/Punchline Irony/Sarcasm Will: I stopped on the way home. I had a few drinks. I'm kidding, I'm kidding. I'm fine, I'm fine.
Will Misdirection Character Comedy Vivian: If I can stop him from coming home.
Vivian Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement Hilary: Will's father is a deadbeat who left him and his mom flat.
Hilary Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Vivian Deadpan/Understatement Irony/Sarcasm Philip: Why is there a truck parked in my...? What are you doing here?
Vivian: Who knows if we'd ever see you again? Come on.
Ashley · Will: You mean he's your... / Yeah, that's right. He's my Lou.
Ashley: Then why'd you run out on him?
Ashley Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Philip: Why didn't you send any back to the wife and child you abandoned?
Philip Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Geoffrey: Shall I call 911?
Geoffrey Deadpan/Understatement Reaction Beat Will: Please, you was up there screaming so loud... I thought I was sitting next to Patti LaBelle.
Will Setup/Punchline Observational Vivian: Okay, fine. He's puffed up like a blowfish and bald as an egg.
Vivian Setup/Punchline Visual Gag Geoffrey: Were your ears burning, sir?
Geoffrey Deadpan/Understatement Meta/Self-Referential Will · Philip: Fourteen. / Excuse me, 14 years.
Geoffrey: The master lives a life of ease / While we live life upon our knees / Waste not your tears / And save your breath / For soon he'll die a violent death
Geoffrey Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Geoffrey Deadpan/Understatement Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Hilary: Daddy, I had a little accident at the mall. I'm okay. But I totaled your MasterCard.
Hilary Setup/Punchline Wordplay/Pun Hilary: He's like a genie on Valium. Make a wish, hurry.
Hilary Setup/Punchline Observational ★ Rewatch Carlton · Philip: I hate you! / Oh, yeah? Well, take a number.
Geoffrey · Philip: Here comes Mr. Sunshine. / Shut up, Geoffrey.
Philip: And yet, it's come back with a vengeance.
Philip Character Comedy Observational Vivian: Somebody's being selfish all right, but it isn't Will.
Vivian Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Geoffrey: You're not gonna hit him, are you? Because I don't wanna miss that.
Geoffrey Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Geoffrey: You're not gonna hit him, are you? Because I don't wanna miss that.
Geoffrey Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Will: I just wish I hadn't wasted my money buying this stupid present.
Will Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Top Episodes — The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air