Janet Hubert-Whitten Movies

Miserable in retirement, Richard (Edward Herrmann) is so desperate to do something useful that he agrees to mentor his granddaughter Rory's business-fair project. Once he's back on the job, however, the old spark roars into flame, and soon Richard is mapping out plans for a whole new career. Meanwhile, Dean (Jared Padalecki) mulls over various methods to win Rory (Alexis Bledel) back, and Lorelai inadvertently causes friction between her prissy concierge Michel (Yanic Truesdale) and his freewheeling French mother Gisèle (Janet Hubert-Whitten). ~ All Movie Guide

A white youth is killed in a black neighborhood after a botched drug deal. The victim's racist father (Thomas G. Waites) arouses the ire of Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel), resulting in a controversial confrontation. Elsewhere, Greg (Gordon Clapp) and Jill (Andrea Thompson) investigate when an African-born youth finds his mother's butchered body in their refrigerator. And while taking sick leave, Diane (Kim Delaney) suffers a miscarriage. When originally telecast, this episode ended with a surprise musical rendition by the entire cast of "Stop in the Name of Love" (running during the end credits), as a promotion for an upcoming network special commemorating the 40th anniversary of Motown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The producers of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air weren't about to tinker with a successful format as the series entered its third season. Although West Philadelphia teenager Will Smith (played, of course, by Will Smith) has been living with his wealthy relatives in Bel-Air for three years now, he still hasn't lost his streetwise flippancy, though he does begin evincing signs of burgeoning maturity and responsibility. In the same fashion, Will's host, the Banks family, continues putting on airs and currying favor with the Bel-Air elite, though they generally get their heads out of the clouds and return to earth at the end of each episode. The most signifcant change from seasons past is the pregnancy of Will's Aunt Vivian, a plot development created to accommodate the real-life pregnancy of actress Janet Hubert-Whitten. By the end of season three, Vivian has given birth to a son named Nicholas -- whereupon she virtually disappears from view, reportedly because of creative differences between Janet Hubert-Whitten and Will Smith.
The actress left the show at the end of the year and would be replaced by Daphne Reed Maxwell for the 1994-1995 season. In this season's opener, Will returns from a summer visit to his mom in West Philly with a new haircut and flamboyant wardrobe that appalls his stuffy lawyer uncle Philip Banks (James Avery), leading to the first of several obligatory "Let's stop arguing and compromise" moments. Later highlights included Philip and Vivian's not-so-sentimental journey to their old neighborhood, which had been all but levelled during the L.A. riots; the matriculation of the Banks' youngest daughter Ashley (Tatyana M. Ali) into the newly co-ed Bel-Air Prep School; older daughter Hilary's (Karyn Parsons) new job as a TV weather girl; former Jeffersons star Sherman Hemsley's appearance as Judge Carl Robertson, against whom Philip Banks would enter into a bitterly fought political battle; another guest-star turn, this one by no less than Oprah Winfrey; and the ongoing romantic tribulations of Will's prissy, preppy cousin Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro). In one of the season's final episodes, Will gets the opportunity to perform at a comedy club -- where among the other participants is future sitcom leading man D.L. Hughley. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air enjoyed its highest-ever ratings during season three, ending up the 16th most watched program on network television. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Rap star Will Smith plays West Philadelphia teenager Will Smith (!) as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air launches its first season. Worried that the family's ghetto neighborhood is getting too dangerous for her son, Will's mom packs him up and ships him out to his rich relatives, the Banks family, in ritzy Bel-Air, CA. In the first few episodes, Will's irreverent, streetwise attitude rubs his new family the wrong way, just as their snooty airs drive him crazy; but before long, everyone likes everyone else, and it is clear that the series is in for the long haul. Most of season one is devoted to establishing the characters of the Banks clan: Wealthy, snobbish attorney Philip Banks (James Avery); his down-to-earth wife Vivian (Janet Hubert-Whitten); their nerdish, preppy son Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro); their spoiled-brat older daughter Hilary (Karyn Parsons); and their smart-mouthed younger daughter Ashley (Tatyana M. Ali). Viewing the entire culture-clash spectacle with haughty disdain (and commenting on the same with hilarious pithy putdowns) is the Banks' "veddy" proper butler Geoffrey (Joseph Marcell). Occasionally, Will's jive-talking buddy Jazz (played by Will Smith's real-life musical partner Jeff Townes) would pop into the Banks mansion. Among the highlights of season one are a guest appearance by future award-winning actor Don Cheadle as Will's "homey" Ice Tray; Jasmine Guy in another guest-star turn as a scholarship student who briefly falls for Will; Queen Latifah as a flamboyant actress who hires Hilary as an assistant but only under certain "conditions;" the sudden realization when Will and Carlton are wrongly arrested that even in Bel-Air some people judge others by the color of their skin instead of the content of their character; and a wild family Christmas party in which former President Ronald Reagan (played by impressionist John Roarke) makes an extended cameo appearance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Six years ago, Hunter (Fred Dryer) was one of four police officers involved in a drug bust in which most of the dealers were killed and $6 million was recovered. At the time, the surviving dealer insisted that there was actually $10 million involved--and that one of the four cops absconded with the rest of the money. Though Hunter managed to avoid suspicion, the lives of the other three officers were ruined, and one died before his time. Now, Hunter's former partner has been murdered--and in a last desperate effort to clear the dead man's name, Hunter must track down the elusive "fourth man." Featured in the cast is a pre-Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Janet Hubert-Whitten. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide