February 25, 2022 • 35 mins
In this episode, hosts DJ Jazzy Jeff and Aida Osman talk to actor Adrian Holmes (Uncle Phil) about getting the call to play an iconic part, paying homage to James Avery (the original Uncle Phil) while taking the role in a new direction, and how success can look different to different people. Watch Will grapple with his own conception of success as he struggles to sustain fraying friendships from his old life while remaining true to himself in the fifth episode of Bel-Air, streaming now on Peacock.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
The Official Podcast is produced by iHeart Podcast Network and Peacock.
Hey everyone, Welcome to episode three of bel Air the
Official Podcast. I Am d J Jazzy Jeff him Ada Austin.
Every time you say your name, I'm literally shocked that
I'm here with you. Uh. Every week we get a
little more excited to run through what happened on this
(00:23):
week's episode of bel Air. Jeff, how are you feeling?
How you feeling? We just watched episode five. What do
you think about this one? This one really hit home,
just the whole concept of the different views of success
and how everybody is approaching them, and that becomes a
major crossroad a lot of times with people of just
(00:44):
you know, I want this, you want this, and our
journeys don't align. Yeah. So yeah, that that hit home
all right, and the disappointments. It was really hard and
genius watching Will cleverly dodge Tray every time he mentions
coming home to build help you, like, he'll get distracted,
or he'll take candy from vivor he'll do something just
to dodge it. But Tray knew that though he felt,
(01:06):
you think, oh man, I kept sitting there saying okay,
he did it once, he did it twice. When he
did it the third time, you kind of saw this
looking Tray's eyes, it was kind of like he's deflecting.
He's from West Philly. He knows when people do that,
and he knows, well, that's his boy that threw up together. Right.
It makes me start to think about like Will is
excited to being bell Air and he has this whole
(01:29):
world of new opportunities. It's a new version of success
for him, and he can't bring Tray with him. Imposed
you want to level up and leave my broke gast behind.
You thought I'd be cool with that ship if I
went to Disneyland. First. We're supposed to be boys. You're
supposed to be happy for me when some great ship
comes in my life because you the special one off
(01:50):
I forgot You're gonna go off and do big time ship.
And what I'm just supposed to sit around and wait
for you to tell me about it is that it
will oh because you've the outs. Trey can't live in
that mansion with them, you know. So there's kind of
this like guilt occurring with Will. He doesn't want to
tell him. Do you feel like I mean your DJ
(02:10):
Jazzy Jeff, you came up with Will Smith. Y'all pretty
much had this story that is happening in the show.
Did you ever feel that growing up and finding success?
Oh my gosh, you still feel it. It took me
a while to really understand that I had a group
of friends that I grew up with. I had a
group of friends that I started DJ and wood. I
had a group of friends that I went to high
school with, and then it was the Jazzy Jeff from
(02:31):
Fresh Prince group of friends, and then my producer group
of friends that sometimes they all don't match, you know,
sometimes you meet people with different goals, you know. I
remember when Will and j L made the move to
l A. The entire time that I was on the
Fresh Prince, I commuted what do you mean? Like we shot.
(02:52):
Once we wrapped Friday night, I was at the airport
on a red off flight home, Like I never moved
to California. So I relate to this so much because
that was me. I was holding on to something. My
music wouldn't sound the same, my lifestyle wouldn't be the same.
These are all the things that we're playing in my head,
(03:12):
and I never forget Will and Jail said, you know,
once you move, you'll understand a lot more why you
should have moved. You know, Philly is my home and
I love it to death, but in order to get
where I needed to go, I needed to leave. And
not only are you leaving the physical place, you're leaving people.
(03:34):
You're leaving people, and you're leaving a mindset. Yes, yes,
I think I remember you were leaving your mindset. When
I first moved to l A. My first I was
couple of years ago. I went out to go find
writing jobs before I was writing for Big Mouth, and
I journal and diary whatever. And I looking back at
my journal and the first thing I wrote was because
my first day in l A, my first time seeing,
(03:55):
my first time moving around as an adult, like a
creative adult, and I wrote, damn it so much money
to get out here. It is so much money. And
I didn't even conceptualize how many opportunities were in l
A until I was in the city, foot on the ground,
meeting the people who had the same drive and ambition
and you know ingenuity as me. So yeah, it is
(04:16):
about leaving a mindset. It's about being around like minded people,
and those groups don't always match up. They really don't know,
and we definitely see that happen in the show. We
see all different types of success. We see that's a
huge through line in the show. And success isn't always financial.
That is one of the biggest misconceptions that everybody thinks.
(04:36):
You know, if I make this big, huge amount of money,
that's going to solve all of the problems. And success
is measured different depending on the individual. Somebody's success could
be money. Somebody's success could be family. Somebody's success could
be making a living doing what they absolutely enjoy and
to to sit and watch. I think trade version of
(05:00):
success is growing old in West Philly and it's not
like that anymore. For Will, was there a moment in
your career where you realize like you had to cut
some people off because having them in your life was
not allowing you to grow? Um? Yeah, yeah, and that's hard.
I think sometimes you have to realize that people have
(05:22):
a position, and their position in your life may not
encompass your entire life. You know, you have people that
you play basketball with on a Saturday and that's their position,
and it's just unfortunate that sometimes when you grow up
with these people You spend every waking moment with these people,
(05:43):
only to get to a point that there's a forking
road and you start to drift into different areas. That
day one friend becomes the every fourth Saturday of the
month basketball friend, and you have to be willing to
accept that and pray that they are. You know, I
(06:04):
leaned towards the black women characters on the show obviously
because I can see myself so much more clearly in them.
Sometimes there's moments where the characters versions of success conflict,
like we were talking about, like aunt Vib's version of
success is making sure Hillary has this understood career path
and it's makes sense and it's respectable for black women.
(06:26):
But Hillary's version of success is doing the exact opposite
of what her mama tells her to do and painting
that out for herself. And it's just interesting. It's interesting
to see, especially in this episode, the conversation between Ashley
and Hillary about Ashley's sexual identity and to see how
that's handled so delicately, so beautifully successfully is really the
(06:47):
word that I could use for I love all the
depictions of the black women in the show. I think
that the writers did such a good job of making
sure that we were advocated for and spoken for in
a real way. It's beautiful. It really was. Who do
we have on the show today? Who do we have
on the show today? We're finally bringing on but one
of the actors and let me not say final least
episode three, let me chill, but today's guests, it's a
(07:09):
very poised, talented Adrian Holmes, who plays Uncle Phil. We're
gonna be talking to him about success and what it
means for him to be successful as Uncle Phil, but
also for Adrian factor. Adrian Holmes is a Canadian actor
in both film and television. He is award winning. He
has Canada's Leo Award for his portrayal of Nick Barron
and Inner City Policeman in the series nineteen two. He
(07:29):
splits his time between Los Angeles, London and Vancouver. I
don't know where he finds all that time, but he
did also grow up in Vancouver. And I know this
is a super meaningful role for Adrian. Just playing a
character such iconic as Uncle Phil. I know he's just gassed.
I think Adrian Holmes as his own rendition of it
(07:49):
that deserves its own respect as well. He did a
beautiful job. Yes, So here's our conversation with Adrian. We
are very very fortunate be joined by our first actor
on the podcast who was in the show. And don't
tell the others, but my favorite performance it was I'm
not gonna lie. Um. Adrian Holmes is here. He played
(08:11):
Uncle Phil, and we have so many questions for him. Hey,
how are you guys doing? Thanks for having me. Wow,
you've had quite the week, I'm sure doing a lot
of press. How are you feeling, ah man, exhausted, but
but excited at the same time, you know, just so
many emotions, just excited and happy to be on this
journey and this legacy part of this iconic show that
(08:35):
we all grew up with. Well, congratulations, truly congratulations. You've
been acting for many, many years, but this feels this
feels big. This is a huge breakthrough too to get
to the try Uncle Phil. This. Yeah, this is a
level up for me for sure. This is the this
is the biggest, most important job I've had in my career.
He's Uncle Phil, He's America's uncle, America's dad. You know,
everybody looked up to him and which you know, their dad,
(08:56):
you know, had a lot of characteristics and qualities that
he had and including myself, you know. So it's uh,
it's a blessing to be able to play him for
this generation. How did you feel when you got that call, Like,
when that call came in, yeah, and someone was telling
you you got the role as Uncle Phil, how did
(09:16):
you feel? You know, Jazz? Honestly, it was such a
confusing time because like I was excited, of course, because
this is Uncle Phil, but I was confused as and like,
is this a mistake? Is this really happening? Like it
It was definitely an out of body experience. I was
working on a movie at the time when I got
the call to audition for the show, and I initially
(09:39):
didn't think there was a role for me in the
show because I thought they might stick to the original, um,
you know, formula of the characters, so I I didn't
think that they were going to look look at me.
But when I got the call and I got I
read the scenes, the scenes I really connected with and
I had I just said, you know, let me just
have fun, let me just go in there and have
a great time. And um I did that, went back
(10:01):
to work and it was a few hours later than
I got a call sing that I've been paying up
and I've been shortlistening for the role and uh and
and so at that point I was just like, okay, um,
this this might be actually happening, Like I may have
a shot here. And and then I found out I
had a chemistry test with Cassandra Freeman, who plays Viv
(10:22):
and who happens to be a friend of mine. We've
worked together on two projects prior to this, and so
the chemistry was already there. So we we got in
the in the zoom together and did the scenes and
she was also like, you, uncle Phil, what you know?
And then when when we started doing the scenes, uh,
and I dropped in, you know, she was like, Okay,
I get it now, and and vice versa. I mean
(10:43):
I always, you know, envisioned hers when I heard they
were casting this, I immediately said Cassandra Freeman. Then a
couple of days after the chemistry read, I got a
call from my team saying it's a done deal. It's
a wrap negotiations. Have done your own, uncle Phil. And
I literally just was on the street and I was
running up and down the street in traffic like people like,
(11:05):
don't you don't get killed? Before you get the job,
you know. But honestly, it was like I always say,
like that that exploding head emoji, that was me at
that time, and it was just again, it was just like,
you know, you work so hard to you know, be
successful in this business, and you know, success is a journey,
not a destination, and it's all those moments in between
(11:26):
along your journey that you know you have all these
successful pockets. And this for me was just like, yeah,
it's just I felt like I could exhale and you know,
just really enjoy the fruits of my labor now because
I just always wanted, as every actor does, a platform
to really show what you can do, you know, a
large enough platform to show the world what you're capable of.
(11:49):
And this was this is it, this is this is it.
And I just said, you know what, I'm just gonna
make sure that I that I'm I'm I'm prepared and
I do this justice and I know my assignment and
I'm to serve, you know, and just you know, tribute
to the late grade James avery Man, just respect to
him and you know, God is good, you know, and
(12:10):
honestly serve you did you really did think the first
episode when you came on, I was like, Oh, where
are they going with this? Where are they going with this?
Because if you look at old Uncle Phil, who probably
I think the difference between your character and old Uncle
Phil is a couple of commas. Yo, Uncle Phil. So
sorry to interrupt, he's crazy man, Justlydias Hell. It's like
(12:32):
the rock Nation brunch out here, who with a pleasure word?
Um right, listen. I had a lot of time to
think on my flight, and I just wanted to say
I appreciate you for whatever you did do America. Give
me some love, Give me some love. I'm glad you say.
We'll talk later. Let me look at you. Uh damn.
(12:54):
Definitely a couple of commas, because the new version of
Bellaire is definitely playing with success and black success as
far as wealth and what it means to be successful.
What do you think that when you were coming in
to do this role too, What did that mean for
you for black people on success and does that necessarily
mean success having wealth? Oh? Man, it meant so much
(13:15):
to me because you know, it's so important that we
show the other side of the coin when it comes
to you know, telling positive black stories and showing affluent successful,
high vibrational characters and families, you know, because that is us.
It's black excellence. Our show was Black excellence personified. That
is what our show is. And you know it's as
(13:36):
Morgan Cooper. You know, he's incredible his his vision. You know,
he's a true artist and he he really showed the
full spectrum of the black experience and on this, you know,
and so unfortunately, you know, a lot of people they
focus on the on the stereotype negative, um, drugs, violence,
all that stuff. That's that's one side and that that happens,
(13:57):
that exists for sure, but there's a whole another that
is that is our reality as well that we need
to really um just showcase more and put in the
spotlight more and and um, you know, because we don't
want to you know, our our young black boys and
girls to grow up just thinking that that is you know,
(14:19):
their lives, you know, and that they don't they can't
aspire to be bigger and better and and and just
to be presidents and you know leaders. And I think
that that's what our show does and I'm so proud
of that that it it shows both sides of the
coins and in a beautiful way it's a balanced and
I think the timing is perfect as well. Um, to
(14:41):
have a show like this with the the way the
world is, you start at certain times. We need hope,
we need to we need high vibration because the planet
is sitting, you know, in a in a low vibrational
state right now. So we need as much as many
shows like this as possible to be uh, you know,
for us to be exposed to I know he was
going to I'm with a spiritual eloquence. I just knew it.
(15:02):
I felt it in myself. But what's interesting to me
is the show is not afraid to play with the
criticism that your character still gets or Yama crowd gets
because of the black wealth, like the peer peers in
his black community. The wealth doesn't save him and protect
him from the criticism of his peers. So how did
how did you approach that and how did you convey that?
And you're acting too yeah, you know, yeah, you're you're
(15:25):
you know, you're running for for d A and you're
trying to get your people on your side, and all
they think about is how much money you know, and
how big is your house and how many commas right,
and and it's like you know with the scene I
did with Big Boy, which was shout out to big Boy. Um,
that was a lot of fun to shoot that. How
much you pay for your crib? I'm not getting into
(15:47):
all that. I mean, it is a nice crib. It's
in bail A. I've I've been there. Bro, You've got
a nice house to do, have a nice house. But
I'm not running for a district attorney, Emma. Next caller, Hello,
how many millions are you sitting on? There are more
important issues to talk about besides the money. Yeah, he
was just disappointed, you know, um that he just was
(16:09):
expecting more and and he really wants his people to
understand that. Listen, it's it's hard work, works. You know,
things aren't going to just happen by you just thinking
about it. And he's a self made man, you know,
he's you know, he's from Yamaco and North Carolina and
he's seeing his family losing their farm and go through
(16:30):
a lot, and he said, you know what, I'm going
to make sure that I'm going to be in a
position where I can create change and I can, um,
you know, fix this, this this broken crooked system, And
so that other families don't have to go through what
my family went through. And he made a point about
getting you know, the land back for his family and
(16:50):
and he did that. So he just wants to beat
that figure that will be like a beacon of what
can be, you know, what's possible. I just really really
took that seriously when I was preparing for this role.
It's just I wanted to be a real anchor and uh,
just a positive symbol of hope for for the black community.
(17:12):
Are there any parallels with this role in your actual life?
You know, especially with the this success part um. You know,
it was really interesting that with all of the success
that Phil had, he still didn't have the success in
the black community, you know, And and that happens a lot.
(17:35):
You know, sometimes you make it and the community that
you come from, you know, it's kind of looking at
you like you're not authentic, you're not real. Um. Have
you ever had any of those kind of situations? Personally?
For me, it's very important to know where you come
from and to you know, give back. And uh, I
(17:59):
grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, um and most of
my work has been done there. Um And so I
I really you know, try to honor and respect my
community as best as I can. Now, I don't know
what everybody's saying. You know, there's people in the pockets
that could be saying this, that and the other about you.
(18:19):
And I know not everything is positive, but you can
you know, there's things that I can. I know what
I'm in control of and what I'm not in control of,
and what people think is out of my control and
it's none of my business. I just try to be
uh as authentic as I can to me and be kind,
you know, doing to others you have them do to you,
And just put my faith in God again, just trust
(18:40):
him and let him guide my path because I always say,
if you'll, if you'll take me to it, you'll get
me through it, no matter how much fear I have
and stress that I'm feeling in a in a moment um.
So that's basically how I've been living my life and
how I've operated in my career. Even with every role
I get. You know, even if I look at a rule,
I'm like, I don't know about this it, but there's
(19:00):
something in it that I might not see that later
on will then kind of come to the surface and
I'm like, oh, there it is. That's what I was
supposed to. That's why I was supposed to to to
play this part because of this message that the world
needs to to hear, especially in this role as Uncle Phil.
How do you think Phil has to deal with that?
I mean, it's it is. It's a lot of pressure
(19:23):
because he wants to you know, his fraternity Alpha Fi Alpha,
you know, shout out to the Alpha. Is the fact
that you know, he he didn't expect that. I don't
think when he showed up at that at the Crawfish rally,
he he thought that he was going to have the
respect and the love from his his people. And I
will stopping nothing and I mean nothing to serve the people.
(19:46):
Oh people, How the hell are you going to serve
the people when you don't know what the people have
to worry about on a daily basis? And I think
we both know that's unfair. Don't tell me about what's unfair.
When Franklin Super Kitchen was foreclosed in the part, we
held phone banks and in town halls trying to keep
it open. Forward the people, We the brothers. Meanwhile, you're
(20:09):
sitting behind the golden gates of bell Air calling your
damn money. You want me to apologize for being successful?
Why I would decided is that what you're telling me
who many beg and plead for forgiveness because I was
working hard to build a life for my family. We
were your family too. So when they threw that in
his face, that oh you know you're you're now Mr
bell Air, you forgot about us, it was definitely like, oh,
(20:31):
because what happens is you get tunnel vision when you're
when you're real, you know, successful, uh, driven person individual,
you're so tunnel vision that you really forget to see
a lot of the things that are happening in the
side of the wings right, not on not on purpose,
it's it just happens because they're so driven to accomplish
(20:53):
your goal uh and see it through. Uh. And so
his boys reminded him, look, you know, where were you
when so and so was going through their their problems
and their issues. You know, we were all there as brothers.
We were there. Where were you? You were busy behind
the golden gates, Bellair? And that really just made him go, wow, yeah, jeez,
(21:16):
because that's not feels hard. But he realized that, you
know what, some things get get taught, you know, lost
the in the in the shadows and can get misconstrued.
And so he when he stepped on stage and was
pressured by his nephew to do the stepping, that's when
(21:36):
he clicked for him. And he was like, you know what, yeah,
you know, this is who I am. This is my
my authentic self. These are my roots, this is where
I came from, and they are responsible for who I
am today. So he got in there boom, and I
know that after that he was just like as exhausted
as he was because you know, he hasn't done that
(21:56):
in a while. He was just feeling so he was
feeling so accomplished and just so satisfied and so um loved.
He could feel the love from you know, Reverend Lamar
and and and and all the rest of the guys,
and it was just like he missed that. He really
missed that, and you know that's like in his muscle memory.
(22:18):
That's what you loved about your character was that your
character consistently shocks me and shocks the audience. Like I
never expected you to do that at the event with
your brothers, and I also didn't expect you to say
defund the police at the Roller Ring. I think defunding
the police is critical. Our justice system is failing us
(22:43):
and the wholesale change needs to be made from policing
to prosecution. And I prepared to fight for a new approach,
even if that makes me unpopular with the Mayor's office
or the the l a p D. There's consistently these
things that your character does kind of put seen the boundaries. Um.
But back to success, because there's so many different ways.
(23:05):
I think all the black men in this show are
conceptualizing success. You know, for Carlton, it's social success, success
at school. For Will, it's hooping. For you, it's trying
to get this campaign off the ground. But there's a
shakedown scene between you and your son in episode five,
and this is the concept now of like moral success.
(23:25):
To me, Why what the way Ali just absolutely dragged
you in that scene for having no moral compass for
saving Will. It's an entire situation. My question for you
is do you think that Carlton really has grounds to
be mad? I think that Phil wasn't giving Carlton as
much attention as he may have liked, and what would needed? Uh?
(23:50):
And so when Will comes in the picture, it's it's
you know, it's all Will. It's Will Will Will, because
you know, he's a fish out of water and we
want to make sure that he's is comfortable and things.
You know, the transition is smooth for him. So, um,
I think there's a bit of jealousy there. Uh that
that that happens and and and is just expected to happen.
(24:11):
But Phil just has to find the balance. Success for
Phil is having a happy home, harmony in the house. Um,
you know, having his wife to be happy and fulfill
having his kids to be all in alignment, and you
know all their goals and dreams are on the path
for that. So with Carlton, yeah, you know, he loves
Carlton so much and and you know he wants to
(24:34):
maintain that bond and that that father's son tightness. But yeah,
I think he kinda loses the mark a little bit.
You know, he's getting a little distracted and things. Just
I just think you just you just get caught up
in the moment and you know, you just forget what
your priorities should be at that time. And I think
(24:56):
that's what that's what Phil. Phil had done. I love
the relationship, uh, and I love where it goes. You know,
because a lot of families, a lot of fathers, parents
for that matter, I'm sure they they'll be able to
relate to this story and and and many of the
stories on the show. And that's what I love about
the show is because it tackles and and addresses so
many issues relationships and identities. Uh, there's so many things
(25:21):
that we all are dealing with, they're have dealt with
or know people who are dealing with and and and
can disconnect with. It's it's such such a beautifully written
and set show. That's beautiful. This is becoming such a
grounding interview. I feel at peace assessing family. Thank you,
thank you. I appreciate your presence. We rarely see on
(25:45):
television black men and black fathers being hyper supportive of
their daughters. First of all, we were at leasting them
being present. And that's not even necessarily the truth communities,
but it is what's depicted in culture. But why do
you feel like your character is a lot forward with
supporting Hillary as opposed to Aunt Viv who is kind
of worrying and criticizing Hillary. Oh wow, Well, you know
(26:08):
daddy's daughter, you know you're you're you're really, uh, your
daughters are everything, and you know, you just you want
to make sure that they're flying high. I mean as
as well as your wife. You're you know, what we'll
discover later is that you know, she's an artist and
and and she you know, had a very you know,
successful art career. But he felt that she she wasn't happy,
(26:32):
that it wasn't something that she wanted to do. And
so he said, you know, if you ever want to
do it, you can go do it. But if you don't,
I'm you know, I'll take care of us. I got
the money. You don't have to worry. I got you.
So he in his mind thinks that viv is good,
she's happy, she's comfortable, and now I just focused on
my girls. And so yeah, he's definitely there for her
(26:53):
and her cooking and and she understands that, you know,
she wants to be authentic, and she wants to bring
the culture to old cuisine, the and and and to
you know, mainstream. She wants people to see that she's
got her her spices and and and you know, and
she wants to keep it authentic to the culture and
doesn't want to have to dilute anything and change anything
(27:16):
um because of you know, there for their brand. And
I love that. I admire her about that because you
want to be you want to be your your true
self and not have to be watered down and have
to change to accommodate what other people's uh, you know,
vision of you is. You know, no one could do
you better than yourself. And you know it's so important
(27:38):
that you know, we remember that that we are all
like like a thumb print, like a fingerprint, and you know,
if you have something that is unique to you, I say,
just just go for it. Just take your you know,
put your best foot forward and and run with it
and just see what happens. Because what's the worst thing
that could happen? You know, you miss a percent of
the shots you don't take, so you've got to take
(28:01):
a shot. And so I'm I'm behind her, and I'm like, yeah,
you go, girl, you know, put it out there. You
show them what you got, you know, because we're eating
and we're loving what you're cooking. So and we know
there's a lot of families are our culture and omm
be like, yeah, we like flavor, we like food that's
got some kick to it, you know, and we like
(28:21):
we like to taste our food. Come on now, let's
let's be real. Um. And so I admire her for
the stand that she took by rejecting their offer and
and standing on our own and saying, you know what,
I know who I am, and I'm gonna you know,
be my own person. And uh. And that's what that's
what he did too. That's that's who feel is, you know. Um.
(28:44):
And that's what he wants for all his kids and
for for his wife as well, to be doing what
they love and to be truly happy doing it. Um.
And And that's exactly uh, the atmosphere and the environment
that he tries to me, you know, in the household.
It just seems like in this episode, Phil was in
(29:06):
the middle of everything. Like Phil was in the middle
of of of vibs desire to go back to painting.
Phil was in the middle, uh, you know, especially with
with Hillary wanted to go off on our own, but
especially with Carlton and having this thing that you're basically
(29:28):
looking at your son and you're telling your son that
you broke the law, um, and he's trying to process
that you did something illegal for a good reason, and
you're having to explain that to him. Yeah, because you're
trying to set an example, you know. But you know,
as our parents sometimes say, you don't do as I say,
not as I do. Many times we heard that, Um.
(29:51):
But yeah, you know he has a point, um, but
he needs to understand that there are times where you know,
you may have to you know, go of beyond to
to to get to get things done for justice, you know. Um.
And you know, it was life or death the situation.
It was a life or death situation, and you know,
and will his family and and we we want to
(30:12):
make sure that he is he has loved and in
that he he's around. You know, we had to get
him out of that, out of those murky waters. Um.
We were done it for anyone, you know, and and
we would we would want someone to do that for
Carlton if he was you know, the situation was table's returned.
So yeah, it's it's you don't really want to have
(30:34):
to have that conversation with you some but at the
same time, it is what it is, and you just
have to let him know. Hey, you know, we're human beings,
not perfect beings, um, you know, and in that comes
some mistakes, some decisions that have to be made that
may not be accepted by by the masses, but you
(30:55):
know that it's it's a matter of life for death
and needs to be done. And you know sometimes you
gotta ask for uh, forgiveness and for permission and to
do things. So so um so yeah, yeah, My favorite
relationship too is you and Will because they're just the
(31:16):
moments where like Carlton's a great son, but he played
lacrosse and he let white boys say the N word.
You have to deal with that, right. So when Will
comes into the picture, you can see Uncle Phil's character
morphing back to who he really is, like his DNA
and his blackness and his manhood and and you know
what do you think Will's presence in the house does
(31:37):
for Uncle Phil's success and Uncle Phil's campaign and his
personal happiness. Will really is like a mirror and shows
Phil who he is, you know, who he was where
he came from. Will really helped Phil too, you know
in his campaign, uh, to to to drop in and
(31:58):
just speak and to connect with with the culture. And
because you know, that's that's who Phil was before he
you know, made it. Uh. So he sees so much
of himself in in will Uh. And I always say
he's like the Obi one two Luke's two, Will's skywalker.
You know, he wills on on his path to becoming
(32:21):
a Jedi. I he prints um and you know he's
he's he's the wise Obi Wan Yoda to help guide
him and be the voice of reason. Um. And and
he loves that. He loves that responsibility. I think he
really um uh makes him come come alive. And especially
in the Byamacro episode when he took to the stage, Um,
(32:44):
the way he did with so much, with so much
fearlessness and and just so bold and grabbed the mic
and I mean, wow, what a performance Jabari did as well.
You know, shout out to Jabari Banks. I mean, he's
so incredible in this role. Um. The fact that it's
his first role is mind blowing to me. Um. He's
just he's definitely born to play to play Will He
(33:07):
just you just really commanded that space and and and
you know the way he took to the stage, and
Phil was just like wow, you know, carl that's something
that Carlton definitely wouldn't do. That's not Carlton's character. You know,
Um plays things a little safer, but you know, Will
is just out there. He's fearless, and you know that's
(33:27):
the coming from from the streets Philly. You know, you
just do what you gotta do, you know. But yeah,
I think that will really help Phil too, to be
more authentic, to just to ground him and show him
who he is, and to take risks and just get
out there and be bold. And I love that what
(33:48):
we do too. It's it's really beautiful to watch Adrian.
Thank you so much for coming on the pot. Wow, Jeff,
that was so much more spiritually calming than I thought
we were gonna get. That was great. That was a
great conversation. Yes, Adrian is articulate, eloquent, black excellence. Beautiful conversation. Um,
(34:15):
I'm very happy we got this week with him. Yeah.
Next week we'll be exploring the theme of mental health
with some guests I'm really excited about Ali Scholton, who
plays Carlton, and one of the show runners, t J. Brady.
Check out the next episode of bel Air streaming on
Peacock this Thursday, and come back to the podcast every
Friday to hear more Bellaire. The official podcast is produced
(34:37):
by iHeart Podcast Network and Peacock. This show is hosted
by me Dj Jazzy Jeff and by me Aida Osman,
supervising producer Mike Coscarelli, producer and mastering engineer but Head Fraser.
Executive producers from I Heeart are Nicky Etre On A
Stump and Miles Gray. Executive producers from Peacock are Lindsay
(34:58):
Vogelman and Amber Fergers. And special thanks to Will Pearson
from My Heart and Michael Scoggin from Peacock. H
The Official Podcast is produced by iHeart Podcast Network and Peacock.
Hey everyone, Welcome to episode three of bel Air the
Official Podcast. I Am d J Jazzy Jeff him Ada Austin.
Every time you say your name, I'm literally shocked that
I'm here with you. Uh. Every week we get a
little more excited to run through what happened on this
(00:23):
week's episode of bel Air. Jeff, how are you feeling?
How you feeling? We just watched episode five. What do
you think about this one? This one really hit home,
just the whole concept of the different views of success
and how everybody is approaching them, and that becomes a
major crossroad a lot of times with people of just
(00:44):
you know, I want this, you want this, and our
journeys don't align. Yeah. So yeah, that that hit home
all right, and the disappointments. It was really hard and
genius watching Will cleverly dodge Tray every time he mentions
coming home to build help you, like, he'll get distracted,
or he'll take candy from vivor he'll do something just
to dodge it. But Tray knew that though he felt,
(01:06):
you think, oh man, I kept sitting there saying okay,
he did it once, he did it twice. When he
did it the third time, you kind of saw this
looking Tray's eyes, it was kind of like he's deflecting.
He's from West Philly. He knows when people do that,
and he knows, well, that's his boy that threw up together. Right.
It makes me start to think about like Will is
excited to being bell Air and he has this whole
(01:29):
world of new opportunities. It's a new version of success
for him, and he can't bring Tray with him. Imposed
you want to level up and leave my broke gast behind.
You thought I'd be cool with that ship if I
went to Disneyland. First. We're supposed to be boys. You're
supposed to be happy for me when some great ship
comes in my life because you the special one off
(01:50):
I forgot You're gonna go off and do big time ship.
And what I'm just supposed to sit around and wait
for you to tell me about it is that it
will oh because you've the outs. Trey can't live in
that mansion with them, you know. So there's kind of
this like guilt occurring with Will. He doesn't want to
tell him. Do you feel like I mean your DJ
(02:10):
Jazzy Jeff, you came up with Will Smith. Y'all pretty
much had this story that is happening in the show.
Did you ever feel that growing up and finding success?
Oh my gosh, you still feel it. It took me
a while to really understand that I had a group
of friends that I grew up with. I had a
group of friends that I started DJ and wood. I
had a group of friends that I went to high
school with, and then it was the Jazzy Jeff from
(02:31):
Fresh Prince group of friends, and then my producer group
of friends that sometimes they all don't match, you know,
sometimes you meet people with different goals, you know. I
remember when Will and j L made the move to
l A. The entire time that I was on the
Fresh Prince, I commuted what do you mean? Like we shot.
(02:52):
Once we wrapped Friday night, I was at the airport
on a red off flight home, Like I never moved
to California. So I relate to this so much because
that was me. I was holding on to something. My
music wouldn't sound the same, my lifestyle wouldn't be the same.
These are all the things that we're playing in my head,
(03:12):
and I never forget Will and Jail said, you know,
once you move, you'll understand a lot more why you
should have moved. You know, Philly is my home and
I love it to death, but in order to get
where I needed to go, I needed to leave. And
not only are you leaving the physical place, you're leaving people.
(03:34):
You're leaving people, and you're leaving a mindset. Yes, yes,
I think I remember you were leaving your mindset. When
I first moved to l A. My first I was
couple of years ago. I went out to go find
writing jobs before I was writing for Big Mouth, and
I journal and diary whatever. And I looking back at
my journal and the first thing I wrote was because
my first day in l A, my first time seeing,
(03:55):
my first time moving around as an adult, like a
creative adult, and I wrote, damn it so much money
to get out here. It is so much money. And
I didn't even conceptualize how many opportunities were in l
A until I was in the city, foot on the ground,
meeting the people who had the same drive and ambition
and you know ingenuity as me. So yeah, it is
(04:16):
about leaving a mindset. It's about being around like minded people,
and those groups don't always match up. They really don't know,
and we definitely see that happen in the show. We
see all different types of success. We see that's a
huge through line in the show. And success isn't always financial.
That is one of the biggest misconceptions that everybody thinks.
(04:36):
You know, if I make this big, huge amount of money,
that's going to solve all of the problems. And success
is measured different depending on the individual. Somebody's success could
be money. Somebody's success could be family. Somebody's success could
be making a living doing what they absolutely enjoy and
to to sit and watch. I think trade version of
(05:00):
success is growing old in West Philly and it's not
like that anymore. For Will, was there a moment in
your career where you realize like you had to cut
some people off because having them in your life was
not allowing you to grow? Um? Yeah, yeah, and that's hard.
I think sometimes you have to realize that people have
(05:22):
a position, and their position in your life may not
encompass your entire life. You know, you have people that
you play basketball with on a Saturday and that's their position,
and it's just unfortunate that sometimes when you grow up
with these people You spend every waking moment with these people,
(05:43):
only to get to a point that there's a forking
road and you start to drift into different areas. That
day one friend becomes the every fourth Saturday of the
month basketball friend, and you have to be willing to
accept that and pray that they are. You know, I
(06:04):
leaned towards the black women characters on the show obviously
because I can see myself so much more clearly in them.
Sometimes there's moments where the characters versions of success conflict,
like we were talking about, like aunt Vib's version of
success is making sure Hillary has this understood career path
and it's makes sense and it's respectable for black women.
(06:26):
But Hillary's version of success is doing the exact opposite
of what her mama tells her to do and painting
that out for herself. And it's just interesting. It's interesting
to see, especially in this episode, the conversation between Ashley
and Hillary about Ashley's sexual identity and to see how
that's handled so delicately, so beautifully successfully is really the
(06:47):
word that I could use for I love all the
depictions of the black women in the show. I think
that the writers did such a good job of making
sure that we were advocated for and spoken for in
a real way. It's beautiful. It really was. Who do
we have on the show today? Who do we have
on the show today? We're finally bringing on but one
of the actors and let me not say final least
episode three, let me chill, but today's guests, it's a
(07:09):
very poised, talented Adrian Holmes, who plays Uncle Phil. We're
gonna be talking to him about success and what it
means for him to be successful as Uncle Phil, but
also for Adrian factor. Adrian Holmes is a Canadian actor
in both film and television. He is award winning. He
has Canada's Leo Award for his portrayal of Nick Barron
and Inner City Policeman in the series nineteen two. He
(07:29):
splits his time between Los Angeles, London and Vancouver. I
don't know where he finds all that time, but he
did also grow up in Vancouver. And I know this
is a super meaningful role for Adrian. Just playing a
character such iconic as Uncle Phil. I know he's just gassed.
I think Adrian Holmes as his own rendition of it
(07:49):
that deserves its own respect as well. He did a
beautiful job. Yes, So here's our conversation with Adrian. We
are very very fortunate be joined by our first actor
on the podcast who was in the show. And don't
tell the others, but my favorite performance it was I'm
not gonna lie. Um. Adrian Holmes is here. He played
(08:11):
Uncle Phil, and we have so many questions for him. Hey,
how are you guys doing? Thanks for having me. Wow,
you've had quite the week, I'm sure doing a lot
of press. How are you feeling, ah man, exhausted, but
but excited at the same time, you know, just so
many emotions, just excited and happy to be on this
journey and this legacy part of this iconic show that
(08:35):
we all grew up with. Well, congratulations, truly congratulations. You've
been acting for many, many years, but this feels this
feels big. This is a huge breakthrough too to get
to the try Uncle Phil. This. Yeah, this is a
level up for me for sure. This is the this
is the biggest, most important job I've had in my career.
He's Uncle Phil, He's America's uncle, America's dad. You know,
everybody looked up to him and which you know, their dad,
(08:56):
you know, had a lot of characteristics and qualities that
he had and including myself, you know. So it's uh,
it's a blessing to be able to play him for
this generation. How did you feel when you got that call, Like,
when that call came in, yeah, and someone was telling
you you got the role as Uncle Phil, how did
(09:16):
you feel? You know, Jazz? Honestly, it was such a
confusing time because like I was excited, of course, because
this is Uncle Phil, but I was confused as and like,
is this a mistake? Is this really happening? Like it
It was definitely an out of body experience. I was
working on a movie at the time when I got
the call to audition for the show, and I initially
(09:39):
didn't think there was a role for me in the
show because I thought they might stick to the original, um,
you know, formula of the characters, so I I didn't
think that they were going to look look at me.
But when I got the call and I got I
read the scenes, the scenes I really connected with and
I had I just said, you know, let me just
have fun, let me just go in there and have
a great time. And um I did that, went back
(10:01):
to work and it was a few hours later than
I got a call sing that I've been paying up
and I've been shortlistening for the role and uh and
and so at that point I was just like, okay, um,
this this might be actually happening, Like I may have
a shot here. And and then I found out I
had a chemistry test with Cassandra Freeman, who plays Viv
(10:22):
and who happens to be a friend of mine. We've
worked together on two projects prior to this, and so
the chemistry was already there. So we we got in
the in the zoom together and did the scenes and
she was also like, you, uncle Phil, what you know?
And then when when we started doing the scenes, uh,
and I dropped in, you know, she was like, Okay,
I get it now, and and vice versa. I mean
(10:43):
I always, you know, envisioned hers when I heard they
were casting this, I immediately said Cassandra Freeman. Then a
couple of days after the chemistry read, I got a
call from my team saying it's a done deal. It's
a wrap negotiations. Have done your own, uncle Phil. And
I literally just was on the street and I was
running up and down the street in traffic like people like,
(11:05):
don't you don't get killed? Before you get the job,
you know. But honestly, it was like I always say,
like that that exploding head emoji, that was me at
that time, and it was just again, it was just like,
you know, you work so hard to you know, be
successful in this business, and you know, success is a journey,
not a destination, and it's all those moments in between
(11:26):
along your journey that you know you have all these
successful pockets. And this for me was just like, yeah,
it's just I felt like I could exhale and you know,
just really enjoy the fruits of my labor now because
I just always wanted, as every actor does, a platform
to really show what you can do, you know, a
large enough platform to show the world what you're capable of.
(11:49):
And this was this is it, this is this is it.
And I just said, you know what, I'm just gonna
make sure that I that I'm I'm I'm prepared and
I do this justice and I know my assignment and
I'm to serve, you know, and just you know, tribute
to the late grade James avery Man, just respect to
him and you know, God is good, you know, and
(12:10):
honestly serve you did you really did think the first
episode when you came on, I was like, Oh, where
are they going with this? Where are they going with this?
Because if you look at old Uncle Phil, who probably
I think the difference between your character and old Uncle
Phil is a couple of commas. Yo, Uncle Phil. So
sorry to interrupt, he's crazy man, Justlydias Hell. It's like
(12:32):
the rock Nation brunch out here, who with a pleasure word?
Um right, listen. I had a lot of time to
think on my flight, and I just wanted to say
I appreciate you for whatever you did do America. Give
me some love, Give me some love. I'm glad you say.
We'll talk later. Let me look at you. Uh damn.
(12:54):
Definitely a couple of commas, because the new version of
Bellaire is definitely playing with success and black success as
far as wealth and what it means to be successful.
What do you think that when you were coming in
to do this role too, What did that mean for
you for black people on success and does that necessarily
mean success having wealth? Oh? Man, it meant so much
(13:15):
to me because you know, it's so important that we
show the other side of the coin when it comes
to you know, telling positive black stories and showing affluent successful,
high vibrational characters and families, you know, because that is us.
It's black excellence. Our show was Black excellence personified. That
is what our show is. And you know it's as
(13:36):
Morgan Cooper. You know, he's incredible his his vision. You know,
he's a true artist and he he really showed the
full spectrum of the black experience and on this, you know,
and so unfortunately, you know, a lot of people they
focus on the on the stereotype negative, um, drugs, violence,
all that stuff. That's that's one side and that that happens,
(13:57):
that exists for sure, but there's a whole another that
is that is our reality as well that we need
to really um just showcase more and put in the
spotlight more and and um, you know, because we don't
want to you know, our our young black boys and
girls to grow up just thinking that that is you know,
(14:19):
their lives, you know, and that they don't they can't
aspire to be bigger and better and and and just
to be presidents and you know leaders. And I think
that that's what our show does and I'm so proud
of that that it it shows both sides of the
coins and in a beautiful way it's a balanced and
I think the timing is perfect as well. Um, to
(14:41):
have a show like this with the the way the
world is, you start at certain times. We need hope,
we need to we need high vibration because the planet
is sitting, you know, in a in a low vibrational
state right now. So we need as much as many
shows like this as possible to be uh, you know,
for us to be exposed to I know he was
going to I'm with a spiritual eloquence. I just knew it.
(15:02):
I felt it in myself. But what's interesting to me
is the show is not afraid to play with the
criticism that your character still gets or Yama crowd gets
because of the black wealth, like the peer peers in
his black community. The wealth doesn't save him and protect
him from the criticism of his peers. So how did
how did you approach that and how did you convey that?
And you're acting too yeah, you know, yeah, you're you're
(15:25):
you know, you're running for for d A and you're
trying to get your people on your side, and all
they think about is how much money you know, and
how big is your house and how many commas right,
and and it's like you know with the scene I
did with Big Boy, which was shout out to big Boy. Um,
that was a lot of fun to shoot that. How
much you pay for your crib? I'm not getting into
(15:47):
all that. I mean, it is a nice crib. It's
in bail A. I've I've been there. Bro, You've got
a nice house to do, have a nice house. But
I'm not running for a district attorney, Emma. Next caller, Hello,
how many millions are you sitting on? There are more
important issues to talk about besides the money. Yeah, he
was just disappointed, you know, um that he just was
(16:09):
expecting more and and he really wants his people to
understand that. Listen, it's it's hard work, works. You know,
things aren't going to just happen by you just thinking
about it. And he's a self made man, you know,
he's you know, he's from Yamaco and North Carolina and
he's seeing his family losing their farm and go through
(16:30):
a lot, and he said, you know what, I'm going
to make sure that I'm going to be in a
position where I can create change and I can, um,
you know, fix this, this this broken crooked system, And
so that other families don't have to go through what
my family went through. And he made a point about
getting you know, the land back for his family and
(16:50):
and he did that. So he just wants to beat
that figure that will be like a beacon of what
can be, you know, what's possible. I just really really
took that seriously when I was preparing for this role.
It's just I wanted to be a real anchor and uh,
just a positive symbol of hope for for the black community.
(17:12):
Are there any parallels with this role in your actual life?
You know, especially with the this success part um. You know,
it was really interesting that with all of the success
that Phil had, he still didn't have the success in
the black community, you know, And and that happens a lot.
(17:35):
You know, sometimes you make it and the community that
you come from, you know, it's kind of looking at
you like you're not authentic, you're not real. Um. Have
you ever had any of those kind of situations? Personally?
For me, it's very important to know where you come
from and to you know, give back. And uh, I
(17:59):
grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, um and most of
my work has been done there. Um And so I
I really you know, try to honor and respect my
community as best as I can. Now, I don't know
what everybody's saying. You know, there's people in the pockets
that could be saying this, that and the other about you.
(18:19):
And I know not everything is positive, but you can
you know, there's things that I can. I know what
I'm in control of and what I'm not in control of,
and what people think is out of my control and
it's none of my business. I just try to be
uh as authentic as I can to me and be kind,
you know, doing to others you have them do to you,
And just put my faith in God again, just trust
(18:40):
him and let him guide my path because I always say,
if you'll, if you'll take me to it, you'll get
me through it, no matter how much fear I have
and stress that I'm feeling in a in a moment um.
So that's basically how I've been living my life and
how I've operated in my career. Even with every role
I get. You know, even if I look at a rule,
I'm like, I don't know about this it, but there's
(19:00):
something in it that I might not see that later
on will then kind of come to the surface and
I'm like, oh, there it is. That's what I was
supposed to. That's why I was supposed to to to
play this part because of this message that the world
needs to to hear, especially in this role as Uncle Phil.
How do you think Phil has to deal with that?
I mean, it's it is. It's a lot of pressure
(19:23):
because he wants to you know, his fraternity Alpha Fi Alpha,
you know, shout out to the Alpha. Is the fact
that you know, he he didn't expect that. I don't
think when he showed up at that at the Crawfish rally,
he he thought that he was going to have the
respect and the love from his his people. And I
will stopping nothing and I mean nothing to serve the people.
(19:46):
Oh people, How the hell are you going to serve
the people when you don't know what the people have
to worry about on a daily basis? And I think
we both know that's unfair. Don't tell me about what's unfair.
When Franklin Super Kitchen was foreclosed in the part, we
held phone banks and in town halls trying to keep
it open. Forward the people, We the brothers. Meanwhile, you're
(20:09):
sitting behind the golden gates of bell Air calling your
damn money. You want me to apologize for being successful?
Why I would decided is that what you're telling me
who many beg and plead for forgiveness because I was
working hard to build a life for my family. We
were your family too. So when they threw that in
his face, that oh you know you're you're now Mr
bell Air, you forgot about us, it was definitely like, oh,
(20:31):
because what happens is you get tunnel vision when you're
when you're real, you know, successful, uh, driven person individual,
you're so tunnel vision that you really forget to see
a lot of the things that are happening in the
side of the wings right, not on not on purpose,
it's it just happens because they're so driven to accomplish
(20:53):
your goal uh and see it through. Uh. And so
his boys reminded him, look, you know, where were you
when so and so was going through their their problems
and their issues. You know, we were all there as brothers.
We were there. Where were you? You were busy behind
the golden gates, Bellair? And that really just made him go, wow, yeah, jeez,
(21:16):
because that's not feels hard. But he realized that, you
know what, some things get get taught, you know, lost
the in the in the shadows and can get misconstrued.
And so he when he stepped on stage and was
pressured by his nephew to do the stepping, that's when
(21:36):
he clicked for him. And he was like, you know what, yeah,
you know, this is who I am. This is my
my authentic self. These are my roots, this is where
I came from, and they are responsible for who I
am today. So he got in there boom, and I
know that after that he was just like as exhausted
as he was because you know, he hasn't done that
(21:56):
in a while. He was just feeling so he was
feeling so accomplished and just so satisfied and so um loved.
He could feel the love from you know, Reverend Lamar
and and and and all the rest of the guys,
and it was just like he missed that. He really
missed that, and you know that's like in his muscle memory.
(22:18):
That's what you loved about your character was that your
character consistently shocks me and shocks the audience. Like I
never expected you to do that at the event with
your brothers, and I also didn't expect you to say
defund the police at the Roller Ring. I think defunding
the police is critical. Our justice system is failing us
(22:43):
and the wholesale change needs to be made from policing
to prosecution. And I prepared to fight for a new approach,
even if that makes me unpopular with the Mayor's office
or the the l a p D. There's consistently these
things that your character does kind of put seen the boundaries. Um.
But back to success, because there's so many different ways.
(23:05):
I think all the black men in this show are
conceptualizing success. You know, for Carlton, it's social success, success
at school. For Will, it's hooping. For you, it's trying
to get this campaign off the ground. But there's a
shakedown scene between you and your son in episode five,
and this is the concept now of like moral success.
(23:25):
To me, Why what the way Ali just absolutely dragged
you in that scene for having no moral compass for
saving Will. It's an entire situation. My question for you
is do you think that Carlton really has grounds to
be mad? I think that Phil wasn't giving Carlton as
much attention as he may have liked, and what would needed? Uh?
(23:50):
And so when Will comes in the picture, it's it's
you know, it's all Will. It's Will Will Will, because
you know, he's a fish out of water and we
want to make sure that he's is comfortable and things.
You know, the transition is smooth for him. So, um,
I think there's a bit of jealousy there. Uh that
that that happens and and and is just expected to happen.
(24:11):
But Phil just has to find the balance. Success for
Phil is having a happy home, harmony in the house. Um,
you know, having his wife to be happy and fulfill
having his kids to be all in alignment, and you
know all their goals and dreams are on the path
for that. So with Carlton, yeah, you know, he loves
Carlton so much and and you know he wants to
(24:34):
maintain that bond and that that father's son tightness. But yeah,
I think he kinda loses the mark a little bit.
You know, he's getting a little distracted and things. Just
I just think you just you just get caught up
in the moment and you know, you just forget what
your priorities should be at that time. And I think
(24:56):
that's what that's what Phil. Phil had done. I love
the relationship, uh, and I love where it goes. You know,
because a lot of families, a lot of fathers, parents
for that matter, I'm sure they they'll be able to
relate to this story and and and many of the
stories on the show. And that's what I love about
the show is because it tackles and and addresses so
many issues relationships and identities. Uh, there's so many things
(25:21):
that we all are dealing with, they're have dealt with
or know people who are dealing with and and and
can disconnect with. It's it's such such a beautifully written
and set show. That's beautiful. This is becoming such a
grounding interview. I feel at peace assessing family. Thank you,
thank you. I appreciate your presence. We rarely see on
(25:45):
television black men and black fathers being hyper supportive of
their daughters. First of all, we were at leasting them
being present. And that's not even necessarily the truth communities,
but it is what's depicted in culture. But why do
you feel like your character is a lot forward with
supporting Hillary as opposed to Aunt Viv who is kind
of worrying and criticizing Hillary. Oh wow, Well, you know
(26:08):
daddy's daughter, you know you're you're you're really, uh, your
daughters are everything, and you know, you just you want
to make sure that they're flying high. I mean as
as well as your wife. You're you know, what we'll
discover later is that you know, she's an artist and
and and she you know, had a very you know,
successful art career. But he felt that she she wasn't happy,
(26:32):
that it wasn't something that she wanted to do. And
so he said, you know, if you ever want to
do it, you can go do it. But if you don't,
I'm you know, I'll take care of us. I got
the money. You don't have to worry. I got you.
So he in his mind thinks that viv is good,
she's happy, she's comfortable, and now I just focused on
my girls. And so yeah, he's definitely there for her
(26:53):
and her cooking and and she understands that, you know,
she wants to be authentic, and she wants to bring
the culture to old cuisine, the and and and to
you know, mainstream. She wants people to see that she's
got her her spices and and and you know, and
she wants to keep it authentic to the culture and
doesn't want to have to dilute anything and change anything
(27:16):
um because of you know, there for their brand. And
I love that. I admire her about that because you
want to be you want to be your your true
self and not have to be watered down and have
to change to accommodate what other people's uh, you know,
vision of you is. You know, no one could do
you better than yourself. And you know it's so important
(27:38):
that you know, we remember that that we are all
like like a thumb print, like a fingerprint, and you know,
if you have something that is unique to you, I say,
just just go for it. Just take your you know,
put your best foot forward and and run with it
and just see what happens. Because what's the worst thing
that could happen? You know, you miss a percent of
the shots you don't take, so you've got to take
(28:01):
a shot. And so I'm I'm behind her, and I'm like, yeah,
you go, girl, you know, put it out there. You
show them what you got, you know, because we're eating
and we're loving what you're cooking. So and we know
there's a lot of families are our culture and omm
be like, yeah, we like flavor, we like food that's
got some kick to it, you know, and we like
(28:21):
we like to taste our food. Come on now, let's
let's be real. Um. And so I admire her for
the stand that she took by rejecting their offer and
and standing on our own and saying, you know what,
I know who I am, and I'm gonna you know,
be my own person. And uh. And that's what that's
what he did too. That's that's who feel is, you know. Um.
(28:44):
And that's what he wants for all his kids and
for for his wife as well, to be doing what
they love and to be truly happy doing it. Um.
And And that's exactly uh, the atmosphere and the environment
that he tries to me, you know, in the household.
It just seems like in this episode, Phil was in
(29:06):
the middle of everything. Like Phil was in the middle
of of of vibs desire to go back to painting.
Phil was in the middle, uh, you know, especially with
with Hillary wanted to go off on our own, but
especially with Carlton and having this thing that you're basically
(29:28):
looking at your son and you're telling your son that
you broke the law, um, and he's trying to process
that you did something illegal for a good reason, and
you're having to explain that to him. Yeah, because you're
trying to set an example, you know. But you know,
as our parents sometimes say, you don't do as I say,
not as I do. Many times we heard that, Um.
(29:51):
But yeah, you know he has a point, um, but
he needs to understand that there are times where you know,
you may have to you know, go of beyond to
to to get to get things done for justice, you know. Um.
And you know, it was life or death the situation.
It was a life or death situation, and you know,
and will his family and and we we want to
(30:12):
make sure that he is he has loved and in
that he he's around. You know, we had to get
him out of that, out of those murky waters. Um.
We were done it for anyone, you know, and and
we would we would want someone to do that for
Carlton if he was you know, the situation was table's returned.
So yeah, it's it's you don't really want to have
(30:34):
to have that conversation with you some but at the
same time, it is what it is, and you just
have to let him know. Hey, you know, we're human beings,
not perfect beings, um, you know, and in that comes
some mistakes, some decisions that have to be made that
may not be accepted by by the masses, but you
(30:55):
know that it's it's a matter of life for death
and needs to be done. And you know sometimes you
gotta ask for uh, forgiveness and for permission and to
do things. So so um so yeah, yeah, My favorite
relationship too is you and Will because they're just the
(31:16):
moments where like Carlton's a great son, but he played
lacrosse and he let white boys say the N word.
You have to deal with that, right. So when Will
comes into the picture, you can see Uncle Phil's character
morphing back to who he really is, like his DNA
and his blackness and his manhood and and you know
what do you think Will's presence in the house does
(31:37):
for Uncle Phil's success and Uncle Phil's campaign and his
personal happiness. Will really is like a mirror and shows
Phil who he is, you know, who he was where
he came from. Will really helped Phil too, you know
in his campaign, uh, to to to drop in and
(31:58):
just speak and to connect with with the culture. And
because you know, that's that's who Phil was before he
you know, made it. Uh. So he sees so much
of himself in in will Uh. And I always say
he's like the Obi one two Luke's two, Will's skywalker.
You know, he wills on on his path to becoming
(32:21):
a Jedi. I he prints um and you know he's
he's he's the wise Obi Wan Yoda to help guide
him and be the voice of reason. Um. And and
he loves that. He loves that responsibility. I think he
really um uh makes him come come alive. And especially
in the Byamacro episode when he took to the stage, Um,
(32:44):
the way he did with so much, with so much
fearlessness and and just so bold and grabbed the mic
and I mean, wow, what a performance Jabari did as well.
You know, shout out to Jabari Banks. I mean, he's
so incredible in this role. Um. The fact that it's
his first role is mind blowing to me. Um. He's
just he's definitely born to play to play Will He
(33:07):
just you just really commanded that space and and and
you know the way he took to the stage, and
Phil was just like wow, you know, carl that's something
that Carlton definitely wouldn't do. That's not Carlton's character. You know,
Um plays things a little safer, but you know, Will
is just out there. He's fearless, and you know that's
(33:27):
the coming from from the streets Philly. You know, you
just do what you gotta do, you know. But yeah,
I think that will really help Phil too, to be
more authentic, to just to ground him and show him
who he is, and to take risks and just get
out there and be bold. And I love that what
(33:48):
we do too. It's it's really beautiful to watch Adrian.
Thank you so much for coming on the pot. Wow, Jeff,
that was so much more spiritually calming than I thought
we were gonna get. That was great. That was a
great conversation. Yes, Adrian is articulate, eloquent, black excellence. Beautiful conversation. Um,
(34:15):
I'm very happy we got this week with him. Yeah.
Next week we'll be exploring the theme of mental health
with some guests I'm really excited about Ali Scholton, who
plays Carlton, and one of the show runners, t J. Brady.
Check out the next episode of bel Air streaming on
Peacock this Thursday, and come back to the podcast every
Friday to hear more Bellaire. The official podcast is produced
(34:37):
by iHeart Podcast Network and Peacock. This show is hosted
by me Dj Jazzy Jeff and by me Aida Osman,
supervising producer Mike Coscarelli, producer and mastering engineer but Head Fraser.
Executive producers from I Heeart are Nicky Etre On A
Stump and Miles Gray. Executive producers from Peacock are Lindsay
(34:58):
Vogelman and Amber Fergers. And special thanks to Will Pearson
from My Heart and Michael Scoggin from Peacock. H
Host
DJ Jazzy Jeff
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