The first three seasons Vivian Banks was played by Janet Hubert-Whitten and the next three Vivian was played by Daphne Maxwell Reid.

My personal preference was Janet Hubert-Whitten. She portrayed Vivian as a strong woman who can hold her own and a woman with a voice. She put a lot of attitude into that role and flair.

Daphne Maxwell Reid I could not stand in that role. She portrayed Vivian way opposite than what Janet portrayed her as. Daphne made Vivian looked whiny and very dependent on Philip.

The romantic chemistry between James Avery and Janet was far better than him and Daphne.

I understood that when Janet got pregnant in the third season the show was not happy with it nor was Will Smith. From what was told they did not get along and it lead to Janet being let go after the third season. To be honest after that it was hard watching the show and not having Janet there.

Plus Janet was a far more prettier actress than Daphne.

Originally posted by mstewart
The first three seasons Vivian Banks was played by Janet Hubert-Whitten and the next three Vivian was played by Daphne Maxwell Reid.

My personal preference was Janet Hubert-Whitten. She portrayed Vivian as a strong woman who can hold her own and a woman with a voice. She put a lot of attitude into that role and flair.

Daphne Maxwell Reid I could not stand in that role. She portrayed Vivian way opposite than what Janet portrayed her as. Daphne made Vivian looked whiny and very dependent on Philip.

The romantic chemistry between James Avery and Janet was far better than him and Daphne.

I understood that when Janet got pregnant in the third season the show was not happy with it nor was Will Smith. From what was told they did not get along and it lead to Janet being let go after the third season. To be honest after that it was hard watching the show and not having Janet there.

Plus Janet was a far more prettier actress than Daphne.


Daphne was prettier but TOO GOOFY!!!

Janet played the part of "Vivian" better IMO. Though no disrespect to Mrs. Reid, I wished the producers, Will and Janet would've reached some sort of compromise.

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Daphne was prettier but TOO GOOFY!!!

I agree, although Janet wasn't bad looking either.

Originally posted by barwars
I agree, although Janet wasn't bad looking either.


Janet OK looking

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Janet OK looking

neither were knockouts.... but they weren't ugly either.

Originally posted by barwars
neither were knockouts.... but they weren't ugly either.


Daphne would have been a knock if she was so silly. The First Vivan was too SASSY to me. So there was no in between when it came to both Vivians

First Vivian-Extremely Sassy

Second Vivian-Extremely Silly

The first one.

Janet Hubert-Whitten

I like Vivian 2 better.She was prettier than Vivian #1

Janet was the best Vivian

I liked Janet Hubert-Whitten. Daphne Maxwell Reid was just sort of there.

The first Vivian

http://www.museum.siu.edu/university_museum/museum_classroom_grant/Museum_Explorers/school_pages/momencehistory/webpages/contents2.htm

Thats a tribute site.

Daphne would have been a knock if she was so silly. The First Vivan was too SASSY to me. So there was no in between when it came to both Vivians

First Vivian-Extremely Sassy

Second Vivian-Extremely Silly


Good take on it Solomon - its funny, now that I've seen more of the first couple of seasons, and then compare them with the second Viv, I still think she was overall more attractive, but much blander. If they could have found a personality in between, it might have been perfect.

I'm new to the show, and I haven't seen the second Vivian yet. I do look forward to seeing her though. It appears that the first Vivian is most everyone's favorite around here. I enjoy her scenes a lot. I think I've got a way to go before I get to see her replacement.

Janet! I stopped watching soon after they fired her. It's too bad she hasn't been on television a lot more often like she deserves to be.

I like Daphne, but not as Viv. Her portrayal was one note- very bland. She acted like she didn't want to be there and seemed like a dispensible, background character.
The first Aunt Viv had personality, believability and a killer bod (before she had the baby of course).

I prefer Janet, she's so cool

LOL I love how Jazz said "since you had the baby you look different somehow"

LOL I love how Jazz said "since you had the baby you look different somehow"


:rofl:


i like the first viv for sure.

I liked Janet Hubert-Whitten. Daphne Maxwell Reid was just sort of there.


I kinda agree. Daphne was sorta there. They made her look like an extra IMO later as time went on in the show. I wish they would have found more to do with her character during the last two seasons. They did do three episodes about her in season six which was good. I blame the writing. Ms. Reid (Vivian#2) is my favorite. I don't agree with the fact that she was goodfy though. She seemed fit the role of matriarch very well to me and the republican wife of a judge. She was sophisticated and very pretty to me. From the comical end, I do think that there was more that could have been done with this character. She stood her ground. I think she got more "ooohs" from the audience than laughs because she was serious and fierce in her lines that called for her to be angry. She was believable to me. She seemed to fit the part of wife and mother very well in the show IMO. I commend her for stepping into the shoes of somone else. That takes guts and confidence (especially on the producer's part) I like the fact that Mrs. Reid did not try to be a carbon copy of Janet's portrayal of the character.

As far as Janet goes, she played Vivian as an articulate, sexy, fierce woman. Vivian #1 was confident of who she was. Janet Hubert nailed the part. It did not make sense for them to let her go because of the preganacy. They could have written her out of a few episodes. Lord knows they did with Mrs. Reid during the last couple of seasons which was a no no. I know some people say that niether one of them were lookers, but to me, they both were.

the first one

The light skinned vivian was cool and nice but she let her kids walk all over her, the first dark skinned vivian was a little scary she had that mean look on her face she was sassy and had soul and she put her kids in their place when they got into trouble even will was scared of her at times lol

I know you all like the first Vivian than the second one. But unfortunately, the first Vivian had a mean acting besides being funny. The second Vivian is also good and, of course, not too talented as the first, but the second Vivian is more nicer. My father likes the second Vivian than the first, unfortunately!

http://i49.tinypic.com/2yv52rs.jpg

Enough with the games! Here a picture of them both side by side. Now based on what America considers to be pretty; Who is prettier??

The first one.

First one.

I know you all like the first Vivian than the second one. But unfortunately, the first Vivian had a mean acting besides being funny. The second Vivian is also good and, of course, not too talented as the first, but the second Vivian is more nicer. My father likes the second Vivian than the first, unfortunately!

I like the second Vivian as well. Gosh, I loved her. (No disrespect to her husband Tim Reid. LOL.) Anyway, they didn't write for her. They wrote the basic lines for her as a mom. At times, she wasn't even in some episodes. Based on what happened with the first one, I believe that they did not want to focus on the character but made sure she had presence. At times, it felt like she was a walk on. Heck, Janet Hubert was offered only 10 out of 27 eps for season four. They did not want to deal with her.

Maybe Daphne had more to offer but it seemed IMO that there was no desire to focus on the Vivian character. It seemed as though she was content with what she was given and didn't make a big deal out of it. To me, she was 70's throwback eye candy and fit the role as the republican judge's wife extremely well and she fit the role as matriarch and college professor with excellence. The slight element missing from her portrayal was that she lacked the urban flavor as she grew up in Philadelphia. However, I thought she did fine...and was really fine. LOL. (Much respect, Mr. Reid if you are reading) ;)

To the 2 posters who selected "the first one" as being the prettiest: Re-read my question: I said" Using America's standard of what's considered pretty." - not the rest of the planet's standard - AMERICA'S standard of which of the 2 is prettiest. Now that you understand the question, between the 2; which is the prettiest actress that played Vivian; the 1st one or the 2nd one?

The Second light skinned vivian was more friendlier and way better looking then the first vivian in my opinion

To the 2 posters who selected "the first one" as being the prettiest: Re-read my question: I said" Using America's standard of what's considered pretty." - not the rest of the planet's standard - AMERICA'S standard of which of the 2 is prettiest. Now that you understand the question, between the 2; which is the prettiest actress that played Vivian; the 1st one or the 2nd one?


Cleverfun, society IMO would probably choose number two. It is unfortunate that I have seen nasty wisecracks against the first actress whom I think is beautiful as well. Plus, It has been speculated by Janet Hubert (in an interview) that Daphne Reid was chosen as a jab towards Janet because she is lighter. Janet is smart, sassy and is sexy. She has the package in her own right as Daphne does as well.

The second one was prettier but the first one was better for the show

Cleverfun, society IMO would probably choose number two. It is unfortunate that I have seen nasty wisecracks against the first actress whom I think is beautiful as well. Plus, It has been speculated by Janet Hubert (in an interview) that Daphne Reid was chosen as a jab towards Janet because she is lighter. Janet is smart, sassy and is sexy. She has the package in her own right as Daphne does as well.
I had a big crush on Aunt Viv #1. I agree she is smart, sassy, sexy and sophisticated too. I loved everything about her. Viv #2 never did anything for me.

To the 2 posters who selected "the first one" as being the prettiest: Re-read my question: I said" Using America's standard of what's considered pretty." - not the rest of the planet's standard - AMERICA'S standard of which of the 2 is prettiest. Now that you understand the question, between the 2; which is the prettiest actress that played Vivian; the 1st one or the 2nd one?
I don't give a rat's a$$ what society says. I say that it's my opinion that Viv #1 is sexier, more sophisticated and more shapely. She also has the prettier face IMO. :)

I don't give a rat's a$$ what society says. I say that it's my opinion that Viv #1 is sexier, more sophisticated and more shapely. She also has the prettier face IMO. :)


:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: LOL

I don't give a rat's a$$ what society says. I say that it's my opinion that Viv #1 is sexier, more sophisticated and more shapely. She also has the prettier face IMO. :)

The reason you dont give a rats' patoot about who society says is the prettiest between the 2 of them is because you know that the 2nd one is society's choice. I didn't write the rules - it is what it is. ~And as far as this "sassy" stuff that seems to be always associated with black women - it's a complete and total turnoff. It makes them unappealing and mann-ish. I prefer women of all colors to be reasonable and able to communicate their point of view without the nasty-a$$ attitude that so many people have accepted as just being the way black women are.

The reason you dont give a rats' patoot about who society says is the prettiest between the 2 of them is because you know that the 2nd one is society's choice. I didn't write the rules - it is what it is. ~And as far as this "sassy" stuff that seems to be always associated with black women - it's a complete and total turnoff. It makes them unappealing and mann-ish. I prefer women of all colors to be reasonable and able to communicate their point of view without the nasty-a$$ attitude that so many people have accepted as just being the way black women are.
"Society's choice" also says that Barack Obama is a wonderful president and is better than Mitt Romney. Who cares what society's choice is? You're not making any sense, because I KNOW that you despise Barack Obama maybe as much as I do. So WHY are you defending "Society's choice?"

I also don't care if the majority of society picks Viv #2 as the prettier woman, MY OPINION is that Viv #1 is the prettier lady. Also, white women are capable of being "sassy" just as much as black women. So again, I don't know what you're talking about there.

I also don't care if the majority of society picks Viv #2 as the prettier woman, MY OPINION is that Viv #1 is the prettier lady. Also, white women are capable of being "sassy" just as much as black women.

There is some validity to that. Sassy does not have to be a negative thing. I think Janet Hubert is a pretty, sexy woman. I can see it for sure. However, I'm kind of partial to Daphne Maxwell-Reid. That's my girl.

There is some validity to that. Sassy does not have to be a negative thing. I think Janet Hubert is a pretty, sexy woman. I can see it for sure. However, I'm kind of partial to Daphne Maxwell-Reid. That's my girl.
True, "sassy" doesn't have to be a negative thing. And despite what cleverfun says, it isn't a "black" thing only.
I agree that Daphne is pretty, I just prefer Janet.

I am more than well enough aware that sassiest is NOT a "black thing". But no one seems to wear it as a badge of honor as much as black women do. It's just an undermining, classless trait that is a complete and total turn-off.

The producers of this show should have found a better way to keep the first vivian from getting fired their is more to the story that the public wont tell to the FP fans.

The producers of this show should have found a better way to keep the first vivian from getting fired their is more to the story that the public wont tell to the FP fans.


That's the thing. They didn't want to keep her. It was a "take it or leave it" deal.

I preferred Janet Hubert, and my sister preferred Daphne Maxwell Reid.

Both are fine.

THE OG MAMA


she was a better actress

Aunt Vivian #2 was the better of the two for me!

Aunt Vivian #2 certainly was a
LOT easier on the eyes and ears. . .

http://i49.tinypic.com/wwelb7.jpg

Viv #1 is my sophisticated lady! :)

Aunt Vivian #2 certainly was a
LOT easier on the eyes and ears. . .

http://i49.tinypic.com/wwelb7.jpg


She has always been my favorite. LOL.

To me, Janet Hubert is Aunt Vivian. When I refer to Aunt Viv, I mean Janet Hubert-Whitten. Daphne Maxwell Reid wasn't bad, but she was no where near as great as the first one.

To me, Janet Hubert is Aunt Vivian. When I refer to Aunt Viv, I mean Janet Hubert-Whitten. Daphne Maxwell Reid wasn't bad, but she was no where near as great as the first one.
I might be wrong here, but I think this post is more about which of the two actresses were more attractive. Not who played the role best.

I might be wrong here, but I think this post is more about which of the two actresses were more attractive. Not who played the role best.


I thought that it was about who played the best one myself.

Well SitcomOnline Members; which of the two questions IS this thread about? Have you been choosing the actress that played Aunt Viv the best, or have you been choosing whom you think is the prettier actress when the 2 are compared side by side?