Is it true season 4 was originally the end?

[misterblowhole]

I read this on the FPoBA trivia page on IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098800/trivia)

The show was originally canceled by NBC after the fourth season, with the series finale being the episode where Will moves back to Philadelphia. However, fan reaction and letters written to Will Smith and NBC persuaded them to renew the show and it ended up continuing for two more seasons.

This isn't true, is it?

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by misterblowhole

I read this on the FPoBA trivia page on IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098800/trivia)

The show was originally canceled by NBC after the fourth season, with the series finale being the episode where Will moves back to Philadelphia. However, fan reaction and letters written to Will Smith and NBC persuaded them to renew the show and it ended up continuing for two more seasons.

This isn't true, is it?

Yes, the ratings were not good and it was elgible for cancellation

[MrRetro_08]

It is true, thats why in the first episode of the fifth season they make a joke of this by the network taking Will out of the diner were he works & throw him in the back of the NBC van. Heres a link to that scene:

http://www.truveo.com/Get-in-the-Van...h/id/696130033

[Wreckless]

Originally Posted by MrRetro_08

It is true, thats why in the first episode of the fifth season they make a joke of this by the network taking Will out of the diner were he works & throw him in the back of the NBC van. Heres a link to that scene:

http://www.truveo.com/Get-in-the-Van...h/id/696130033

Yup MrRetro is correct. And that scene was hilarious- the NBC guy is like- Yo holmes to Bel Air LOL

A Philadelphia Story was my fav. episode anyway, and it's true about fans writing to Will & NBC, and I'm glad they renewed it longer for 2 more seasons...

But Solomon, I don't think it was because of bad ratings..I believe Will Smith wanted to pursue acting in films, and wanted to end the show earlier....so it wasn't ratings that would of cancelled it after 4 seasons, but Will wanting to move on for other ventures...

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Wreckless

Yup MrRetro is correct. And that scene was hilarious- the NBC guy is like- Yo holmes to Bel Air LOL

A Philadelphia Story was my fav. episode anyway, and it's true about fans writing to Will & NBC, and I'm glad they renewed it longer for 2 more seasons...

But Solomon, I don't think it was because of bad ratings..I believe Will Smith wanted to pursue acting in films, and wanted to end the show earlier....so it wasn't ratings that would of cancelled it after 4 seasons, but Will wanting to move on for other ventures...

I forgot that scene wasn't in syndication. It was only a NBC thing because I had it on tape for years and remember that scene so well

[misterblowhole]

Originally Posted by MrRetro_08

It is true, thats why in the first episode of the fifth season they make a joke of this by the network taking Will out of the diner were he works & throw him in the back of the NBC van. Heres a link to that scene:

http://www.truveo.com/Get-in-the-Van...h/id/696130033

I do remember that scene quite well, I just never thought it was anything more than another FPoBA in which they not only broke the fourth wall, but completely tore it down, for a gag.

Plus, the other reason I never considered it is because "The Philadelphia Story" didn't really seem like a series finale -- and I don't think it was promoted as such, so I'm guessing that went it was filmed and aired, the future of FPoBA was still undecided?

[Wreckless]

Don't forget this, at the end of The Philadelphia Story- the screen read "THE FRESH PRINCE of Philadelphia?" And it had that "?" question mark on the screen as well- lol. That's what people forget.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Wreckless

Don't forget this, at the end of The Philadelphia Story- the screen read "THE FRESH PRINCE of Philadelphia?" And it had that "?" question mark on the screen as well- lol. That's what people forget.

I do remember watching this episode at the end of 1993-94 on NBC and when Uncle Phil asked Will when he was coming back and Will said-"I"M NOT"

I was like-"What the F*Ck is he talking about??_LOL

[Mr. Television]

I've never read anything about the Fresh Prince possibly leaving the air when that episode aired. It wasn't in any of the papers and I followed the entertainment papers pretty good back then. It was treated as a regular cliffhanger in the press. If Will Smith was leaving the show or was thinking of leaving, you would think that it would have been reported. The Fresh Prince ended that season ranked #22 in the ratings also so no way was it going to be canceled. Does anyone have a direct quote from Will Smith or someone connected to the show? I don't believe anything at IMDB without evidence.

[misterblowhole]

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

I've never read anything about the Fresh Prince possibly leaving the air when that episode aired. It wasn't in any of the papers and I followed the entertainment papers pretty good back then. It was treated as a regular cliffhanger in the press. If Will Smith was leaving the show or was thinking of leaving, you would think that it would have been reported. The Fresh Prince ended that season ranked #22 in the ratings also so no way was it going to be canceled. Does anyone have a direct quote from Will Smith or someone connected to the show? I don't believe anything at IMDB without evidence.

Yeah, I tend to agree with your statements, which is why I raised the question to begin with.
I also don't remember any of the papers reporting on show ending or being canceled, and I also seem to remember the episode being treated as a season-finale cliffhanger

Is there anything mentioned about this on the fourth season DVD?

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by misterblowhole

Yeah, I tend to agree with your statements, which is why I raised the question to begin with.
I also don't remember any of the papers reporting on show ending or being canceled, and I also seem to remember the episode being treated as a season-finale cliffhanger

Is there anything mentioned about this on the fourth season DVD?

Yea and I collect TV Guides and I have the ones from that season and nothing was ever said. I certainly watched that episode and thought nothing of it. I considered it a regular cliffhanger. And also when the networks did their upfronts in May, The Fresh Prince was scheduled on Mondays at 8 as it always was. I don't know what was going on behind the scenes but as far as the public was concerned at the time, the Fresh Prince was coming back.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by misterblowhole

Yeah, I tend to agree with your statements, which is why I raised the question to begin with.
I also don't remember any of the papers reporting on show ending or being canceled, and I also seem to remember the episode being treated as a season-finale cliffhanger

Is there anything mentioned about this on the fourth season DVD?

I actually was thinking the setting would change to Philly and that Will would be around new characters-lol So it did end as a Cliff Hanger

[DSfan]

If it truly was meant as a series finale, what other sitcoms have had scenes like the one linked to above where an inside joke has been made like that about behind the scenes stuff.

I can only recall when Boy Meets World made fun of how the sitcom was moved to a later timeslot on TGIF for no good reason.

[ThomasE]

I did not know that the show was canceled and then picked up again. Wow! That is something new that I learned.

[Furienna]

Oh yeah, that was a bit strange. It does seem like they were thinking of cancelling the show, but later decided not to do it anyway. But if that's true, why didn't they announce, that they were cancelling the show?