This episode perfectly describes the problems plaguing the us to this day. It does so in a manner which is somehow funny at some times.
This is a perfect episode to show people who don't believe that racism exists in the US.
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jonaberkers13 August 2020
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This is one of my favorite episodes of this series. It uses humor to address a very serious topic (driving while Black - DWB). The set up is that Philip Banks and his law partner, Henry Furth, are going on a retreat with their wives and some others to Palm Springs. Will and Carlton take responsibility for driving Mr. Furth's car the 2 hours out to Palm Springs for him. On the way, they get lost, and get pulled over by some local cops. Since they are not the car owners, the cops arrest them and take them to jail. The cops do not believe their story, even though every word of it is true. Unfortunately, their telephone calls home and to Mr. Furth's house in Palm Springs do not get them the help they need, so they are trapped in a jail cell with a Bill Murray lookalike (Bob, played by Raymond McLeod) who looks scary but does some very funny musical numbers. Will figures out a way to get through to Uncle Phil and Mr. Furth, who quickly go to the police station to get things straightened out. Uncle Phil reads the riot act to the cops, and Will and the Banks return home to Bel Air. At this point Will and Carlton get into a heated discussion because Carlton, who is sheltered, thinks there was nothing wrong with the cops pulling them over (he says they were driving too slow), while Will says the whole arrest and the problems they faced were motivated by race: "Oh, OK, OK. I get it now. We were stopped because we were driving too slow. Yeah, we were breaking the slowness limit. Oh, OK, well you see, I've never heard of that law before, but I did hear this other law. It's called the "if you see a black guy driving anything but a burnt-out Pinto, you better stop him because he stole it" law." (Note: on highways, there are laws that mandate the minimum speed in addition to the maximum speed, so that the flow of traffic is not impeded; but in this episode the arrest did not happen on a highway, but in a residential neighborhood). Sadly, this episode is as relevant in 2020 as it was in 1990. I like it because, as with most of the Fresh Prince episodes, the writing is excellent, the actors are a pleasure to watch, and a serious topic is brought to the public.
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vivianla6 December 2020Will is ready for Palm Springs but learns he is not going. No kids are allowed at this event.
The white couple who is Phil's partner arrive and Will suggests someone driving their car to Palm Springs. They turn to Carlton asking him if he would like to do so.
Phil drives happily on the freeway when Will appears with a mask. It scares Phil slightly and they get lost. They are stopped by two white policemen and Will knows exactly what to expect. Carlton is too wordy and inexperienced.
At the station they are each able to phone once. Carlton calls the home in Palm Springs and Will calls the house.
Will has a plan and tells the officers his buddy is ready to confess. In Palm Springs the game is paused to announce a news story. It shows Will and Carlton for the recent theft in cars. The parents are shocked.
At the station Phil and Vivian along with the white couple get the boys out of jail.
At home the eldest daughter wears super cute dangly earrings. Carlton says he has learned his lesson - bring a map. Will says he didn't learn then. It is because he is black that they pulled him over. Carlton ponders this and asks Phil if he were a policeman and saw a car driving slowly, he would have pulled over the car right? Phil says he thought so until he was first pulled over. -
broncoboy-3754612 July 2021This episode is one of the best! The way they did the car scene with will to Phillip and Vivian letting the cops have it! Then the end with will and Carlton talking about if it was right or wrong! Well done!!
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ComedyFan201016 April 2018Carlton and Will drive a car of uncle Phil's partner to Palm Springs and are stopped by the police. Which of course means racism.
Back in the 90's I might not even have noticed it, but now in 2018 when the agenda against police became very successful I did. Like yeah there is no such thing as "too slow rule". There is, check it. And all people can be stopped for it. And driving a vehicle that is not registered in your name isn't helping. At the same time the car was not listed as stolen. And uncle Phil was correct about cops not acting right when getting a confession out of them. Although then again they didn't bother to see the documents of the guy to whom the car belonged. And when it comes to these characters I feel for them that they might indeed be arrested out of discrimination.
It had also had some funny moments though. Mainly the phone conversation with Margaret Furth. And it was great to see Hank Azaria so young and basically not saying anything.