‘Fresh Prince’ Bids Touching Farewell
“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (NBC at 8) ends its six-season run with an hourlong finale that finds the Banks family and Will striking off in different directions.
Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro), fans know, is ready to leave for Princeton. Unlikely roommates Hilary (Karyn Parsons) and Ashley (Tatyana M. Ali) are headed off for jobs and school in New York.
With everyone moving to the East Coast, Phil (James Avery) and Vivian (Daphne Maxwell Reid) decide to sell the house and move back East with Nicky (Ross Bagley).
No longer needed, Geoffrey (Joseph Marcell) elects to return to England.
That leaves Will (Will Smith) looking for a place to live in Los Angeles, determined to finish school.
Essentially, the hour is one long buildup to the emotional farewells.
The writers haven’t gone out of their way with an elaborate plot. Instead they use plenty of the series’ trademark gags.
That means numerous short jokes aimed at Carlton and plenty of bubble-headed remarks by Hilary.
But you won’t mind. The series has hit more than a few high notes over the years, thanks in large part to Smith’s sublime portrayal of the inept but erstwhile Will.
Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford and Marla Gibbs (“The Jeffersons”) and Conrad Bain and Gary Coleman (“Diff’rent Strokes”) make delightful cameo appearances as prospective buyers of the Banks’ Bel-Air estate.
Highlights
“Scent of a Woman” (1992), ABC at 8: Al Pacino won an Oscar for his gallant performance as a vile, boozing, blind ex-Army colonel who engages a timid prep school student (Chris O’Donnell) as a caretaker. Off they go on a weekend in New York, where the old dog teaches the young pup some new tricks. In return, the colonel gets a new lease on life.
“The Nanny,” CBS at 8: The season finale takes Fran (Fran Drescher) to Paris, where Maxwell’s (Charles Shaughnessy) younger brother has opened a nightclub. Look for Eartha Kitt in a cameo.
“Melrose Place,” FOX at 8: Can the prime-time soap top last season’s explosive cliff-hanger finale? We’ll see.
Jake’s (Grant Show) matchmaking effort backfires. Jo (Daphne Zuniga) receives a shocking proposal from Dominick (Brad Johnson). Michael (Thomas Calabro) and Amanda (Heather Locklear) attempt to rescue Peter (Jack Wagner), but they are trapped in the institution.
And police discover that one Melrose resident has a secret past.
“Murphy Brown,” CBS at 9: The season finale marks the farewell of Grant Shaud, who has given the show some of its best laughs with his energetic portrayal of “FYI” executive producer Miles Silverberg. But the episode is further proof that “Murphy’ is running on empty as the humor is born of the familiar old one-liners and a classic Miles meltdown or two.
“Thrill” (1996), NBC at 9: Antonio Sabato Jr. stars in this unavailable-for-review thriller about a roller coaster rigged with explosives. Sabato plays an engineer with a fear of heights who attempts to rescue the passengers. It sounds like a “Speed” ripoff.
“Chicago Hope,” CBS at 10: Austin’s ex-husband (Ron Silver) attempts revenge by buying the hospital so he can fire his ex-wife. Nyland (Thomas Gibson) begins a romance with a patient’s fiancee, and Grad (Jayne Brook) turns the tables on Kronk (Peter Berg).
Cable Calls
“Larry King Live,” CNN at 6 and 11: King and callers quiz first lady Hillary Clinton.
“Final Appeal” (1993), LIF at 9: Brian Dennehy is at his burly best as an alcoholic lawyer whose best, last chance to save his career lies in a murder case. Trouble is, the accused (JoBeth Williams) is his sister, and her story leaks like a sieve.
“Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,” HBO at 10: Scheduled segments include an interview with controversial University of Nebraska running back Lawrence Phillips, drafted by the NFL St. Louis Rams.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35: Fourteen-year-old Amanda Beard.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35: Fran Drescher (“The Nanny”), comedian Brian Green and singer Joan Jett.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC at 12:35 a.m.: Yasmine Bleeth (“Baywatch”) and Joey Slotnick (“The Single Guy”). Repeat.