22. Ain't No Business Like Show Business

Will's friend Keith is in Los Angeles from Philadelphia, looking to break into the stand-up comedy scene. Thinking that it's an easy thing to start, Will decides to go down that career path as well, despite the warnings from both Keith and Uncle Phil. When Will sneaks out of the house to go with Carlton, Hilary, and Keith to an open mic night, he gets heckled off the stage while Keith gets a standing ovation. It's at that moment he realizes it's tough to get started down a certain career path if you don't have the talent and experience.

Plot summary and ending

Spoilers ahead. Coverage follows the scope labeled below.

Complete story — includes the ending

Will accompanies Keith ( D. L. Hughley ), a comedian friend from Philadelphia, to an audition. While there, the woman holding the auditions spots Will doing a comedic pick-up routine and gives him a spot in a comedy showcase. Will decides his calling is in stand-up comedy and decides to pursue a career as a comedian in lieu of college. This decision angers both Keith, who accuses Will of making a joke out of something he's worked very hard at, and Phil who refuses to let Will abandon his education and warns him not to set foot near a comedy club of he'll have hell to pay. Will goes anyway, however he bombs on stage as his jokes about Carlton and a date with no arms fall flat. He is saved from an angry audience by Keith, who wins the audience round with his own routine. Phil hears about what happens but decides Will being embarrassed on stage is punishment enough.

Sources and content license

Source and revision history · Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air season 3. HTML formatting and reference markers removed. · Content license