Mistaken Identity

Season 1, Episode 6, Aired
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Episode Summary

Will and Carlton voluntarily drive Mr. Firth's car to Palm Springs. They get lost and drive slow to find the street. They get pulled over and arrested because they meet the description of local car thieves for whom the local law enforcement officers had been searching. Will and Carlton state a confession on live TV in an attempt to be released from jail.moreless
9.6
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EPISODE RATING: Superb
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Fan Episode Reviews (13)

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  • Will and Carlton take Phillp's car down to Palm Springs.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By Lostindharma, Dec 08, 2011 Report Abuse
    This may be one of the best episodes not just of the season but of the series. This episode is probably in the top 20 of my favorite episodes of any TV show. What made this show good was also the comedic parts. When Carlton got pulled over it was funny seeing how Will told Carlton what to do before the cop did. Another funny part, although small was the continued development of the butler. Speaking of development, the characters of Will, Carlton, and Phillp really step up, especially Will. Seeing Phillp yell at the cop for falsely arresting Will and Carlton was great to see. He has yelled before but not like this. It showed that he cares for Will. The best part might been the ending. Very few comedy shows could pull off a ending like that and still be a comedy and a great show. I also liked that this was done in 1990, racism still exists (still does today). A very good episode that everyone should see.moreless

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  • Will and Carton go on a road trip to return Phil's cliant's car. But they end up being mistaken for car thieves.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By PizzaKrust, Nov 10, 2010 Report Abuse
    This is my favorite episode of the entire series. When Carton and Will were singing in the cell was classic. Not to mention the white guy in jail singing in an opera-like voice. I also loved when Will was dressed up as Freddy Cruger. The only thing I didn't like was the ending. It seemed too cli`ched.

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  • Racism at its worst....with a message revealed.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By lightning_kf, Nov 10, 2010 Report Abuse
    Racism is a rather terrible thing in our society today. And this episode is a fine example of how bad (and in this case ignorant) racism can be.

    Will and Carlton are both arrested and placed in jail for allegedly "driving too slow" in an all-white neighborhood, as well as driving a decent car. Truth is, the cop thought as 2 blacks that they stole it from a white person, but Uncle Phil's partner (a white man) asked Carlton to drive the car.

    When Phillip and Vivian heard of the ordeal, they went straight to the police station and were verbally abused by the police. But when Phillip's partner cam through, my oh my how nice the police spoke to him.....until Philip put them in their place.

    The events leading up to the end was just a small reminder of the harsh reality we still live in to this very day. And I hope people get the message as well.moreless

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  • racism sucks

    10
    "Perfect"
    By futuramarama, Nov 10, 2010 Report Abuse
    despite carlton's obviousness wrongness to them being pulled over "for going too slow" (Which was what was assumed), I think this was a great episode that dealt with the topic of racism and did so in a good way. Obviously there is some good comedy in the episode but it is also a serious episode about racism, something that was really big a few years ago. One of my favorite episodes, this episode easily gets an A+ in my book. Hilarious scenes, the end is emotional/serious, just an all around great ,perfect episode, at least I personally think so. 10!moreless

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  • mistaken identity

    7.0
    "Good"
    By thefanof, Jul 30, 2010 Report Abuse
    The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air had many "very special" episodes during its six season run. The series tried hard to give black Americans the top sitcom and the voice that they did not have prior to this show, but at times they were too aggressive with their push; this was one of those times. The last scene of this episode was very bizarre with Carlton and Uncle Phil talking about whether or not the police were being racist in pulling them over.

    And not only that, but there were very few laughs here as well, other than when Uncle Phil went to the jailhouse and went all super dad on the cops.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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  • Notes

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    • International Episode Titles: Czech Republic - Menší omyl (Minor Mistake) Edit
    • During the jail scene, a segment of Bob singing I Write the Songs is cut out in syndication. Edit
    • Syndication cuts the scene where Hilary tries to force Ashley to answer the telephone. Edit

  • Quotes

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    • Will: Yo, Carlton. Carlton: Yeah? Will: Those cops were just doing their jobs? Carlton: Will, don't get all bent out of shape. Will: Man you ain't learn nothing this weekend, did you? Carlton: I most certainly did. Always bring a map. Will: What?! Carlton: If we would have a map, we wouldn't have had to drive 2 miles an hour trying to find a freeway entrance, and we wouldn't have been stopped. Will: 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. Yeah I've heard that one. Oh, But see, I thought it was the black guy law, when in actuality, it was the slowness limit law. Oh, thank yoy for sharing that with me, Carlton. Good night. Edit
    • Carlton: They were just doing their job. Will: Good night, Carlton. Carlton: What's your complaint here? We were detained for a few hours, Dad cleared things up, and we were released. The system works. Will: I hope you like that system because you'll be seeing a whole lot of it in your lifetime. Carlton: Not if I bring a map. Will: You just don't get it, do you? No map is going to save you and neither is your glee club, or your fancy Bel-Air address, or who your daddy is. Because when you're driving in a nice car in a strange neighborhood, none of that matters. They only see one thing. (taps Carlton on his face) Carlton: Well, maybe growing up where you did has made you a little touchy, but I think you've blown this whole thing out of proportion. If you look at the facts... (Will walks away disgusted) Edit
    • Will: Come on, let's sing. Carlton: I'm not singing. Will: Oh, come on. (sings) When Israel was in Egypt land... Carlton: This is just retarded. Will: Come on, man, let it go. You'll feel better. Carlton: (sings) Let my people go. Will: Oppressed so hard they could not stand... Carlton: Let my people go. Bob: (sings opera-style) Go down Moses, way down in Egypt land. Tell old Pharaoh... Let my people go! Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Carlton (singing): A B C D E F G H I got a gal in Kalamazoo! The song Carlton's singing while driving the Mercedes is Harry Warren I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo. Edit
    • Vivian: Calm yourself, Barney Fife! Barney Fife is the sheriff's deputy on the 1968 television series, The Andy Griffith Show. Edit
    • Vivian: This is the worst display of justice since Mayberry R.F.D.! Mayberry R.F.D.! was a spin off of The Andy Griffith Show. It did so poorly in the ratings that it's considered one of the worst spin offs in television history. Edit

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