Alfonso Ribeiro looked to his past for inspiration last night, and what came of it was the best score among all of Monday’s Dancing With the Stars results.
Ribeiro, who starred from 1990-96 as Carlton Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, performed his self-styled dance from that show, “The Carlton.”
With the theme of Dancing With the Stars Season 19 Episode 6 being "Most Memorable Year," he couldn’t put it off any longer, even if it’s bittersweet.
Rebeiro feels Carlton halted, rather than helped, his career development.
“I was pigeon-holed as an actor based on that character,” he lamented.
“There were years," he added, "when casting directors wouldn’t call me because they felt like, ‘Oh, well, he’s Carlton, and that’s not right for this role.’”
But Ribeiro says he has learned to embrace Carlton, dance and all.
"I love the Carlton dance. I love how it makes people feel. I certainly don’t do it a lot. But I love the fact that people have a nostalgic look at that dance," he said.
Ribeiro, wearing a sweater and bow tie a la his ’90s character, performed with dancing partner Witney Carson tp "It’s Not Unusual” by Tom Jones.
Alfonson also performed with Jones on The Fresh Prince in 1993.
As he broke into The Carlton, in all its arm-flailing, finger-snapping, hip-swinging goofy glory, the DWTS judges were as impressed as his fans.
“I’m so glad that you made us wait for the Carlton,” Julianne Hough said.
“Not only did you separate yourself from Carlton tonight, think this show and what you’re doing each week, people are going to remember Alfonso.”
Afterward, Ribeiro admitted that the dance was for the fans.
“I’ve been wanting to do this for them forever, and this is a moment I dreamed about for many a years,” Ribeiro said. “I went back. I went back in time.”
He scored a perfect 40 out of 40, topping the DWTS leaderboard on a night that saw Betsey Johnson eliminated. Think Carlton can go all the way?!
