Carlton Says The "Carlton Dance" Was Inspired By A Combonation Of Bruce Springsteen And Eddie Murphy Dancing Like Honkeys

GQ – The script said just two words: “Carlton dances.” This was during an early episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Variety reports, when Carlton Banks a.k.a. Yung Money a.k.a. Alfonso Ribeiro—who grew up in the Bronx as a self-described “hip hop kid”—had his ears kissed by the magical words of Tom Jones for the first time in his life, and was asked to improvise a few moves on camera. One, from Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark,” specifically when a young Courteney Cox jumps on stage (skip to 3:26): “That is the corniest dance on the planet that I know of,” said Riberio, “so why don’t I do that?” He was also inspired by Eddie Murphy impersonating a white person dancing from “Raw”.

Well that actually makes perfect sense. The Carlton is the whitest of dances outside of your drunk Uncle attempting to do The Lawnmower at weddings. Every movement Carlton makes from the arms swinging to the goofy grin absolutely screams Wonder Bread. So no shit he looked to Springsteen making Courtney Cox wet and Eddie Murphy grooving like a honkey for inspiration. I love The Boss to death, but the man isn’t exactly what we call electric trying to cut a rug. And Eddie ain’t wrong, either. Whenever I try to dance it looks like the happiest Caesar in epileptic history. Good work by Carlton for nailing the move.

One thing’s for damn sure, the real life Carlton (Albert Riberisois or whatever his alias is) drips pure sex on the dance floor. No wonder he had to dig deep to look like a Cracker Jack.