Smith-Produced Sitcom Echoes Stars' Lives

Will Smith crossed over from rap music star to actor on a TV sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, but then went on to become a big movie star.

His films, including Bad Boys , Independence Day , Men in Black and Ali , have grossed more than $2.5 billion worldwide.

So what's he doing back on the set of a TV sitcom?

"I love the grind of sitcoms," he told ABCNEWS Primetime's John Quinones. "I love that energy. And for me it's like, you know, being a basketball player and having a torn Achilles [tendon]. To have to stand on the side, you know, that is the worst. You so want to be in the game."

Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, are executive producers of All of Us , a new show airing on another network.

"I think being successful is not completely about talent," he added. "I feel that I'm just above average in talent, you know. I think what I have, and what Jada has, I think we work harder than everybody else."

'Loosely Based'

The show is about a divorced father trying to blend his first and second families -- and cope with both a new bride and an ever-present ex-wife.

The Smiths say the scenario is somewhat familiar to them.

"It's loosely based on our situation, but it's really a show about blended families," Smith said.

Pinkett Smith, an actress and singer, is Will's second wife and mother of his younger children, Willow, 2, and Jaden, 5.

Smith's ex-wife, Sheree, is the mother of his 10-year-old son, Trey.

The Smiths both call Sheree "a great ex-wife," and say they have created their own blended family.

"It takes the three of us to make this work," Smith said. "It's difficult. You have a child with someone, and you create a situation in your life that has to be dealt with. And a lot of times, you know, people walk away or people get angry and shut down."

Pinkett Smith added, "We don't have the perfect formula, in any way, but we surely are working it out."

Smith says he's happy with his family life.

"I've gone beyond pinching myself," he said, "to banging my head on the wall, saying, 'Wake up, dude. Let's just keep it going. Did you do everything today you're supposed to do to keep it going? You sent flowers, right? You did send some flowers?' "