"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (1990) TV series 1990-1996

Creators:

Andy Borowitz
Susan Borowitz

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

10 September 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family

Plot:

The Banks family, a respectable Californian family, take in a relative - Will Smith, a street-smart teenager from Philadelphia. The idea is to make him respectable, responsible and mature, but Will has got other plans...

Plot Keywords:

Insult | Wealth | California | Teen | Mansion

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 13 wins & 21 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Dec. 29	9:00 AM	TBS	Nice Lady	#1.20
Tue. Dec. 29	9:30 AM	TBS	Love at First Fight	#1.21

Cast

Will Smith	...	William 'Will' Smith / ... (147 episodes, 1990-1996)
Alfonso Ribeiro	...	Carlton Banks / ... (144 episodes, 1990-1996)
James Avery	...	Philip Banks / ... (142 episodes, 1990-1996)
Karyn Parsons	...	Hilary Banks / ... (136 episodes, 1990-1996)
Tatyana Ali	...	Ashley Banks / ... (134 episodes, 1990-1996)
Joseph Marcell	...	Geoffrey / ... (125 episodes, 1990-1996)
Janet Hubert	...	Vivian Banks / ... (70 episodes, 1990-1993)

Runtime:

24 min (148 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Brazil:Livre | USA:TV-PG | UK:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) (DVD rating) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) (DVD rating) | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:6 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G (some episodes) | UK:12 (one episode) | UK:U (most episodes) | Australia:PG (some episodes)

Filming Locations:

Columbia/Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

NBC Productions

Trivia:

Nicky's full name is Nicholas Michael Shawn Nathan Wanya Banks. He is named after the four members of Boyz II Men, after they performed at his christening.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the weekend that Carlton is staying in Compton, there are posters on the wall of Jazz's apartment. Whenever the camera cuts in their direction, they switch walls, go in different orders, and are in different directions.

Quotes:

Will: Girl, if God created anything less pitiful than you, I hope he kept it for himself.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Married with Children: If Al Had a Hammer (#6.3)" (1991)

Still fresh after all these years

I like to think of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" as a memorable rap song from a time when it wasn't afraid to be creative or witty. Think of a song by Public Enemy, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, or hell, even The Fresh Prince's duo with DJ Jazzy Jeff (who guest stars frequently as Jazz), as the two were known back in rap's Golden Age as DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince.

Of course, this show flourished during a time when rap was still good, and I can't help but make comparisons to the hip-hop community. There is no question that Will Smith is a born entertainer, and he got his break in stardom outside of hip-hop with "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." In it, Will Smith pretty much plays Will Smith (I bet creators Andy and Susan Borowitz had a lot of difficulty thinking up that name), a Philadelphia ghetto youth who gets shipped out by his mother to the posh excess of Bel-Air to live with relatives - The Banks.

Once out there, he finds rivalry with cousins - the preppy Carlton and airheaded would-be blonde Hilary Banks (Alfonso Ribiero and Karyn Parsons), young cousin Ashley (Tatyana M. Ali) emulates Will's hip-hop attitude, and Aunt Vivian (alternately played by actresses Janet Hubert-Whitten and Daphne Maxwell Reid) keeps husband and successful lawyer Uncle Phil's (James Avery) head cool when Will gets into trouble. To keep everything tidy and in order, their loyal, sarcastic British butler Geoffrey (Joseph Marcell) is there too.

It's still fresh after all these years. It never fails to stir up careful, thoughtful, moving, and intelligent laughs from the viewer and I'm surprised I avoided it for so long. (Why do I do this to myself all the time?)

The acting is cool and fresh by all, especially from Smith, and the ladies of the house, Karyn and Tatyana, are both pretty cute to look at too.