A streetwise, poor young man from Philadelphia is sent by his mother to live with his aunt, uncle and cousins in their Bel-Air mansion.A streetwise, poor young man from Philadelphia is sent by his mother to live with his aunt, uncle and cousins in their Bel-Air mansion.A streetwise, poor young man from Philadelphia is sent by his mother to live with his aunt, uncle and cousins in their Bel-Air mansion.
- Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
- 15 wins & 27 nominations total
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDespite portraying himself as a charismatic, self-confident playboy, Will Smith has said that he was a shy, awkward teen who was very insecure about approaching and dating girls.
- GoofsIn many early episodes, Will Smith visibly mouths his co-stars' words before his lines come up.
- Quotes
[Will's father came back into town, and then lied to Will about being around more and left. Phillip is trying to comfort him]
Will: Hey, you no what, you ain't got to do nothing, Uncle Phil. You know, ain't like I'm still five years old, you know? Ain't like I'm gonna be sitting every night asking my mom 'when's daddy coming home?' You know? Who needs him? Hey, he wasn't there to teach me how to shoot my first basket, but I learned it, didn't I? And I got pretty damn good at it too, didn't I, Uncle Phil?
Phillip Banks: Yeah, you did.
Will: Got to do my first date without him, right? I learned how to ride, I learned how to shave, I learned how to fight without him. I had *fourteen* great birthdays without him; he never even sent me a damn card. The hell with him!
[pause]
Will: I didn't need him then, I won't need him now.
Phillip Banks: Will...
Will: No, you know what, Uncle Phil? I'm gonna get through college without him, I'm gonna get a great job without him, I'm gonna marry me a beautiful honey and I'm having a whole bunch of kids. I'm gonna be a better father than he ever was. And I sure as hell don't need him for that, 'cause there ain't a damn thing he can teach me about how to love my kids!
[long pause; he's crying]
Will: How come he don't want me, man?
- Crazy creditsJanet Hubert-Whitten was credited simply as Janet Hubert during the first three episodes. During that time, the theme song was its full uncut version. From episode 4 onward the theme song was reduced by one verse and the "-Whitten" was added to Janet's credit.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Late Night with David Letterman: Episode dated 7 September 1990 (1990)
- SoundtracksThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Written by Will Smith (as The Fresh Prince) and DJ Jazzy Jeff (uncredited)
Performed by Will Smith (as The Fresh Prince)
in association with A Touch of Jazz, Inc.
Then there are all of the other things that I Personally like about this show. To start off is all of the Fourth Wall Breaks not only those were always fun but I'm always a big fan of those. Sadly there is one Fourth Wall Break Moment that I'm not a particularly a fan of. Sure it was during the End Credit Roll but still. As I found it way Over The Top even for a 90's Sitcom End Credit Sequence. And the moment that I'm Referring to is when Will Smith Jokingly tells Carlton that in order to escape he was forced to kill the person that was holding him hostage. Which non of that really happened as a bit of a Pay Back for the events of the episode. And in response Carlton Literally Ran Around all over the place including All of the Sets that were in that episode and to even the Live Audience Area. Screaming 'No' Darth Vader Style all the way through non stop. And at one point Carlton was on the Floor Crawling on just his Hands. With his body sort of resembling a Disabled Frogs.
Anyways moving on the Next thing I Really Love just wish there were a lot more moments like it. But I understand for obvious reasons why they do it very often in the show. And that would be that Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air does have Emotional Close To Tear Jerker, You Feel Like You Where Kick In The Heart Moments. Just wished the Final One just before the Show Ends didn't End With A Laugh Track when We'll Smith Both the Character and the Actor was fittingly be the one to turn off the Lights. It's too bad that could have been a really great moment.
Anyways next that I enjoy seeing all of the Guest Stars that they had on the show through out the years or seasons. Sure some I don't recognize but most I do. I'm so Glad that this show eventually Launched not only Well Smith the Actor's Acting Career and his Celebrity Status at the same time. And I think my favourite type of humour is the Sarcastic Humour that the Character of Geoffrey always had on the show. As it is the only type of humour that I seem to get. And I also love the friendship between Well and Carlton as it really feels Grounded and how Real Cousins would probably act in real life. And unless I'm Missing anything else that should do it for the Positives.
The Bad= As Funny and as Great as this show was I still have a few gripes with it a side from the ones I have mentioned in the Positive Section. Such as although I don't have any problems with them switching out the two Vivian Banks. It's that I felt that the First Vivian (Janet Hubert) was a much more Vivian Banks as with her version she played the type of woman and mother, and Professor Wife and Aunt you don't want to Mess With. While I felt that the Second Vivian Banks (Daphne Reid) is Kind and Soft and just about everything Opposite of what Janet's version of Viviane Banks was. Not that it's a big deal it's just given the choice I would rather prefer Janet Hubert's version, as I found her much entertaining to watch. Don't get me wrong Daphne is not an Actress or anything I enjoyed her version as well. But for whatever the reason Janet Hubert's version was just more memorable. It's just too bad that Janet Herbert had to leave the show for Behind The Scenes and Personal Issues. And while I'm on the subject I also wished did a little more with the Nicky Banks Character as I don't remember him being on the show very much, at least not as much as the other Banks Children. And when he just show up it just seems that he's just there to remind us that 'Oh Yeah Gave The Banks Kids A Baby Brother' and when he was in full episodes it just felt like he was just there for the Cuteness Factor.
Anyways moving on then next I just like how many 'Fake Outs' there was during during the shows run. It's like they enjoy no not just enjoy but live to call you the audience a 'Sucker' as they often revers storylines or other that they have set up just so they could seemingly call it a 'Plot Twist'. Oh sure some of their decisions are understandable able but often then not they just do it for the 'Twist' thing that I was talking about earlier. Anyways moving on again before I forget. It's just unfortunate in the DVD Version they not only Combined the Two Parter Halloween episodes in season one in to just one episode, but also the Normal Opening was used in this episode. Where as that Particular Episode as I have said was Supposed to be a Two Part Episode but also the Opening was supposed to be The Full Uncut Version. Then next I understand why but I don't know the Hilary Banks Character just feels like the Rich 90's Bimbo Stereotype which includes the way she talks. They also start a lot of Great Storylines and Concepts and Ideas but choose to never fallow up or even if they they never really bring then to a satisfying conclusion. And in the later seasons they seem to not only Recycle Old Ideas and Concepts that they already had in the Earlier Seasons, but also make a big fat joke out of them in the process, sadly which includes the Racism. And unless I'm missing anything else that should do it.
Final Thoughts= Still a lot Better than Bel-Air IMHO.
- Honesticedragon69
- Nov 18, 2022
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Der Prinz von Bel-Air
- Filming locations
- 251 N. Bristol Ave., Los Angeles, California, USA(establishing shots of the Banks' mansion)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro