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

User Rating:

8.3/10   

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:

Mon. Nov. 9	9:00 AM	TBS	Reality Bites	#5.3
Mon. Nov. 9	9:30 AM	TBS	Grumpy Young Men	#5.4

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

Color:

Color

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 | 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:

Revealing mistakes: In many of the early episodes you can see Will Smith mouthing the words of his co-stars before his lines come up.

Quotes:

Phillip Banks: You're grounded for 10 years.
Ashley Banks: What? But that's not fair.
Phillip Banks: Tell it to the judge... Oh yeah. That's me.
Ashley Banks: It's still not fair. The Menendez brothers are going to be free before I am.
Philip Banks: That's because the Menendez Brothers got home on time.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Sex Trek: Charly XXX (2007) (V)

My all-time favourite TV series

Of all the shows, I believe that "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" is the one with which I can most identify with, since I have surely seen every single episode at least a dozen times - and yet it STILL never gets tired! I cannot get sick of this show, and it's making me a bit disturbed! Just what is it that makes this show so continually appealing, even around seven years since its final episode? I'm not sure...it's certainly not just one element. Every part of this show is magic: the wonderful acting from all involved; the witty (and often painfully hysterical) one-liners and banter between characters; the hip, cool atmosphere; the music...it all perfectly fits into what has to be one of the most remarkable and well-made sitcoms of the '90s.

I find myself shocked sometimes at the number of people who have totally forgotten about this show. Granted, it DID end in 1996, and obviously a lot has happened since then (most notably the skyrocketing music & film career of a certain lead star), but I mean, come on! This show is an undisputed classic! Who can forget the wild, crazy, and just plain amusing adventures we've had with Will Smith and the Banks family?

There were times when I was just addicted to this show, I remember...it was a while back when the episodes were running in syndication every evening on TBS SuperStation...I can't believe how this show can always manage to crack me up. It's incredible. I've grown to love all these characters so much, and even now, I still wouldn't pass up an opportunity to watch yet another priceless rerun.

I agree, though, that yes, a lot of the late, LATE episodes (around the second-last and final season) had their fair share of groans, and showed some glaring signs of tedium, but thankfully, the overwhelming positive qualities of the series tower over such minor flaws - including the mysterious re-casting of Aunt Vivian's role from Janet Hubert-Whitten to Daphne Maxwell Reid; the increasingly old-hat shtick of using the same stock footage whenever Jazz gets thrown out of the Banks residence for the umpteenth time; the cursed addition of a new cast member - little Nicky Banks (Ross Bagley), etc....

It's not an entirely perfect show, certainly (but then - what show is?), and it has had its fair share of ups and downs in its moderately impressive run of six years. However, when all is said and done, in the end, this show can proudly stand on its own as a pop culture treasure. It has evolved from what seemed initially to be an awkward, cheesy, quaint little '80s/'90s Cosby rip-off to a mature, slick, and fabulously written/produced/directed program. Pure gold is what this show is.

A truly underrated, and always entertaining, gem. "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" is one for the ages.