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

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Creators:

Andy Borowitz
Susan Borowitz
(more)

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. Nov. 10	9:00 AM	TBS	Fresh Prince, The Movie	#5.5
Tue. Nov. 10	9:30 AM	TBS	Will's Misery	#5.6

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)

(more)

Series Directed by
Shelley Jensen		(72 episodes, 1992-1996)
Jeffrey Melman		(20 episodes, 1990-1991)
Ellen Falcon		(18 episodes, 1991-1992)
Chuck Vinson		(4 episodes, 1992-1995)
Madeline Cripe		(4 episodes, 1994-1996)
Rita Rogers		(3 episodes, 1990-1992)
Maynard C. Virgil I		(3 episodes, 1993-1995)
Debbie Allen		(2 episodes, 1990)
Rae Kraus		(2 episodes, 1991-1992)
Werner Walian		(2 episodes, 1993-1996)

Series Writing credits
Andy Borowitz		(148 episodes, 1990-1996)
Susan Borowitz		(65 episodes, 1990-1995)
Benny Medina		(64 episodes, 1990-1995)
Jeff Pollack		(64 episodes, 1990-1995)
Lisa Rosenthal		(10 episodes, 1990-1996)
Samm-Art Williams		(9 episodes, 1990-1993)
Cheryl Gard		(7 episodes, 1990-1992)
Eddie Gorodetsky		(6 episodes, 1993-1995)
Maiya Williams		(6 episodes, 1993-1995)
David Zuckerman		(6 episodes, 1993-1994)
Bennie R. Richburg Jr.		(5 episodes, 1990-1992)
Shannon Gaughan		(5 episodes, 1990-1991)
Winifred Hervey		(5 episodes, 1991-1993)
Bryan Winter		(5 episodes, 1991-1993)
Leslie Ray		(4 episodes, 1992)
David Steven Simon		(4 episodes, 1992)
Michael Soccio		(4 episodes, 1994-1996)
Adam Markowitz		(4 episodes, 1995-1996)
Rob Edwards		(3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Sandy Frank		(3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Tom Devanney		(3 episodes, 1995-1996)
Joel Madison		(3 episodes, 1995)
Michael Fry		(2 episodes, 1992-1993)
Efrem Seeger		(2 episodes, 1992)
K. Snyder		(2 episodes, 1993-1994)
Bill Boulware		(2 episodes, 1993)
Andrea Allen-Wiley		(2 episodes, 1994-1995)
Robert Bruce		(2 episodes, 1995-1996)
Felicia D. Henderson		(1 episode, 1995-1997)
Casey Maxwell		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Werner Walian	....	producer (147 episodes, 1990-1996)
Quincy Jones	....	executive producer (55 episodes, 1990-1994)
Jeff Pollack	....	co-producer / co-executive producer (54 episodes, 1990-1994)
Benny Medina	....	co-producer / co-executive producer (53 episodes, 1990-1994)
Maiya Williams	....	supervising producer / producer (51 episodes, 1993-1995)
Samm-Art Williams	....	supervising producer / producer / ... (48 episodes, 1990-1993)
Cheryl Gard	....	co-executive producer / supervising producer / ... (35 episodes, 1990-1995)
Winifred Hervey	....	executive producer (35 episodes, 1991-1993)
Mara Lopez	....	associate producer (30 episodes, 1990-1995)
Andy Borowitz	....	executive producer (26 episodes, 1990-1992)
Leslie Ray	....	supervising producer / producer / ... (26 episodes, 1992-1994)
David Steven Simon	....	supervising producer / producer / ... (26 episodes, 1992-1994)
Eddie Gorodetsky	....	co-producer (25 episodes, 1994-1995)
David Zuckerman	....	co-producer (25 episodes, 1994-1995)
Mary Ellen Jones	....	co-producer (24 episodes, 1992-1993)
Will Smith	....	executive producer (24 episodes, 1994-1996)
Larry Wilmore	....	co-producer (24 episodes, 1995-1996)
Ilene Chaiken	....	coordinating producer (21 episodes, 1991-1992)
Lisa Rosenthal	....	producer (20 episodes, 1991-1992)
Efrem Seeger	....	co-producer (15 episodes, 1992-1993)
Bryan Winter	....	co-producer (15 episodes, 1992-1993)
Kevin Wendle	....	executive producer (6 episodes, 1990-1991)
Barry Gurstein	....	co-producer / producer (6 episodes, 1993-1994)
David Pitlik	....	co-producer / producer (6 episodes, 1993-1994)
Susan Borowitz	....	executive producer (5 episodes, 1990-1992)
Gary H. Miller	....	executive producer (5 episodes, 1994-1995)
Bill Boulware	....	supervising producer (4 episodes, 1993-1994)
Josh Goldstein	....	co-executive producer (2 episodes, 1994)
Bennie R. Richburg Jr.	....	supervising producer (2 episodes, 1994)
Robert Bruce	....	consulting producer (unknown episodes)
Joel Madison	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Quincy Jones III		(49 episodes, 1990-1995)

Series Film Editing by
Jim McQueen		(23 episodes, 1990-1992)
John Doutt		(14 episodes, 1992-1993)
Jesse Hoke		(8 episodes, 1994-1995)

Series Casting by
Allison Jones		(43 episodes, 1990-1995)
Sally Stiner		(43 episodes, 1990-1995)
Monica Swann		(16 episodes, 1991-1994)
Lisa Miller		(8 episodes, 1994-1995)

Series Production Design by
Fred M. Duer		(8 episodes, 1994-1995)

Series Art Direction by
John C. Mula		(21 episodes, 1991-1992)
Greg Wolfson		(15 episodes, 1990-1991)
Fred M. Duer		(15 episodes, 1992-1994)
Dahl Delu		(3 episodes, 1990-1991)

Series Set Decoration by
Greg Wolfson		(14 episodes, 1990)
Ron Olsen		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Violette Jones-Faison		(15 episodes, 1992-1993)
Judy Richman		(5 episodes, 1994-1995)

Series Makeup Department
Joann Kozloff	....	makeup department head / makeup artist (148 episodes, 1990-1996)
Stacey Morris	....	hair stylist (123 episodes, 1991-1996)
Carol McCoo	....	hair stylist (35 episodes, 1990-1993)
Meta Hahn	....	hair stylist (9 episodes, 1994-1995)
Roddy Stayton	....	hair department head (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Gary Considine	....	executive in charge of production (43 episodes, 1991-1995)
Sean O'Brien	....	production manager (7 episodes, 1994-1995)
William F. Phillips	....	executive in charge of production (2 episodes, 1990-1991)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Madeline Cripe	....	associate director (17 episodes, 1992-1995)

Series Art Department
Ron 'Ron Dog' Valentine	....	props (24 episodes, 1990-1992)
Fred M. Duer	....	assistant art director (20 episodes, 1991-1992)
Alan Okazaki	....	assistant art director (13 episodes, 1992-1995)
Ron Olsen	....	associate art director (2 episodes, 1991)
Rhonda Robinson	....	property master (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Ron Garrard	....	sound editor (25 episodes, 1994)
Allen Patapoff	....	sound re-recording mixer (24 episodes, 1990-1992)
Fred Tator	....	sound re-recording mixer (24 episodes, 1992-1993)
Craig Porter	....	sound re-recording mixer (23 episodes, 1990-1992)
Jim Mylenek	....	audio / sound (20 episodes, 1991-1992)
Leslie Bloom	....	foley artist (10 episodes, 1994)
Jeff Smith	....	sound mixer (9 episodes, 1994-1995)
John Macheca	....	audio / sound (2 episodes, 1991)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Victoria Walker	....	camera operator (98 episodes, 1990-1995)
Walter Glover	....	lighting director (16 episodes, 1991-1992)
Robin Strickland	....	lighting director (7 episodes, 1990-1991)
Art Busch	....	lighting director (unknown episodes)
John C. Mula	....	lighting director (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Paul Garnica	....	background casting (25 episodes, 1990-1991)
Domenic Andreoli	....	casting associate (unknown episodes)
Jen Friesen	....	casting assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nelson Bisbal	....	wardrobe supervisor / costume supervisor (32 episodes, 1991-1995)
Judy Richman	....	costume department supervisor (25 episodes, 1990-1994)
Marcy Craig	....	costume supervisor (22 episodes, 1990-1991)
Penny Larson	....	costumer (21 episodes, 1991-1992)
Cynthia Michaels	....	costumer (20 episodes, 1991-1992)
Melissa Franz	....	key costumer (11 episodes, 1992-1993)
Loring I. Spicer	....	key costumer (5 episodes, 1992)
Gregory B. Peña	....	set costumer (1 episode, 1990)

Series Music Department
Will Smith	....	composer: title song / composer: theme music (3 episodes, 1992)

Series Other crew
Mattie Caruthers	....	associate director / script supervisor (142 episodes, 1990-1996)
Andy Borowitz	....	executive consultant (123 episodes, 1991-1996)
Chris Klausen	....	stage manager (123 episodes, 1991-1996)
Kevin King	....	director of payroll (99 episodes, 1991-1995)
Susan Borowitz	....	executive consultant (39 episodes, 1991-1994)
Terri Prizant	....	production assistant / script supervisor (32 episodes, 1991-1995)
Bobreta Franklin	....	assistant to executive producer / assistant production coordinator / ... (31 episodes, 1991-1993)
Jim Eddy	....	assistant to producer / production assistant / ... (29 episodes, 1991-1995)
Herman Cox	....	production assistant (28 episodes, 1991-1994)
Eddie Gorodetsky	....	story editor (26 episodes, 1993-1994)
David Zuckerman	....	story editor (26 episodes, 1993-1994)
Sandy Frank	....	executive story editor (25 episodes, 1990-1991)
Maynard C. Virgil I	....	stage manager (25 episodes, 1991-1995)
Juanesta Holmes	....	production assistant / script supervisor (24 episodes, 1990-1992)
Michael Joseph	....	technical director (24 episodes, 1990-1991)
Dave Shulman	....	assistant to writers (24 episodes, 1990-1991)
Sean O'Brien	....	production coordinator (23 episodes, 1990-1992)
Michael Stramisky	....	technical director (23 episodes, 1990-1992)
William Gardhouse	....	video (23 episodes, 1991-1992)
Bennie R. Richburg Jr.	....	story editor / consultant: West Philly homeboys (23 episodes, 1991-1992)
Bryan Winter	....	executive story editor / executive story consultant (22 episodes, 1991-1992)
Steve Hoefer	....	production assistant (21 episodes, 1990-1992)
Anita Cooper-Avrick	....	stage manager (21 episodes, 1991-1992)
Tama Schierer	....	production assistant (19 episodes, 1991-1992)
Efrem Seeger	....	executive story editor / story editor (19 episodes, 1991-1992)
Steven W. Bauerfeind	....	production assistant (16 episodes, 1991-1992)
Russ Reinsel	....	technical director (15 episodes, 1992-1993)
Rae Kraus	....	associate director (12 episodes, 1990-1992)
Eunetta T. Boone	....	story editor (12 episodes, 1991-1992)
P. Karen Raper	....	story editor (12 episodes, 1991-1992)
Erma Elzy-Jones	....	associate director (10 episodes, 1991-1992)
Denise McIver	....	assistant to executive producer (10 episodes, 1992-1993)
Perry M. Rein	....	production assistant (10 episodes, 1992-1993)
Linda M. Yearwood	....	story editor (10 episodes, 1992)
Jennifer Knight	....	production assistant (9 episodes, 1992-1993)
Danita Patterson	....	production assistant (9 episodes, 1992-1993)
Gayle Abrams	....	assistant to executive producer / production assistant (9 episodes, 1994-1995)
Mike Kelley	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1991-1992)
Rich Hosek	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1994-1995)
Tim Trivette	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1994-1995)
Shayne Lewin	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1994-1995)
Denise Jennings	....	production assistant (5 episodes, 1991)
Marc Savoy	....	production assistant (5 episodes, 1992-1993)
Lionell Hilliard	....	production assistant (5 episodes, 1995)
Rachel Hauck	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1991)
Irene Izaguirre	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1994-1995)
Ilene Chaiken	....	supervising executive (3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Kathryn Dow	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Rob Edwards	....	executive story consultant (3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Shannon Gaughan	....	executive story editor / story editor (3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Kevin Holden	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Elvin Ivory	....	stage manager (3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Lynn M. McCracken	....	stage manager (3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Lisa Rosenthal	....	executive story consultant (3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Danielle Satinover	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Pamela Oas Williams	....	supervising executive (3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Deborah Kaplan	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1990-1991)
Latrice Williams	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1990-1991)
Larry Cogan	....	production accountant (unknown episodes)
Laura Gary	....	studio teacher (unknown episodes)
Christophe Smith	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• NBC Productions
• Quincy Jones Entertainment
• Quincy Jones-David Salzman Entertainment
• The Stuffed Dog Company

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Television (1990-1996) (worldwide) (all media)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1990-1996) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1991-2004) (UK) (TV) (BBC 2)
• Comedy Central (2007) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Noggin (2004-) (USA) (TV)
• RTL (1992-1997) (Germany) (TV)
• Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão (SBT) (1992-) (Brazil) (TV)
• TV6 (2008) (Hungary) (TV) (re-release)
• Veronica (200?-) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2005-) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005-) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (season 1)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (seasons 2-4)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• ABS Payroll & Production Accounting Services  payroll services
• Transition Music  music provided by

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:

May have been the first TV series saved from cancellation by pleas from TV-station managers. The show aired its 1990-1994 episodes in syndication after the fourth season while running the fifth season on network. At the end of that season, NBC wanted to pull the plug because the new episodes were getting a mediocre 8.6 rating. But the reruns were drawing a 7.4, extremely good for an ad-hoc collection of shows you've seen three or four times, and the managers of the local stations thought they might have one of those "phenom" series where people religiously watch their favorite episodes and a lot of them. To avoid over-running the shows they already had (about a hundred, already run three times), the station managers agreed to buy the fifth and sixth seasons at a greatly inflated price (adding 50 more shows to their libraries and helping avoid burning out the audiences) - meaning NBC would NOT lose money by picking up the show after all.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the beginning of the episode where Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil go to Palm Springs for the weekend and Will can't go, he is wearing an inner tube that is under the left arm. In the next shot it is under the right and keeps moving back and forth.

Quotes:

Will: It's woman like her why God made darkness.
George Jefferson: [laughs] Hey? Are you insulting my wife?
Will: Wait... hold up, cul-de-sac... I think you need to chill. I'm twice your size, and half your age, so you need to just back off.
George Jefferson: Your mama!
Will: [Will drops his cookies from his hands] I know you ain't talking about my mama!
George Jefferson: Okay, then let's talk about your daddy. Your daddy was so fat... that when he went to school he sat next to *everybody*! And still... he still not as fat as your fat mama!
[walks away]
Will: [Will runs to him and hits him with a bat]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Heroes Unmasked: The Dreamer (#1.3)" (2007)

Sexy, upscale, funny, and intelligent that was "The, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"!

Inner-city rap met upscale Beverly Hills society in this black sitcom. Philadelphia homeboy Will Smith was off to Beverly Hills to live with his rich, pretentious relatives the Banks. Only you had differences occur Will brought a little soul to the strict Beverly Hills mansion, only to be taught a few things by the Banks as well. The Banks family had the uncle of Will that was Philip (James Avery) a successful attorney who knew all about the problems a black man faced in a white society. The Banks had two daughters who I describe both as being just as sexy and beautiful as ever first the oldest and spoiled Hillary (Karyn Parsons) and the youngest the pretty Ashley (Tatyana Ali). The Banks family always had to deal with problems in life and had fun of it in the process. The theme song by Smith and partner Jeff Townes "Parents Just Don't Understand" said it all. You can now catch the reruns of the famous Will Smith on both cable channels TBS and WGN this popular black sitcom is still well enjoyed.