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The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

  • TV Series
  • 1990–19961990–1996
  • 66
  • 22min
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
126K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
495
32
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
30 years later, we're bringing the Banks family back together. Join Will and Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons, Joseph Marcell, Daphne Maxwell Reid, Alfonso Ribeiro and DJ Jazzy Jeff, for a funny and heartfelt night full of music and dancing in honor of the show that ran for six seasons and 148 episodes.
Play trailer2:24
13 Videos
99+ Photos
Comedy

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.

IMDb RATING
7.9/10
126K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
495
32
  • Creators
    • Andy Borowitz
    • Susan Borowitz
  • Stars
    • Will Smith
    • James Avery
    • Alfonso Ribeiro
Top credits
  • Creators
    • Andy Borowitz
    • Susan Borowitz
  • Stars
    • Will Smith
    • James Avery
    • Alfonso Ribeiro
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 151User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 14 wins & 26 nominations total

    Episodes148

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos13

    "Special Skills" Host Jay Pharoah Wants to Live With This TV Family
    Full Episode 3:05
    "Special Skills" Host Jay Pharoah Wants to Live With This TV Family
    He's Bruce Lee in 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,' and He Digs a Baking Show
    Full Episode 3:23
    He's Bruce Lee in 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,' and He Digs a Baking Show
    Who Are the Best TV and Movie Dads?
    Full Episode 2:32
    Who Are the Best TV and Movie Dads?
    "The Village" Star Moran Atias Picks Her "Seinfeld" Spirt Animal
    Clip 3:28
    "The Village" Star Moran Atias Picks Her "Seinfeld" Spirt Animal
    Geoffrey Comebacks
    Clip 4:40
    Geoffrey Comebacks
    The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Honeymoon
    Clip 1:32
    The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Honeymoon
    The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Ew
    Clip 1:52
    The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Ew
    The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Come Home
    Clip 2:17
    The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Come Home
    The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Manager
    Clip 2:17
    The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Manager
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:24
    Official Trailer
    The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Season 5
    Trailer 1:32
    The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Season 5
    Streaming Wars! Who Will Win Your Attention?
    Video 3:55
    Streaming Wars! Who Will Win Your Attention?

    Photos382

    Joseph Marcell in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    Joseph Marcell in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    Will Smith and James Avery in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    James Avery and Janet Hubert in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    Will Smith and Joseph Marcell in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    Alfonso Ribeiro in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    Will Smith and Joseph Marcell in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    Will Smith and James Avery in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    Will Smith and James Avery in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)
    Will Smith, Alfonso Ribeiro, and Paris Vaughan in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Will Smith
    Will Smith
    • Will Smithas Will Smith…
    148 episodes148 eps • 1990–1996
    James Avery
    James Avery
    • Philip Banksas Philip Banks…
    147 episodes147 eps • 1990–1996
    Alfonso Ribeiro
    Alfonso Ribeiro
    • Carlton Banksas Carlton Banks…
    147 episodes147 eps • 1990–1996
    Tatyana Ali
    Tatyana Ali
    • Ashley Banksas Ashley Banks…
    147 episodes147 eps • 1990–1996
    Karyn Parsons
    Karyn Parsons
    • Hilary Banksas Hilary Banks…
    146 episodes146 eps • 1990–1996
    Joseph Marcell
    Joseph Marcell
    • Geoffrey Butleras Geoffrey Butler…
    147 episodes147 eps • 1990–1996
    Daphne Reid
    Daphne Reid
    • Vivian Banksas Vivian Banks…
    74 episodes74 eps • 1993–1996
    Janet Hubert
    Janet Hubert
    • Vivian Banksas Vivian Banks
    73 episodes73 eps • 1990–1993
    Ross Bagley
    Ross Bagley
    • Nicky Banksas Nicky Banks…
    48 episodes48 eps • 1994–1996
    DJ Jazzy Jeff
    DJ Jazzy Jeff
    • Jazzas Jazz
    47 episodes47 eps • 1990–1996
    Nia Long
    Nia Long
    • Lisa Wilkesas Lisa Wilkes…
    16 episodes16 eps • 1991–1995
    Vernee Watson
    Vernee Watson
    • Viola 'Vy' Smithas Viola 'Vy' Smith
    15 episodes15 eps • 1990–1995
    Tyra Banks
    Tyra Banks
    • Jackie Amesas Jackie Ames
    8 episodes8 eps • 1993
    Beverly Jackson
    • Nurse Avneras Nurse Avner…
    8 episodes8 eps • 1990–1995
    Jenifer Lewis
    Jenifer Lewis
    • Aunt Helenas Aunt Helen
    8 episodes8 eps • 1991–1996
    John Petlock
    • Henry Furthas Henry Furth…
    8 episodes8 eps • 1990–1991
    Virginia Capers
    Virginia Capers
    • Hattie Banksas Hattie Banks
    6 episodes6 eps • 1990–1995
    Brian Stokes Mitchell
    Brian Stokes Mitchell
    • Trevoras Trevor
    6 episodes6 eps • 1992–1993
    • Creators
      • Andy Borowitz
      • Susan Borowitz
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

    Storyline

    Edit
    In this popular African-American sitcom, Will Smith (played by Will Smith in his first acting gig) is a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia, who is sent to live with his wealthy relatives at their Bel-Air mansion in Los Angeles, California by his mother after getting into a fight with some thugs whilst playing basketball. His relatives include Philip Banks (played by James Avery), Will's strict and gruff uncle, who is a successful lawyer (later Judge) and Vivian Banks (played by Janet Hubert and later by Daphne Reid), Will's no-nonsense, forthright, and career-minded aunt who is a University Professor. Other members of the Banks family include Carlton Banks (played by Alfonso Ribeiro), Will's preppy and arrogant cousin, Hilary Banks (played by Karyn Parsons), Will's attractive but dull-witted, eldest cousin, Ashley Banks (played by Tatyana Ali), Will's youngest cousin who often looks u to Will, and Geoffrey, the family's cynical Butler. Will's working class background ends up clashing in various humorous ways with the upper class world of the Banks and frequently got him or other members of the family into trouble as well. —Steve Richer <sricher@sympatico.ca>
    sitcomcharacter name as series titlenickname as series titlesix word series titleservant67 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Influence goes both ways.
    • Genre
      • Comedy
    • Certificate
      • 6
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Despite 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.
    • Goofs
      In 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 credits
      Janet 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.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 50th Annual Golden Globe Awards 1993 (1993)
    • Soundtracks
      The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
      Written by Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff

      Performed by Will Smith

    User reviews151

    Review
    Top review
    i have no problem with this being nick at nite's only show!
    I think this show is very funny. Will is always cracking jokes. Jokes about Carlton's height, Uncle Phil's weight, and women. Will's low intellect is what makes him so funny. And of course, you have Hilary who is funny because she has the intellect of a rock. And what would the show be like without Geoffrey's sarcasm? The witty butler always has some smart alek thing to say. The smartest people and consequently, the least humorous are Phil and Vivian and Ashley. And even they are pretty funny. That just goes to show you how funny and creative this show truly is. My favorite character would have to be Will because his humor and sarcasm are priceless. Don't forget about Jazz, I always find him to be quite funny and when he gets "thrown" out of the house by Phil, it adds to the humor.
    helpful•56
    37
    • nate_boyster
    • Mar 17, 2005

    FAQ1

    • How many times has Jazz been thrown out?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 7, 1991 (Netherlands)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Prinz von Bel-Air
    • Filming locations
      • 251 N. Bristol Ave., Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • NBC Productions
      • Quincy Jones Entertainment
      • Quincy Jones-David Salzman Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 22min
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 4:3

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