Over 25 years later, and the show looks even better, a charming mix of 90s nostalgia, admiration for Will Smith’s on-fire charisma and surprise at just how many serious issues and emotional character moments the show managed to pack into its 148 episodes. Ali), the effervescently polite butler, Geoffrey (Joseph Marcell), and his indescribable cousin, Carlton Banks (Alfonso Ribeiro). That resulted in hilarious exchanges between Smith and the spoilt Hilary Banks (Karyn Parsons), the impressionable Ashley Banks (Tatyana M. One of the best sitcoms of the 1990s, it featured rising star Will Smith, it was exec produced by Quincy Jones and taught everyone the correct way to dance to Tom Jones.įollowing Smith as he moved from the streets of West Philadelphia to live with his rich Aunt Viv (Janet Hubert-Whitten, later Daphne Maxwell Reid) and Uncle Phil (James Avery) in their Bel Air mansion, the set-up paved the way for culture clashes aplenty.
If you’re already reciting that out loud, then The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air needs no introduction. I’ll tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel-Air. And I’d like to take a minute just sit right there. Now, this is a story all about how, my life got flipped turned upside down.