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Season 1 – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 1990 Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 36 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Will Smith more or less plays himself in this good-natured NBC sitcom. As the show's popular theme song explains, fictional Will's mom sends him away from his rough Philadelphia neighborhood to live with wealthy Uncle Phil and Aunt Vivian in Bel-Air. Will often has fun at the expense of stuck-up cousins Carlton and Hilary.
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The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air — Season 1

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Now this is the story of how Will Smith's career got flipped -- turned upside down -- from Top 40 rapper with bankable flair to a transcendent star in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

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Critics Reviews

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Debi Enker The Age (Australia) Reliant on the considerable anarchic appeal of Grammy Award-winner Will Smith in the title role, it sets black yuppies and preppies against the earthy street values embodied by Smith. Apr 9, 2021 Full Review Robin Oliver Sydney Morning Herald Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an exceptionally charming show. Its star, Will Smith, is making his acting debut and comes out shining. Apr 9, 2021 Full Review Jon Casimir Sydney Morning Herald It works because it is set in the here and now, because the dialogue is believable and funny, and because Smith has great delivery, mugging for the camera at every opportunity and making the best use of the lines. Apr 9, 2021 Full Review Janis D. Froelich Tampa Bay Times This is a cute sitcom, and TV is allowed one or two of these endearing comedies each season. Apr 9, 2021 Full Review Tom Jicha South Florida Sun-Sentinel The pilot is a platinum coming out party for Smith, the kind of roaring breakthrough that suggests this could be the next Eddie Murphy. Apr 9, 2021 Full Review Joyce Millman San Francisco Examiner The characters' dislocation, guilt, affectation and pride, though sitcom-exaggerated, ring so true. Apr 9, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jay W I primarily know "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" in its long life of reruns on "Nick at Nite" and TBS. I didn't necessarily watch the show in order from beginning to end. But whenever the show was on, I would stop changing channels and have a good time watching. I won't bother giving a synopsis of the show's premise because the intro to the show does a better job than I ever could. Not only does it give you the set up, it also gives you a good idea of the tone of the show you're going to watch. It is both childishly innocent, but mature and never feels like it is talking down to the audience. The show can be very funny and heartwarming at times. It just has the typical shortcoming of shows of this time, it does overstay its welcome. It is great for the cable time period, where you would watch an episode and then another show would come on. And that is the way the show was made, good episodic random distraction for the day. But trying to sit down and watch the show from beginning to end, the jokes and characters do wear thin. There are certain episodes where the show gets more serious like the highly rated "Papa's got a Brand-new Excuse", that I highly recommend. It is a mixed bag and begins to get stale towards the end. But there are some good ones in there that definitely make the show worth watching. Just sit right there, and find out how he became the prince of the town of Bel-Air. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/01/24 Full Review Derek L There is a reason to why the first season of Fresh Prince of Bel Air delivers from all perspectives from the entertainment value brought by the charismatic and likeable characters from its cast performances. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/22/24 Full Review Laze T Like what did you really expect.. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/19/24 Full Review Audience Member Will Smith was the epitome of cool back in the early '90s. Show was almost entirely light hearted at the beginning, but added some heavier elements in later seasons. The episodes about Will's dad, Will being shot, & the final episode with Will in the empty house are all emotional & amazing. Uncle Phil is a strong & impactful character throughout. And Carlton's dance is burned into my memory. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Will Smith is here in his freshed role. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Still funny. One of the best sitcoms of all time. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Will Smith

Will Smith

James Avery

Philip Banks

Janet Hubert

Vivian Banks

Karyn Parsons

Hilary Banks

Daphne Maxwell-Reid

Vivian Banks

Alfonso Ribeiro

Carlton Banks

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 10, 1990 Pilot An inner-city wiseacre is sent to live with wealthy relatives. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 17, 1990 Bang the Drum Ashley Will convinces Ashley to pawn her dreaded violin for a drum set. Details Episode 3 Aired Sep 24, 1990 Clubba Hubba Will "straightens up" to get a date with a woman from the country club. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 1, 1990 Not With My Pig, You Don't Will tries to smooth relations between Philip and his provincial parents. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 8, 1990 Homeboy, Sweet Homeboy Hilary falls hard for Ice Tray, Will's visiting hometown friend. Details Episode 6 Aired Oct 15, 1990 Mistaken Identity Will and Carlton are arrested for driving someone else's Mercedes. Details Episode 7 Aired Oct 22, 1990 Def Poet's Society As a new poetry club member, Will is forced to do some quick thinking. Details Episode 8 Aired Oct 29, 1990 Some Day Your Prince Will Be in Effect Seeking a date at the mall, Will boasts about the many famous people he knows. Details Episode 9 Aired Oct 29, 1990 Some Day Your Prince Will Be in Effect Seeking a date at the mall, Will boasts about the many famous people he knows. Details Episode 10 Aired Feb 8, 2025 An urban youth moves in with rich relatives. Details Episode 10 Aired Nov 5, 1990 Kiss My Butler Will is attracted to the woman he and Carlton have lined up for Geoffrey. Details Episode 11 Aired Nov 12, 1990 Courting Disaster Carlton feels overshadowed when star basketball player Will joins his team. Details Episode 12 Aired Nov 19, 1990 Talking Turkey Will's visiting mom coerces Vivian into canceling the catered Thanksgiving dinner. Details Episode 13 Aired Nov 26, 1990 Knowledge Is Power Will uses his knowledge of Hilary's secret to make her his servant. Details Episode 14 Aired Dec 3, 1990 Day Damn One Will has his first day of prep school, but trouble awaits him. Details Episode 15 Aired Dec 10, 1990 Deck the Halls Will's Christmas decorating annoys the neighbors, especially Evander Holyfield. Details Episode 16 Aired Jan 7, 1991 Lucky Charm Will's remarks have too much influence over Philip's superstitious client. Details Episode 17 Aired Jan 14, 1991 The Ethnic Tip Aunt Viv offers to teach a new black-history course at Bel-Air Academy. Details Episode 18 Aired Jan 21, 1991 The Young and the Restless Will secretly takes Philip's elderly mother, Hattie, for a night on the town. Details Episode 19 Aired Feb 4, 1991 It Had to Be You Will uses Carlton to escape from the woman he had been fixed up with earlier. Details Episode 20 Aired Feb 11, 1991 Nice Lady Will takes a shy house guest to a dance club hoping she will learn to party. Details Episode 21 Aired Feb 18, 1991 Love at First Fight Will's new lady friend lets their love affair interfere with her schoolwork. Details Episode 22 Aired Feb 25, 1991 Bank's Shot Philip takes the cue and sets out to stick it to pool hustlers who tricked Will. Details Episode 23 Aired Mar 11, 1991 72 Hours Will challenges Carlton to spend time in a tough neighborhood. Details Episode 24 Aired Apr 29, 1991 Just Infatuation Ashley's birthday wish comes true when her idol, Little T, attends her party. Details Episode 25 Aired May 6, 1991 Working It Out To keep her job, Hilary asks Will to date her celebrity boss. Details Episode 29 Aired Apr 29, 2025 An urban youth moves in with rich relatives. Details Episode 30 Aired May 1, 2025 An urban youth moves in with rich relatives. Details

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The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air — Season 1

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air View more photos

Season Info

Director
Jeff Melman, Debbie Allen, Rita Rogers Blye, Rae Kraus
Executive Producer
Andy Borowitz, Susan Borowitz, Quincy Jones, Kevin Wendle
Network
NBC
Rating
TV-PG
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 10, 1990