The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
| The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | |
|---|---|
| "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" cast from 1993-1996. | |
| Created by | Andy Borowitz & Susan Borowitz, based upon a format by Benny Medina and Jeff Pollack |
| Starring | Will Smith as Will Smith James Avery as Philip Banks Janet Hubert-Whitten as Vivian Banks (seasons 1-3) Daphne Maxwell Reid as Vivian Banks (seasons 4-6) Alfonso Ribeiro as Carlton Banks Karyn Parsons as Hilary Banks Tatyana Ali as Ashley Banks Joseph Marcell as Geoffrey Barbara Butler Ross Bagley as Nicholas "Nicky" Andrew Banks (seasons 5-6) DJ Jazzy Jeff as Jazz (recurring) |
| Country of origin | USA |
| No. of episodes | 148 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Andy Borowitz & Susan Borowitz (Season 1) Winifred Hervey (Seasons 2-3) Gary H. Miller (Seasons 4-5) Cheryl Gard (Season 5) Jeff Pollack Will Smith (Season 6) |
| Running time | approx. 0:23 (per episode) |
| Original release | |
| Network | NBC |
| Release | September 10, 1990 – May 20, 1996 |
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was a sitcom that ran on NBC from September 10, 1990 to May 20, 1996. 148 episodes of the series were produced.
The series starred Will Smith as a street-wise teenager from Philadelphia who moves in with his upper-crust relatives in a mansion in Bel-Air, California.
The series currently airs seven nights a week on Nick at Nite and The N (Noggin's nightime program lineup) broadcast with scenes that were deleted from syndicated broadcasts of the series. The series is also syndicated in some U.S. markets, used by some (such as KAUT 43 in Oklahoma City) as filler programming. It also airs in Canada on YTV nightly and Omni 2. In the UK, it airs on Trouble and Bravo. In Australia, it airs on the Nine Network (free-to-air) and on Nickelodeon (cable/satellite).
Overview
As explained in the show's opening theme song, Will Smith is revealed as a street-smart teenager, born and brought up on the mean streets of Philadelphia. After he got into a fight with a bully, his mother sent him to live with her sister's family, the Banks', in Bel-Air (a posh district in Los Angeles). There, he would turn the lives of his posh upper-class relatives upside down.
Episodes
See List of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episodes.
Characters
The Banks Family
Will Smith
The character of Will Smith, loosely based upon Smith's own adolescent personality, is something of a scheming womanizer, constantly plotting schemes that will get him more money, more women, or, sometimes, both. Having grown up in the inner city of West Philadelphia, Will is unaccustomed to and especially in the early seasons, even looks down on the Banks family's high-class style of life, a situation which provides much of the show's humor. Will enjoyed making fun of Uncle Phil because he was obese, as well as Carlton for being short for his age. He stayed in Los Angeles at the end of the series to continue his education.
Philip "Zeke" Banks
The character of Philip Banks (Uncle Phil) was portrayed by James Avery. At the beginning of the series, Philip was a lawyer with the firm of Firth, Wynn and Meyer, but in the third season was appointed a judge after the senile incumbent Judge Robertson (portrayed recurringly by Sherman Hemsley), against whom Philip had earlier run an unsuccessful campaign, died. He later considered making a stronger foray into politics, but because his wife disapproved, he decided against it.
Philip is a somewhat strict and gruff man, but he does have a softer side, and is also an upstanding citizen. Philip was raised on a farm in Yamacraw, North Carolina, went to Princeton University on scholarship, and in the 60s became an activist for the civil rights movement. He was present at the riots in Selma in 1965. But before that, in 1963, he was awarded a scholarship to study at Yale University, after which he went to Harvard Law School. In 1975 he was put on the board of the NAACP and was later awarded the Urban Spirit Award for his work in forwarding civil rights. In the Pilot Episode he mentions that he heard Malcolm X speak.
Vivian Banks
The character of Vivian Banks (Aunt Viv) was portrayed by Janet Hubert-Whitten from 1990 to 1993, and by Daphne Reid (credited as Daphne Maxwell-Reid) from 1993 to 1996. She was a professor of Black History and Black Literature at an undisclosed university, and in one early episode took a job as a temporary teacher for a unit in Black History of Will and Carlton's history class at predominantly white Bel-Air Academy, a fictional upscale preparatory high school. As played by Janet Hubert-Whitten in the show's earlier years, Vivian was a dynamic and forthright character; unfortunately, when Hubert-Whitten was replaced by Daphne Reid, and baby Nicky was added to the cast, Vivian became a rather bland and colorless character and had much less to do with the episode's plots. Also, Vivian's career-minded persona all but disappeared and she became a typical sitcom homemaking mother. Some fans of the show have remarked that the onscreen chemistry between Philip and Vivian was irrevocably altered when Daphne Reid took over as Vivian.
Hilary Banks
The character of Hilary Banks (Hil), Will's ditzy, stuck-up, spoiled eldest cousin, was portrayed by Karyn Parsons. In earlier seasons, Hilary's snobbishness was emphasized, as well as her shallow trendy environmental activism (which was later dropped). Hilary often claimed to hobnob with celebrities. During the series, she attended and then dropped out of UCLA, and became a weather reporter at a local TV station, where she met and fell in love with news anchor Trevor Newsworthy (referred to as Trevor Collins in earlier episodes). However, he died while proposing to Hilary in a bungee accident, as part of an ill-conceived, live publicity stunt. Toward the end of the series, she hosted her own talk show, called Hilary! She moved to New York City in the series finale, as did her talk show.
Carlton Banks
The character of Carlton Banks, Will's pedantic and preppy cousin, was portrayed by Alfonso Ribeiro. Carlton was a firmly conservative Republican, and often proved both friend and foe for Will. Carlton's role model is talk show host Bryant Gumbel and his favorite musician (and, according to him, guardian angel) is Tom Jones. His favorite actor is William Shatner, whom he annoys by making lame Star Trek jokes. He is very similar to Family Ties character Alex P. Keaton in that he is a Republican, dresses in a preppy style, is obsessed with money, is short (Ribeiro is 5ft 6.25in, or 168cm), with his height a common butt of jokes by Will, and does not enjoy the popular music of most people his age. In earlier seasons, Carlton made frequent references to virginity (which was by choice), and also planned to attend Princeton (Philip's alma mater). In later seasons, these arcs were both resolved: Carlton did indeed lose his virginity, but was not initially admitted to Princeton. He instead first attended the (fictional) University of Los Angeles, where he briefly managed ULA's student store, the Peacock. However, in the 6th and last season, he finally gained transfer admission to Princeton, and leaves for the East Coast in the series finale.
Ashley Banks
The character of Ashley Banks, Will's youngest cousin, was portrayed by Tatyana Ali (credited as Tatyana M. Ali). She matured through puberty in the series, and became a one-hit wonder as a singer in her later teens. She also briefly strove to become a fashion model. In the final season she decides to attend a performing arts school in New York, and in the series finale leaves for the East Coast along with the rest of the Banks.
Nicky Banks
The character of Nicky (Nicholas) Banks was born in early 1993, towards the end of the 3rd season. However, as is common in TV series and especially soap operas, he grew from a newborn infant to a pre-schooler between seasons, confusing several characters when the reasons for this are questioned. After this "spurt", beginning in the 5th season, he was portrayed by Ross Bagley.
Geoffrey Barbara Butler
The character of Geoffrey Butler, the Banks family's British butler, was portrayed by Joseph Marcell. He was an Olympic runner several years before being hired by the Banks family, but fled his home country of the United Kingdom in shame after cheating in a race. He perennially referred to Will as "Master William", and was the voice of caustic humor on the show, often focusing on Philip's weight, his low pay, his lack of a social or romantic life, very short comic one-liners, or the laziness of the family. He is the godfather of Nicky Banks (the son of Philip Banks and Vivian Banks). In one episode midway into the sixth season, a young man comes to the door. It turns out that Geoffrey and his ex-wife had had a son named Frederick whom Geoffrey never knew about. During that episode it was revealed Geoffrey Butler's middle name is Barbara which is a "family name". He left to be with his son in London in the series finale.
Recurring Characters
Jazz
The character of Jazz was portrayed by Will Smith's musical partner, Jeffrey A. Townes, popularly known as D.J. Jazzy Jeff. Jazz was Will's ill-mannered not-so-bright best friend who lived in the inner-city community of Compton. He had a crush on Hilary, but then married a prison inmate who had appeared on the TV show COPS. He divorced her shortly afterward, realizing he knew nothing about her. A common gag was that Jazz would offend Philip or get on his nerves, and Philip would literally throw him out of the house. There were instances in the series where Jazz and Hillary would fall in love.
Vy Smith
Vy (Viola) Smith was Will's mother, Vivian's older sister. It was her idea that Will should go to Bel-Air so he can have a decent education instead of studying in Philadelphia. She had started to date Robert, who Will especially disliked. She finally decided that it's better to break up with him. Later in the series, she married Lisa Wilkes's dad, since Will and Lisa didn't get married. She was portrayed recurringly by Vernee Watson-Johnson.
Aunt Helen
Helen, portrayed by Jenifer Lewis, was Vivian's loudmouthed older sister. She had frequent marriage problems with her husband, Lester. She finally divorced him, while he had custody over her annoying son.
Lisa Wilkes
Lisa Wilkes, portrayed by Nia Long, was introduced in later seasons as the girlfriend who tamed Will into forsaking his womanizing ways. The two fell deeply in love and were engaged to be married, going so far as the ceremonies twice, but never actually tying the knot. The first time, they eloped to Las Vegas to do a Shaft-themed wedding, but they held up the ceremony after they realized how much they wanted their families there. The second time, Lisa left Will at the altar just before they were about to say "I do" in front of all their friends and family, since she was having doubts (she was never seen again). Lisa's father was memorably played by veteran actor John Amos. When Lisa and Will cut their second wedding short, he and Will's mother decided not to let the ceremony go to waste; they got married right then and there.
Jackie Ames
Jackie Ames was portrayed by Tyra Banks in the fourth season. As the manager of The Peacock, she was the object of Will's affection and frequent come-ons, but she continually spurned his advances, deeming him too immature. They were old childhood friends (and onetime lovers) from Philadelphia, except she felt Will hadn't grown up since those days. In the episode in which Carlton lost his virginity, Will mentions that he lost his own virginity just before he left Philadelphia. Since Jackie had already mentioned how she and Will had spent one night together before he left for Bel-Air, it is probably that Jackie was the first woman that Will slept with.
Kellogg "Cornflake" Lieberbaum
Kellogg Lieberbaum was portrayed by Michael Weiner. Most of his appearances were in the first season, but he did make one appearance in the second season. He was a classmate and friend of Will and Carlton at Bel-Air Academy. As a pun on Kellogg's Corn Flakes, he is nicknamed "Cornflake" by Will. Much of the humor of his character came from the cognitive dissonance of an unassuming Jewish preppie using such phrases as "She is one fly sister" and "Say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud!"
He was last mentioned--though did not appear--in an episode in the middle of the second season, "Eyes on the Prize". Both Jazz and Will's other friend Tyriq are vying to be Will's partner on a TV game show, but Will tells them he has already selected Cornflake, the smartest kid in his school. Midway through the episode, however, Geoffery informs Will that Kellogg stopped by on his way to the airport; Kellogg had received some threatening letters and was told to get out of town. (It is, of course, implied that Jazz and Tyriq are the perpetrators.) Whether the writers intended Kellogg's trip to be permanent is unclear, but either way, he was neither mentioned nor seen again.
Others
Other recurring characters in the early episodes include Will's Aunt and Vivian's sister Janice, Will's friend Tyriq, portrayed by Perry Moore; Bel-Air Academy coach/history teacher Coach Smiley, portrayed by Dave Florek; Will's Black-emulating English professor Edward Fellows III, played by Jonathan Emerson; and Malibu Prep's best basketball player "Marcus Stokes" played by Allen Payne
The show had many guest appearances by celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, Donald Trump, Vanessa Williams, D. L. Hughley, Naomi Campbell, Quincy Jones, Isiah Thomas, Evander Holyfield, William Shatner, Tom Jones, Wayne Newton, Bo Jackson, Boyz II Men, Jasmine Guy, Ken Griffey, Jr., Chris Rock, Malcolm Jamal-Warner, Hugh Hefner, Milton Berle, and Zsa Zsa Gabor.
The series finale featured Conrad Bain and Gary Coleman reprising their roles from Diff'rent Strokes, as well as Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, and Marla Gibbs reprising their roles from The Jeffersons, as potential buyers of the Banks' house. Hemsley had also previously had the recurring role of Judge Robertson.
Running gags
In addition to humorous scripts, the show found humor in physical comedy, insults, and running gags:
- Will would frequently make jabs at Carlton's slight stature and virginity, as well as Uncle Phil's weight and baldness.
- A running gag throughout the series was Carlton's enthusiastic love of singer Tom Jones and a gyrating dance he would perform to Jones' tune "It's Not Unusual." Eventually, Tom Jones guest-starred as himself and Carlton's guardian angel in one episode, showing Carlton what the Banks' family would be like if he never existed.
- Carlton often impersonated the singer Michael Jackson, emulating his singing style and dance moves in several episodes.
- A favorite recurring gag throughout the series involved Will's best friend Jazz flying out the front door after saying something offensive to a member of the Banks family (usually Philip) and being physically thrown out by him or her. The main scene of Jazz flying through the front door was only filmed once (used in Season #1, Episode #2- "Bang the Drum, Ashley"), and was re-used each time. For this reason, in episodes where he is thrown out the door, he is seen wearing the same shirt that was worn in Episode #2. (Once, Will was thrown out of the house in the same way, Phillip was also thrown out of the house this way during a dream sequence). In Season #2, Episode #9- "Cased up", there was a small twist on this gag when Jazz offends Phillip outside on the Banks' driveway then comments "You can't throw me out because I'm already outside!" Phillip then proceeded to pick him up and carry him over his shoulder and throws him INTO the house via the kitchen door.
- Will would commonly break the fourth wall as part of a gag, such as describing a character named Omar as "The dude who be spinning me over his head during the opening credits", or by being confused by how Nicky aged several years over about three months. In this scene, Jazz accompanies Will in breaking the Wall by first asking if the same person was playing the mother, making refrence to Vivian's changing of actresses, then by seeing the older Nicky and saying "Man I'm going back to the street where things make sense." In another episode, after Uncle Phil says "We're rich," Will tells the audience, "If we're so rich, how come we can't afford no ceilin'?" while the camera tilts up to show the studio lights and rafters. In another episode, Will fakes playing the saxophone while Branford Marsalis plays in the background. Will then quips how great it is to be working for NBC. In another episode, Philip is complaining to Will, until Will takes a television remote and "clicks off" Philip, and then asks the studio audience if they wished they could live on television like him, where such things are possible.
- The fourth wall is broken again in the first episode of season 4. The last episode of the previous season ended with Will moving back to Philadelphia with his mom, leaving viewers wondering if he'll ever return to Bel-Air. The opening of the next episode starts with Will working at a restaurant in Philly when an NBC executive walks in and asks Will to follow him outside. Will does, and is shown a piece of paper. The NBC executive says "What does this say? Fresh Prince of Bel-Air! Not Fresh Prince of Philadelphia! Get in the van" and then proceeds to push him in the van. And that is the simple explanation for how Will ends up moving back to Bel-Air.
- Both Will and Carlton break the fourth wall in a later episode. Will meets his eventual girlfriend Lisa at ULA, and she poses as a psychopath obsessed with Will. Lisa later reveals that Carlton and her were in cahoots. As a result, Will told Carlton that Lisa was really insane and had to kill Lisa out of self-defense. Carlton goes into a frenzied grief, running through all the set pieces (the house, the university, the cabin where Lisa entrapped Will, etc.) eventually meeting Will as the camera pans away from the set and into the audience.
- A little into the first season an episode showed Will sitting on the couch singing the song "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" by Jennifer Holliday. In a later season in an episode entitled "The Script Formerly Known As..." Hilary and Will interview a juror that had been dismissed from one of Uncle Phil's court cases. The two make him so angry that by the end of the show Will wanted his forgiveness so he turns on "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" by Jennifer Holliday and sings to Uncle Phil.
Issues addressed
While the show addressed many serious issues, these episodes were often lauded as very special episodes. Also, many of these episodes did not have bloopers during the credits to keep the seriousness of the show.
- While largely a comedy, this show commonly addressed African American issues.
- In the very first episode, for instance, Will accused his uncle of having forgotten "where he came from," or having forgotten that he is black. His uncle (himself a former Civil Rights activist) was furious, and pointed out Will's frequently-mentioned belief in the philosophy of Malcolm X. "I heard the brother speak," Phil angrily informed his nephew.
- In a later episode, Will and one of his old school friends, Ice Tray, reminisce about how Ice Tray frequently had to save Will from bullies who attacked him because he tried to be a good student. When Vivian confronts Will about Ice-Tray's lack of drive in himself and challenges the assumption by Will that he and Ice-Tray are alike, Will mentions that Ice-Tray never had anyone to stick up for him, and by having Will's back kept Will from spiraling down the wrong path.
- In another episode, Will and Carlton try to join an all-black fraternity, but Carlton is singled out for being a "sell-out," because his family is wealthy and "acts white".
- In an episode where Will is shot in the back during an attempted robbery at a bank ATM and then hospitalized, Carlton found himself pondering the idea of carrying a gun for self-defense. This leads to an emotional confrontation between the two.
- In another early episode, Will and Carlton are delivering a car to one of Phillip's friends, but are accused by the police of stealing it only because Will and Carlton are African Americans.
- The issue of absent fathers was touched upon when Will finally meets his father Lou (played by Ben Vereen) in one of the series' more emotional episodes. When Will was still an infant, his jobless father had one day walked out to "get a pack of smokes" and just never came home. Years later he returned now employed as a trucker but by then Will was going to college. Phil and Vivian gave him the cold shoulder for abandoning Will and his mother, Phil going so far as to say to him accusingly "How dare you set foot in my house." Will tried to remain conciliatory towards his father since this was his chance of meeting him, but the episode concluded with Will having to confront his grief when his father abandons him a second time. Symbolically Will accepts the fact that his Uncle Phil is the closest thing to a dad that he has ever had.
- The issue of teenage pregnancy was brought up in one episode in which Ashley was curious about sex. Will and Carlton, determined to find a way to talk to Ashley about it, go down to the local pregnancy center and find out about the issues.
- The issue of interracial marriages is addressed in one episode where one of Vivian's sisters announces her engagement to a white man, which Will's mother at first has doubts about. The episode ends with a wedding scene.
- Drug use is addressed in an episode where Will, busy with finals, basketball, and his girlfriend, is having trouble staying awake. When one of Will's classmates gives him some amphetamines to help him stay up, Carlton takes the pills, which he presumes to be vitamin E pills. After Carlton's near-fatal overdose, Will confesses that although he never used the drugs, he is to blame for Carlton's using them.
- The issue of alcohol abuse is explored as well. While at a party, Will and a rival drink shots to see who can drink the most. When Will passes out from drinking so much, some bullies drop Will off at a graveyard and Will meets the other dead spirits who are stuck playing an eternal game of poker. While the poker sequence is shown humorously, the mood gets somber when a ghost child (who was with the other spirits) tells Will that he died when a drunk driver hit him.
DVD releases
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air has been released on Region 1, 2 and 4 DVD.
In the US and Canada, Region 1, the first season was released on February 8 2005. The second was then released on October 11 2005, and most recently the third season was released on DVD on February 14 2006. No release dates have been set for the later seasons. It is likely that the entire series will be released by October 2007.
The second season has a special features section which plays through an archive of the season's bloopers and the best parts.
In the UK, Region 2, the first season was released on February 21 2005 and the second on November 21 2005. The third season has been confirmed for June 12 2006.
In Australia, Region 4, the first season was released on April 13 2005. The second season is scheduled for a March 2006 release.
Theme song, opening and closing sequences
The theme song was written by Will Smith and performed by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince.
The first few episodes used the full version of the theme song. However, from Episode #9 (titled "Someday Your Prince Will Be in Effect (2)") and onward, the third and fourth verses were cut out. This was done so that the episodes could be longer. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince also released a longer version of the full song, but it was never used on the show.
In syndication, only Episode #8 (titled "Someday Your Prince Will Be in Effect (1)") features the entire opening credits sequence.
The earlier seasons featured an instrumental version of the theme and stills from the episode for the closing credits. Eventually, the music and stills were dropped and closing credits would almost always appear over bloopers and outtakes from the episode. The closing theme over episode clips reappeared in the show's fifth season.
Trivia
- One of the running gags of the show was that Carlton could not dance very well, and that he had a thing for Michael Jackson. The irony was that not only did the young Alfonso Ribeiro appear with Michael Jackson in a 1980s Pepsi ad, dressing similar to and dancing as well as the superstar in it, he also had his own starring role in a Broadway musical entitled The Tap Dance Kid when he was eight years old. In other words, the actor portraying the inept-at-dance Carlton was an excellent dancer in real life.
External links
