Sitcoms have been around since the early days of Radio and Television, but the late 1980’s and early 90’s marked a special golden age, in which both comedy and family themed sitcoms like “The Simpsons”, “Family Matters” and “Full House” were titans of television and household names. My personal favorite series to come from the era, and by extent my most favorite sitcom of all was the hit 90’s series “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”.
While fondly remembered for its iconic opening theme song, and obviously for launching Will Smith’s career, there’s still so much more to it. This was a monumental triumph for black television and a spear head for all-out comedy that reached a wide audience for its time. For my liking, not only does the show still deliver the laughs, but it still holds up thanks to the dynamite chemistry and charisma of the cast. Also, as corny as it is to say, but the show really had a soul beneath all the outrageous hummer … but let’s set-up the series itself first.
As eluted too in the opening, the show had an iconic opening, with a theme song that (for better or worse) paved the way for interest in hip-hop the following decade. This opening also helped set up the backstory, so any new-commers can be on board whenever they tune in. Will Smith (a fictionalized version of himself anyway) is the street wise, basketball playing teenager in West Philadelphia, and one day after a fight with a local bully, Will moves out to Los Angeles to live with his wealthy Aunt and Uncle, who can hopefully steer him in a better direction.
Thus, we see the contrast of a
carefree street kid’s lifestyle clashing with the upper-class status of his
extended family. It takes six seasons, but through all the ups and downs, his
Uncle, Aunt and cousins all consider Will Smith one of their own. Back when I
first watched this show as a kid, it didn’t even occur to me I was watching a
series with an entirely African American cast … I was simply in the company of wonderful
characters who simultaneously felt larger than life and exploding with
personality, while also feeling down to earth and relatable. On that note, let’s
talk about those characters …
Will Smith
as the Fresh Prince
It goes without saying that this series was a launching pad for Will Smith’s career, and to get right to the point … for all the movies I’ve seen Will Smith star in … I still look back on his Fresh Prince role with the most fondness. He just seemed to channel everything I love about the actor in this highly animated portrayal of himself. He had the energy, he had the quips, he had the charm, he brought the laughs and he delivered the heartfelt beats of personal drama when the show wanted to get serious. Even when he threatened to chew too much of the scenery with his antics, he always knew when to pull himself back and be his own chill, likable self. For a good first impression of Will Smith in this show, I’d recommend the season three episode titled “Just Say Yo”, which is noted as the most viewed episode of the whole series, with over 30 million viewers back in the day.
For this outing, it’s prom night and the fatigue is
getting to Will, to the point where he debates taking amphetamines to get the
extra boost. He hesitates too long, and his cousin Carlton pays the price,
accidently stumbling on the drugs in his locker and consuming the whole
package. It leads to a very funny dance, but also serious repercussions, like
an overnight stay in a hospital. In the end, Will has to man up and admit his
mistake to everyone, resulting in one of Smiths best acted and emotional
moments in the show.
Uncle Phill
(Philip Banks) (played by James Avery)
While Will Smith was the main draw to the show, Uncle Phill was the backbone that kept series going strong. On paper, he was the grumpy and authoritative family member who’d be most put-off by Will’s goofy behavior … but in execution, he was so much more than that. Like all the cast members, he had his own flavor of personality, as well as his own personal journey of becoming a father figure to Will. They’d have their conflicts, and would comedically clash with each other, but the bond they shared as sergeant father and son was always at the heart of the show, and they’d frequently bring out the best qualities in one another.
For
a good first impression of Uncle Phill, I’d recommend the Season One episode
titled “Banks Shot”. Will is left alone with his uncle for the weekend, and
he’s terrified of his Iron Fist. His nerves get him into trouble, and he loses One-Hundred
Dollars and his uncle’s car to some ruff pool hustlers. Naturally, Uncle Phill arrives
to aid his nephew, and acts chicken, only to show off he’s a total boss at
pool. Despite all the trouble Will caused, the event turns out to be a great
bonding experience for both of them, and it highlights Uncle Phill at his
coolest.
Aunt Vivian (Played by Janet Gubert-Whitten in
seasons 1-3) (played by Daphne Maxwell Reid in Season 4-6)
Aunt Vivian is an interesting case as she’s the only cast member with the distinction of being played by two different actresses. She was mainly meant to be at opposite ends with Uncle Phill as the more loving and supportive family member but also had her own drive and authoritative presence. Back in the early seasons, Janey Hubert-Whitten’s portrayal of Aunt Vivian certainly displayed her nurturing side but had just as commanding a presence as Uncle Phill, if not more so. In the latter seasons, Daphne Maxwell Reid gave the character a more comforting presence, as she still showed discipline when needed, but was usually very calm and wholesome in her approach.
For me, it wasn’t a case of one being better than the other, as both actresses brought something special to the role. For a good first impression of Aunt Vivian number one, I’d recommend the Season Two episode titled “The Big Four-Oh”, in which she gets discouraged turning forty. Thus, to cope with the change, she takes dance lessons, succeeds in putting her all into one audition and comes out excepting that her life as a teacher has been fruitful.
For a good first impression of Aunt Vivian number
two, I’d recommend the Season Five episode “Soul Train”, in which Aunt
Vivian and Uncle Phill celebrate their engagement, when he proposed to her on
the titular show. Initially, Uncle Phill is hesitant to reappear on the Soul
Train show, as he’s a respected Judge now, but Vivian is insistent to go live
on the show and celebrate the occasion. The moment when Uncle Phill arrives on scene
to Aunt Vivian’s delight is sensational. The two actors have dynamite chemistry
in this moment, and highlights that, while she’s played by a different actress,
Aunt Vivian is still present on screen.
Carlton
Banks (played by Alfonso Ribeiro)
While Will Smith and Uncle Phill were the show’s main leads, middle cousin Carlton Banks was the rare supporting player who took on a life of his own and became just as much a flagship mascot for the series. He’s equally funny as Will Smith, but his personality stems from being so eager to be the smartest one in the room, which he always blunders hilariously. As the seasons went on, he developed an “adult who never grew out of his childhood” attitude. His relationship with Will was a mix of being his biggest annoyance and his closest friend, which often resulted in both touching and funny arguments.
For a good first impression of Carlton,
I’d recommend the Season Three episode titled “The Alm Matter”, in which
Carlton doubts he can make it in school and by extent in life by being himself,
and emulates Will’s personality in hopes of achieving success. His method
backfires horribly, but a visit from his guardian angel Tom Jones helps set
Carlton back on the right path … by simply being himself. A signature trademark
of Carlton is his love for Tom Jones and doing his own special dance … which is
best highlighted here in this episode.
Hillary
Banks (played by Karyn Parsons)
The residential prima donna of the family, and oldest of Will Smith’s cousins is Hillary, whose two biggest loves are fashion … and herself. Her personality is a fine mix of cynical and dimwitted … just how cynical or dimwitted she behaves depends on what the funnier punchline will be. In lesser hands, this character could have been very one-note, but thanks to Karyn Parsons bubbly persona and giddy charm, she remained a mostly likable screen presence … and her colorful wardrobe certainly helped her stand out too. I’d say she had the least connection with Will, but as a result, the wholesome moments they shared together were all the more special for it.
For a good first impression of Hillary, I’d recommend
the Season Four episode titled “Take My Cousin – Please”, in which Will
set’s Hillary up on a date with a young teacher in hopes of boosting his
grades. It’s a very selfish move on his part, but he ends up helping Hillary
move on after the passing of her fiancé, and resume dating again. The episode
highlights the comedic chops of both players, and everything culminates in
what’s arguably Will and Hillary’s most touching moment of family bonding.
Ashley Banks (played by Tatyana M. Ali)
Of Will’s three principal cousins, Ashley was the most open and loving to him and quickly began to view Will as the cool and fun big brother she always wanted. In return, Will took her in as the wholesome and cheerful little sister he never had. Being the youngest of the family (at the start of the show anyway), Ashley showed the most growth and change over the course of the series. Definitely a highlight across the show was watching this sweet little girl grow into a lovely young woman. An overarching narrative in the show is Will accepting that his little cousin is gradually growing into an adult, and that she’s capable of making her own choices. Even though their relationship was never as concrete as with Uncle Phill or even Carlton, I still felt they had the sweetest connection.
For a good first impression of Ashley, I’d recommend the season three episode titled
“That’s No Lady, That’s My Cousin”, in which she dresses up to entice
guys at school. However, she discovers there’s nothing of value in simply being
an object to these women obsessed guys. This leads to one of Will and Ashley’s
most wholesome moments, and highlights just how great Will is at being a big
brother figure for Ashley.
Geoffrey
Butler (played by Joseph Marcell)
Rounding up the main cast is the family’s sarcastic and often cynical Butler named Geoffrey. He’s a man who’s clearly stuck in a place he doesn’t want to be in, but makes the most of it, and helps raise the family, at least as a second priority. His first priority is mocking the family at any chance he gets, with his trademark wit and bedside manner. In the early seasons, his dry wit was a much-needed cleanser to the more over the top theatrics of the cast. For a good first impression of Geoffrey, I’d recommend the Season Two episode titled “Hilary Gets a Life”.
As the title suggests, it’s a Hilary episode, in which she finally puts
shopping aside in favor of getting a respectable job … a process that brings
about a good deal of stress and mishaps. Everything culminates into my favorite
Geoffrey Butler moment, in which he has a heart to heart with Hillary, giving
her the confidence to see this new direction through. He confides that he along
with her parents helped raise Hillary … “and Geoffrey Butler raises no fools”.
Now that all the main characters have been established, I’m going to keep things simple and count down my own personal Top 10 favorite episodes of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, which isn’t meant to be any kind of objective best of ranking … just the episodes that have stuck with me the most as a longtime fan …
#10 “Vying for Attention” (Season 2 – Ep. 46)
Another reoccurring character through the series is Will’s mother Viola Smith – “Vy” for short - (played by Vernee Watson-Johnson), who loves her son, and the two are always there for each other, even when their living several states apart from one another. My favorite of her Episodes comes in season two, in which Vy introduces a new boyfriend named Robert (played by Bill Overton), and his daughter Claudia (played by Raven-Symoné). Even though they don’t live together, Will is still very protective of his mother, as she’s his only parent (we’ll talk about his dad later), and he doesn’t want to lose her.
The two naturally bond over this, and Will accepts that his mother
has to live her own life, which means inviting new people in. This episode also
stands out for guest star Raven-Symoné, who at the time was best known for her
role on “The Bill Cosby Show”. She’s only present in this episode, but
she and Will Smith share great chemistry, and I could have easily seen her as a
long-term stepsister for Will.
#9 “Will Steps Out” (Season 5 – Ep. 110)
It’s mid-season five, and Will is having his first long-term relationship with a girl named Lisa. Although, he’s beginning to wonder if she has feelings for someone else. Meanwhile, Uncle Phill is at the mercy of fitness guru Susan Powter, who is determined to make him lose weight. The two plot threads collide when Will makes one fat joke too many, and is placed in a fat suit, and experience how Uncle Phill feels. Everything culminates in a hilarious meeting at a grocery store, in which Will confesses his Love for Lisa … all while wearing that silly fat suit.
Full disclosure …
this was the episode that introduced me to “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”,
it’s the one that started it all, and hooked me in. I distinctly remember
flipping through channels and was halted at the sight of Will Smith in a fat
suit … “and it sure wasn’t fat Albert”. For all the highs of the show, I always
think back on this as the event that hooked me in, and it’s still one of the
funniest visuals highlights of the series.
#8 “Not with My Cousin You Don't” (Season 6 – Ep. 131)
For this outing, Ashley is dating a new boyfriend named Derek (played by Jaleel White of “Family Matters” fame), and the two get to a point where they want to take their relationship to the next exciting level … before marriage. Will and Carlton accidently overhear Ashleys plans for imminent times, and Will gets especially protective of her. In the end, Will has to trust that his cousin is mature enough to make the right choices, and after a heated argument, Ashely admits that it’s not the worst thing to have a cousin who cares too much.
As noted, I
loved the dynamic between Will and Ashley, and this episode felt like the
finale of their big brother, little sister connection, as they ran the gambit
of intense feelings and wholesome bonding. Also, this episode features my
favorite moment of Hillary and Ashley bonding as sisters, which didn’t happen
that often, and was very welcomed here. Lastly, seeing Steve Urkil … or at
least his actor … as the boyfriend made this a novel crossover of sorts.
#7 “Will Goes a Courtin” (Season 4 – Ep. 79)
Uncle Phill sues both Will and his cousin Carlton for defying his demands about not hosting a “pool party” after failing to pay rent. Will and Carlton retaliate on the grounds that Uncle Phill didn’t repair the A/C in the pool house. What follows is a very funny court room case in which both sides relay their own fabricated versions of the unsanctioned pool party events.
It’s an exceptionally fun and funny episode and highlights
the cast at their most theatrical. While not a heartfelt episode for Uncle
Phill, it sure showed off James Averys range of comedic chops and best
highlighted him as a towering presence in the show. It’s also a great episode
of Hillary as she takes the witness stand. It’s a simple episode, but
exceptionally well executed, and very entertaining.
#6 “Did the Earth Move for You?” (Season 2 – Ep. 26)
For the premier episode of Season 2, things kicked off on a hilarious high note, and a unique three-way situation for our cast. The family receive tickets to the People’s Choice Awards, but a freak earthquake halts their plans, leaving everyone trapped in different spots. Will and his new girlfriend are trapped in the basement of the house, the parents are sealed in Uncle Phill’s office, and everyone else is stuck in traffic.
While some quiet time with a girlfriend seems pleasant, the
longer Will spends with his new crush, the uglier things get, resulting in a
hilarious barrage of back-and-forth quips and remarks. On the flip side of the
situation, Uncle Phill and Aunt Vivian make the most of the moment and have a special
romantic evening together. Sometimes, all it takes is a freak act of nature to
bring out the best and worst of these characters … and it certainly delivered a
fun and memorable outing.
#5 “The Baby Comes Out” (Season 3 – Ep. 69)
Early at the start of season 3, Aunt Vivian reveals she’s pregnant, and from there, Will (and obviously the rest of the family) anticipates the arrival of his new bouncing baby cousin. As the title of this episode suggests … it’s finally delivery day … and right from the start, it’s a hectic yet hilarious venture just getting to the delivery room. Most of the family are split up, Will and Uncle Phill are trapped in an elevator, Hillary and Carlton are obliviously hanging out at a beauty salon, Ashley is forced to drive her mom, even though she’s only thirteen, and there’s one funny blunder after another as everyone races for the delivery room.
The newest member of the
family is Little Nicky, who’d become an official main cast member in season
five, portrayed by Ross Bagley. He’d have his share of funny moments, but for
me … nothing surpassed his touching and humorous arrival in the delivery room.
#3 “Boyz in the Woods” (Season 3 – Ep. 57)
While the show wasn’t afraid to tackle serious issues, it could also make light and even hilarious outcomes out of dire situations. Case in point for this outing … Will, Carlton and Uncle Phill drive off for a camping trip, but heavy snow and car trouble strand them in the wilderness. Thus, they take refuge in a cave, wondering if they’ll make it out of this situation alive, and somehow for me … it results in one of the shows funniest and even touching episodes. Hillary also has a funny sub-plot, in which her date night at home is interrupted by Jazz.
This is personally one of
my favorite events in which these three characters are together, as their
banter, quippy remarks and on-screen chemistry is an absolute joy to behold.
Carlton gets some especially fun remarks, as well as a running gag about making
log entries “Star Trek” style. Log entry Zillion is too much for Will, resulting
in one of my favorites of his outbursts – “Will’s log … is about to connect …
to Carlton’s head!”
#2 “The Butler Did It” (Season 2 – Ep. 36)
When both the parents and even the butler leave for the weekend, the kids are responsible for keeping things nice and tightly at home … let’s see how quickly they muck it up. Everything is set in motion when Carlton hosts a music video in the house, which is performed by Bell Biv De Voe, who guest star in the episode. The shoot is a disaster, and like dominos, everything falls apart, the furniture gets ruined and the parents elect to return home early … leaving the kids in a mad scramble to put the house back together.
Not only is this an exceptionally funny episode, but it’s
a real joy to see all the kids working together to get out of this humorous
situation. Uncle Phill and Aunt Viv’s romantic vacation is also very funny,
with a number of goofy antics. Sometimes, just a really funny situation with
these wonderful characters is all I need, and this for me is one of the most
memorable and humorous.
Before I
reveal my number One favorite episode, here are some quick Honorable Mentions …
“M is for
the Many Things She Gave Me” (Season 4)
“Eye,
Tooth” (Season 6)
“Fresh
Prince After Dark” (Season 4)
“Mistaken
Identity” (Season 1)
“Not, I
Barbecue” (Season 6)
#1 “Papa's Got a Brand-New Excuse” (Season 4)
After 14 years of abandonment, Will’s deadbeat dad Lou Smith (played by Ben Vereen) appears out of the blue and aims to start a new life with his son. While Will is very happy to be bonding with the dad he never knew, his Aunt and Uncle don’t trust him, and believe he only has his own selfish interests in mind. As they feared, Lou’s selfish side comes out, and he walks out on Will once again, prioritizing his own needs first over his sons.
It all culminates in the shows most powerful and emotional moment, as Will breaks down in tears, and is comforted by his Uncle Phill, who’s the one man more deserving to be his father then his real dad ever was. Of course, the drama of this episode hits home when you know it parallels some of the real-life drama Will Smith went through. When Uncle Phill brings Will in for a warm embrace, it’s not acting, it’s someone sincerely being there for emotional support.
For all the funny antics and charming character highlights this show provided … this moment here always cemented that “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” was more than just a funny diversion, it had a soul with characters I felt attached too, and an occasion heart felt lesson or touching moment that would stick with me. In truth, this is not a very fun episode to watch, but in my view, it’s the absolute best of what this series delivered, and it gets my highest recommendation.
In general, this show meant the world to me when I was in my early teen years, and I always returned to cherry pick favorite instalments … especially the holiday themed episodes, which I’ve made a tradition of watching around Holiday season.
Truthfully, it had been a good minuet since I last watched the show in full, and for me … it still holds up great, with a Legacy that’s endured well after it’s initial popularity. There have been cast reunion specials, and most recently a reimagined drama series in 2022 called “Bel-Air”. To say it was a smashing hit for it’s time would be underselling it … this show raised the bar for sitcoms, is a staple of 1990’s pop culture, and is still personally my favorite TV sitcom that I grew up with.
Thanks for
reading my review of the 1990’s comedy series “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”
… and continue to enjoy the shows you Love!
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