This hilarious 1990s sitcom starred Will Smith as a young man from the streets of Philadelphia who was sent to live with family on the West Coast.
Summary
-After some trouble in their Philadelphia neighborhood, a young man is sent to live with rich relatives in the Bel-Air neighborhood of California
-Will Smith: Will Smith
-James Avery: Phillip Banks
-Alfonso Ribiero: Carlton Banks
-Tatyana Ali: Ashley Banks
-Karyn Parsons: Hilary Banks
-Joseph Marcell: Geoffrey Butler
-Daphne Reid: Vivian Banks
-Janet Hubert: Vivian Banks
-Ross Bagley: Nicky Banks
-DJ Jazzy Jeff: Jazz
-Vernee Watson: Viola "Vy" Smith
-According to TV Guide's "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time", Philip Banks was ranked #34
-Unlike his character, who is charismatic, self-confident, Will Smith said that, as a teenager, he was shy, awkward, and very insecure about dating girls
-Initially, the script said "Carlton dances" and Alfonso Ribiero invented the famed "Carlton dance". He said it was inspired by Eddie Murphy's white boy dance and Courtney Cox dancing in the video for Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark"
-The season finales for the third-fifth season were written as respectful farewells in case the show was not renewed for television. The sixth season finale was written with the knowledge that the show was ending and would not continue
-Jada Pinkett Smith auditioned for the role of Lisa, but did not get the role due to her lack of good work with Will Smith. Later on, the two would marry, have two kids and stay together to this current day
-Joseph Marcell, who played Geoffrey, said he intended to quit his role and return to the UK and this led to the rest of the cast quitting their roles and thus, ending the series after season 6
-Inspired by the vast array of emotional moments on Roseanne, Will Smith encouraged the writers to create more serious and dramatic episodes
-The law firm that Uncle Phil works for is Firth, Wynn & Meyer. It's a play on legendary R&B group Earth, Wind & Fire. Quincy Jones, who is an executive producer, is a big fan of this group
-The full name for the character Nicky is Nicholas Andrew Michael Shawn Nathan Wanya Banks. The group Boyz II Men, who performed at his christening, is who he is named after
-According to Alfonso Ribiero, who plays Carlton, the whole cast was like a big family. Janet Hubert, who played Aunt Vivian, was especially difficult to work with. James Avery, who played Uncle Phil, constantly reminded her that the show was "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air", not "Phillip and Vivian of Bel-Air"
-Tension started building between Tatyana Ali and Will Smith on set at first because he constantly messed his lines up
-Alfonso Ribiero, Tatyana Ali and Karyn Parsons all have Trinidadian heritage
-During the first three seasons of the show, Will Smith had to owe 70% of all earnings to the IRS to pay for back taxes and to pay debts accrued from his music career
-Ross Bagley, who plays Nicky Banks, also appeared alongside Will Smith in Independence Day (1996), playing his stepson
-Strangely, season three had the highest ratings while season six had the lowest ratings
-Most if not all of the cast members preferred working with Daphne Reid, who later played Aunt Vivian. She was more subdued than Janet Hubert's more colorful and stronger Aunt Vivian
-The title of the show, "Fresh Prince" is a nod to the rap name Will Smith used during his days as a rap artist in the 1980s
-The show portrays Will's father not being there at all for him. In reality, his father was there for him and the two were very close
-On the episode "Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse", the breakdown that Will suffers was ad-libbed and inspired by friends of his who never knew their fathers and never having fathers in their lives. James Avery and Will Smith hugging was genuine and not being in character
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