The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
GenreSitcom
Created by
  • Andy Borowitz
  • Susan Borowitz
Based onA format
by Benny Medina & Jeff Pollack
Starring
  • Will Smith
  • James Avery
  • Janet Hubert-Whitten
  • Alfonso Ribeiro
  • Karyn Parsons
  • Tatyana M. Ali
  • Joseph Marcell
  • Daphne Maxwell Reid
  • Ross Bagley
  • DJ Jazzy Jeff
Theme music composerThe Fresh Prince in association with A Touch of Jazz, Inc.
Opening theme"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" performed by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
Ending theme"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (instrumental)
ComposerQuincy Jones III
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons6
No. of episodes148 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Quincy Jones
  • David Salzman
  • Andy Borowitz
  • Susan Borowitz
  • Kevin Wendle (season 1)
  • Jeff Pollack
  • Benny Medina
  • Winifred Hervey (seasons 2–3)
  • Gary H. Miller (seasons 4–5)
  • Cheryl Gard (season 5)
  • Will Smith (season 6)
Producers
  • Werner Walian
  • Lisa Rosenthal
  • Joel Madison
  • Leilani Downer
  • Joanne Curley-Kerner
  • Joel Markowitz
Production locations
  • Hollywood Center Studios, Hollywood (1990–1991)
  • Sunset Gower Studios, Hollywood (1991–1993)
  • NBC Studios, Burbank (1993–1996)
Camera setupVideotape; Multi-camera
Running time21–23 minutes
Production companies
  • The Stuffed Dog Company
  • Quincy Jones Entertainment (1990–1993, seasons 1–3)
  • Quincy Jones-David Salzman Entertainment (1993–1996, seasons 4–6)
  • NBC Productions
  • Warner Bros. Television
  • Warner Horizon Unscripted Television (reunion special)
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseSeptember 10, 1990 (1990-09-10) –
May 20, 1996 (1996-05-20)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an American television sitcom created by Andy and Susan Borowitz that aired on NBC from September 10, 1990, to May 20, 1996. The series stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, a street-smart teenager born and raised in West Philadelphia who is sent to live with his wealthy uncle and aunt in Bel-Air, Los Angeles, where his lifestyle often clashes with that of his upper-class relatives.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was a hit for NBC, running for 148 episodes over six seasons.[1][2] Smith and James Avery were the only actors who appeared in each episode.[3] The series was Smith's star vehicle into television and film.

A reunion special/retrospective reuniting the surviving cast debuted on HBO Max in November 2020.[4][5] A more dramatic reimagining of the series, titled Bel-Air and based on the fan film of the same name, received a two-season order for Peacock, and was released on February 13, 2022.[6]

  1. ^ "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air". TV.com. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  2. ^ Coker, Cheo Hodari (May 20, 1996). "Good Night, 'Prince'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  3. ^ "What the Cast of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Is Up to Now as Bel-Air Debuts". People.com. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  4. ^ "HBO Max to Drop "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion" Early: Today at 5PM PT". Futon Critic. November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  5. ^ Hutchinson, Emily (November 13, 2020). "Will Smith releases first trailer for Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunion as premiere date is revealed". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  6. ^ Petski, Denise (December 16, 2021). "'Bel-Air': Peacock's 'Fresh Prince' Drama Reboot Sets Super Bowl Sunday Premiere". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 16, 2021.