You cannot talk about ‘90s television and not mention the iconic comedy that put Will Smith on everyone’s radar – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Created by Andy and Susan Borowitz, the situational comedy ran on NBC for six seasons between 1990 and 1996. The series was remarkably popular amongst its audience and was known for celebrity cameos such as those by Oprah Winfrey, Hugh Hefner, Donald Trump, Queen Latifa, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Boyz II Men, Don Cheadle, Naomi Campbell, and others. It is a classic black comedy, which fans miss to this day. However, there is great news. Will Smith has confirmed that NBC’s new streaming platform, Peacock, has greenlit two seasons of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Highlights —
- When West Philly met Bel Air
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot is around the corner
- Will we get to see the original star cast of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?
When West Philly met Bel Air
The series revolves around “Will Smith”, a teenager who is sent to Bel Air, Los Angeles to his aunt Vivian’s house by his mother after he landed in some trouble in his hometown, West Philadelphia. Vivian is married to a rich lawyer called Phillip Banks and has three children. Coming from a working-class background, Will takes time to adjust in an upper-class setup. The show is about the impact that the Banks’ have on Will’s life and the dynamics between them. It stars Will Smith, James Avery, Janet Hubert, Alfonso Ribeiro, Karyn Parsons, Tatyana M. Ali, Joseph Marcell, Daphne Maxwell Reid and Ross Bagley.
Season1 of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air attracted 12.9 million viewers. The series received rave reviews for its script-writing and acting. It made Will Smith a superstar and became a mainstream success at a time when there was not much diversity on television. The show also found widespread popularity in European countries. It became available to stream on HBO Max this year, in 2020 in the US, and on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in other countries.
What Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Character Are You? (Quiz)
The Fresh Prince reboot is around the corner
After the news of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air getting a reboot dropped on August 11, 2020, Will Smith made an announcement regarding the trailer of the show on his YouTube channel on September 8, 2020. Smith production house, Westbrook Studios, and Universal Television have closed a deal with Peacock for two seasons of the reboot. Smith couldn’t contain his excitement as he said, “I’ve been in this business for 30 years, and that does not happen. They ordered two full seasons of Bel-Air based on the quality of the pitch and the work that you guys have done. So, I want to say congratulations. I am hyped.”
The show will be based on the 4-minute trailer released by cinematographer Morgan Cooper titled “BEL-AIR”, which conceptualized the original show in the form of a drama set in today’s world. The reboot will have one-hour episodes and be a lot more emotional and hard-hitting as compared to the ‘90s version that focused on the struggles of a modern-day black man. Cooper explained his vision saying, “We’re really going to peel back the layers of these iconic characters and explore this world in a really unforgettable way. It’s a show that’s really going to surprise people in the best way.” The series will be available on Peacock in 2021.
Will we get to see the original star cast?
It is unclear if any of the original cast members will appear in the reboot. However, HBO Max is in the process of putting together a reunion special for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air stars. The special will be unscripted and will show the beloved actors discussing and reminiscing their experiences while shooting the hit sitcom.
The show has such a legacy that fans have been excited to see the entire cast in one shot again. Smith, Ribeiro and DJ Jazzy Jeff had a mini reunion of sorts on season 13 episode 8 of The Graham Norton Show in 2018. Their video clip on YouTube has over 84 million views, which only goes on to show the intrigue and fascination that fans still have with the actors.
It is safe to say that 2021 will be an exceptionally eventful year for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air fans. The revival is on and we cannot wait to see which show will be next in line.
Are you excited about the reboot? What do you think the reunion special will look like? Tell us in the comments section.
