The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an
American television
sitcom that originally aired on
NBC from September 10, 1990 to May 20, 1996. The show starred
Will Smith as a street-smart teenager from
West Philadelphia who is sent to live with his wealthy relatives in a
Bel Air mansion. His lifestyle often clashes with that of his relatives there. 148 episodes were produced over six seasons.
[Episode List for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]
Conception
As part of
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince,
Will Smith was a popular and successful
rapper during the late 1980s but, having spent money freely and underpayed his income taxes, was assessed to be $2.8 million in tax debt by the
I.R.S., who took many of his possessions, and
garnished his income.
This left Smith nearly bankrupt when, in 1990, he was approached by the television network
NBC who signed him on to a contract and built a
sitcom around him.
Serious Endings
Despite the humorous nature of most episodes, some involve story lines related to relevant social issues. These episodes always close with a quiet resolution, lacking music as the scene fades to black.
