CORPORATE LINE: As the 1980s turned into the 1990s a new star was born when rapper/actor Will Smith donned the guise of THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR. Shipped out to California to live with wealthy relatives, he sets about teaching his adopted family some street-smarts, while his original reason for being there–to learn some old fashioned beliefs and values–rapidly falls by the wayside. His Aunt Vivian ((Janet Hubert-Whitten) and uncle Philip Banks (James Avery) can’t control him, and the laughs continue to flow as The Fresh Prince attempts to get everyone else to fit in around him, including cousins Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro), Hilary (Karyn Parsons) and Ashley (Tatyana Ali). Now a legendary part of early-1990s television scheduling, this release includes the second season of the show.
THE SHOW: Growing up a fan of Fresh Prince it’s always curious to see how a show I loved as a kid will be a decade or so later. Will Smith is still funny. There is no doubt but ten plus years later the show has aged. The plots are often weak and the jokes are cheesy—and yet it’s still fun.
Each episode is funny. Some are downright hilarious. “Striptease for Two “ is one of the funniest episodes of the season. After getting a bad stock tip Will and Carlton lose a bundle of money and try to make it back by becoming strippers. “Guess Who’s Coming To Marry?” is a great episode where Will’s mother forbids him from going to his aunt’s wedding because the husband-to-be is white. Another good episode is “The Big Four-Oh” finds Vivian going through a mid-life crisis. “Be My Baby Tonight” is one of those moments where we could all relate as Ashley asks Will about sex!
THE EPISODES:
-Did the Earth Move for You?
– The Mother of All Battles
– Will Gets a Job
– PSAT Pstory
– Granny Gets Busy
– Guess Who’s Coming to Marry?
– The Big Four-Oh
– She Ain’t Heavy
– Cased Up
– Hi-Ho Silver
– The Butler Did It
– Something For Nothing
– Christmas Show
– Hilary Gets a Life
– My Brother’s Keeper
– Geoffrey Cleans Up
– Community Action
– Ill Will
– Eyes on the Prize
– Those Were the Days
– Vying for Attention
– The Aunt Who Came to Dinner
– Be My Baby Tonight
– Striptease for Two
THE EXTRAS:
“Best Bits of Bel-Air” – Montages from the show.
“Bel-Air bloopers” – Some are fun to watch—although it seems some of these bloopers may have been offered either during the credits of the original airing of the show or in syndication.
The most notable thing isn’t what is included but what is missing. Will Smith is no where to be found. It would be interesting to hear him talk about the show all these years later.
FRANKLY: Twenty-Four episodes is a great deal for a box set. Some of the episodes such as “Geoffrey Cleans Up” and “Christmas Show” are above average—as are most of the shows so it’s hard not to recommend this fun box set.
+ Charlie Craine
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