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 stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia who is sent to move in with his aunt and uncle in their wealthy Bel Air mansion, where his lifestyle often clashes with that of his relatives. The 148 episodes were broadcast over six seasons.

Will Smith was a popular and successful rapper during the late 1980s, but because he spent his money excessively and grossly underpaid his income taxes, the IRS assessed him a penalty of $2.8 million. The agency had subsequently seized a lot of his belongings and garnished his income. This almost caused Smith to go bankrupt when, in 1990, he was approached by the television network NBC, who signed him on to a contract and created a sitcom focused on him.

The theme song and opening sequence set the premise of the show. Will Smith is a street-smart teenager, born and raised in West Philadelphia, who was sent to live with his auntie and uncle in Bel Air, Los Angeles after getting in a fight.

Prince of Bel Air is a 1986 romantic comedy television movie which starred Mark Harmon, Kirstie Alley, and Robert Vaughn. It first aired on the ABC network on January 20, 1986.

A Los Angeles pool cleaner accustomed to living a womanizing lifestyle runs into a challenge when he meets a wealthy, attractive new love interest.

The version for European theatrical exhibition includes one brief scene with two actresses Barbara Crampton and Katherine Moffat appearing topless. None of the nudity involves any of the leads.

Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. (born September 25, 1968), also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood. Smith has been nominated for four Golden Globe Awards, two Academy Awards, and has won multiple Grammy Awards.

In the late 1980s, Smith achieved modest fame as a rapper under the name The Fresh Prince. In 1990, his popularity increased dramatically when he starred in the popular television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The show ran for nearly six years (1990–1996) on NBC and has been syndicated consistently on various networks since then. In the mid-1990s, Smith moved from television to film, and ultimately starred in numerous blockbuster films. He is the only actor to have eight consecutive films gross over $100 million in the domestic box office and the only one to have eight consecutive films in which he starred open at #1 spot in the domestic box office tally.