The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

The guess is that it will have staying power, primarily because of the presence of Will Smith, a rapper who does, indeed, go by the name of "Fresh Prince." Smith, half of the rap duo of D.J. Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, is a natural, so likable and charismatic that he already has drawn parallels to Eddie Murphy from NBC's Brandon Tartikoff. [10 Sept 1990, p.C-1]

While Smith's act is G-rated enough to give rap a good name, the show offers a new and not-so-safe perspective of the so-called "black experience" in America. These are not the Jeffersons. These rich people have their pretentions, but they're no fools. [10 Sept 1990, p.C4]

The most interesting feature of the program is how it stays specific to Smith's underclass style while fashioning a story that the whitest of white people can easily relate to. That's achieved, in part, by making Smith's relatives unbelievably broad. You've never met Boston Brahmins as preppy as these people. It's the weakest part of the program, but it allows Smith to have a great time playing Groucho Marx to his family's Margaret Dumont. [10 Sept 1990, p.35]

The punch lines are predictable, but the kid and his stern uncle generate a great deal of comic energy.