In many ways, not much has changed in 30 years. We still put off doing our homework to watch our favorite TV shows. Pop-Tarts still don’t taste as good as we wish they did. And Will Smith is still threatening to put out another rap album. But one thing is new: Peacock is cutting a path in the streaming jungle using a cadre of reboots armed with dull machetes. And the latest hacking blade is Bel Air, an hour-long version of The Fresh Prince that oh so badly wants you to take it seriously.
Seriously. It may have sounded like a joke when you first caught wind of it, like a Lonely Island digital short that TV execs didn’t realize was a spoof. But we assure you, the latest feather in Peacock’s cap is a very real, very earnest attempt at remixing the story of a West Philadelphia kid who finds himself living in Bel Air after one little fight lands him in hot water with police, his mom, and a local gangster.
Based on a YouTube fan video that caught the attention of Will Smith back in 2019, Bel Air ditches the three-camera comedy stylings of its predecessor and airs on the side of hard-knuckle drama, replete with artfully shaky Steadicam and adult language. So does it work? Is it a triumph? And can it hold its own against a flawed but beloved ’90s sitcom that launched the acting career of one of the biggest movie stars in the world? Find out who will be crowned the true Prince of Bel-Air below.
Cover Photo: Ron Galella Ltd. / Frazer Harrison (Getty Images)
Fresh Prince v Bel Air
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The Better Carlton
When you get a dance move named after you, you must be doing something right. And back when The Fresh Prince was new, Carlton's signature move was a party favorite from Tacoma to Tampa Bay. But beyond just the sweet gyrations of America's favorite cardigan-loving preppy, the real magic of actor Alfonso Ribeiro was his chemistry with Will. So palpable and bristling with tension it led to the formation of a new kind of comedy duo. On the flip side, the newer, broodier Carlton comes with a drug problem, forced disdain, and zero iconic dance numbers. It would have been a fresher move to reboot these family rivals as besties and redirect their tension outward into the palatial environs of greater Bel-Air.
Winner: Original
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The Better Premise
Let's look at the ingredients that make these two very different stews. The Fresh Prince took the real-life story of a music exec, added Quincy Jones, flipped the fish-out-of-water story on its head by making both disparate landscapes two aspects of black culture, then liberally stirred in a rap star on the rise, and microwaved it for three weeks to create a surprisingly fresh pilot. It did all these things without hesitation, explanation, or the faintest hint of pretense. By comparison, Bel Air reheated 30-year-old fast-food leftovers, drained most of the sugar out, turned it into an eight-part gourmet-style meal, and served it with a straight face.
Winner: Original
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Punchlines v. Punch-Ups
Six episodes in and Bel Air has given us zero laughs. Yes, there have been several fists thrown in people's faces, but even punch-ups are pretty boring when the motivation behind the violence carries no weight. The Fresh Prince, however, never needed random acts of violence to hook viewers. The laughs came fast and furious thanks to sturdy punchlines and standout performances. And during those times when things got serious, the sitcom earned our tears by taking the time to get us there emotionally. It was a balancing act the show made look easy. Unfortunately, its successor is too busy striking the same chord to balance much else - a dark and dour tune that's not even depressing enough to make us cry.
Winner: Original
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The Better Cast of Characters
The original was a star turn for Will Smith, who shined onscreen, fizzing lovable exuberance like some cartoon champagne bottle on ecstasy. But it wasn't just him. Smith's ensemble helped buoy the novice, playing both foil and counterpoint to his non-stop hamming. Wisely, Bel Air brings back all your favorite characters (adding a few new ones we could live without). But where once lived personas never before seen on TV, now exist more as character tropes than people. While all the actors are decent on the reboot, there's just not enough cohesion to make the ensemble bubble.
Winner: Original
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Better Dance Moves
By sheer numbers, Fresh Prince has the most dance moves of any sitcom in the history of television. It's a strange honor to have. Yet the need to bust a move became a staple of the show's identity. Both as a form of physical comedy and as a symptom of the unbridled enthusiasm bursting out of the performers. Why is this important? We don't know. But it may just be the essence of the entire show.
Winner: Original
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Beefier Guest Stars
Fresh Prince became a cultural phenomenon, a timely blend of new attitudes, ideas, talents, and cross-promotional capabilities. That's why everyone from William Shatner to Heavy D lined up for a cameo appearance. Only time will tell if Bel Air attracts the influencers, celebutantes, and future presidential Cheetoh schmears of today like its forefather did. Wait, but maybe gratuitous cameos are a bad thing?
Winner: Reboot
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Better Will Smithing
When Bel Air isn't taking time to state the obvious using expositional dialogue to explain how we're supposed to feel, the show has a few moments that glimmer. However, the uneven attempts at realism are hard to swallow and force the actors to sell emotions buried beneath dialogue that doesn't ring true. Meanwhile, the original (penned by Andy Borowitz of 'The Borowitz Report' and then-wife Susan) was filled with zingers, memorable one-liners, and enough meaningful exchanges to catch audiences off guard. It was a Trojan Horse of cultural commentary, sneaking spoonfuls of wisdom about class dynamics into a bright and zany package.
Winner: Original
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Romance
The original had Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks. The new one has a deeper love connection between cousin Hillary and Jazz. All's fair in love and reboots.
Winner: Tie
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AND THE CROWN GOES TO...
The cultural relevance of reboots at large is an interesting thing to consider. In a world overrun with NFTs, there's clearly a market for one-of-a-kind objects that are, in actuality, copies of a thing that already exists. Originals might not always be better, but at least they have something reboots rarely do. Originality. These days, that might not hold the same currency it once did. But in this case, there's no contest on who's getting screwed on the exchange rate.
OVERALL WINNER: Original
