25 Unforgettable "Fresh Prince" Moments That Solidified The Series As Iconic
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was one of few shows that beautifully mastered serious topics and serious comedy in a way that didn't feel cheesy or inauthentic, while also sharing Black experiences with a mainstream audience.
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It showcased a family of unique personalities that was largely successful but still came across as sympathetic and relatable. It launched careers, broke records, and for so many of us, it was a staple of our childhoods.
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These are some of the most defining, memorable moments in Fresh Prince history.
1.The pilot comes in hot with this perfect moment to set the scene for Will and Ashley's tight bond.
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Will creeps up behind Ashley and jumps right in, and throughout the series, we see he's always got his little cousin's back.
2.Will and Uncle Phil's first showdown also proves the show is going to be about more than just laughs.
Uncle Phil and Will are clearly going to test each other throughout the series, and this back and forth is a good example of how.
Phil would walk away from this thinking he had Will all figured out and not letting him argue further, but as he did, Will started playing Beethoven on the piano, which made Phil realize he didn't really know everything there was to Will.
3.Will and Carlton get pulled over and accused of stealing a car by police, and Uncle Phil has to let everyone know about themselves.
When Will and Carlton get to drive a family friend's Mercedes to Palm Springs, they think they've got it made. The fun comes to an abrupt halt after they are pulled over and Carlton has his first police interaction, complete with racial profiling. They have to resort to a confession to be able to reach Uncle Phil and Aunt Viv, who were not here for any of the police's mishandling of the situation.
4.Will helps Ashley deal with a bully.
5.Will gets stuck in the basement with his date, played by the iconic Tisha Campbell.
6.When Aunt Viv showed the girls HOW IT'S DONE in that dance studio.
7.When Hilary, Janice, Vivian, and Helen are talking about Janice's possible pregnancy and Hilary is a sex-positive queen.
8.
9.When Carlton first hits his dance to "It's Not Unusual."
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The Carlton dance actually premieres during the show's second season, but Season 3 is the first time it's set to Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual," which becomes Carlton's signature song.
10.Geoffery wins the lottery.
11.Carlton accidentally does speed he found in Will's locker and he has to come clean.
The family is praising Will as a hero for getting Carlton to the hospital in time and saving his life until Will has to emotionally tell them that the pills came from his own locker.
Uncle Phil then makes Will apologize to the whole family and come clean, which proves to be really difficult as he realizes what could have happened.
12.When Will needs to perform with a bunch of little kids to pass his music class and graduate.
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Will is a good sport, albeit a minorly humiliated one when he performs with these kids to "You Are My Sunshine" in a truly unforgettable moment.
13.Carlton loses his virginity.
Carlton's lack of luck with the ladies is often joked about, but he seals the deal without even knowing he's going to. Sounds like more than good luck if you ask me! The photo montage really seals the scene.
14.When Will and Carlton try to rush a Black fraternity and Carlton is turned away.
15.How the whole family handles Uncle Phil's heart attack.
Everyone feels responsible when Uncle Phil has a heart attack, but Carlton struggles to be present as he grapples with his dad's mortality. Will tries to offer him some perspective and nudge him in the right direction.
16.Will gets emotional about his dad.
17.Uncle Phil throwing Jazz out of the house...every time.
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No explanation necessary.
18.Ashley cementing her place among the '90s R&B girls.
Uncle Phil buys a record store, leading to Will's discovery of Ashley's amazing voice. She does the damn thing, and he has dollar signs in his eyes, but the star thing quickly gets to her head.
19.Will convincing Carlton he killed Lisa over a prank Carlton was in on, leading Alfonso Ribeiro to break the fourth wall.
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When Will finds out Carlton is in on Lisa's sorority prank, he gets payback by convincing Carlton that he killed Lisa with a rock, leading to one of the funniest moments in Fresh Prince history.
20.Will argues with Carlton about buying a gun after Will got shot.
Carlton feels cheated after staying on the straight and narrow his whole life and still experiencing something so terrible. He buys a gun as a means of protection, but Will tells him it won't help.
21.The whole family watches Trevor's proposal to Hilary go wrong.
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Hilary is ready to marry the man of her dreams until he meets the pavement in possibly the most uncomfortably hilarious moment in the show.
22.When Will catches his mom in bed with his bride-to-be's dad and the whole wedding changes.
Will wants to talk to his mom about his cold feet over marrying Lisa when he gets completely side-tracked by finding his mom in bed with her dad.
23.When Will wants to do the flambe after he's told not to and burns down the kitchen.
24.Nicky helps Will win a bet with Carlton over listening to Tom Jones.
This is one of those great episodes where the beginning has nothing to do with anything else but is still too funny to forget. Carlton walks right into a trap and Nicky and Will both profit from it.
25.Will and Carlton's spirited performance to "Apache" by the Sugarhill Gang.
Who doesn't still think of this scene when even a note of this song plays? Honestly!
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What are your favorite Fresh Prince moments? Add 'em in the comments!
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