Will Smith’s life got turned upside down following the release of his 1990 NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Although the cast and crew of the show found it hard to predict if the project might create a lasting legacy, Smith’s sitcom actually turned into a launchpad for the actors.
Years later, reflecting upon how The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air redefined the 90s sitcom, Karyn Parsons, who played Hilary Banks, discussed how she was initially doubtful about the show. Admitting that she wasn’t convinced by the premise of the sitcom, Parsons explained what changed her opinion.
Karyn Parsons Was Doubtful About Will Smith’s 1990 Sitcom
Although Will Smith’s NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, turned into a launchpad for the show’s actors, the 1990 series was initially judged for its potential. While the show created a legacy of its own and even inspired the grittier reboot Bel-Air, actress Karyn Parsons initially thought the sitcom to be stupid.
During an interview with The Independent, the actress who played the role of Hilary Banks, a preppy spoiled rich girl, admitted she was highly doubtful about the show. Karyn Parsons discussed that she wasn’t convinced by the premise of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and thus judged the show too quickly.
“It sounded so silly to me – like, a rapper on a TV show? That hadn’t happened yet and so I laughed about it.”
Explaining what influenced her opinion about the show, Karyn Parsons admitted that when her acting coach had asked her about the project, she brushed it off and laughed by calling the project a “stupid sitcom”. Eventually, when Parsons won the role of Hilary Banks and joined the show, she realized that the project had more potential than she had imagined.
Will Smith’s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Created A Lasting Legacy
Will Smith’s 1990 sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, was loosely based on writer Benny Medina’s own life. The show narrated the story of the affluent Banks family who find their lives turned upside-down following the arrival of their Philadelphia relative, street-smart Will, into their Bel-Air mansion.
The show featured Will Smith as the instantly loveable charming cousin of the Banks kids, who pumped vibrance and liveliness into their stiff country club routine. The six-seasoned comical and heartwarming series created by Andy and Susan Borowitz thus turned into an iconic television show that eventually inspired the 2022 reboot, Bel-Air.
While Will Smith’s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, was indeed a lightning in a bottle-like show, it wasn’t all laughter and comedy. At times even the comical show turned intense. But overall, the sitcom maintained a proper balance and presented a heartfelt storyline. Entertaining the audiences, despite facing criticism and doubts, the 1990 sitcom certainly created a legacy of its own.
Watch The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on Apple TV.
Read more: 30 Actors Who Quit Hollywood And What They Do Now
Source: The Independent
