 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
- Nickelodeon, Syndicated, TeenNick
- Genre: Comedy
Common Sense Media says
Good-natured sitcom that the family can enjoy together.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that two of the main characters are teenage boys and that some of their jokes can border on offensive and sexist. But taken in context and with a grain of salt, they're nothing worse than what kids hear at school or on the playground.
What's the story?
THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR is a feel-good sitcom about a streetwise teenager from Philadelphia who throws the serene life of his well-off relatives for a loop when he goes to live with them in Bel-Air. Will Smith -- back in the days when he was half of DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince rather than a blockbusting action hero -- plays Will, an outspoken inner-city Philly teen whose mother sends him to live with his Aunt Vivian (first played Janet Hubert-Whitten and later by Daphne Maxwell Reid) and Uncle Philip Banks (James Avery) and their three spoiled kids: Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro), Hilary (Karyn Parsons), and Ashley (Tatyana Ali). As Will assimilates into his new surroundings, he learns about the good life and adapts to the Banks' carefree lifestyle -- and also teaches his rich relatives that life isn't all about how much money you have in the bank.
Is it any good?
Fresh Prince originally ran on NBC for six seasons in the mid-'90s and is now available on DVD and in syndication. Parents can feel good about letting older tweens and young teens tune in. Although there's some bawdy humor -- in the episode in which Will and Carlton start high school, for example, it's evident that their hormones have gone into overdrive, and they're not afraid to hit on every girl who walks by -- each episode leaves viewers with a powerful lesson on how to live life with dignity and grace. What's more, the Banks family is intact and portrayed positively.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how to handle situations you're not used to. How does Will deal with being a fish out of water in his new environment?
Questions about coping with high school are also relevant. What kind of peer pressure can teens expect to encounter? What should they expect when they start dating?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
funny sitcom
this show is great. It's kind of like full house. It got cancelled so they're no new eps :(. There is some sexual content. No violence. There is mild language like "D**n", "hell", "crap", and one ep had the word "ass" in it. There is drinking by adults but there is no issue bcuz there is no drinking and driving or underaged drinking. So yes 11+ is good.
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AGE
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
I super funny sitcom the whole family will love.
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Kid, 12 years old
December 28, 2009
AGE
Slightly under Preteen ages:8-9 maybe.
this is also my fave comedy.good mom and dad on show.
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AGE
Good for 10 yr olds and up.
Great show. It's really funny. Will Smith is a good actor.
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AGE
One of the best family comedy since according to Jim.
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AGE
Show becomes more inappropriate as seasons go on: First season was excellent for younger kids.
Don't get me wrong: This show is brilliant. Funny, clever, but had good family morals; Like most sitcoms, but better. I must warn you, though, this show was designed to show the family growing up, and growing up they did. When the show got older, the writing was older-themed, if you get my drift. Still, try to catch shows airing during nick-at-night.
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Kid, 12 years old
June 21, 2010
AGE
iffy for 5-6
KIDS CAN WATCH THIS, GOOD BUT TOO MUCH BAD LANGUAGE.
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AGE
... lol
in one episode cariten wills cousin has sex and tells will that he broke his virginity and they are happy not for ages 6-9
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| Topics: | brothers and sisters, great boy role models |
| TV rating: | TV-PG |
| Networks: | Nickelodeon, Syndicated, TeenNick |
| Cast: | Alfonso Ribeiro, James Avery, Will Smith |
| Genre: | Comedy |
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