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The Best Episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Every episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air!

Binge this in 2d 9h•Peaking at 8.8/10

Will, a street-smart teenager, moves from the tough streets of West Philly to posh Bel-Air to live with his Uncle Philip, Aunt Vivian, his cousins — spoiled Hilary, preppy Carlton and young Ashley — and

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 4 Episode 24 - Papa's Got a Brand-New Excuse
    8.8/10(15 votes)

    #1 - Papa's Got a Brand-New Excuse

    S4:E24

    Ben Vereen plays Will's long-lost father, who breezes into town and promises Will the moon, which angers an unforgiving Philip.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writers:David Zuckerman, Bill Boulware

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  2. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 3 Episode 19 - Just Say Yo
    8.5/10(13 votes)

    #2 - Just Say Yo

    S3:E19

    Will learns a sobering lesson after Carlton pops the wrong pills from Will's locker, mistaking amphetamines for vitamins, and winds up in hospital.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Efrem Seeger

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  3. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 5 Episode 15 - Bullets Over Bel-Air
    8.5/10(13 votes)

    #3 - Bullets Over Bel-Air

    S5:E15

    A planned camping trip is cut short for Carlton and Will when a robber approaches them at an automated bank-teller machine - and fires a gun.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writers:Maiya Williams, Eddie Gorodetsky

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  4. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 6 - Mistaken Identity
    8.4/10(17 votes)

    #4 - Mistaken Identity

    S1:E6

    Jailed, Will and Carlton stage a media stunt.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writers:Andy Borowitz, Susan Borowitz

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  5. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 22 - Banks Shot
    8.2/10(14 votes)

    #5 - Banks Shot

    S1:E22

    Will crawls to Philip for help after sneaking out on the town and getting hustled by sleazy pool sharks.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writer:Bennie R. Richburg Jr.

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  6. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 4 Episode 3 - All Guts, No Glory
    8.2/10(11 votes)

    #6 - All Guts, No Glory

    S4:E3

    Registration day finds Will signing up for no-brainer classes, plus one that might truly challenge him - a philosophy course he takes to meet a girl.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Maiya Williams

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

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  7. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 2 Episode 24 - Strip-Tease for Two
    8.1/10(12 votes)

    #7 - Strip-Tease for Two

    S2:E24

    Will and Carlton lose their shirts investing on a tip - then take jobs as strippers to recoup their losses and get Vivian's bracelet out of hock.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writers:Leslie Ray, David Steven Simon

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  8. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 4 Episode 10 - Home is Where the Heart Attack Is
    8.1/10(11 votes)

    #8 - Home is Where the Heart Attack Is

    S4:E10

    Will sneaks greasy, high-fat foods to Philip after he promises to diet and exercise, then blames himself when Philip has a heart attack.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Eddie Gorodetsky

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  9. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 6 Episode 1 - Burnin' Down the House
    8.1/10(16 votes)

    #9 - Burnin' Down the House

    S6:E1

    While Carlton is away at a Young Republican camp, Will cooks up a flambe of a disaster on a night when an influential judge is coming to dinner, and Will can only make it through the night with the help of Geoffrey, and other plan is not to make Phil find out.

    Director:Madeline Cripe
    Writers:Adam Markowitz, Joel Madison

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  10. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 3 Episode 10 - Asses to Ashes
    8.0/10(13 votes)

    #10 - Asses to Ashes

    S3:E10

    Election results are in and Philip fights to remain cool amid lies by Judge Robertson, which prompt Will to confront the outspoken incumbent. Will Will go to far? Will he say what everyone is feeling? Will Judge Robertson be able to take it?

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Bryan Winter

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  11. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 3 Episode 14 - Winner Takes Off
    8.0/10(11 votes)

    #11 - Winner Takes Off

    S3:E14

    Geoffrey humiliates himself by insulting the Banks family and quitting his job when Will and Carlton trick him into thinking he has won millions of dollars in the lottery.

    Director:Werner Walian
    Writer:Casey Maxwell Clair

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  12. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 6 Episode 22 - Eye, Tooth
    8.0/10(11 votes)

    #12 - Eye, Tooth

    S6:E22

    William Shatner stars as Hilary's talk-show guest, but Will must find a way to beam him from the dentist's chair to the set. Meanwhile, Hilary's show treks to New York and Ashley insists on tagging along.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Adam Markowitz

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  13. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 4 - Not with My Pig, You Don't
    7.9/10(16 votes)

    #13 - Not with My Pig, You Don't

    S1:E4

    Will tries to smooth things between Philip and his very rural parents when they visit to see him receive an award.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writer:Lisa Rosenthal

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  14. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 13 - Knowledge is Power
    7.9/10(16 votes)

    #14 - Knowledge is Power

    S1:E13

    Hilary becomes Will's personal maid when he threatens to disclose she's dropped out of UCLA.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writer:Rob Edwards

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  15. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 19 - It Had to Be You
    7.9/10(14 votes)

    #15 - It Had to Be You

    S1:E19

    Will has girl problems after a date with Jazz's domineering sister, who's ready to pick out a china pattern before the night is over.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writer:Cheryl Gard

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  16. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 3 Episode 18 - The Alma Matter
    7.9/10(11 votes)

    #16 - The Alma Matter

    S3:E18

    Depressed and suicidal over having ruined his chances of attending Princeton University, Carlton is visited by his Guardian Angel, who shows him how awful the Banks family would be if he weren't alive.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Bryan Winter

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  17. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 3 Episode 22 - Ain't No Business Like Show Business
    7.9/10(11 votes)

    #17 - Ain't No Business Like Show Business

    S3:E22

    Will lands a spot in a comedy showcase after accompanying a comic friend to an audition.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 4 Episode 6 - Will Goes a-Courtin'
    7.9/10(11 votes)

    #18 - Will Goes a-Courtin'

    S4:E6

    When Phillip sues Will and Carlton for unpaid rent, two different versions of the dispute are aired - neither entirely truthful.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Bill Boulware

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  19. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 4 Episode 14 - Sleepless in Bel-Air
    7.9/10(12 votes)

    #19 - Sleepless in Bel-Air

    S4:E14

    Will pays for putting off studying for a midterm until the last minute, and Ashley pays for staying out late on her first date.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Maiya Williams

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  20. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 4 Episode 26 - The Philadelphia Story
    7.9/10(11 votes)

    #20 - The Philadelphia Story

    S4:E26

    Will returns to the City of Brotherly Love and discovers he's the butt of old friends' jokes, prompting him to go into training to settle an old score and clear his reputation as a chicken.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writers:Maiya Williams, Eddie Gorodetsky

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  21. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 5 Episode 2 - What's Will Got to Do With It?
    7.9/10(11 votes)

    #21 - What's Will Got to Do With It?

    S5:E2

    Will helps Ashley make a big impression on a recording executive, but Philip is adamantly against her pursuing a singing career.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writers:David Pitlik, Barry Gurstein

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  22. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 6 Episode 5 - The Script Formerly Known As...
    7.9/10(11 votes)

    #22 - The Script Formerly Known As...

    S6:E5

    Will decides to book a juror dismissed from Philip's big show-biz madam sex-scandal case for Hilary's show, which results in embarrassment for Judge Banks and some annoying apologies from Will and Hilary.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Felicia D. Henderson

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  23. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 6 Episode 7 - Not With My Cousin You Don't
    7.9/10(12 votes)

    #23 - Not With My Cousin You Don't

    S6:E7

    Freakin' out! On the home intercom, Will and Carlton overhear Ashley talking about sex.

    Director:Shelley Jensen
    Writer:Adam Markowitz

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  24. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 5 - Homeboy, Sweet Homeboy
    7.8/10(16 votes)

    #24 - Homeboy, Sweet Homeboy

    S1:E5

    Will gets a visit from an old pal named Ice Tray, who, to Vivian and Philip's dismay, warms up to Hilary.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writer:Samm-Art Williams

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  25. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 17 - The Ethnic Tip
    7.8/10(15 votes)

    #25 - The Ethnic Tip

    S1:E17

    Will proposes a black history class be instituted at Bel-Air Academy, and gets a surprise when Aunt Viv arrives to teach it.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writers:Benny Medina, Jeff Pollack

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Best Episodes Summary

"Papa's Got a Brand-New Excuse" is the best rated episode of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air". It scored 8.8/10 based on 15 votes. Directed by Shelley Jensen and written by David Zuckerman, Bill Boulware, it aired on 5/9/1994. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "Just Say Yo".