The Best Episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1
Every episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1!
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 their sophisticated British butler, Geoffrey. Though Will’s antics and upbringing contrast greatly with the upper-class lifestyle of his extended relatives, he soon finds himself right at home as a loved part of the family.
Season 1 Ratings Summary
The best episode of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" season 1 is "The Fresh Prince Project", rated 7.9/10 from 1670 user votes. It was directed by Debbie Allen and written by Andy Borowitz, Susan Borowitz. "The Fresh Prince Project" aired on 9/10/1990 and is rated 0.4 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Bang the Drum, Ashley".
7.9/10 1,670 votes#1 - The Fresh Prince Project
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/10/1990
Aunt Vivian tries to mediate between her husband Philip and the newly arrived Will.
Director: Debbie Allen
Writer: Andy Borowitz, Susan Borowitz
7.5/10 1,325 votes#2 - Bang the Drum, Ashley
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/17/1990
Will persuades Ashley to pawn her violin for a drum set.
Director: Debbie Allen
Writer: Shannon Gaughan
7.3/10 1,207 votes#3 - Clubba Hubba
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 9/24/1990
Will wants to go out with a beautiful girl he meets at the country club, but first he must figure out how to impress her extremely snobbish and very protective father so he seeks tips from cousin Carlton on becoming preppie.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Rob Edwards
7.7/10 1,184 votes#4 - Not with My Pig, You Don't
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/1/1990
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
7.6/10 1,155 votes#5 - Homeboy, Sweet Homeboy
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/8/1990
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
8.5/10 1,421 votes#6 - Mistaken Identity
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/15/1990
Jailed, Will and Carlton stage a media stunt.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Andy Borowitz, Susan Borowitz
7.5/10 1,069 votes#7 - Def Poet's Society
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 10/22/1990
Will joins his prep school's poetry club.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: John Bowman
6.3/10 1,066 votes#8 - Someday Your Prince Will Be in Effect (1)
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 10/29/1990
Carlton and Will, babe magnets. Who will be first to get a date for Hilary's Halloween party?
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: N/A
6.6/10 1,016 votes#9 - Someday Your Prince Will Be in Effect (2)
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 10/29/1990
Carlton and Will, babe magnets. Who will be first to get a date for Hilary's Halloween party?
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Bennie R. Richburg Jr.
7.3/10 988 votes#10 - Kiss My Butler
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 11/5/1990
Happy birthday Geoffrey! For a gift, Will tries matchmaking, then falls for Geoffrey's date himself.
Director: Rita Rogers Blye
Writer: Sandy Frank
7.7/10 989 votes#11 - Courting Disaster
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 11/12/1990
Carlton feels overshadowed by Will, who's become a basketball star at school.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Sandy Frank, Lisa Rosenthal
7.3/10 923 votes#12 - Talking Turkey
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 11/19/1990
A holiday visit from Will's taskmaster mother puts the kibosh on conspicuous consumption and puts the kids to work preparing Thanksgiving dinner.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Cheryl Gard
8.0/10 997 votes#13 - Knowledge is Power
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 11/26/1990
Hilary becomes Will's personal maid when he threatens to disclose she's dropped out of UCLA.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Rob Edwards
7.1/10 907 votes#14 - Day Damn One
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 12/3/1990
Will tells Ashley's slumber party guests a scary tale about his first day at Bel-Air Academy.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Cheryl Gard
7.4/10 919 votes#15 - Deck the Halls
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 12/10/1990
Will inimitably dresses the mansion for the holidays, to the dismay of the neighbors, including heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Shannon Gaughan
7.5/10 889 votes#16 - The Lucky Charm
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/7/1991
Philip may lose a superstitious client whom he advises not to make decisions based on Will's spontaneous remarks.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Samm-Art Williams
7.4/10 898 votes#17 - The Ethnic Tip
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 1/14/1991
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
Writer: Jeff Pollack, Benny Medina
7.4/10 886 votes#18 - The Young and the Restless
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 1/21/1991
Will sneaks Philip's elderly mother out of the house for a night on the town.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Lisa Rosenthal
7.8/10 926 votes#19 - It Had to Be You
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 2/4/1991
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
7.3/10 879 votes#20 - Nice Lady
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 2/11/1991
Fresh Prince Will is on his best behavior for visiting royalty - the seemingly demure Lady Penelope, who Will hopes to persuade to let herself have a good time at a party.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Sandy Frank
- 7.3/10 872 votes
#21 - Love at First Fight
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 2/18/1991
Jasmine Guy plays a scholarship student whose introduction to Will opens up a different world of fun and games - and romance - to divert her from her studies.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Lisa Rosenthal, Samm-Art Williams
- 8.1/10 993 votes
#22 - Banks Shot
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 2/25/1991
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.
8.1/10 978 votes#23 - 72 Hours
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 3/11/1991
Will challenges Carlton to spend time in a tough neighborhood, trying to survive by masquerading as a financial consultant.
Director: Rae Kraus
Writer: Rob Edwards
7.4/10 864 votes#24 - Just Infatuation
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 4/29/1991
R&B singer Tevin Campbell plays teen idol Little T, who surprises Ashley on her birthday with a special song and an invitation for a date.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Jeff Pollack, Benny Medina
7.2/10 856 votes#25 - Working It Out
Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 5/6/1991
Rap's Queen Latifah plays Hilary's new actress boss, who wants Will as her boy toy - or Hilary's glamorous job is over.
Director: Rita Rogers Blye
Writer: Shannon Gaughan