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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!

Binge this in 9h 58m•Peaking at 8.5/10

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
    The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 1 - The Fresh Prince Project
    7.9/10(1778 votes)

    #1 - The Fresh Prince Project

    S1:E1

    Aunt Vivian tries to mediate between her husband Philip and the newly arrived Will.

    Director:Debbie Allen
    Writers:Andy Borowitz, Susan Borowitz

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  2. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 2 - Bang the Drum, Ashley
    7.5/10(1416 votes)

    #2 - Bang the Drum, Ashley

    S1:E2

    Will persuades Ashley to pawn her violin for a drum set.

    Director:Debbie Allen
    Writer:Shannon Gaughan

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  3. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 3 - Clubba Hubba
    7.3/10(1285 votes)

    #3 - Clubba Hubba

    S1:E3

    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

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  4. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 4 - Not with My Pig, You Don't
    7.7/10(1257 votes)

    #4 - 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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  5. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 5 - Homeboy, Sweet Homeboy
    7.6/10(1228 votes)

    #5 - 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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  6. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 6 - Mistaken Identity
    8.5/10(1514 votes)

    #6 - Mistaken Identity

    S1:E6

    Jailed, Will and Carlton stage a media stunt.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writers:Andy Borowitz, Susan Borowitz

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  7. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 7 - Def Poet's Society
    7.5/10(1140 votes)

    #7 - Def Poet's Society

    S1:E7

    Will joins his prep school's poetry club.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writer:John Bowman

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  8. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 8 - Someday Your Prince Will Be in Effect (1)
    6.3/10(1146 votes)

    #8 - Someday Your Prince Will Be in Effect (1)

    S1:E8

    Carlton and Will, babe magnets. Who will be first to get a date for Hilary's Halloween party?

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 9 - Someday Your Prince Will Be in Effect (2)
    6.5/10(1095 votes)

    #9 - Someday Your Prince Will Be in Effect (2)

    S1:E9

    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.

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  10. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 10 - Kiss My Butler
    7.3/10(1050 votes)

    #10 - Kiss My Butler

    S1:E10

    Happy birthday Geoffrey! For a gift, Will tries matchmaking, then falls for Geoffrey's date himself.

    Director:Rita Rogers Blye
    Writer:Sandy Frank

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  11. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 11 - Courting Disaster
    7.7/10(1061 votes)

    #11 - Courting Disaster

    S1:E11

    Carlton feels overshadowed by Will, who's become a basketball star at school.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writers:Sandy Frank, Lisa Rosenthal

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  12. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 12 - Talking Turkey
    7.3/10(983 votes)

    #12 - Talking Turkey

    S1:E12

    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

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  13. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 13 - Knowledge is Power
    8.0/10(1076 votes)

    #13 - 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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  14. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 14 - Day Damn One
    7.1/10(965 votes)

    #14 - Day Damn One

    S1:E14

    Will tells Ashley's slumber party guests a scary tale about his first day at Bel-Air Academy.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writer:Cheryl Gard

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  15. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 15 - Deck the Halls
    7.4/10(977 votes)

    #15 - Deck the Halls

    S1:E15

    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

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  16. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 16 - The Lucky Charm
    7.5/10(947 votes)

    #16 - The Lucky Charm

    S1:E16

    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

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  17. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 17 - The Ethnic Tip
    7.4/10(957 votes)

    #17 - 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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  18. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 18 - The Young and the Restless
    7.4/10(943 votes)

    #18 - The Young and the Restless

    S1:E18

    Will sneaks Philip's elderly mother out of the house for a night on the town.

    Director:Jeff Melman
    Writer:Lisa Rosenthal

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  19. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 19 - It Had to Be You
    7.8/10(1004 votes)

    #19 - 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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  20. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 20 - Nice Lady
    7.3/10(930 votes)

    #20 - Nice Lady

    S1:E20

    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

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  21. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 21 - Love at First Fight
    7.3/10(917 votes)

    #21 - Love at First Fight

    S1:E21

    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
    Writers:Samm-Art Williams, Lisa Rosenthal

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  22. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 22 - Banks Shot
    8.2/10(1049 votes)

    #22 - 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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  23. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 23 - 72 Hours
    8.1/10(1036 votes)

    #23 - 72 Hours

    S1:E23

    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

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  24. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 24 - Just Infatuation
    7.4/10(913 votes)

    #24 - Just Infatuation

    S1:E24

    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
    Writers:Benny Medina, Jeff Pollack

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  25. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 25 - Working It Out
    7.2/10(904 votes)

    #25 - Working It Out

    S1:E25

    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

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"The Fresh Prince Project" is the best rated episode of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" season 1. It scored 7.9/10 based on 1778 votes. Directed by Debbie Allen and written by Andy Borowitz, Susan Borowitz, it aired on 9/10/1990. This episode is rated 0.4 points higher than the second-best, "Bang the Drum, Ashley".