Why The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air Is So ‘Iconic’, According To Daphne Maxwell Reid
It’s honestly hard to believe that The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air made its debut on NBC 30 years ago but, even decades later, the show has remained as popular as ever. Thanks to network reruns and streaming services, new generations are becoming well acquainted with Will Smith and the Banks family. So what makes this show ‘90s-era sitcom so popular among fresh eyes? Well, Daphne Maxwell Reid has provided some keen thoughts on the subject.
Fresh off her appearance on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion, Daphne Maxwell took some time to speak with me about her time on the show. We also discussed the show’s legacy and why it remains a fixture in pop culture to this day. While Reid believes the exact context of the original show is difficult to recreate, she believes its universal themes are what have kept it around for so long:
It's hard to argue with Daphne Maxwell Reid’s sentiments on Fresh Prince. While the show focused on the Banks’ (an upper middle-class Black family), their day-to-day situations were ones that just about any of us could relate to. This helped to keep the characters grounded in reality, which is probably why so many still identify with them to this day.
Now, there’s a chance for this level of relatability to increase even further, as Will Smith has teamed up with filmmaker Morgan Cooper to produce a dramatic reimagining of Fresh Prince. The show, simply titled Bel-Air, is based on Cooper’s viral short film and will revamp the classic story for the modern viewing public. Reid also shared some thoughts on the upcoming show:
Reid’s sentiments about Bel-Air and the staying power of the original show match up with those of her former co-star, Tatyana Ali, who thinks the show is a “dope” idea. The new series certainly has plenty of potential and, if It’s anything like Cooper’s initial trailer, it could really be something special. Still, the original series will continue to hold a special place in fans’ hearts as time goes on. I think I speak for many viewers when I say we’re certainly grateful to Daphne Maxwell Reid and her co-stars for helping to create such a humorous and relatable TV family.
Both The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and its reunion special are currently available to stream on HBO Max.
CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER
Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News
Erik Swann is a Senior Content Producer at CinemaBlend. He began working with the publication in 2020 when he was hired as Weekend Editor. Today, he continues to write, edit and handle social media responsibilities over the weekend. On weekdays, he also writes TV and movie-related news and helps out with editing and social media as needed. He graduated from the University of Maryland, where he received a degree in Broadcast Journalism. After shifting into multi-platform journalism, he started working as a freelance writer and editor before joining CB. Covers superheroes, sci-fi, comedy, and almost anything else in film and TV. He eats more pizza than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.