The opening episodes, which premiered on Sunday’s Super Bowl, were broadcast live on NBC’s streaming site Peacock. They establish a catchy beat and the question is how long they can keep it going.
This series was inspired by a 2019 fan-made trailer which went viral. Morgan Cooper is a producer, director and co-writer. It could have easily become a case of going too far with a three-minute gag. T.J. Brady, Rasheed Newson and Rasheed Newson created a clever opening credit for the original sitcom. This explained the character’s journey to living with wealthy relatives.
Will Smith (Jabari banks) has a bright future. He is eligible for a basketball scholarship that will allow him to leave Philadelphia and take him on a path towards bigger and better things. His hubris leads to him trying to settle matters on the playground. This plan backfires and can lead to serious consequences.
Will’s mother April Parker Jones (Jordan L. Jones) sends him to Los Angeles with relatives he doesn’t know. This is evident by Will’s stunned expression when he first sees their gated mansion. Driver Jordan L. Jones (Jordan L. Jones), says, “You didn’t tell me that your family is White.”
Still, it’s not easy to fit in. Will’s arrival provokes jealousy from his cousin Carlton, who is hiding his secret. There are tensions involving Aunt Vivian and Uncle Philip (Adrian Holmes), the latter being in the midst a race for District Attorney but also facing questions about his street cred due his zip code.
Given the power dynamics at Bel-Air’s private school, the “Gossip girl” strain is evident in the “Bel-Air” creation. Will responds angrily to one of Carlton’s White friends singing provocative rap lyrics. This objection is dismissed by Carlton.
The new series has already been ordered for two seasons. No one can say that the writers are slowing down. Instead, they race through the plot development in the first three episodes. This raises questions about whether the producers overloaded the action.
This also highlights the distinction between “The Fresh Prince”, which was first broadcast on a broadcast network over 30 years ago and is celebrated in a 2020 special –and “Bel-Air,” which is streaming on a service where the game shines brightly and attracts attention.
Although it might not be the best time to promote the show during Super Bowl, in terms of percentages, the bet will pay off if the series is able to hook just a small fraction of those viewers.
Although it is possible to question that strategy, the reality is that “Bel-Air”, in terms of producing a show undoubtedly worthy of such expensive TV real estate, has upheld its end of this bargain.