The one of the seminal Black sitcoms as well. In addition to solidifying Will Smith's career as an actor, the series introduced many noteworthy characters to popular culture, including Carlton Banks, Uncle Phil, and Geoffrey the butler.
But as is the case with many sitcoms, Fresh Prince doesn't always have the best sense of consistency or continuity within its episodes, storylines, characters, and even cast themselves. Though the series has aged well for the most part, there are some things that still have fans scratching their heads after all these years.
Will's friends disappear
Though Will may develop his primary friendships over the course of the series with his cousins, and with resident weirdo Jazz, Fresh Prince also introduced two noteworthy ing characters who disappear without a word.
Tyriq plays the role of the third banana in Will and Jazz's social unit in early seasons, and Jackie (Tyra Banks) recurs throughout the fourth season as an old friend of Will's from Philadelphia. And then, they're both just gone with no explanation.
Vy and Mr. Wilkes
The end of Fresh Prince's fifth season finds Will and Lisa approaching their wedding day, only to call the whole thing off during the ceremony. But along the way, something truly bizarre and downright baffling happens: Will's mother, Vy, and Lisa's father, Fred, sleep together.
But even worse, when their children decide not to get married, Fred impulsively asks Vy to marry him right then and there, mere days after knowing each other, and moments after their children have called it off.
Hilary's confusing careers
Out of all the children in the Banks house, Hilary is arguably the one with the least amount of marketable talent or drive in her life. But somehow, she keeps finding herself stepping up from one career to another, in a truly nonsensical fashion.
Early episodes find her as a college student who considers working in event planning and catering. Later on, she happens into a job as a weather person, despite having no background or qualifications. And somehow, she winds up with her own talk show, and is even briefly considered to host alongside Regis Philbin.
Sherman Hemsley's dual roles
Though seen less often in modern television, it's not unheard of for older sitcoms to use the same guest actors or character actors in minor, one off roles. What's less common, however, is for a very famous actor to appear in two entirely unrelated, noteworthy roles in a series.
Sherman Hemsley of The Jeffersons fame appears in Fresh Prince in two different capacities: first, as Judge Robertson, against whom Uncle Phil runs for the position of judge, and later as George Jefferson himself in a pair of tongue-in-cheek appearances.
Uncle Phil's rapidly changing career
Perhaps the nonsensical career path decisions are a hereditary thing within the Banks family, as Banks patriarch Philip follows his own unconventional journey. In the early seasons, Uncle Phil is satisfied with his role as a lawyer, but midway through the series, he changes course and aims higher, eventually becoming a judge.
But the series' most confusing twists come in its later years, when Uncle Phil uncharacteristically considers the leap to politics full time, and all without consulting Aunt Vivian.
Queen Latifah's dual roles
As it turns out, Sherman Hemsley isn't the only well-known star to take on two guest roles in the series. The iconic Queen Latifah appears in Fresh Prince's first season as the obnoxious actress Marissa Redman, whom Hilary briefly works for.
Just a season later, however, Queen Latifah appears as Will's new friend, Dee Dee. Will and Dee Dee clearly have a spark and many shared interests, but Will is ashamed to be seen with her due to her weight and his classmate's teasing. In the end, Will gets over his initial reaction, and the two make amends.
Will and Jazz's friendship
After being sent from Philadelphia by his mother to live with his family out in Bel-Air, Will should clearly not have any reason to know anyone other than the Bankses. But as soon as he sets down in Bel-Air, Will quickly befriends the enigmatic Jazz.
Clearly older than Will, and with no real connection to Will's life other than the fact that he's always around, Jazz is a character that never quite makes sense in the series. Nor does the series ever really attempt to explain how they became best friends. Of course, Jazz is still lovable in the end, so perhaps it's best left unexplored.
Ashley's singing career
It's beginning to seem like Fresh Prince has a real problem with nonsensical career decisions. The series' fifth season opens with a storyline that lasts all of two episodes, comes entirely out of nowhere, and is never mentioned ever again.
Ashley becomes an overnight singing sensation, thanks to Will's management and some less than typical intervention on his part. Fame quickly goes to her head, leading to her becoming a diva and alienating those she loves, only for her fame to be over even more quickly than it came.
Nicky suddenly ages
Nicky Banks, the youngest member of the Banks family, is born at the end of the series' third season, and spends all of the fourth season as an appropriately aged baby. But in the fifth season, everything changes. Suddenly, Nicky is a fully grown, speaking toddler - and one with a sarcastic sense of humor at that.
Aside from a quick joke from Jazz, the series never acknowledges this change in any way. No one else suddenly ages, and no time has ed. Nicky just suddenly isn't a baby anymore, and that's it.
Aunt Vivian changes
Nicky isn't the only character who suddenly changes appearance in a drastic manner, however. After the lead role of Aunt Vivian Banks was played by Janet Hubert for the series' first three seasons, Fresh Prince suddenly recast the role with Daphne Maxwell-Reid.
Once again, apart from a cursory joke made by Jazz, the series never acknowledges anything. Nor is there any mention of the fact that Vivian's character, personality, and career are all totally changed as a result as well.
