The Fresh Prince Project: How the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Remixed America
Description
A “thorough, thoughtful, and immensely entertaining” (Jemele Hill, author of Uphill) cultural history of the beloved nineties sitcom that launched Will Smith to superstardom—The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air—in the vein of Seinfeldia and Best Wishes, Warmest Regards.
More than thirty years have passed since The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premiered on NBC but unlike other family sitcoms of its era, it has remained culturally relevant and beloved by new generations of fans.
With fresh eyes on the show in the wake of 2022’s launch of Bel-Air, a Fresh Prince reboot on NBC’s Peacock, The Fresh Prince Project brings us never-before-told stories based on exclusive interviews with the show’s cast, creators, writers, and crew. The Fresh Prince Project is an eye-opening exploration and celebration of a show that not only made Will Smith a household name but helped redefine America’s understandings of race, sex, parenthood, and class.
Praise for The Fresh Prince Project: How the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Remixed America
"The Fresh Prince Project is a thorough, thoughtful, and immensely entertaining origin story of one of the most dynamic and impactful network sitcoms ever created. Chris Palmer takes painstaking care in fleshing out how the story of the Fresh Prince not only is about the rise of a generational talent in Will Smith, but about the loving and complicated relationships that made brilliance possible." —Jemele Hill, Emmy Award-winning The Atlantic journalist and author of Uphill
"When a great writer merges talent and passion, you wind up with magic like The Fresh Prince Project. Palmer's depth of knowledge, plus reporting chops, plus unbridled affection for a landmark TV show, make this book a one-of-a-kind joy." —Jeff Pearlman, New York Times bestselling author of Showtime, adapted for HBO's Winning Time
"Palmer’s skillful study of Smith’s professional and personal development melds perfectly with his incisive analysis of the show’s cultural impact. This savvy outing offers much more than a simple hit of nostalgia." —Publisher's Weekly
“When we look back at the shows that actually defined the era they were created in, ‘Fresh Prince’ is just that. It was more than just a popular sitcom. It’s a piece of Black art that’s irreplaceable when speaking of America pop culture. What Palmer does here is peel back the layers of a show that introduced extremely complex conversations oftentimes in the most digestible of manners. The further and further we move away from the show living in real time — the more and more we need to continue to have these talks.” —Justin Tinsley, a senior culture writer for Andscape and author of It Was All A Dream: Biggie and the World That Made Him
"The distinction Chris Palmer brings to The Fresh Prince Project defines its genre. It’s that good. He brings home the essence of why The Fresh Prince still matters to Black America — and, really, why it should matter to all of us." —Mike Wise, New York Times bestselling coauthor of Shaq Talks Back
"If you think you know the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, wait until you read this book. Chris Palmer puts heart and soul into every sentence, every word, and every detail." —Marc J. Spears, senior NBA writer for ESPN's Andscape
"The Fresh Prince Project is truly a must-read for fans of the show" —Nerdist
