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The Fresh Prince Project

How the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Remixed America

About The Book

This “one-of-a-kind” (Jeff Pearlman, New York Times bestselling author) cultural history of the beloved nineties sitcom that launched Will Smith to superstardom—The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air—is perfect for fans 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. Eye-opening and passionate, The Fresh Prince Project “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 author).

About The Author

Photograph by Chris Palmer

Chris Palmer has spent twenty years as a journalist writing about the intersection of entertainment, culture, and sports for ESPN, GQ, and other outlets. He is the author or coauthor of several books, including Lamar Odom’s memoir, Darkness to Light, and The Fresh Prince Project. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisPalmerNBA.

Why We Love It

The Fresh Prince Project fills in the gaps star-controlled media have left out about this landmark show. We meet a Will Smith, for example, who while obviously a good-hearted guy, still ultimately is a root cause of turmoil (and joblessness, with the end of the show) on set for his colleagues.

Nineties nostalgia to the max: This book also sheds a warm light on what it was actually like for a show like this to exist in the early nineties. The writers and execs knew nothing about the subject matter, Will and a motley crew of non-traditional writers had to ‘create’ Black America for popular consumption.”

—Nick C., Senior Editor, on The Fresh Prince Project

Product Details

  • Publisher: Atria Books (January 31, 2023)
  • Length: 320 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781982185190

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