Top 10 Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Running Gags

Despite being cousins, Will and Carlton’s bond was often expressed with insults. There are a lot of serious moments where Smith had his cousin’s back, but during less intense times, he never misses an opportunity to make a joke at Carlton’s expense. He has an expansive repertoire that he draws from whenever he needs to throw shade at his cousin. Smith often made fun of Carlton for being nerdy and uncool in comparison to his own demeanor. Whether it was about his personality, appearance or behavior, every episode included at least one or two great roasts.

90s TV was filled with some of the coolest handshakes ever made, and the Fresh Prince was no exception. Despite its simplicity, it became an iconic part of the TV Show. Will was constantly surrounded by his uptight family and friends, so it was always great to see Smith let loose with his friends. The Handshake showed Will and Jazz’s laid-back personalities, while also demonstrating just how cool these two were. It became a fan favorite and always got a laugh from the studio audience whenever the two broke it out.

As a UCLA drop out, the eldest Banks sibling was no rocket scientist, and it showed. Shallow and self-centred, she’s entitled, judgemental . . . and a complete airhead. Karyn Parsons, the actress that played Hilary, did an excellent job portraying her with the classic valley girl accent. The other characters’ jokes were often witty and filled with innuendo - and a result tended to fly right over Hilary’s head. Nonetheless, she was a beloved character who loved her family, and it was her contrast to them that made her such a great member of the cast.

Uncle Phil often bore the brunt of jokes on the show, and a frequent target was his lack of hair. If Uncle Phil was not being made fun of for his weight, his hair loss was the go to joke. It came from virtually every main character on the show, with each of them taking turns to deliver great one-liners about Uncle Phil’s hair style. Sure, it was hard not to feel sorry for him at times, but it was also hard not to laugh! Making fun of Mr. Banks for being follicly challenged was a regular past-time for the cast, and the audience loved it.

There was no shortage of jokes made about Carlton, the most frequent being about his height. At 5ft 6, he was always teased about being too short, leading to some of the best disses in the series. The dynamic relationship between Will and his cousin was the show’s driving force. It was built around teasing each other, and Will’s go to subject was always poor Carlton’s stature. Sure, the jokes might not have been subtle . . . but they were still hilarious, and got some of the biggest laughs in the series.

Will Smith is a great performer, and when he brought it to the show, it was always great to watch. In particular, it was a treat whenever Will was able to show off his dance skills. His moves have become iconic over the years, being used in countless GIFs. Whether it was to a funky beat on the drums, the Temptations, or surprisingly to a Madonna song, it always brought a laugh. One of Smith’s greatest strengths as a comedic actor is his physicality, and he was able to showcase perfectly that through his dance moves.

What made Fresh Prince so special was its ability to make jokes about the show itself - usually through the show’s protagonist. Will would often comment about what was going on in the show by breaking the fourth wall, and speaking to the audience. The most iconic joke came from Smith looking awkwardly at the camera after his best friend Jazz made a remark that Aunt Viv looked different after she gave birth. The actress who played Aunt Viv had been replaced in Season 4, and the show found a clever way to address it.

If there was one person who could appreciate a good roast, it was Uncle Phil. Unfortunately, it was mostly directed towards him on account of his weight. The show never seemed to miss an opportunity to put him through the ringer. Mostly, the one making fun of him was Will, but other characters such as Jazz and the butler Geoffrey also took frequent shots at his weight - whether about his eating habits, or his inability to fit into clothing. It’s no wonder that Carlton’s nickname for his father is “Big Guy”.

One of the most frequent and hilarious gags in the series was Jazz’s quick exits from the Banks home. In fact, Jazz was thrown out a total of 15 times across the show’s six seasons. Sometimes it was Will showing him the door, but more often it was Uncle Phil. Whenever the two of them were in the same room together, the audience knew what was coming but it was hilarious every time. The visual combined with the scream made it a fan favorite gag throughout the series.

Before we get to our number one pick, here are some honorable mentions:

Guest Celebrities

Will's Pickup Lines

Geoffrey Roasting the Family

Hilary Constantly Dating Will's Friends

“WIIILL!”

Despite being a great dancer himself, actor Alfonso Ribeiro expertly crafted the dance to show just how uncool Carlton really was. Dubbed the “Carlton” and set to the tune “It’s Not Unusual” by Tom Jones, this dance has become one of the most popular dance moves in history. Featured in a variety of mediums, such as a dance emote in the videogame “Fortnight”, the “Carlton” is ingrained in popular culture. When Alfonso Ribeiro was on “Dancing with the Stars”, he performed it with Witney Carson, receiving a perfect score and ultimately winning the competition.