Image via Complex Original
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premiered 22 years ago today, on September 10, 1990. The show was rapper Will Smith's saving grace. He saw success in the late '80s as part of hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, but by the time the decade was over, excessive spending and negligent income taxes put Will in the hole with the IRS, to the tune of $2.8 million.
Thankfully, Quincy Jones and NBC approached Will Smith with the idea of a television program centered around him, and the sitcom became a huge hit, lasting six seasons. Not only are those 148 episodes are responsible for Will's transition to a career that mostly involves acting, but they also represent the hotbed of cultural activity that was the first half of the '90s.
From Heavy D to Boyz II Men, vintage photo site Up North Trips laced us with flicks of every guest star appearance in the show's history. Celebrate its legacy with this quick trip down memory lane.
Rev. Jesse Jackson as himself in "Bang The Drum, Ashley"
Season 1, Episode 2
Richard Roundtree as "Dr. No" in "Clubba Hubba"
Season 1, Episode 3
Don Cheadle as "Ice Tray" in "Homeboy, Sweet Homeboy"
Season 1, Episode 5
Bo Jackson as himself in "Someday Your Prince Will Be In Effect (Part 1)"
Season 1, Episode 8
Heavy D as himself in "Someday Your Prince Will Be In Effect (Part 2)"
Season 1, Episode 9
Al B. Sure as himself in "Someday Your Prince Will Be In Effect (Part 2)"
Season 1, Episode 9
Isiah Thomas as himself in "Courting Disaster"
Season 1, Episode 11
Evander Holyfield as himself in "Deck The Halls"
Season 1, Episode 15
Jasmine Guy as "Taylor Samuels" in "Love at First Fight"
Season 1, Episode 21
Queen Latifah as "Dee Dee" in "She Ain't Heavy"
Season 2, Episode 8
Zsa Zsa Gabor as "Sonya Lamor" in "Hi-Ho Silver"
Season 2, Episode 10
Bell Biv Devoe as themselves in "The Butler Did It"
Season 2, Episode 11
Milton Berle as "Max Lakey" in "Ill Will"
Season 2, Episode 18
Riddick Bowe as himself in "You Bet Your Life"
Season 3, Episode 3
Sherman Hemsley as "Judge Carl Robertson" in "P.S. I Love You"
Season 3, Episode 6
Oprah Winfrey as herself in "A Night at the Oprah"
Season 3, Episode 9
Vanessa Williams as "Danny Mitchell" in "A Funny Thing Happened on the way Home from the Forum"
Season 3, Episode 11
Kim Fields as "Monique" in 'The Best Laid Plans"
Season 3, Episode 17
Tom Jones as himself in "The Alma Matter"
Season 3, Episode 18
DL Hughley as "Keith Campbell" in "Ain't No Business Like Show Business"
Season 3, Episode 22
Hugh Hefner as himself in "Fresh Prince After Dark"
Season 4, Episode 9
Robin Quivers as "Judith" in "You've Got to be a Football Hero"
Season 4, Episode 12
Boyz II Men as themselves in "Twas the Night Before Christmas"
Season 4, Episode 13
Branford Marsalis as "Duane" in "Stop Will! In the Name of Love"
Season 4, Episode 18
Robert Guillaume as "Pete Fletcher" in "You'd Better Shop Around"
Season 4, Episode 19
Ben Vereen as "Lou Smith" in "Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse"
Season 4, Episode 24
Donald Trump & Marla Maples as themselves in "For Sale By Owner"
Season 4, Episode 25
Dick Clark as himself in "The Philadelphia Story"
Season 4, Episode 26
Quincy Jones as himself in "The Client (Part 1)"
Season 5, Episode 1
Kareem Abdul Jabbar as himself in "Will's Misery"
Season 5, Episode 6
Don Cornelius as himself in "Soooooooul Train"
Season 5, Episode 8
Ken Griffey Jr. as himself in "Love Hurts"
Season 5, Episode 9
Jay Leno as himself in "Will's Up a Dirt Road"
Season 5, Episode 10
Isaac Hayes as "The Minister" in "The Wedding Show (Psyche!)"
Season 5, Episode 18
Robin Givens as "Denise" in "Cold Feet, Hot Body"
Season 5, Episode 23
Chris Rock as "Maurice/Jasmine" in "Get a Job"
Season 6, Episode 2
B.B. King as "Pappy" in "Bourgie Sings the Blues"
Season 6, Episode 4
Jaleel White as "Derek" in "Not With My Cousin You Don't"
Season 6, Episode 7
Wayne Newton as himself in "Viva Lost Wages"
Season 6, Episode 8
Regis Philbin as himself in "I, Stank Hole in One"
Season 6, Episode 21