As a huge fan of Will Smith’s and the Fresh Prince of BelAir, I very much looked into to reading this book. It did not disappoint. It grants the reader an in depth glimpse behind the scenes into the show from prior to its inception. It covers the history of Black characters in television which I admittedly had no knowledge of prior. You learn about the creators and inspiration for the show and how they came to formulate the series. How the characters came to be and how casting ultimately was done. It provides background on the infamous story of the tension between Will Smith and Janet Hubert. I came away with a deeper appreciation for television shows that I enjoy as a result.

I tried really hard to finish this but the writing was weird for me. It was a DNF which says a lot considering Fresh Prince of Bel Air is my favorite show of all time.

As a teen in the 90s this was my show. I loved the backstory. All the behind the scenes. This gave the real story from conception to the after show. Such a neat read.

I loved reading the history and behind the scenes information of one of the favorite shows from my childhood., I think every fan of the show would enjoy this book. I have recommended it to several people already!

I absolutely devoured this book. "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" was one of my favorite sitcoms growing up. I was 8 years old when the show premiered in 1990. It lasted 6 seasons on NBC, and made Will Smith (in West Philadelphia, born and raised...) an instant star. I truly adored the Banks's family. I loved their chemistry, and ate up the heavy and fun storylines. "The Fresh Prince Project" is a fantastic book about the making of this classic show. Chris Palmer did a wonderful job researching this non-fiction juggernaut. R.I.P. James Avery. You are surely missed. This book is pop culture gem. Highly recommend!

Thank you, Netgalley and Atria for the digital ARC.

It was so great to know Will Smith is actually as nice as he appears and interviews and on TV. I love him when he was just a rapper singing about parents just don’t understand but think I absolutely fell in love with him when Fresh Prince of Belaire came out so I was so excited to read this book. Any real Will Smith fan would be remiss without this in the library. It is not only entertaining but reaffirming that everything you think you know about Will Smith is either true or even better. I love the cast I loved uncle Phil the original aunt Vivian,, ,Carlton, and Hillary in so many more that made this so great. I highly recommend this book the newest so much fun revisiting with the people I grew up with. I received this book from NetGalley and and Atria books but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

#netgalleyarc This was a fun, quick, and nostalgic read. I grew up watching this TV show and it was fun to read some behind the scenes stories and learn about the show in a different light.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was one of my go-tos shows in high school. It was one of my favorite shows and I was constantly tuning in for reruns🙃

The Fresh Prince Project is a well-researched cultural history filled with nostalgia. The beginning of the book dives into the lives of the creators of the show and how the idea for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was sparked. I found myself much more interested when they got to the details about the show (rather than what led up to it). I learned a lot about the actors and their experiences, especially Will Smith. There were so many behind-the-scenes details revealed!

Chris Palmer's look at this classic TV show hits stores January 31, 2023. Atria Books provided an early galley for review.

As a someone who regularly watched and enjoyed the show (both on its initial run and later in reruns), I was interested to see what insights Palmer had to offer. While some of the stories were known to me, quite a few were new revelations; that made this time well-spent.

I liked that the book focused not only on the cast but also on many of the folks behind the scenes. From show creators to showrunners, the effects of decisions made were shown as they rippled across everyone involved. The reader is given a ringside seat into the ups, downs, triumphs and trials of the series.