<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> External links </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> www.warnerbros.co.uk/television/freshprince/index2.html </Td> </Tr> <P> The Fresh Prince of Bel - Air is an American sitcom that originally aired on NBC from September 10, 1990, to May 20, 1996 . The show stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, a street - smart teenager from West Philadelphia who is sent to move in with his wealthy aunt and uncle in their Bel Air mansion after getting into a fight on a local basketball court . In the series, his lifestyle often clashes with the lifestyle of his relatives in Bel Air . The series ran for six seasons and aired 148 episodes . </P> <P> In December 1989, NBC approached Will Smith, a popular rapper during the late 1980s . The pilot episode began taping on May 1, 1990 . Season 1 first aired in September 1990, and ended in May 1991 . The series finale was taped on Thursday, March 21, 1996 . </P>

When was the fresh prince of bel air first aired