Jabari Banks is the new ‘Will Smith’ in ‘Bel-Air’ on Peacock
nypost.comPeacock’s adaptation of NBC’s iconic sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”That series (1990-96) launched then-rap star Will Smith into superstardom, and his onscreen character, also named Will Smith, into TV lore when he’s sent to Bel Air, Calif.
to live with his rich relatives after getting into trouble in his West Philadelphia neighborhood. (As recounted in the show’s ear- candy theme song, written by Smith and his hip-hop partner DJ Jazzy Jeff and sung by Smith.)“Bro, I grew up watching that show,” Banks, 23, told The Post. “My family has the six-season [‘Fresh Prince’] box set, so that would repeat in our house all the time.
I have Will Smith sweaters and I dressed up as ‘The Fresh Prince’ in high school with a couple of my classmates.“That has been the defining show for me in my life — and even before I got the call [for ‘Bel-Air’] I re-watched the six seasons all the way through during quarantine.
There are so many parallels between my life and Will Smith’s life. This is my first time in LA and it was Will’s first time in LA when he did the show.
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