13. Fresh Prince of Bel Air (19901996)
When Will, an inner-city teenager from Philly is sent by his mother to live with his relatives (the Banks) in Bel-Air, everybody is in for a surprise. It is funny how influence can go both ways. Will Smith is the most charming son of a b*tch on the planet. He got this gig when he was 18 years old, with no experience and no idea what he was doing and you could have sworn he had been doing it all his life. I don't mean the acting, I mean the ease with which he approached it all, and the way he connected with us and the studio audience (sitcoms used to be live, once upon a time). Will was born this funny, witty, goofy and lovable guy. I still think it's one of the best things he has ever done because it was so pure. Something about the show still appeals to me today. There was a real camaraderie between the actors that was clear on screen; you could see they loved that job. The show was even better when I was much younger and didn't have a regular home life. I loved watching what a "real" or "functional" family was like. Sure, they were black, fictional and at times "Disney", but to a young pre-teen, it was romantic and beautiful. The show even had some of the best dramatic moments in a sitcom. In season 5 aired an episode called "Bullets Over Bel-Air", which really showed how well a little show can tackle a serious, harsh subject of life and death, as well as friendship in the worst of times. Will and Alfonso gave wonderful performances, you could hear a pin drop in that audience. All you need to see to have fun with the show is the clothes, really. Even if you put it all on mute and just watch everyone's outfits, you will be satisfied. I guarantee it.