Will Smith lists the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air mansion on Airbnb in honor of the 30 year anniversary of the iconic NBC sitcom. The first episode of the show aired on NBC on September 10, 1990. It ended after a six-season run on the network and saw a resurge of popularity in syndication. The original cast will be reuniting for an HBO Max Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunion special this fall. The series is also set to be rebooted for NBC's newly launched streaming service Peacock, with Smith executive producing. The new, dramatic take on the classic show nabbed an unprecedented two-season order from the network.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is known for launching Will Smith's lucrative acting career, introducing the young talent to the nation and propelling him to a box office star. The show's significant cultural impact has helped keep it alive over the years, as did its compelling and re-watchable story. Following a fictionalized version of Smith, the series follows his character as he moves from West Philadelphia to the mansions of Beverly Hills to live with his aunt and uncle, played by Daphne Maxwell Reid and James Avery respectively. The family lived in a huge mansion during the show's six seasons, and now fans can stay there too.
To keep excitement for the impending reboot and reunion special alive, as well as to commemorate the 30 year anniversary of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Smith listed the iconic mansion on Airbnb. Guests can rent a room for as little as $30 a night; a price specifically picked for the show's anniversary. The rooms feature iconography from the show, emulating the early nineties aesthetic of the series in an updated and elevated way. Located in Los Angeles, the mansion features a pool and plenty of Instagram worthy rooms. The house becomes available on September 29th at 11 AM PST, and only five lucky fans will be selected.
The listing blends elements of the high-class lifestyle of Beverly Hills and Smith's West Philly roots, a hilarious source of conflict for the show as Smith and his aunt and uncle learned to get along. The listing encourages visitors to "[lace] up a fresh pair of Jordans before shooting some b-ball in the bedroom," a nod to Smith's obsession with basketball and neon nineties fashion. In addition to all the amazing amenities, for each stay, Smith will be making a donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia, a charity organization that helps youth with building skills and empowerment.
While many fans will be thrilled to stay in the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air mansion, it's worth noting that the house was only used for exterior shots. The series was filmed in front of a live studio audience for all six seasons, so any rooms that appear on screen were just a set built to look like the inside of the mansion. Regardless, a chance like this for fans is once-in-a-lifetime and, as the show experiences renewed interest because of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot, it is something many won't want to miss.
Smith has always been vocal about his love for the show that brought him fame. To honor the series in this way on its 30th anniversary is just another way of showing his support for his community and for his roots. While the Airbnb is only open to residents of Los Angeles county, the reunion special and impending dramatic retelling on Peacock will be enough to satisfy longtime fans of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air who were missing a little Smith in their lives.
Source: Airbnb