On what date did the pilot episode begin taping?

The pilot episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air began taping on May 1, 1990.

The pilot was later titled “The Fresh Prince Project,” the episode that introduces Will Smith's move from West Philadelphia to his relatives' home in Bel-Air. Andy Borowitz and Susan Borowitz wrote it, and Debbie Allen directed it. The episode aired on NBC on September 10, 1990, several months after production began.

The production date is easy to confuse with the premiere date. May 1, 1990, refers to the start of taping, while September 10, 1990, marks the first broadcast. The series ultimately ran for six seasons and 148 episodes, but its opening production was completed remarkably quickly: Borowitz later said the pilot was written and taped in about three weeks.