The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air
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Janice Smith is a recurring character on The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air. She is portrayed by Charlayne Woodard.

Character[]

Janice is the youngest sibling of the four Smith sisters. Vivian and Helen usually describe Janice as sweet, impetuous and romantic, with Helen and Vy being the more direct, sometimes cynical of the sisters. Janice married a white man named Frank and they had a son that they named Frank Jr.

Story[]

In the Season 2 episode "Guess Whos Coming to Marry?", Janice announces she is engaged, and brings her fiancée to the Banks residence, a white man named Frank Schaeffer. The entire Banks family reacts with surprise, but soon accept it. The only one who is angry about it is Viola, who thinks Janice is being idiotic in her choice and that she will encounter bigotry in life. Janice defends her actions in that she loves Frank and both she and him are well aware they may face problems in life. Janice and Frank end up getting married at Philip and Vivian's house.

In the episode "Will's Christmas Show", Janice and Frank join in on a family Christmas. However, Janice starts throwing up and not feeling well. Although, while talking to her sisters and Hillary, Janice realized that she might be pregnant and through her older niece suggestion in taking a home pregnancy test as she wants to be sure before telling Frank about it. While listening to some music, Janice, Frank, her sisters, brother-in-laws and Jeffery decided to go down to the lodge to have some fun as they leave the kids at the cabin. However, after returning from the lodge, Janice and the rest of the adults discover that they have been rob along with the kids tied up. Once they untied the kids, Janice and everyone got some rest. That next day, Janice and everyone talk about previous Christmas's then decided to give gifts from the heart. Before she could say about her gift, Janice left to go throw up again. After the sheriff arrived to tell everyone that they got the guy who robbed them but he unloaded their stuff except for her pregnancy test, Janice not only realized that she truly is pregnant but also confesses to Frank as he and the rest of the family are happy that their's gonna be a new family member on the way.

Not much was known about Frank or his career, but it was hinted that he was well-to-do. When he tried to bond with Will prior to the wedding, Frank as Will's uncle-to-be said he did have the best interests of Will's aunt at heart, and that if Will ever visited them he could use his Porsche, causing Will to (predictably) grant his support to the marriage. When she returns the next year, she and Frank arrive with their newborn son, Frank Jr. Another time it was said that Janice was unable to attend the baptism of her new nephew Nicky Banks as she now lived in Europe thanks to Frank's job sending him there.

Episodes[]

Guess Who's Coming to Marry?
Christmas Show
Mommy Nearest
The Baby Comes Out

Trivia[]

  • According to Vivian, she is the sweetest among the Smith sisters.
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