America’s Funniest Home Videos, often abbreviated as AFHV or AFV, is a television reality show that showcases humorous videos that are sent in by viewers. The most common videos that are shown on the show deal with unintentional physical comedy (causes of mishaps, incidents and accidents), pets and children. Check out our overview of America’s Funniest Home Videos to get caught up on what the show is all about!
Related: Cute Dog Videos During AFV, Episode 4: #AFV
Overview of America’s Funniest Home Videos
The show first aired on November 26, 1989 as merely a television special. It turned into a weekly series on January 14, 1990 with Bob Saget as the host. Saget served as host until 1997, then John Fugelsang and Daisy Fuentes hosted in 1998 and 1999, followed by Tom Bergeron from 2001-2015 and the current host since 2015 is Alfonso Ribeiro. Throughout its TV running, AFV has had three narrators/announcers: Ernie Anderson from 1989-1995, Gary Owens from 1995-1997 and Jess Harnell from 1998 to present-day.
Related: A New Night of Laughs on America’s Funniest Home Videos Season 26 Episode 8!
Viewers send in their videos to the show by uploading them to the website, www.afv.com. Viewers used to be able to send in their videos on VHS or DVD by mail but that format was discontinued at the start of this current season (26) because video uploading online is common these days. The clips are between 5 seconds in length and 30 seconds in length.
Each week, three of the clips that were featured in the episode are chosen as the finalists by producers. Then, the studio audience votes on the three clips to determine 3rd place, 2nd place and 1st winner. The winner receive $10,000, 2nd place winner receives $3,000 and 3rd place receives $2,000.
After each third of the season, all of the $10,000 winners come back to the show to take part in a contest where the winner receives $100,000. Basically, this contest is held three times per season.
America’s Funniest Home Videos television show has produced DVD’s, games and toys. There have been 17 DVD releases to date. There are two games based on the television show. In 1990, Parker Brothers released a board game titled America’s Funniest Home Videos Board Game, in 1995 Graphix Zone released a CD-ROM titled America’s Funniest Home Videos: Lights! Camera! Interaction! and in 2007, Imagination Games releases a DVD game titled America’s Funniest Home Videos Interactive DVD Game.
This was fun to read. I definitely learned a few new things here today about AFV!
Haha this just made my night what a great read!
Sorry my last comment published before I had finished it! I didn’t know that they have created branded toy merchandise too?
I don’t have cable TV anymore… I DID NOT know this is still on!! Wha???! Loved it growing up!
Though I rarely watch TV now (we’ve not have cable service for 8 years) I used to love shows like this. FOr some reason seeing people/animals make fools of themselves is totally hilarious to me.
Wow I use to watch this with my mom as a kid but haven’t seen it on years! Thanks for sharing all these nuggets of info about AFV
This is so neat! I didn’t even know this show was still on! I’ll have to look for it on TV. 🙂
Oh, gosh, this show has been around forever! I’m amazed that they’ve just now done away with the VHS submissions, you’d think they’d have gone upload only ages ago with all the smartphone videos out there.
America’s Funniest Home Videos is one of our absolute favorite shows. So super fun!
This show is so funny I love watching and I cant believe how long its been around.
this was fun to read as I have been a fan of this show for awhile. That reminds me that I DO have a video clip of our dog that I need to upload – been meaning to for awhile. 😉
I’ve been watching AFV for years, but hadn’t seen any new ones in quite a while. I didn’t know Carleton is on it now!
It’s so funny! Thanks for posting this!
I can’t believe they’ve been on the air that long! My boys and hubby get a hoot out of some of the videos shared.
I love Americas Funniest Videos! I watch it on Netflix all the time!
Aww, the memories!! I would watch this show for hours back in the day!!!
I didn’t even know this was still on. Entertaining read none the less.
My kids love AFV. It is something they will enjoy no matter what.
I never really watched this show but I am sure I would like it from the sounds of your recap!
I remember watching this so much when I was younger! I think they’re on Netflix now, too!
I love this show! I have watched it probably since the beginning! It is always fun to be able to laugh, and this show definitely delivers that!
I loved this show so much as a kid. I’ve tried watching it since then and just can’t get into it the same. I think it’s because I start to wonder how much of it is staged!
Such a pleasure reading such posts. So unique in content!
Haha great read! Its fun to learn facts about certain shows!