The enduring charm of ‘America’s Funniest Home Videos’
A legacy of laughter
Last month, Vin Di Bona found himself at a car show, engaging in a conversation with a fellow car enthusiast. When Di Bona mentioned his role as the producer of America’s Funniest Home Videos, the 40-something man excitedly shared, “My kid and I watch that show all the time!” and even sang the familiar theme song. This moment encapsulates the show’s enduring appeal across generations.
When AFV first aired 35 years ago, that man would have been in elementary school. Di Bona, who has seen his series span multiple generations, never tires of hearing about its impact. “We see it in the studio,” he says. “I can’t tell you how many times someone will say, ‘I watched this with my parents.'”
The birth of a phenomenon
AFV began as a special in 1989, born from the idea that the proliferation of video cameras in American homes would yield enough hilarious footage for a one-time clip show. “It was a brand-new experiment,” says Di Bona, who transitioned from being a documentarian to adapting a Japanese format into AFV. Initially, they received about 1,800 tapes, with the hope that one out of every 100 would contain a usable clip. This gamble paid off, leading to the creation of a full-fledged series.
Despite mixed reviews, the special was a hit. ABC executives quickly commissioned 11 more episodes. Di Bona agreed, albeit with some trepidation, but soon the tapes started pouring in. At its peak, the show received 38 mailbags of tapes each week. “The Hollywood post office had to put on two or three extra people to handle our mail. We had three shifts of screeners watching tapes, 24 hours a day.”
Evolution of submissions
In the early days, submissions came in the form of Beta, VHS, and Hi8 tapes. Today, it’s all digital uploads, with the show receiving between 3,500-5,000 clips each week. Di Bona still recalls some standout moments. “There are certain things that are just stuck in your mind,” he says. “There’s a little baby taking a bubble bath with bubbles coming out of her mouth. There’s a bride and groom, and just before he’s ready to kiss the bride, he sprays himself with Binaca. Every once in a while, there’s something so unique that it sticks with people for a long, long time.”
The Saget legacy
Both Di Bona and current host Alfonso Ribeiro credit the late Bob Saget for setting the show’s tone. “I thought Bob Saget was fantastic as the host,” Ribeiro says. “All generations can watch this show and enjoy it. I’m just honored that I get to be a part of this.”
Monetizing the laughter
Early on, Di Bona’s team began tagging videos for their archive and finding ways to monetize the clips. “It’s not just, here’s a video of a dog or a Dalmatian or a bullfight. It’s what happened with the dog, the Dalmatian, the bullfight, the baby who spits up food, the trampoline that breaks,” he explains. “We’ve amassed two million clips. We also have a part of the company that sells clips to advertisers, so an advertiser can punch in and get a review of the clip and make a choice.”
AFV also partnered with fans to monetize the videos. “For years, I’d get really pissed off and try and sue folks,” Di Bona says of the pirated videos that wind up online. “And then we said, wait a minute. Why don’t we make folks our partners, and utilize the clips, make everybody be able to share in the wealth of the library? That changed the whole thing.”
Expanding the brand
AFV has expanded its side business into three different ad-supported FAST channels and is exploring more spinoffs, including a new take on America’s Funniest People and the racier Videos After Dark, which may make a comeback on Hulu. Additionally, Di Bona is working on a new game show for ABC.
The art of curation
Even in the age of social media, where videos are readily available, Di Bona credits the show’s curation for keeping it relevant. “Anybody can watch a bunch of videos strung together, poorly curated, and they’re not funny,” he says. “Ours will hopefully make you laugh with every clip.”
America’s Funniest Home Videos continues to be a beloved staple in American television, proving that the simple joy of shared laughter transcends generations. For those who want to relive some of the classic moments or introduce the show to a new audience, you can find more information and watch clips on the AFV website.