The Paley Center for Media saluted twenty years of America’s Funniest Home Videos (AFV), the longest-running prime-time entertainment show on ABC, this month, at the Beverly Hills location. This series has given away nearly twelve million dollars in prize money, while evaluating more than 800,000 videotapes from home viewers. Hosted by Tom Bergeron, AFV is a pioneer in today’s user-generated content world. YouTube creator Chad Hurley has mentioned the impact of the show by stating, “We are providing a stage where everyone can participate and everyone can be seen…We see ourselves as a combination of America’s Funniest Home Videos and Entertainment Tonight.”
The popular show is finishing its twentieth season by donating its entire library of 465 episodes and specials to the Paley Center during the tribute to “America’s Funniest Home Videos: 20th Season Celebration” to be part of the Paley Center collection of nearly 150,000 television, radio, advertising, and new media programs—the largest of such to be available to the public. The event included Bergeron, host of AFV for the past nine years, and executive producer Vin Di Bona with coexecutive producers Todd Thicke and Michele Nasraway, who talked about the show’s development while sharing some of their favorite videos with special guests.
“It’s a huge thrill to be able to make available to the Paley Center the entire twenty year library of AFV,” says Di Bona.”I am a firm believer that the history of our industry becomes the solid basis from which the next generation can examine both where we’ve been and see how they might improve on what we’ve done. For a student of television to be able to peruse through a body of work is always extremely valuable and knowing that a devotee of television is able to do the same is very rewarding. Perhaps someday my grandson Sam will be able to look at our library at the Paley Center and count the number of crotch hits the American public has endured over twenty years.”
During the event Vin stated that the show gives people the promise that they are going to laugh.
Todd added that the show has a little bit of something for every one.
When asked what is their favorite show clip moment is.
Tom said that his favorite (s) are of the kid with the lawn mower that is too strong for him and you see his mother with the camera saying “You gotta see this”. Also one with a dog with the bone and his # 1 favorite is when you see the lady sky diving and her teeth flies out.
Michelle said hers is of a British older guy who sets the camera up to bench press and the bar lands on his leg and he still limps to turn the camera off.
Todd says that his is the wiener dog who runs with the fire crackers.
Vin said that his is the kid with the ogre and the little girl with the Easter bunny.
Vin said that the writing team is great and the writing at times is what makes the second joke.
When asked if they ever get any material they cant use.
Vin said all the time, they have a lot of clip that are very funny but it is bad parenting so they don’t use them. Todd adds that the also have to double check that no one is hurt when viewing some of the clips.
In discussing the process, Vin said that they use to have three work cycles, 24 hours a day and 35 mail bags a day at the post office. Today it is leveled at 700- 3000 clips a day on line and 300 mail bags a week which makes it easier for them to play the clips.(pictured:Tom Bergeron and Vin Di Bona photo: Kevin Parry/The Paley Center for Media)
