America's Funniest Home Videos (1989– ) User Reviews

America's Unfunniest TV host

[TVSeriesFTW · 7/10 · 26 July 2006]

Just a few seconds ago, while checking his profile, I read that AFV's current host Tom Bergeron used to work as a mime. It figures. He's possibly the stiffest, dullest host ever to crawl across the screen. His jokes aren't deadpan, they're just dead, period. As if the puns weren't bad enough, his telling of them will have the audience snoring rather than laughing.

That being said... some of the clips are absolutely hilarious! Watching a baby hit his father in the nuts with a baseball bat may be too lowbrow for you, but simple humour is often funny humour. Although some videos are obviously staged (which makes you wonder just how bored these people are), the ones that depict real accidents are hilarious. So if you can stand Bergeron's droning attempts at ruining funny videos, check this out.

It's a classic: But how are we defining Comedy?

[mivanoskos · 6/10 · 3 April 2022]

It has definitely declined from host to host. I believe Tom Bergeron and Bob Saget were iconic compared to having Carlton host.

The humor just seems more forced from the host and it's always the same acts that win.

America conflates cute with funny. Submit a cute baby video and you could win big.

The most funny acts hardly ever win or make it to the finals.

Eventually, I lost interest in viewing regularly for this reason....

It's a classic for it's earlier years, but I'd only recommend viewing if you have absolutely nothing else to watch

6/10- Michael I.

it was good

[angelorwez · 7/10 · 12 August 2022]

I still watch reruns of this show...it was a huuuge addition to tv...

is this the greatest thing on tv ever? No...is it the worst?...definitely not...

it's a collection of home videos...there's absolutely no waay it's going to be great...

it's meant to make people laugh at other people being ridiculous doing stupid things animals doing things...

what can i say...good stuff...it made me laugh...that was the point...

Am I the only person who still likes this show?

[Mariorox · 29 February 2000]

I was amazed of how many unsatisfied comments there were for AFHV. This is one of the few shows that ever got me and my family together. This is one of those special shows that bring the family together and spend some quality time. There are some very funny things that happen. I have to agree that some of the videos aren't funny. But there were plenty to make up for it. I don't like seeing things get hurt when they could be severely hurt. But what was sent in never bothered me. I still enjoy this show even though I'm grown up. And I am more mature than most other people my age. As for Bob Sagat. I don't think he's a bad host. He isn't the best, but he has a few that are funny. This is a high quality family get together show. It's better than some of the shows of today.

Could be better

[lorupf · 6/10 · 15 January 2022]

It's a great show to watch to get a laugh, but a lot of times the top three videos aren't that funny or a video that makes the top 3 that deserves to win doesn't win and a stupid one wins instead. I was watching one episode today and the winners video was so stupid. It was of a little girl singing twinkle twinkle little star while shaking and holding the notes really awkwardly. Literally anyone can do that. The other two finalists were of dogs. One was of a dog stealing a camera and running around with it and the other was of two dogs pantsing their owner. Like how often do you see that compared to a kid weirdly singing a nursery rhyme? It's so much more entertaining to watch than that. I'd rather watch that than listening to a kid sing a song weirdly.

tom beregon is a better host

[Skyracergirl · 10/10 · 30 December 2009]

bob saget sucked!. i think 45 min of each show he hosted was all him talking and the other 15 min: videos tom bergeron is funny. he doesn't do "bad news good news" he did on 2 of the shows he hosted. he does the slowmo gizmo which is funny. he also does the "head, gut or groan" bit where people tried to guess where the person in the video will be hit. and the VS. bit. he does a lot more in his showings of it then the other hosts did. he does videos with his head. Im so glad they stopped showing the afv with bob saget and the other 2 hosts. although today on TV they show reruns Maybe 1990's is where all the famous people hosted shows terribly because today its better

Sometimes good sometimes too cheesy to bear.

[Buttsludge · 6/10 · 10 February 2021]

As much as I cherish Alfonso as a host, it disheartens me that Tom no longer hosts this show. My favorite parts were when they would shoddily crop his head onto clips making funny faces. It was just geeky innocent humor.

It's hard to really rate this show because it's mostly just a show of video clips and so the quality varies widely. Sometimes the videos feel like they were trying to do stupid stuff on purpose just to submit it to AFV. Alot of times I find myself thinking, "and they just happened to be recording that because?" It feels disingenuous.

Where this show succeeds is in its lightheartedness. It's not obscene for the most part and thus it's good for gathering the family around for a couple chuckles. Alfonso's commentary and standup is kept to a bare minimum and I'd love if they gave him more jokes to display because he is a great host.

Not impressed with the selected videos for winner.

[grtmom-05373 · 3/10 · 12 December 2020]

I'm not sure how they pick the three finalist at the end. But the other clips were wayyyyy more funnier. I've never posted a video there but every single time I've watched this show growing up with every single different host it doesnt matter, the top finalist shouldn't be there. There were way funnier videos I've seen that actually made me laugh. The ones at the end didnt even make me laugh. The ones that make you laugh should be the finalists. And also should be a draw from the audience not the producers or whom ever.

A lot of AFV is funny, even after all these years.

[keikoasmom · 8/10 · 24 February 2020]

We haven't seen AFV four maybe five years, but there was nothing else on.... And so I really enjoyed laughing out loud with some of the videos. The only thing I didn't like was that some of the videos might have been at the expense of some of the animals. It seemed better than AFV of old where the comedy was at the expense of the animals unless at least, wandering animal was okay instead of laughing. When you see a dog knock a baby goat down have to wonder if the baby was okay. So I don't like that. It's not like the goat had a choice Surface Pro. And it's not like it was an accident because there's obviously choreographed. But everything else that we saw was funny and came at a really good time for me, and I think we'll be giving AFV another chance!

Tons o' mindless fun for the whole family...

[filmfuture · 7/10 · 3 October 2008]

Yeah, the most common complaint you hear about AFV is the 'artistic merit' of the show, but who cares -- it's funny. Obviously, it's not funny in a cerebral or enlightening way, it just makes you feel GOOD.

I rediscovered this show thanks to KDOC (Orange County) reruns five nights a week, and I'm impressed with how the show is still funny all these years later. C'mon, everybody knows that Bob Saget's jokes were cringe-worthy even back in the day, and Tom Bergeron's antics fare only slightly better. Yet the main draw of the show isn't the host -- it's the videos themselves. That's why AFV is still getting ratings 19 seasons later. AFV (and COPS as well) has a dynamite formula -- it presents content that reflects people from all walks of life, rich, poor, educated or not, and offers a show that anybody can relate to. It is a show for all of us, no matter where we came from or what we believe.

I've heard people on the boards complain about how stupid the show is and how the producers pay ABC to air the show, rah bah, bah. But here's the deal, the politics behind the show are irrelevant to the enjoyment it provides to its audience. Let's be reasonable, who in their right mind would expect a program called AMERICA'S FUNNIEST (HOME) VIDEOS to be thought provoking anyhow?

So sit back, grab a snack, and the enjoy corny atmosphere of the show, 'cause with AFV, the one thing you can count on is plenty good 'ol fashioned American Cheesy Goodness!!!

It Fell On Its Own Sword

[bigverybadtom · 2/10 · 31 August 2013]

When the show first came on in 1990, it was funny, namely because of its novelty value. Home videos were still relatively rare, and there were already occasional programs depicting the occasional flubbed lines, minor accidents, etc. by professional television people. Why not expand the idea to amateurs making their videos?

And there were funny events such as minor accidents at gatherings, or while playing sports, or people who were supposed to do or say one thing but forgot or goofed, or animals or kids doing something they weren't supposed to. These things happen in real life, after all.

Of course, as the years went by and the show started offering "funniest" awards, inevitably people would send in staged "bloopers" or things that were shocking rather than humorous, or any of a number of outrageous actions in a desperate attempt to top other videos. In other words, people were trying anything to get on television to be seen by millions. Which I supposed was inevitable during the show's too-long run.

Here is what I think about all 4 hosts on the show.

[patjk910 · 10/10 · 29 November 2002]

I think Bob Saget did a very good job on the show. He was so very funny and he was a good host, I loved all his jokes, his comments, and his sense of humor. I think John Fugelsang and Daisy Fuentes were not bad at all. I love when they did the good news-bad news segment on the show it was funny too. I think Tom Bergeron is doing a very good job hosting the show. I like his jokes and his sense of humor and his duties too. Keep the the good work Tom and make it a successful show.

Good for a few laughs.

[moivieFan · 6/10 · 12 January 2021]

I probably saw America's funniest home video for the first time years ago. i don't remember when I saw the show for the first time.

I am not a regular viewer of the show. When I do watch it some of the videos do make me laugh because of all the insane things animals and people do. Its amazing that the people or animals are alive after some of the things I see in the video's.

And I always like to see who wins the best video at the end of the show. Its a show that is always good for a few laughs.

used to be funny but now in poor taste

[OneAnjel · 3/10 · 18 December 2020]

In the 90s I would have given AFV 10 stars. It was novel and personal camcorders were the rage; the few who could afford the price tag were happy to send in footage caught mostly by accident that tickled or surprised us. The whole family anticipated the new show. But here in 2020, despite Alfonso being my fav host (and despite the fact that there must be tons more content to choose from), the clips are often in very poor taste, last too long, or are just plain mean. This once-revered "family" show should reevaluate its family-friendly rating when it seems to now be more of a "how to" on tricking family and friends and setting up children as the innocent victims of inappropriate humor. When AFV started suggesting things to film, the audience then had to suffer through a barrage of set-up scenes performing the same tired stunt, many of which were only funny to the person filming. In addition to the finalists never being what I consider the best clips, I am completely disenchanted with this series. AFV needs to revamp its show and use the unusual videos caught by sheer luck or of adult stunts gone wrong that made them a household name. Clips should be clean, accidental, brief, and with no intentional victims. When you realize it is now the only show of its kind that solicits audience participation in creating videos, you have to ask yourself why other shows clearly discourage that: It's because people will do outrageous, dangerous, vicious, and immoral things to get on television. Instead, other similar shows scour the internet and other professional sources for footage that was caught on film. That was the original premise behind AFV -- mostly harmless, sometimes shocking, often funny footage taken without staging. That's the missing ingredient in today's AFV: innocence.

What kind of parents do this?

[ka-leidoscope · 31 October 2004]

I admit, I am an AFV fan. I sometimes laugh so hard I cry, and I never miss it. If you like slapstick humor, this is very funny. But some of the clips sent in make me think- "What kind of a parent does this?"

For example, one clip was of a kid climbing a high tree and then falling down. In the background you hear the mother laughing. Shouldn't she be running over to see if her kid was okay? I would. Be concerned, don't show it to millions of viewers.

And some things are very unrealistic. For example, one clip was of a kid eating a sandwich in his kitchen, and then the dog jumped up and bit into it. Funny, but who really tapes their kid eating a sandwich? It looks planned to me. But who am I to say.

Another clip was of a 10-12 year old child picking their nose. Good for a laugh, but what kind of a parent embarrasses their child like that? It's all in good fun, but could you imagine millions of people watching you? All for a laugh?

Don't get me wrong- I like the show. It's one of my favorites. I just think that some of the clips aren't funny, or are mean.

7/10.

It is AFV!

[rbnlrk · 7/10 · 24 April 2022]

This show has run for decades with shows like Simpsons. No need to introduction just some fun for everyone. Some are a riot, some are outdated and some are bad. Just because we have Youtube does not mean retro is dead as we have rows and rows of home video horror with lesser known young people on Amazon.

AFV always makes me laugh to this day

[abalpn-99472 · 10/10 · 29 September 2019]

I love America's Funniest Home Videos! I can't believe that it's been 30 years since this show debuted in 1989. Bob Saget will always be the king of AFV comedy. Daisy and John were ok. Tom was almost like Saget. Now Alfonso is doing a good job hosting the show. My favorite funniest videos are scaring pranks, people falling down and basketball trick shots.

AFV FOREVER!

Funny

[kleinjoshua-76516 · 6/10 · 1 October 2019]

Funny, but replace host. He's not enjoyable to watch. Sorry

Legitimately funny videos meet extremely stupid staff

[doubleb58 · 4/10 · 15 December 2013]

10/10 for funny videos. 0/10 for picking the winners. The show is decent (with the exception of Bergeron) up until the last five minutes when they pick the three nominees for the prize. The three they pick are the three dumbest, lamest, most unfunny videos in the entire show. Kids, babies, and dogs are apparently the only things that are funny on this show, and every other video is irrelevant.

Screw you, AFV producers and staff. Tom Bergeron, that includes you. What garbage you have made out of what used to be funny. I can't believe that this show gets high enough ratings to stay on the air for 20+ seasons. But, I suppose the standard has been set so low nowadays, it doesn't take much. I will always (regrettably) remember the episode where the winning clip was a baby sucking a spaghetti noodle up its nose. Good lord, what has this country come to to think that is actually funny? Won't be watching this show anymore.

Before YouTube...

[view_and_review · 8/10 · 14 March 2020]

For all you youngins out there, AFHV was our YouTube, our Vine, our 9Gag, our TikTok, etc. Before everyone had a camera in their pocket, there was the Camcorder. It went through many iterations before it became user friendly. I remember having to carry a camera on one shoulder and a VCR on the other when I had to help my dad do videoing jobs. Eventually, the video recorder got to be a handheld device and enough people had them that AFHV was born.

Bob Sagat was the show's first host and boy were his jokes and puns terrible. Little did I know that the audience was instructed to laugh, because I was thinking, "How do they find this funny?" But the videos were funny.

I don't know what the format is now, but then the people who submitted a video had the chance to win $10,000. It was a great ploy to get people to make and submit videos. Now, all the funny content is online and people upload them for likes.

I don't like this show anymore.

[Wfordgurl16 · 1/10 · 11 June 2005]

I used to love watching America's Funniest Home Videos until a few months ago. In February of this year, I realized how stupid this show really is. All I saw was people getting hurt, doing gross things, kids who throw tantrums and scream bloody murder when they don't get their way, and cruelty to animals. Ha-ha; Too funny. NOT. I'll never go back to watching AFV and wasting my time again. My mom and the rest of my family members have watched it since it first premiered and I think they are the only people who still like it. Whenever I trip or fall down, my brother always laughs at me. I think he learned to do it because of AFV. This show needs to go off the air for good-enough is enough. Whenever this show is on, I make myself go outside or to another room.

One of my favorite television shows

[buddhadan-1 · 9/10 · 10 September 2006]

I watched this back when they had their other host, um, what was his name? I forget his name, but he was on an older show with kids and I recall that his hosting of AFV was rather cheesy.

Tom does a pretty great job hosting, considering that your watching a show where people hurt themselves physically or have their ego's bruised by being seen in a silly or negative light.

I'm normally not into watching others suffer, but this show makes me laugh every time. I'm not sure why, because I do feel bad for those that get hurt or when something bad happens like a party getting ruined, but some of it is so funny that I laugh later just thinking back on it.

So, ignore the host, and if you've got TiVo or the like, you can just record it and fast forward past him, because the whole point of the show is the videos, not the host.

Still on ? !

[tcob4-387-998129 · 4/10 · 27 August 2017]

I loved watching AFV for all of the Bob Saget & most of the Tom Bergeron years but finally gave up on when countless "cute kid" clips won instead of the actual funny ones. It's America's FUNNIEST Home Videos, not America's Cutest Kid videos !! There were times when I found myself yelling @ the TV while they giving the results !!

A laugh riot!

[Monkasi · 13 March 2002]

This was TV's first true "reality show," and boy, was it a doozy! It must have been a revolutionary concept at the time; but now, twelve years later, it's become lodged in our cultural consciousness.

But enough content analysis. This show was great! Where else could people win thousands of dollars for sharing their embarrassing moments with the entire country? And host Bob Saget was the icing on the cake. The video clips just wouldn't have been as funny without his zany voiceovers, in which he imitated everybody from Jerry Lewis to Sylvester Stallone. We usually saw him as "straight man" Danny Tanner on "Full House," so it was cool to see him be goofy for a change.

Many people have condemned this show for being mean-spirited and exploitative. That is a very unfair accusation. Obviously the producers at ABC got permission to use the tapes sent in by the people in them, and you could tell from the audience's reaction that it was always in good fun. And if you can't laugh at yourself getting whacked in the crotch by a golf club, how are you supposed to laugh at the antics of the Three Stooges or Itchy and Scratchy?

Kudos to this show, which proved once and for all that real life could be more hilarious than any Hollywood comedy. I just wish that Bob hadn't turned the reins over to Daisy Fuentes and John Fugelsang.

#3 favorite TV Show, but has it's morbid/slight problems

[mcphantom · 8/10 · 23 August 2017]

One of my favorite shows to this day, even the Alfonso Era. But IMDb Parents Guide, I need to tell you something: There's one episode that features a full screen Jump Scare, and your "Frightening/Intense Scenes" category says "Nothing"? They apparently haven't seen every episode.