A Salute to TV's Longest-Running Primetime Network Game Show

[danielshooley]

The year is 1988. George H.W. Bush, aged 64, is elected U.S. President; the Persian Gulf Crisis is in full effect; and rookie TV producer Vin Di Bona (whose Saturday-morning game show "Animal Crack-Ups" is on its way off the air) is on vacation in Japan with his then-wife Gina.

During the vacation, Vin catches a glimpse of a Variety show called "Fun with Kato & Ken," a segment of which featured ordinary citizens sending in their most funniest/amazing moments ever caught on the then-new medium of videotape in the hopes of earning the Japanese dollar.

Upon his return to Los Angeles, California, Vin (with permission from the Tokyo Broadcasting System) decided to turn the "Kato & Ken" segment into a new TV Game Show he eventually rechristened "America's Funniest Home Videos." As he'd done 2 years earlier with actor/songwriter Alan Thicke for "Animal Crack-Ups," Vin hired stand-up comic Bob Saget to host the hour-long pilot for "America's Funniest Home Videos," which taped in late Spring 1989 and was immediately picked up by execs at the ABC Television Network, which greenlit the show after test audiences went through the roof upon seeing the pilot.

"America's Funniest Home Videos" debuted on November 26, 1989 at 8 P.M. ET/PT on the ABC Television Network--and immediately became a surprise hit. 7 weeks later, on January 14, 1990, "America's Funniest Home Videos" began airing every Sunday night in a format that's remained unchanged throughout its long existence, with ordinary North American citizens sending in their most hilarious and funniest moments ever caught on film in the hopes of becoming a combined $15,000 richer: $10,000 for 1st place, $3,000 for 2nd place, and $2,000 for 3rd place.

In addition, during the 1st season only, the 2nd and 3rd winners won, respectively, an RCA TV set and an RCA Video Camera. At the end of each sweeps period, the $10,000 winners vied for an additional $100,000.

In May 1997, after 8 seasons as host, Bob Saget left "America's Funniest Home Videos" and in January 1998 was replaced as host by former MTV VJ Daisy Fuentes (paired with stand-up comic John Fugelsang), but the ratings soon began to slide, and in May 1999, after 10 seasons, ABC canceled "America's Funniest Home Videos," with its series finale telecast on August 28, 1999.

All was not lost, however, as 2 years later, on July 20, 2001, ABC brought back "America's Funniest Home Videos," this time with TV personality Tom Bergeron (then doing double game show duty as host of "Hollywood Squares") taking over hosting duties--a job he STILL has today.

In August 1995, Disney bought the ABC Television Network, along with the distribution rights to "America's Funniest Home Videos" via its ABC Entertainment label by way of Buena Vista Television.

Reruns of "America's Funniest Home Videos" have been in Syndication since 1995, along with airings on TBS, ION Television, Nickelodeon, & WGN America.

"America's Funniest Home Videos" is a production of ABC Entertainment in association with Vin Di Bona Productions and is Distributed for Syndication by Disney's Buena Vista Television.

[dvdjunkie]

With all the interruptions in trying to find a new host, you can't truly say it is longest running game show on television. Shows like Jeopardy and The Price is Right have the best records for being consistently on the air with a change of host and not skipping a beat while doing that.

"America's Funniest Home Videos" is not on a regular channel, it is syndicated on what ever cable channel wants to pay the premium to air this show, and then find a sponsor on their own.

[Kyle]

Its not even a proper game show, I mean they will consistently give the the money to the cute baby over the one that's actually funnier just because there happened to be a lot of grand mothers in the audience that day.

[Semaj]

America's Funniest Home Videos is what I consider true reality TV.

A show about regular people doing regular things.

[Musical Master]

America's Funniest Home Videos is what I consider true reality TV.

A show about regular people doing regular things.

That, and we laugh because of the regular things.