As a child of the ’90s, I can still vividly remember the laughter that filled our living room whenever “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (AFV) came on TV. The show was more than just a weekly dose of humor; it was a shared experience, a bonding moment between me and my family.
Last month, Vin Di Bona was at a car show when he struck up a conversation with a fellow gearhead. When Di Bona mentioned that he was the producer behind “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” the 40-something man exclaimed, “My kid and I watch that show all the time!” — and then proceeded to sing the familiar theme.
Thirty-five years back, a person who’s now an adult would have been attending elementary school when “AFV” first debuted. Di Bona, who’s seen the series evolve to encompass various age groups, still finds it fascinating to hear about its lasting influence on people.
In the studio, he mentions, people often express that they’ve viewed it with their parents, on numerous occasions.” or
In 1989, “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (AFV) made its debut as somewhat of an impromptu endeavor: With video cameras becoming increasingly popular in American households, the thought was that there must be a wealth of amusing footage waiting to be compiled for a single broadcast. Di Bona, who previously worked as a documentarian, saw an opportunity to adapt a Japanese format into “AFV.” At first, they received approximately 1,800 tapes. The plan was that if one out of every hundred tapes contained usable footage, there would be enough for an entire show.
Despite less-than-stellar feedback, the special proved successful. Consequently, executives at ABC, specifically Bob Iger and Ted Harbert, promptly requested that Di Bona create an additional 11 episodes. Caught off guard, he agreed hastily; however, once the tape submissions began flooding in, it became evident that this project might be more challenging than initially anticipated.
In no time at all, we were receiving approximately 38 bags of mail every week. This required the addition of several extra staff members at the Hollywood post office just to manage our correspondence effectively. Consequently, we needed three teams of screeners working around the clock, watching tapes, for a full day and night.
Initially, we had Betamax, VHS, and Hi8 cassettes as our options; today, it’s all about uploads – approximately 3,500 to 5,000 weekly. Even so, Di Bona recalls the exceptional ones.
He remarks, “There are certain memories that linger deeply within us.” For instance, imagine a tiny baby enjoying a bubble bath and releasing bubbles from her mouth. Consider a bride and groom on the verge of their first kiss, but instead, he sprays himself with Binaca. Occasionally, there are experiences so unusual that they stay etched in our minds for a significant period.
Both Di Bona and present emcee Alfonso Ribeiro attribute the late Bob Saget for establishing the show’s atmosphere. “I found Bob Saget extraordinary as the host,” Ribeiro expresses. “Every generation can watch this program and appreciate it. I’m simply grateful to be included in this.
Initially, Di Bona’s team started categorizing their video collection and brainstorming methods to generate income from these short clips. As Di Bona explains, it’s not just about presenting videos of dogs, Dalmatians, bullfights, or babies spitting up food; instead, it’s the context surrounding these events that makes each clip unique – like a dog chasing its tail, a Dalmatian playing fetch, a bullfight’s climactic moment, a baby’s first attempt at eating solid food, or a trampoline bouncing to its breaking point. To date, they have accumulated over two million such clips. Furthermore, there is another aspect of their business that involves selling these clips to advertisers, allowing them to preview the clips and make informed decisions about which ones to use in their campaigns.
Moreover, “AFV” collaborated with fans to generate revenue from the videos. For years, Di Bona admits to feeling frustrated and contemplating lawsuits over pirated videos that appeared online. However, they realized a change was necessary. Instead of confrontation, they decided to turn fans into partners, leveraging clips, and creating an opportunity for everyone to share in the wealth of their extensive video library. This shift transformed the entire approach.
AFV has expanded its additional venture into three distinct ad-funded streaming channels. They’re also considering further spinoffs, such as a refreshed version of ‘America’s Funniest People’, and there are plans to possibly revive the risqué ‘Videos After Dark’ on Hulu. Meanwhile, Di Bona is developing a new game show for ABC.
Despite the abundance of videos on social media platforms, Di Bona attributes the show’s relevance to its careful selection. “After all,” he notes, “a random collection of videos, poorly arranged, might not be amusing at all. Our goal is to ensure that each clip brings a chuckle.
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2024-09-21 02:47