Alfonso Ribeiro on More ‘AFV,’ Why He Loves ‘Epic Fails’ & ‘DWTS’ Drama

If you can’t get enough of watching laugh-inducing people and pet clips, you’re in luck as America’s Funniest Home Videos returns to syndication. For the first time since 2013, ABC’s longest-running primetime entertainment show is now available to watch five days a week along with its regular Sunday night timeslot. Past episodes have begun to air on local TV stations (check local listings and area).

Even in the world of social media and TikTok, AFV has remained a popular staple with Season 37 just premiering, amassing more than 800 episodes since its initial premiere with first host Bob Saget.  The show’s legacy is not lost on the current master of ceremonies Alfonso Ribeiro, who is now in his 12th season. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star took over hosting duties from Tom Bergeron in 2015. Interestingly enough, Ribeiro also joined another former Bergeron show in Dancing with the Stars in 2022. Over the decades the overall concept of weekly cash prizes being issued to the most hilarious and unique videos submitted by families across the country remains. However, the amounts have doubled to upwards of $20,000 with two lucky entries chosen to walk away with $100,000. 

Here Ribeiro sits down to talk about the longevity of AFV and why he loves an “epic fail.” Plus, he shares his thoughts about how DWTS Season 35 has unfolded so far. 

What has being part of America’s Funniest Home Videos meant to you? 

Alfonso Ribeiro: The show has meant everything to me. Obviously, I love comedy. I love making people laugh. I love seeing people laugh. I love being involved in something that makes people laugh. This show has brought that to America for 37 seasons. Now in my 12th season as host I get to be a part of that. It did change my life. Meeting Tom Bergeron on Dancing with the Stars when I was a contestant, he suggested this for me. I owe a debt of gratitude to him and Vin Di Bona and everyone at ABC for giving me this opportunity. It opened many doors for me as a host. It also allowed me to be a host in the best sense. Learning how to have an energetic flow and bring people laughter and bring fun while still being myself. Obviously, that has worked over at Dancing with the Stars. Being part of AFV and the host of this show for 12 seasons now is an honor and a blessing I’m incredibly proud of and honored to be able to do it. 

Did Tom pass along any advice to you when he passed the torch to you? 

Tom was always like, “You’re the right guy. So, all you have to do is be you. Don’t try to be anything else. You don’t have to be anything else. You’re funny. You know how to deliver it. Just be you.” So, I’ve always tried to do that and always listened and heard those words in the back of my head ever since. I’m always trying to be me. Lucky enough for me today is that I’m still able to enjoy the fruits of this labor and get to be me on TV now five days a week in syndication. Also, now every Sunday and Tuesday night. 

How is it getting back into syndication? 

It’s great for the show and great for us to be able to have people enjoy our comedy, our videos. We always say we are a mirror of America. They get to enjoy themselves now five days a week and also Sunday nights. It’s an honor I get to be part of that and see that and enjoy the comedy five days a week. 

Even in the age of social media and TikTok, the show has carried on and remains popular. What do you make of the show’s lasting power? 

I think people have always used us as that beacon of light. Everyone is doing a version of what we do versus we’re never trying to do the things they’re doing. We know who we are. We’re a family show. We’re the number one co-watch show in all of television. We want people to sit with other members of their family and enjoy the show. We are the ones who are doing that. We’re not trying to copy what anyone else is doing. Obviously, social media and the TikTok world exist, but that goes in many different directions. We try to make sure we share wholesome family fun. I think we deliver that. I think the world knows that. When someone is at home and makes a video, they know where they want to send it immediately. 

What are your favorite types of videos that are sent in? Has your taste changed over time? 

I’ve always been the epic fail guy. I love when someone tries to do something and it doesn’t work out, and they fail miserably. Those have always been my favorite videos. Now I’ve got four kids, two dogs, and I kind of like the Dog Park more. I’m now seeing what these dogs are doing because they are doing it in my house every day. With my kids, I have a certain place in my heart for the kids. So, the kids videos and Dog Park are starting to really catch up to the epic fails. I think the epic fails will be the top, but it will be close. 

Is there something that happened to you where if the camera or phone was available to capture it, then it might be a good entry for the show? 

There was a waterskiing incident that happened in my life that I think would have done really well on the show when I was a young man. I was on a sit-ski, and I wanted to be really cool. You see those people who let go of the rope and go toward the shore and sinks nice and slow and looks super cool  and I was on there and sitting on the thing and let go of the rope and going super fast and waiting for it to sink…and wait for it to sink and it never sank and hit the shore at full speed. I took off like Superman.  took off and did like a forward roll sort of like I meant to do it. That would have been a good video for AFV back in the day, but nobody was rolling even though I looked pretty cool.

How is it to carry on this legacy starting with Bob Saget? What do you think he would think of the show today? 

Bob and Vin Di Bona were friends all the way until his passing. He always appreciated our show and what we do, how we did it, and how we connected to America. I think Bob and Tom are proud of what we are continuing to do in their honor. Tom was the one who went to Vin and ABC and said he thought I would be the best person to replace him when he decided to leave. I hope we’re still doing both proud. I think we are. 

How do you compare your approach for AFV going solo to live television on DWTS working alongside a cohost like Julianne Hough? 

When you’re solo, it’s all you. It’s also taped and written that way. They are different. One is delivering comedy. The other show is all about having a nice flow, delivering the energy of what is coming and what you just saw. A big powerful number that is fun. You’re coming off that high. Now I have to take you to the judges because they might say something bad to you. Then throwing it back and forth to Julianne. We have a great report. This is a different energy. It’s about delivering comedy. We want you laughing, smiling where you can sit on your couch to enjoy. We’re not trying to make you feel anything. We’re just trying to make you laugh. They are very different jobs, but I get to use a little bit of my AFV fun on Dancing. I don’t get to use too much of the dancing for AFV. 

Season 37 of AFV recently started. What can we expect from this season? I know holidays are a big tradition for this show. 

The holiday episodes are great. We have a great Halloween episode coming up at the end of this month with some great videos. I’ve always said our show is the same. We’re not trying to mix it up. We’re going to continue to show America the great videos we’ve shown for 37 years. But because since every video is so different, it’s always going to be different and feel different. There is new funny in old comedy. If someone falls down, they fall down. But everyone who falls down falls down slightly differently. Sometimes it’s more funny or less funny, but different. We have a great staff that really curates the videos so there is a nice flow of energy whether it’s a big joke or smaller joke, the montages. We’ll put them in packages and feed them out. We have our dog videos, the cat videos, the kids, the bonehead videos. We just make sure we put them in these great packages for them to shine in their moment on the show. 

I wanted to get your reaction to what we’ve seen this season on Dancing with the Stars. What did you think of Taylor Hanson’s surprise elimination? 

I think the season has been great. I think Dancing has been a crazy one already. It’s crazy to think our numbers could go up from last season when we broke so many records, but they have. Our first episode was up 30 percent from last season’s premiere. The ratings this last week have been incredible. Of course, every time we send someone home it hurts. This one was especially difficult watching Taylor and Britt [Stewart] go home. Britt has been an incredible pro who has not been able to make it to a finale. So, this one hurt. One of the things about the show is we are a little family. We care for every member of this family. Every celebrity that comes on this show becomes part of this ever-growing, very large family. For Taylor, it was a big shock. He never thought it would happen this early. I’m not sure if he thought he could win or where he thought he’d finish. I do know it was a big shock. 

Moving forward, we do have some new theme nights to look forward to. 

This next week we have Mariah Carey Night, Super Bowl Night, Dedication Night, Grammy Night, Horror Movie Night, we have some great nights coming up. The themes are a way of adding focus to our pros and what they do so incredibly well, which is to create these memorable routines for their celebrities every week. So, we’re looking forward to it. This week is going to be fun. One of the greatest music artists of all time in Mariah with so many incredible hits. I’m excited to hear the music and what our incredible pros put together with that music. 

Between AFV and Dancing, how is it finding that work-life balance with as you mentioned four kids and a wife at home? 

It’s family first. That’s my saying in life. But part of that that has to be delivered is the ability to take care of my family. So, between September and December I’m focused on work. Then we get to Christmas and January where I get to be dad for most of the week because Dancing goes away and I’m just doing AFV. I get to focus on AFV singularly, but I also get to be there with the family and be there for them and have more time to come home and take the kids to their games. I’m literally leaving here when we’re done to take my kids to their practices. I try to make sure that there is a balance of my family and work. I will say I’m so blessed and so lucky I have to balance it. There are so many people who don’t have the ability to balance work and home life. I get both. I’m appreciative of my work-life and appreciative of what my wife does to take care of the family when I’m working. Also, supporting me and my work life, but also supporting our home life together. It’s just a wonderful thing. 

Do they critique you watching the shows back? 

Oh no. There is no critiquing allowed. I do enough of it myself. I don’t need them. There is nobody harder on me than me. They know that. 

America’s Funniest Home Videos, Weekdays, Syndication (Check Local Listings)

America’s Funniest Home Videos Season 37, Sundays, 7/6c, ABC

Dancing with the Stars, Tuesdays, 8/7c, ABC