America's Funniest Home Videos (often simply abbreviated to AFHV, or its current on-air abbreviation of AFV) is an American reality television program on ABC in which viewers are able to submit humorous homemade videos. The most common videos usually feature slapstick physical comedy arising from incidents, accidents and mishaps. Other popular videos include humorous situations involving pets or children, while some are staged practical jokes. The show is based on the Japanese television series Fun TV with Kato-chan and Ken-chan, which aired on the Tokyo Broadcasting System.
Originally airing as a special on November 26, 1989, it debuted as a regular weekly series on January 14, 1990. Initially, it was hosted by Bob Saget for the 1989 special and the show's first eight seasons, then by John Fugelsang and Daisy Fuentes for its ninth and tenth seasons. After two years of being shown as occasional specials, hosted by various actor/comedians such as D.L. Hughley and Richard Kind, ABC brought the series back on Friday nights in the Summer of 2001 with new host Tom Bergeron, who has since become the series' longest-serving host.
America's Funniest Home Videos is currently broadcast on Sunday evenings and is in its 22nd season, which began on October 2, 2011. On May 11, 2012, ABC announced that it had renewed the series for a 23rd season, set to premiere October 7, 2012.
