Parents' Guide to

America's Funniest Home Videos

By Pam Gelman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

One person's humiliation is another's chuckle.

TV ABC, Syndicated Reality TV 1989
America's Funniest Home Videos Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 33 parent reviews

Pootsie
Pootsie Adult
January 15, 2022
age 18+

Not worth 1 star - Cruel

There are nasty videos that should never have aired (ie: big cat trying to get in his home through a tiny door. Poor thing hurts himself doing so. That’s extremely cruel, and drastically UN-evolved, grade 1 Neanderthal behaviour), and should never be aired. These pet owners are so cruel to their pets, like they own them just to torture them in nasty ways, yet AFV continues to show such cruel videos since day 1. I have also seen some upsetting videos with young children being hurt and ridiculed, and it’s allowed on the show?! What is wrong with these dumb parents, ABC and AFV?? Also should not be put on the air. Who chooses these nasty cruel videos, and who approves them? It’s sad. The people who send these videos in should be followed up on, charged and banned from owning animals period • for sure! Also the nasty parents should never get their videos on air. WOW It’s sickening to anyone with empathy and compassion (“real” human(e)s). I want to know where the ethics and morals are. Can’t find any, so I boycott the show with many of my friends : ). It sucks and is very primitive.

This title has:

Too much violence
1 person found this helpful.
Julie S.
Julie S. Adult
January 29, 2023
age 18+

Some videos set terrible examples

Yes, some videos are actually humorous and nobody in the video is injured. However, when there are other videos mixed in an episode that are terrible, we may as well not watch at all. One example is a video where a mom calls her approximately age 2 child into the room to freak him out while she pulls off a face mask. She's laughing, the child is terribly frightened and when he tries to get away from her she keeps grabbing his wrist to keep him there while she's laughing and he's crying. That's child abuse, plain and simple. We've also seen plenty of videos with adults scaring kids to tears and people aggravating and teasing animals.

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 33 parent reviews

What's the Story?

For 15 years, the producers of AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS have been searching for hilarious videos made by everyday people. Viewers tune in to see home improvement projects turned into slapstick comedy, men doing flips onto and breaking pool tables, the dresses of women flapping in the breeze to reveal their scanty underwear, and every possible way a man can get hit in the groin. It's taped with a studio audience that is frequently shown in the throes of belly laughs, and who then vote on that episode's funniest video. Host Alfonso Ribiero (The Fresh Prince of Bel Air) gives annoying one-liners as he introduces the genre of videos coming up, such as pets, home repairs, holiday antics, challenges at the altar, etc.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (33):
Kids say (65):

Adolescents will no doubt find many of these videos to be humorous, but do you want your kid watching a blindfolded groom tricked into inappropriately touching a grandmotherly guest at his wedding or an overweight woman stuck in a pit with no one helping her to get out? Often the humor is at the expense of children and their innocent, developmentally normal behavior that has yet to be tainted by self-consciousness. This show teaches kids to laugh at others instead of finding their own creative ways to be funny.

Bottom line: Some families may find the show funny, and some won't -- you may want to tune in before you share with your kids.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about when a joke is funny and when it becomes inappropriate, unethical, or causes humiliation. Do we need to make fun of people to be funny?

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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