America's Funniest People
Encyclopedia
America's Funniest People is an American reality series
on ABC
that debuted on May 1, 1990 as an hour-long special, and later as a weekly half-hour prime time series from September 8, 1990 to August 28, 1994. It was hosted by Dave Coulier
and Arleen Sorkin
from 1990 to 1992. Tawny Kitaen
replaced Sorkin in 1992. The announcer was Ernie Anderson
. Dan Slider composed the theme song, which was performed by Peter Hix.
, with the main difference that while America's Funniest Home Videos spent the majority of its time with accidental follies captured on tape, America's Funniest People focused on people intentionally trying to be funny, doing things such as telling jokes, doing impressions, singing, dancing, performing scripted material, attempting wacky stunts, pulling pranks, etc.
Like America's Funniest Home Videos, America's Funniest People featured a contest for funniest video, with the first prize winner receiving $10,000. However, unlike Funniest Home Videos, which relied on studio audience voting to determine the winner, Funniest People originally selected its winners via telephone vote, with the winners announced at the beginning of the next show.
). The parent was then asked a trivia question, usually involving a list (For example, "Name the seven dwarves in 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarves'"). If he/she answered the question correctly, they stepped off the chair, and the other parent had to take his/her place; if not, he/she remained seated. The climax of the segment was when the child pushed a button to release the seat out from underneath the parent, dropping them into the water below.
, and Lance Robinson. Pranks consisted of exploding ice cream cones, a man in a gorilla suit, a squirting drinking fountain, a remote control rat, an exploding trash can, and a hand in a jar of candy.
The host of the show, Dave Coulier, like Funniest Home Videos host Bob Saget
, was also one of the stars of the popular sitcom Full House
which was airing at the same time as the series. The original logo (from the pilot episode) was a slight revamp of the AFHV logo. This was later changed when the series premiered.
Full Houses Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
made guest appearances, as they also did on America's Funniest Home Videos. The bulk of their visits to People took place once their collective popularity with kids and pre-teens took off. Their most notable appearance was in the fall of 1992, when they plugged their first single, Brother For Sale
, from the release of Mary-Kate and Ashley: Our First Video.
It was produced by Vin Di Bona Productions
and ABC Productions. The show was originally taped at The Prospect Studios
, on the same soundstage used for America's Funniest Home Videos
at the time. The show traveled to Universal Studios Florida
in 1992, taping five shows at the Animal Actors Stage.
In 1992
, Sorkin was dismissed by Vin Di Bona
. In response, Sorkin filed a lawsuit
against Di Bona, claiming that she was dismissed from the show due to her race, after ABC Chairman Dan Burke had suggested to Di Bona that Sorkin be replaced by an African-American or a person of another ethnic minority. Sorkin sought $450,000 for lost earnings, and an additional unspecified amount for harm to her professional reputation and emotional injury. Sorkin additionally claimed that after she denounced the move as unfair, Di Bona changed plans and hired new cohost Tawny Kitaen, who is white
.
For the show's third season in 1992, production moved to Universal Studios Florida for the entire 18-episode season.
The start of the 1993-94 season modified the show's title to The New America's Funniest People, with an updated logo. Taping was then moved to Hollywood Center Studios
. This reflected the addition of new themed segments and the new practice of having a guest co-host join Coulier and Kitaen each week. The guest would be a star from another ABC
series. The show was cancelled in 1994
.
During the latter half of the show's run, and for at most until a year after it was canceled, short 30-second segments from America's Funniest People ran in commercial breaks during ABC's Saturday morning lineup. These would usually consist of excerpts from longer segments, usually featuring young kids telling jokes or engaging in stunts.
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
that debuted on May 1, 1990 as an hour-long special, and later as a weekly half-hour prime time series from September 8, 1990 to August 28, 1994. It was hosted by Dave Coulier
Dave Coulier
David Alan "Dave" Coulier is an American stand-up comedian, impressionist, television and voice actor, and television host. He is well-known for his role as Joey Gladstone on the ABC sitcom Full House, which ran from 1987 to 1995....
and Arleen Sorkin
Arleen Sorkin
Arleen Sorkin is an American actress, screenwriter, presenter and comedienne. Sorkin is known for portraying Calliope Jones on the NBC daytime serial Days of our Lives and for voicing Batman DC comic supervillainess Harley Quinn in Batman: The Animated Series and the many animated series and...
from 1990 to 1992. Tawny Kitaen
Tawny Kitaen
Julie "Tawny" Kitaen is an American actress and media personality. She became famous in the 1980s for appearing in several hard rock videos for the band Whitesnake, including the hit "Here I Go Again". Kitaen was married to Whitesnake lead singer David Coverdale from 1989–1991...
replaced Sorkin in 1992. The announcer was Ernie Anderson
Ernie Anderson
Ernie Anderson was an American disc jockey, and television and radio announcer/voiceover artist...
. Dan Slider composed the theme song, which was performed by Peter Hix.
Format
The format was similar to America's Funniest Home VideosAmerica's Funniest Home Videos
America's Funniest Home Videos is an American reality television program on ABC in which viewers are able to send in humorous homemade videotapes. The most common videos usually feature slapstick physical comedy arising from incidents, accidents and mishaps...
, with the main difference that while America's Funniest Home Videos spent the majority of its time with accidental follies captured on tape, America's Funniest People focused on people intentionally trying to be funny, doing things such as telling jokes, doing impressions, singing, dancing, performing scripted material, attempting wacky stunts, pulling pranks, etc.
Like America's Funniest Home Videos, America's Funniest People featured a contest for funniest video, with the first prize winner receiving $10,000. However, unlike Funniest Home Videos, which relied on studio audience voting to determine the winner, Funniest People originally selected its winners via telephone vote, with the winners announced at the beginning of the next show.
Jackalope vignettes
Originally known as "Tiny the Jackalope", or simply "The Jackalope", Jackalope sketches involved a creature attacking people by playing mean tricks on them (usually as punishment for people who had been mean themselves). The character's catchphrase was, "Fast as fast can be, you'll never catch me!" Host Dave Coulier did the voices for all characters in the Jackalope skits. The Jackalope was later renamed "Jack Ching Bada-Bing" in a "Name the Jackalope" contest."Dunk Your Parents"
Later in the show's run, a segment called "Dunk Your Parents" was added, in which a kid contestant could drop one of their parents into a pool of water. The kid chose the parent (mom or dad) that he wanted to dunk, and they had to sit on a chair over the water (similar to a dunk tankDunk tank
A dunk tank, also known as a dunking booth or dunking machine, is an attraction mainly used in funfairs, fundraisers, and personal parties. Basically, a dunk tank consists of a large tank of water, over which a seat is suspended...
). The parent was then asked a trivia question, usually involving a list (For example, "Name the seven dwarves in 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarves'"). If he/she answered the question correctly, they stepped off the chair, and the other parent had to take his/her place; if not, he/she remained seated. The climax of the segment was when the child pushed a button to release the seat out from underneath the parent, dropping them into the water below.
"Prank Patrol"
When the show changed format and became The New America's Funniest People a segment was added called the Prank Patrol. 5 kids would run around various parks and locations near Los Angeles performing pranks on unsuspecting visitors. The Prank Patrol consisted of Brady Bluhm, Elena Epps, Raushan Hammond, Lindsay RidgewayLindsay Ridgeway
Lindsay Elizabeth Ridgeway is a former American child actress in film, television, and theater. She is a voice actor in several animated shows like Totally Spies! and plays the character Britney....
, and Lance Robinson. Pranks consisted of exploding ice cream cones, a man in a gorilla suit, a squirting drinking fountain, a remote control rat, an exploding trash can, and a hand in a jar of candy.
Production
The pilot was called America's Funniest... Part II (though the opening titlecard actually said America's Funniest People).The host of the show, Dave Coulier, like Funniest Home Videos host Bob Saget
Bob Saget
Robert Lane "Bob" Saget is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and television host. Although he is best known for his roles as Danny Tanner in Full House, host of America's Funniest Home Videos and Future Ted Mosby on How I Met Your Mother, Saget is also known outside of television for his blue...
, was also one of the stars of the popular sitcom Full House
Full House
Full House is an American sitcom television series. Set in San Francisco, the show chronicles widowed father Danny Tanner, who, after the death of his wife, enlists his best friend Joey Gladstone and his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis to help raise his three daughters, D.J., Stephanie, and...
which was airing at the same time as the series. The original logo (from the pilot episode) was a slight revamp of the AFHV logo. This was later changed when the series premiered.
Full Houses Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Fuller Olsen are American actresses and entrepreneurs.Both have appeared in television and films since infancy. Since then, they have continued their celebrity through numerous television programs, films, interviews, as well as commercial endorsements...
made guest appearances, as they also did on America's Funniest Home Videos. The bulk of their visits to People took place once their collective popularity with kids and pre-teens took off. Their most notable appearance was in the fall of 1992, when they plugged their first single, Brother For Sale
Brother for Sale
"Brother for Sale" is a song written for and sung by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. This song was made in the early 1990s. It was used in the video "Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen: Our First Video"...
, from the release of Mary-Kate and Ashley: Our First Video.
It was produced by Vin Di Bona Productions
Vin Di Bona Productions
Vin Di Bona Productions is a United States television production company that was established in 1986 by Vin Di Bona. The company's first show was Animal Crack-Ups, which ran from 1987-1990. Its most popular show is America's Funniest Home Videos, which premiered on November 26, 1989 on ABC and its...
and ABC Productions. The show was originally taped at The Prospect Studios
The Prospect Studios
The Prospect Studios is a lot containing several television studios located at 4151 Prospect Avenue in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, at the corner of Prospect and Talmadge Avenues , just east of Hollywood...
, on the same soundstage used for America's Funniest Home Videos
America's Funniest Home Videos
America's Funniest Home Videos is an American reality television program on ABC in which viewers are able to send in humorous homemade videotapes. The most common videos usually feature slapstick physical comedy arising from incidents, accidents and mishaps...
at the time. The show traveled to Universal Studios Florida
Universal Studios Florida
Universal Studios Florida is an American theme park located in Orlando, Florida. Opened on June 7, 1990, the park's theme is the entertainment industry, in particular movies and television. Universal Studios Florida inspires its guests to "ride the movies," and it features numerous attractions and...
in 1992, taping five shows at the Animal Actors Stage.
In 1992
1992 in television
The year 1992 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1992.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:*Hallmark Hall of Fame .*Guiding Light .*The Today Show ....
, Sorkin was dismissed by Vin Di Bona
Vin Di Bona
Vincent John "Vin" Di Bona is a television producer for many American television shows such as America's Funniest People, MacGyver and Entertainment Tonight as well as America's Funniest Home Videos...
. In response, Sorkin filed a lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
against Di Bona, claiming that she was dismissed from the show due to her race, after ABC Chairman Dan Burke had suggested to Di Bona that Sorkin be replaced by an African-American or a person of another ethnic minority. Sorkin sought $450,000 for lost earnings, and an additional unspecified amount for harm to her professional reputation and emotional injury. Sorkin additionally claimed that after she denounced the move as unfair, Di Bona changed plans and hired new cohost Tawny Kitaen, who is white
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
.
For the show's third season in 1992, production moved to Universal Studios Florida for the entire 18-episode season.
The start of the 1993-94 season modified the show's title to The New America's Funniest People, with an updated logo. Taping was then moved to Hollywood Center Studios
Hollywood Center Studios
Hollywood Center Studios is a company based in Los Angeles, California that provides stage facilities to television and movie production companies. Its sound stages, located at 1040 N. Las Palmas Avenue in Hollywood, California, are steeped in Hollywood history...
. This reflected the addition of new themed segments and the new practice of having a guest co-host join Coulier and Kitaen each week. The guest would be a star from another ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
series. The show was cancelled in 1994
1994 in television
The year 1994 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1994.For the American TV schedule, see: 1994-95 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-Miniseries:...
.
During the latter half of the show's run, and for at most until a year after it was canceled, short 30-second segments from America's Funniest People ran in commercial breaks during ABC's Saturday morning lineup. These would usually consist of excerpts from longer segments, usually featuring young kids telling jokes or engaging in stunts.