Review: 'America's Funniest Home Videos' doesn't work on DVD
Posted Tuesday, August 23, 2005 at 11:05 AM Central
by Tim Briscoe
As I've written before, Reality TV is really a misnomer. How can something be really "real" if its participants know they are being filmed? That's why shows like "Candid Camera" are the genuine article and why they work so well.
As with any rule, there are exceptions. The exception to this "Reality isn't real if people know they're on camera" principle is the subject of this review: America's Funniest Home Videos Volume 1 with Tom Bergeron.
AFV, as it's affectionately known, is a beloved series that has run on ABC since 1990. One of the reasons for its longevity is that it is real. It's average people making fools of themselves and there just happens to be a camcorder recording the whole event. The other reason for its success is that the videos are, of course, funny -- and very often pee-in-your-pants hysterical.
The only time it doesn't work is when the host gets in the way. The latest in a string of hosts, Tom Bergeron, is the culprit in this DVD release which comprises 12 AFV episodes on 3 discs. Bergeron tries oh-so-hard to be funny (more so than Bob Saget ever did) in front of the studio audience and it practically never works. Why doesn't he just get out of the way and let the real star of the show shine?
He's annoying even when doing the end-of-show $10,000 prize. Hardly ever are the three finalists the best videos from the show. And who cares about Bergeron's interview with the dumbfounded winner? Again, just show us the clips.
I used to think the voice-overs that accompany the videos were useless but I've learned to appreciate them. They do add quite a bit of fun. If only this DVD were a barrage of hilarious clips and voice-overs instead of just a packaging of old 30-minute shows that one can already see on syndicated TV.
The producers of this DVD could have even included too-hot-for-TV footage on this release as they have with previous AFV Uncensored compilations (now out-of-print), but they failed.
The $39.98 suggested retail is a steep price to pay to endure Tom Bergeron. The hilarity of the videos is the only thing that make it worth watching. If you're a loyal AFV watcher who has seen every episode, there's no reason at all.
