History YMMV / AmericasFunniestHomeVideos

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: These days with people uploading funny videos to sites like Website/YouTube, it's hard to see the appeal of AFV.

* AndYouThoughtItWouldFail: There are periods when people question this show's continued significance, as the rise of Website/YouTube and social media means people can watch funny home videos on demand rather than having to tune in once a week. Yet, it survives decades after its premiere because people find the concept and the various hosts charming and because it's ''insanely'' cheap to produce.

* MoodWhiplash: Meta on January 9, 2022. ABC News breaks into the show as Alfonso is about to announce the third place winner to report on the death of original host Bob Saget. After the enws break the show returns with Alfonso telling the winning family that they've just won $10,000.

* AndYouThoughtItWouldFail: There are periods when people question this show's continued relevance, as the rise of Website/YouTube and social media means people can watch funny home videos on demand rather than having to tune in once a week. Yet, it survives decades after its premiere because people find the concept and the various hosts charming and because it's ''insanely'' cheap to produce.

* FranchiseOriginalSin: Arguably reversed -- the Fuentes/Fugelsang AudienceAlienatingEra was ''also'' the era when ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' veterans Trace Beaulieu and J. Elvis Weinstein joined the writing staff. The host banter and especially the video commentary was gradually revamped into more dryly observant and funny quips compared to those of Saget's era. Beaulieu and Weinstein stayed with the show through Bergeron's first few seasons, which jettisoned the elements that hadn't worked in the Fuentes/Fugelsang era and set a house style that persists to this day.

* FranchiseOriginalSin: Arguably reversed -- the Fuentes/Fugelsang AudienceAlienatingEra was ''also'' the era when ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' veterans Trace Beaulieu and J. Elvis Weinstein joined the writing staff. The host banter and especially the video commentary was gradually revamped into more dryly observant and funny quips compared to those of Saget's era. Beaulieu and Weinstein stayed with the show through Bergeron's first few seasons, which jettisoned the elements that hadn't worked in the Dork Age and set a house style that persists to this day.

* AudienceAlienatingEra: The general consensus of the Fuentes/Fugelsang era, though some purists who prefer the original Saget era would say the show itself has been stuck in this after his departure.

* AudienceAlienatingEra: The general consensus of the Fuentes/Fugelsang era, though some purists who prefer the original Saget era would say otherwise.

* AndYouThoughtItWouldFail: There are periods when people question this show's continued relevance, as the rise of Website/YouTube and social media means people can watch funny home videos on demand rather than having to tune in once a week. Yet, it survives decades after its premier because people find the concept and the various hosts charming and because it's ''insanely'' cheap to produce.

* BrokenBase: Who was the better host? Creator/BobSaget? Creator/TomBergeron? Or Creator/AlfonsoRibeiro? All anyone can agree on is that Fuentes and Fugelsang [[DorkAge were the worst.]]

* FranchiseOriginalSin: Arguably reversed -- the Fuentes/Fugelsang DorkAge was ''also'' the era when ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' veterans Trace Beaulieu and J. Elvis Weinstein joined the writing staff. The host banter and especially the video commentary was gradually revamped into more dryly observant and funny quips compared to those of Saget's era. Beaulieu and Weinstein stayed with the show through Bergeron's first few seasons, which jettisoned the elements that hadn't worked in the Dork Age and set a house style that persists to this day.

* TastesLikeDiabetes: If one of the finalists involves a little kid doing/saying something adorably saccharine, [[ForegoneConclusion go ahead and change the channel]].

** Often times, there would be a silly compilation of people reacting to Screamer Pranks such as the Scary Maze Game and K-Fee Commercials. One episode featured a compilation of reactions to 2001 flash screamer What's Wrong. This episode also features the infamous screamer video being shown to the viewers first with Tom humorously trying to figure out what’s wrong with the picture (as the title would suggest). The screamer eventually pops up, accompanied with an echoing Homer Simpson scream. After the screamer appears, Tom says “oh, that must be what these people saw.” It’s up to the viewer if it’s funny or not, but the eyeless woman is really unsettling to look at.

** Often times, there would be a silly compilation of people reacting to Screamer Pranks such as the Scary Maze Game and K-Fee Commercials. One episode featured a compilation of reactions to 2001 flash screamer What's Wrong. This episode also features the What's Wrong video being shown to the viewers first (albeit with Bergeron's normally humorous narration), which seems a bit off for the show.

* CriticalResearchFailure: Bergeron identifies a porcupine as a beaver in a 2014 episode.

* ActuallyPrettyFunny: The Fuentes/Fuglesang Era had a recurring OnceAnEpisode segment called "Bad News, Good News" where a clip was shown of something unfortunate occurring followed by one of the hosts saying something to put a positive spin on it. Fans of the show frequently admit that it was a bright spot of the show during that time.

* DorkAge: The general consensus of the Fuentes/Fugelsang era, though some purists who prefer the original Saget era would argue that the show is ''still'' in a dork age.

%% * TheyChangedItNowItSucks: The general opinion of the Fuentes/Fugelsang era, with needless gimmicks and the two hosts being considered inferior to Saget.

* WhatAnIdiot: ''Why'' would you tape yourself throwing rocks at a hornets nest, or just walk up point-blank to a nest inside a tree?
** Recurring bits that happened OnceAnEpisode during Tom's run included "Nincompoop Corner" and "The Department of Duh" which featured people of this sorts exclusively.

* MoodWhiplash: On January 9, 2022 ABC News broke into the end of an episode of AFV to announce that former host Bob Saget had died.

* {{Tearjerker}}:

** The January 16, 2022 episode began with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr0JzaGgFDQ&t=83s a tribute]] to Saget (who died the week prior) by having Ribeiro introduce a series of funny moments from the Saget era set to "The Funny Things You Do", as well as a clip of Saget talking with Bergeron from the 2009 anniversary special.

** Tne $10,000 winner filmed her son bawling his eyes out after he accidentally stole a cup from a restaurant. Hearing him plead with her not to report him to the police is just heart-wrenching.

** The January 16, 2022 episode began with a tribute to Saget (who died the week prior) by having Ribeiro introduce a series of funny moments from the Saget era set to "The Funny Things You Do", as well as a clip of Saget talking with Bergeron from the 2009 anniversary special.

* {{Tearjerker}}: One $10,000 winner filmed her son bawling his eyes out after he accidentally stole a cup from a restaurant. Hearing him plead with her not to report him to the police is just heart-wrenching.

%% * TheyChangedItNowItSucks: The general opinion of the Fuentes/Fugelsang era.

** Recurring bits that happened OnceAnEpisode during Tom' run included "Nincompoop Corner" and "The Department of Duh" which featured people of this sorts exclusively.

* MemeticMutation: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcZd305VI60 "Oh no! Our table! It's broken!"]][[labelnote:explanation]]An audio clip of this Ribeiro-era video spread on [=TikTok=] in 2020 and 2021, spawning many other mutations out of it[[/labelnote]]

* GrowingTheBeard: Bergeron seemed very uncomfortable in front of the camera during his first season, but he later found his niche and became the show's most beloved host next to Bob Saget. Ribero started off similarly, seeming stonily formal for an AFV host, but as of season 29 he too has loosened up considerably and is more well-liked as an AFV host than he was at his debut.

* MemeticMutation: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcZd305VI60 "Oh no! Our table! It's broken!"]][[labelnote:explanation]]An audio clip of this Ribieiro-era video spread on [=TikTok=] in 2020 and 2021, spawning many other mutations out of it[[/labelnote]]

* MemeticMutation: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcZd305VI60 "Oh no! Our table! It's broken!"]][[labelnote:explanation]]An audio clip of this Ribiero-era video spread on [=TikTok=] in 2020 and 2021, spawning many other mutations out of it[[/labelnote]]