''Australia's Funniest Home Videos'' (''AFHV'', also known as ''Funniest Home Videos'' or simply ''The Video Show'', originally ''Graham Kennedy's Funniest Home Video Show'' in its first season and ''Australia's Funniest Home Video Show'' until 2004) is an Australian television show on the

Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...

that presents

home videos Home video is prerecorded media sold or rented for home viewing. The term originates from the VHS and Betamax era, when the predominant medium was videotapes, but has carried over to optical disc formats such as DVD, Blu-ray and streaming media ...

sent in by viewers. It is the Australian counterpart to '' America's Funniest Home Videos'', which was also created by Vin Di Bona. The show was broadcast from March 1990 until February 2014. Although Nine did not officially cancel the show, in 2015 they stated that they had no plans to produce new episodes.

Synopsis

The show is similar in content to '' You've Been Framed!'' and '' America's Funniest Home Videos'', which was also created by Vin Di Bona (which was based on Tokyo Broadcasting System's '' Fun TV with Kato-chan and Ken-chan''). The videos frequently feature

slapstick Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap, often resulting from inept use of props such a ...

and lowbrow humour such as people tripping over or animals behaving in amusing ways. Most videos are overdubbed with a voice-over and sound effects. In a deal with various foreign producers of similar shows, some imported clips are used, in exchange for home-grown videos from Australia. Each new Australian video shown on the programme received $500. At the end of each episode the audience watching at home can choose their favourite video of the night from a selection of 4, via telephone and SMS voting, with the winning clip receiving $10,000. At the end of each year, winning clips compete in a semi-final and grand final, where in the most recent seasons third place received a home theatre package, second place received a prize package worth around $100,000 (typically with two or three cars), while the winner received $250,000 in cash (although in 2012 the winner received $150,000). In 2005, the show received a major revamp with a new set, logo and theme music, leaving behind the original internationally recognised look of ''America's Funniest Home Videos'' for a "futuristic" design with a brighter and more open set. Since then, the set has received both minor and major alterations, but still retains a bright and open appearance. For most of the show's life, it has been a half-hour program broadcast on Tuesday at . In mid 2000 the show moved to 6.30 pm Saturday, and in 2004, was extended to one hour. In 2013, the show switched from its regular seasonal broadcast to a "summer season" of repeats to allow for broadcasting of '' The Voice Australia''. In 2014, the show returned to its original half-hour format and aired on Saturday at 7.00 pm.

Theme music

From 1991 to 2004 the theme song was a cover version of "The Funny Things You Do" from the show's American counterpart with the word "America" replaced by "Australia" and the line "You're the red, white and blue" changed to "You're the dinky-di true blue". It was slightly rearranged in 1994 & 1998 (with vocals from then-host Jo Beth Taylor, which remained after her 1997 departure). In line with the new season in 2000, the show received a refresh in updated video graphics, set recolouring and a brand new theme song with vocals provided by Australian session singer and songwriter
Marty Cobcroft
in a rock-based arrangement. Sydney musician, Andy Payne, provided additional backing vocals. From 2005 onwards, original compositions were used as the theme music. The theme song served as the show's intro and played before and after each commercial break. Until 2001 the theme song can be heard during the closing credits.

Presenters

Hosts

Co-hosts

Special episodes

On 19 November 1991, a special international edition of the show hosted by Jacki MacDonald with special guests hosts from versions of the show around the world via video link featuring Bob Saget ( America's Funniest Home Videos), Kerry Smith ( New Zealand's Funniest Home Videos),

Linda de Mol Linda Margaretha de Mol (born 8 July 1964 in Hilversum) is a successful Dutch television presenter and actress in the Netherlands and Germany. She is the sister of TV-producer and Endemol co-founder John de Mol, and has frequently appeared i ...

& Billy Hotdog (De Leukste Thuis), Frank Dingenen (Videodinges), Bernard Montiel & Alexandre Debanne ( Video Gag), Fausto Silva (Video Cassetadas), Mike Carl and Gundis Zambo (Bitte Lächeln). The episode also includes imported clips from each country featured. On 28 February 1995, the show celebrated its 200th episode hosted by Jo Beth Taylor during an hour-long special which featured special guest appearances from America's Funniest Home Videos host at the time Bob Saget, Bernard Montiel & Alexandre Debanne from Video Gag via video message, as well as video messages from casts and hosts of other programs on the Nine Network congratulating the show's milestone. The shows anniversary special featured bloopers of former hosts Graham Kennedy, Jacki MacDonald & Lisa Patrick, also including The Channel Nine Marching Band conducted by

Geoff Harvey Geoffrey John Harvey (6 August 1935 – 30 March 2019) was an English-Australian musician, pianist, conductor, musical director and television personality who worked at the Australian Nine Network for 38 years. Known primarily for his appeara ...

performing the shows theme song in between each segment before and after the breaks. In the summer of 1999, the show celebrated its 10th birthday, hosted by Kim Kilbey and featuring special guest Frank Bennett, to perform his single "Beautiful People" alongside the

Sydney Children's Choir Gondwana Choirs is an Australian national choral organisation. It was founded in 1989 as Sydney Children’s Choir by Lyn Williams AM, who is its artistic director. The choirs' rehearsal studios are located at the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct in ...

, who sang a special arrangement of the show's theme song along with Jo Beth Taylor. The show's anniversary special included a timeline of hosts; bloopers; fashion (of the female hosts); and interviews of former hosts Graham Kennedy, Jacki MacDonald, Lisa Patrick, Jo Beth Taylor, and Catriona Rowntree. This was also the last episode before moving to the Melbourne network and the inception of a new style for the following season in 2000. On 31 December 2003, the show celebrated its 14th birthday, which included segments "As The Camera Rolls", where Toni is wearing a feather scarf and Bridge ( Richard Wilkins) is wearing a pirate eye patch, an appearance by John Burgess of

Burgo's Catch Phrase ''Burgo's Catch Phrase'' was an Australian game show that ran between 1997 and 2004, produced by Southern Star Group (and later by the joint-venture Endemol Southern Star) for the Nine Network. The show was based on the British and American ...

and videos from past grand final winners. Other features includes host bloopers, the introduction of the "Taped Crusader" character, and a videotaped message from former host Catriona Rowntree who paid homage to inaugural presenter Graham Kennedy. The 14th birthday special concluded with

Mercury4 Mercury4 were an Australian boy band vocal quartet formed in 2002 with Rien Low, Brad Johnston, Javier Perez and Cole Rintoul. In early 2004 Perez was replaced by Kevin Layton. They issued a self-titled studio album, '' Mercury4'' (May 2004) wh ...

performing their hit single "Get Me Some" at the end of the show. On 4 April 2009, it celebrated its 20th birthday; some of the features included the timeline of the openings, fashion (all female hosts), and additional features. On 16 April 2011, the show celebrated its '21st' birthday and featured giveaways from

JVC JVC (short for Japan Victor Company) is a Japanese brand owned by JVCKenwood corporation. Founded in 1927 as the Victor Talking Machine Company of Japan and later as , the company is best known for introducing Japan's first televisions and for ...

, timeline of the hosts, celebratory messages from

Avril Lavigne Avril Ramona Lavigne ( ; born September 27, 1984) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. At age 16, she signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records. Her debut studio album, ''Let Go (Avril Lavigne album), Let Go'' (2002), is the ...

, Short Stack, Alexis Jordan, Shane Warne and former host Kim Kilbey. Other features includes appearances by Julie Goodwin,

Justice Crew Justice Crew is an Australian dance and music group consisting of John and Len Pearce, Lukas Bellesini, Paul Merciadez, Samson Smith, and Solo Tohi. Although the group is Australian, members Samson and Solo are from New Zealand. The group origin ...

, the cast of Hi-5 and a special visit from former host Toni Pearen. During the show Shelley Craft paid tribute to honour inaugural presenter Graham Kennedy who died in 2005. The '21st' birthday special concluded with

performing their song 'Friday to Sunday' at the end of the show.

Spin-offs

''Australia's Funniest Home Videos: Daily Edition''

''Australia's Funniest Home Videos: Daily Edition'' (also known simply as ''The Daily Edition'') is a

spin-off Spin-off may refer to: *Spin-off (media), a media work derived from an existing work *Corporate spin-off, a type of corporate action that forms a new company or entity * Government spin-off, civilian goods which are the result of military or gove ...

to ''Australia's Funniest Home Videos'' which first aired on the

from 30 November 2009 to December 2010 and later aired on GO! from 2011. It was a brief 30-minute version of the full show that would broadcast selected clips from the original show, and was hosted by then-current host of the original series Shelley Craft. The show was later cancelled in late-2012.

''Australia's Funniest Home Videos: World's Funniest Videos''

''Australia's Funniest Home Videos: World's Funniest Videos'' (also known as ''AFHV: World's Funniest Videos'') is a

to ''Australia's Funniest Home Videos'' which first aired on the

from 7 April 2009. The 30-minute show features clips predominately from the American version of ''Funniest Home Videos'', and was hosted by former

Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...

er, Shane Crawford and former MTV Australia video jockey,

Lyndsey Rodrigues Lyndsey Rodrigues (born 23 July 1981) is an Australian TV host, actress and former MTV VJ, known as a co-host of the MTV TV series ''Total Request Live''. She has also hosted other MTV programs, such as '' Escape from Oz: The Real World Sydney R ...

. The show was later cancelled after its third episode on 21 April 2009. Episodes:

''Australia's Naughtiest Home Videos''

''Australia's Naughtiest Home Videos'' is a controversial one-off special

to ''Australia's Funniest Home Videos'' which aired on the

on 3 September 1992. It was a highly explicit special, depicting videos of sexual situations and other sexually explicit content, and was hosted by Australian radio personality Doug Mulray. It was planned to be a 60-minute broadcast, but due to complaints from both viewers and then-owner on the Nine Network

Kerry Packer Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer (17 December 1937 – 26 December 2005) was an Australian media tycoon, and was considered one of Australia's most powerful media proprietors of the twentieth century. The Packer family company owned a controlling ...

, was taken off the air part-way through the first and only episode, making it the only Australian television series to have done so. A copy of the full episode was later located at the Nine Network in 2008, after which the episode was edited to comply with new television standards and re-broadcast with commentary from Bert Newton at 8:30 PM on 28 August 2008, one week short of sixteen years after the original special, and at the same airing time.

Notes

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, id=0267151 Australian comedy television series Nine Network original programming 1990 Australian television series debuts 2014 Australian television series endings 2000s Australian television series English-language television shows Television shows set in Brisbane Television shows set in Sydney Television shows set in Melbourne Video clip television series