You’ve got it. That one clip. The one where your toddler looks the dog dead in the eye and lets out a burp that sounds like a freighter horn. Or maybe your brother-in-law tried to do a backflip off a moving swing set and—well, we know how that ends. You’re sitting there thinking, "This is the one." You can practically see the giant check from a funniest home videos submission arriving in your mailbox.
But honestly? Most people mess this up. They send in grainy, vertical footage where you can’t see the action, or they bury the punchline under three minutes of boring setup. If you want to actually win money—or even just get your fifteen seconds of fame—you have to think like a producer, not just a proud parent with a smartphone.
The Reality of Getting Picked
Television producers are drowning in footage. Between TikTok, Reels, and the classic long-running shows like America’s Funniest Home Videos (AFV), the volume of content is staggering. They aren't looking for "kind of cute." They are looking for "I just inhaled my soda because I laughed so hard."
The gold standard remains AFV. They’ve been at this since 1989. While the tech has changed from VHS tapes to digital uploads, the core of a winning funniest home videos submission hasn't shifted much. They want physical comedy, unexpected animal behavior, and "epic fails" that don't result in actual hospital stays. Nobody wants to see someone truly get hurt. We want the "oops," not the "oh no."
What Makes a Video "Viral" Worthy?
It’s about the "turn." A video starts one way and ends in a way no one saw coming. If a kid is blowing out birthday candles, that’s boring. If the kid accidentally blows their dentures—wait, kids don't have dentures—if the grandpa blows his dentures into the cake, that's a winner.
Short is better. Seriously. If your clip is over 30 seconds, you’re probably pushing it. Producers love 10 to 15 seconds of pure, unadulterated chaos.
Technical Traps to Avoid
Look, your phone is a miracle of engineering. Use it right.
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One of the biggest mistakes in a funniest home videos submission is the "vertical video syndrome." While social media loves the 9:16 aspect ratio, traditional TV still breathes in 16:9. If you’re filming something that feels like a "moment," try to flip that phone sideways. It fills the screen. It looks professional. It makes the producer's job easier, and making a producer's job easier is the fastest way to get on air.
Lighting matters too. If you’re filming a prank in a dark basement, we can’t see the look of betrayal on the victim's face. No face, no funny.
The Audio Factor
Do not mute your video. The reaction is often funnier than the event. The wheezing laugh of the person holding the camera? That's gold. The "I'm okay!" shouted from a pile of leaves? Essential. However, if you have copyrighted music playing in the background—like a radio or a TV—you might be sunk. Shows can't clear the rights to that Taylor Swift song playing at your niece’s recital, so they’ll likely toss the clip rather than deal with the legal headache.
Navigating the Legal Jungle
This is the part everyone ignores until they get a 40-page contract in their inbox. When you make a funniest home videos submission to a major network show, you are often signing over the exclusive rights to that video.
Basically, you’re saying: "Here, you own this forever."
- Exclusivity: Many shows won't take a video if it's already gone viral on YouTube or TikTok. They want the "premiere."
- Releases: If you filmed your neighbor falling off a ladder, you usually need that neighbor to sign a release form. You can’t just sell their embarrassment without their permission.
- The "Check" Myth: You don't get paid just for them receiving it. You get paid if it wins, or sometimes a smaller "appearance fee" depending on the production's budget.
Where to Actually Submit
Don't just shout into the void. You have a few real paths.
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- AFV (America's Funniest Home Videos): The big one. You can upload directly to their website or use their app. They have tiered prizes: $10,000 for first place in an episode, leading up to $100,000 for the season finale.
- Ridiculousness: This MTV staple focuses more on "internet" style clips. They usually source through third-party licensing agencies like Jukin Media.
- Licensing Companies: This is the pro move. Companies like Jukin Media, ViralHog, or Newsflare act as agents for your video. You submit to them, they "buy" the rights or partner with you, and then they sell your clip to news stations, talk shows, and commercials. They take a cut, but they do the legwork.
The Art of the Prank
Pranks are a staple of any funniest home videos submission, but there's a fine line.
Cruelty isn't funny to a mass audience. If a prank feels mean-spirited, it won't get aired. The best pranks are the ones where the victim laughs at the end. Think of the "invisible string" prank or the "fake bug on the shoulder." They are harmless, quick, and produce a high-quality jump scare.
Why Your Video Got Rejected
It happens. You think you have the next "Charlie Bit My Finger," and you get nothing but crickets.
Often, it’s because the video is too long. People have zero patience. If the "funny" part happens at the 45-second mark and the first 44 seconds are just you walking through a house, the viewer—and the producer—has already moved on.
Another reason? Fake-ness. We can tell when a "fail" is staged. If you "accidentally" fall into a pool but you're wearing waterproof gear and looking at the camera, it’s going in the trash. Authenticity is the currency of comedy. We want to see the real, messy, unscripted human experience.
Actionable Steps for Your Big Break
Stop sitting on that footage. If you have something you think is worth money, follow this checklist immediately.
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First, trim the fat. Use the edit tool on your phone to cut the video so it starts just a second or two before the action and ends right after the big reaction.
Second, check for background noise. If your TV is blaring a sitcom in the background, your video is likely a "no-go" for broadcast.
Third, read the fine print. If you submit to AFV, don't post the video on Reddit the next day. You might disqualify yourself from the big prize. Decide if you want the "quick hits" of social media likes or the potential "big check" from a TV network.
Finally, keep the original file. Don't send a screen recording of a video. Send the high-resolution, original file from your camera roll. Pixels matter when you're being projected onto a 65-inch 4K TV.
Your funniest home videos submission could be the one that pays for your next vacation, but only if you stop treating it like a casual text message and start treating it like a pitch. Get the lighting right, keep the camera steady—even when you’re laughing—and for heaven’s sake, keep the phone horizontal.