You know the feeling. It’s Sunday night, the leftovers are in the fridge, and suddenly that iconic theme song kicks in. You see a cat falling off a piano or a groom losing his pants at the altar. It’s a comfort food of television that has basically outlasted every trend in the book. But the big question people still find themselves asking—usually while arguing on the couch—is who hosts America’s Funniest Home Videos right now?
Honestly, it’s a fair question. The show has been around since 1989. That’s nearly four decades of groin hits and birthday cake disasters. If you haven’t tuned in for a few years, you might be stuck in a time warp thinking of a certain "Full House" dad or a silver-haired "Dancing with the Stars" legend.
The Current Face of AFV: Alfonso Ribeiro
Since 2015, Alfonso Ribeiro has been the man behind the podium.
Most of us first met him as Carlton Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. You’ve seen the dance. You’ve probably tried to do the dance. But as the host of AFV, he’s brought a totally different energy to the stage. Ribeiro took over the gig starting in Season 26, and he’s currently steering the ship through Season 35 and into 2026.
He didn't just stumble into the job. Vin Di Bona, the show’s legendary creator, actually put him through a pretty rigorous audition process. They looked at hundreds of people. Apparently, it was Ribeiro’s "sincere delivery" and that trademark smile that sealed the deal. It’s a tough job, honestly. You have to pivot from a video of a toddler saying something accidentally profane to a high-stakes $100,000 contest without making the transition feel awkward.
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What’s wild is that Ribeiro is now approaching a decade on the show. He’s no longer the "new guy." He’s become the steady hand that kept the show alive through the weirdness of the 2020s, including those "AFV@Home" episodes where he had to host from an empty studio during the pandemic.
A Legacy of Laughter: The Timeline of Hosts
To understand who hosts America’s Funniest Home Videos, you kinda have to look at the lineage. The show has had a surprisingly stable run of hosts compared to other long-running reality shows.
The Bob Saget Era (1989–1997)
Bob Saget was the original. He brought a specific brand of "dad humor" mixed with weird, high-pitched voices for the pets in the videos. Looking back, his comedy was actually much edgier than the show allowed him to be—something we all realized once his stand-up career took off. Saget hosted for eight seasons before deciding he’d had enough of the "nut hits."
The Transitional Years (1997–2000)
After Saget left, things got a little experimental. For a couple of seasons, the show was co-hosted by John Fugelsang and Daisy Fuentes. It was a different vibe—more "MTV-lite." It didn't quite resonate the same way, and the show actually went into a period of just doing specials. You might even remember seeing Steve Carell or D.L. Hughley hosting one-off episodes during this gap.
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The Tom Bergeron Marathon (2001–2015)
Then came Tom Bergeron. For many millennials, he is the host of AFV. He stayed for 15 seasons, which is a massive stint in TV years. Bergeron’s wit was fast, dry, and incredibly professional. He’s the one who really solidified the Sunday night "family viewing" tradition for a new generation before handing the mic to Alfonso.
Why Alfonso Ribeiro Works
There’s a reason Ribeiro has stuck around. Unlike some hosts who feel like they’re just reading a teleprompter, he actually seems to like the chaos.
- He’s a Performer: His background in Broadway and dance means he has great physical comedy timing.
- The "Everyman" Vibe: He feels approachable. When he talks to the families in the studio, it doesn't feel like a forced PR stunt.
- Consistency: He also hosts Dancing with the Stars, making him a staple of the ABC family.
Interestingly, Ribeiro has mentioned in interviews that he deliberately avoids meeting the finalists before the cameras roll. He wants his reaction to their stories to be genuine. It’s that lack of "rehearsed" energy that keeps a show about grainy cell phone footage feeling fresh in an era of TikTok and YouTube.
How to Watch and Participate
If you're looking to catch the latest episodes, AFV usually holds down its classic Sunday night slot on ABC. But in 2026, it’s everywhere—streaming on Hulu and Disney+, and popping up in endless clips on social media.
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If you actually want to be on the show (and maybe meet Alfonso), you don't send in VHS tapes anymore. Everything is digital. You can upload directly to their website or app. Just remember: the producers love "epic fails," but they have strict rules against anything that looks intentional or dangerous. They want the "accidental" funny, not the "I did this for views" funny.
To stay current with the show's schedule or submit your own clip:
- Check the local ABC listings for Sunday evening airtimes.
- Visit the official AFV website to upload high-resolution video files.
- Follow their social media channels where they often announce themed contests (like "pet week" or "wedding fails").
The show remains a powerhouse because it doesn't try to be something it’s not. It’s just people being people, usually while falling down. And as long as Alfonso Ribeiro is there to laugh along with us, Sunday nights feel a little more normal.
Next Steps for Fans
If you're sitting on a hilarious video of your dog or a massive wedding fail, your best move is to head over to the official AFV website and check their current submission guidelines. They are always looking for fresh content for the $10,000 and $100,000 prize rounds. You can also stream past seasons on Hulu if you want to compare the hosting styles of Saget, Bergeron, and Ribeiro for yourself.