We spoke with multi-hyphenate entertainer, Alfonso Ribeiro, (actor, TV director, award-winning dancer, and Broadway star) about his new role as host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” family and making the decision that dramatically changed his life.
If you’re like us, and most families in America, you’ve watched AFV on Sunday nights and laughed until you cried with the silly submissions, wishing you had captured similar moments you’ve had and submitted them, or not. But, it’s a hour of fun where you don’t have to think about anything except which was the best video for the night. Hosted by Tom Bergeron for the past 15 years, having a new host come in may have been daunting for some, but in talking to Alfonso Ribeiro, we think it is a natural fit, as a father and consummate entertainer, he is leaving his mark on the show and it’s one that resonates with the fans.
During our interview with him Ribeiro tells us that one of the reasons he wanted to be part of AFV is because of family. He’s a dad and during dinner his family watches AFV and even his son gets excited saying “Dad, Dad” while pointing at the TV and Ribeirio, as if to say “Look at yourself on TV. He gets super excited as soon as he hears the music… it’s very cool.”
He goes on to tell us “I’ve always felt that my brand has always been connected to family entertainment. It was a show that family members could sit down and watch, and I felt that AFV is one of the truly last of the family shows left on TV.”
The writers are paying attention to what Ribeiro is doing and in the episode that airs on November 8th, he’s going to be doing his signature dance move “The Carlton.”
From past interviews with Ribeiro (before winning the mirror ball in 2014 during season 19 of “Dancing with the Stars,” we learned he wasn’t too thrilled to have “The Carlton” be what he is known for, because if you took the time to Google or IMDb him, you’d see he’s much more than a dance move.
Speaking of resonating with the fans, you have the dance move that Ribeiro is famous for, “The Carlton,” have you always been a dancer?
“The reality is I am not a dancer, I can dance. I simply could mimic it. Each week on #DWTS, I started at ground zero, I worked incredibly hard. Now, I can laugh at it [The Carlton] a bit more than in the past” Ribeiro tells us.
Did you know that you can submit your own video on VINE doing the famous “Carlton” dance move for a chance to get on AFV. (Details below).
Finally we asked Ribeiro, in a perfect world, what would you choose to be in front of or behind the camera?
“Feels pretty perfect. The reality is that I am living in my perfect world, I don’t have to choose to be in front of or behind the camera. I am not just an actor or a dancer…
…Be the guy who can do everything.”
He goes on to tell us one of the things his father would say to him and we think it’s pretty darn good advice for all of us to keep in mind and that’s
“If you have a basket of eggs, you’ll never know when each egg will hatch, that way you’ll never be hungry.”
That’s why I’m still in this, at different times, different aspects of my talent have hatched.”
Our final question for him was related to that fork in the road where he had a decision to make and that was to pick between the sitcom “A Different World” or a new pilot called “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
We asked if he reflects on that moment and smiles… happy to have picked the right path at that time in his life and he answered…
“AB-SO-LUTELY.”
He also shared that he was directing an episode of “K.C. Undercover” for Disney Channel starring Zendaya and Kadeem Hardison last week. He said he thanked Hardison, for being cast as the dad in “K.C. Undercover” because once again, they were up for the same part as they were back in 1990 when he might have landed on “A Different World.”
Things might have been different for Ribeiro, but we think different can be good too.
If you haven’t watched Alphonso Ribeiro on “America’s Funniest Home Videos” yet, here’s a video clip… Don’t forget to tune in to AFV on Sunday Nights at 7 PM on ABC
Vine your best Carlton and use #AFVCarlton between now and Thursday Nov 12th for a chance to be featured in a future show!
- Follow AFV on TWITTER: http://afv.tv/AFVtwitter #AFV
Follow AFV on Vine: https://vine.co/americasfunniest - Watch Episodes on ABC http://abc.go.com/shows/americas-funniest-home-videos
- Find out more about submitting your videos http://www.afv.com
- Have what it takes? Upload your funny video now!
http://www.afv.com/upload
More about AFV
In “Episode 2605” – In addition to the “AFV” debut of Alfonso’s famous “Carlton” dance, this week’s video highlights include a couple attempting to take a seaside selfie when they are surprised by a wave, a man who thinks he is shooting video of a moose but doesn’t realize he’s actually recording himself, a man who has fallen asleep with a mouthful of popcorn, and a giraffe at a drive-thru who wreaks havoc on a family after he’s fed too many carrots through the sunroof on “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8 (7:00-8:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
AFV has given away over $14 million in prize money and evaluated more than half a million videotapes from home viewers.
AFV continues its record-breaking 26th season with new episodes Sunday nights, 7/6c on ABC. Hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro, America’s Funniest Home Videos is the longest-running primetime show in ABC history. Vin Di Bona is executive producer with Michele Nasraway serving as executive producer.
