Thursday, March 28, 2024

Alfonso Ribeiro Takes Over AFV, Talks ‘Fresh Prince’ Reboot [EUR Exclusive]

AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS - Actor and "Dancing with the Stars" Season 19 Champion, Alfonso Ribeiro, is the new host of ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos." (ABC/Craig Sjodin)
(ABC/Craig Sjodin)

*Alfonso Ribeiro has spent more than 30 years entertaining us with his memorable work in the worlds of television, theater and beyond.

Now, the actor, game-show host, TV director, award-winning dancer, and Broadway star is taking over as host of the 26th season of “America’s Funniest Home Videos.”

Ribeiro will be the fourth person to host the humorous video competition series, which is ABC’s longest running primetime television show.

EUR/Electronic Urban Report correspondent Ny MaGee chatted with Alfonso ahead of tonight’s AFV episode to find out what about his unique approach allows him to continue to be a crossover success. He also dropped the scoop on his involvement with the rumored “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” reboot.

Peep the Q&A below:

OTHER NEWS YOU  MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Alfonso Ribeiro: ‘It Took Half A Season to Get Comfortable’ Hosting ‘AFV’ [EUR Exclusive]

Why do you think AFV continues to resonate with audiences generation after generation?

Alfonso: As long as it remains funny, (Comedy) always works. I feel like this is one of those perfect concepts, showing America themselves. Making fun of them with them will always remain funny, and you have gobs of material to choose from because people are always doing funny things and then catching it on camera and we get to show it back to America. It’s a place that people (can) go see clean comedy, family entertainment. You can watch AFV on Sunday nights and you know you’re gonna laugh.

AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS - "Episode 2601" -- "America's Funniest Home Videos," the longest-running primetime show in ABC history, returns with new host Alfonso Ribeiro ("Dancing with the Stars," "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air") on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11 (7:00-8:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. The video highlights in the season 26 premiere episode include a package of "Animal Encounters" complete with an affectionate seal who jumps into a man's kayak to snuggle, a dolphin who gives a woman climbing into a boat a playful nudge, a sneaky raccoon is caught on camera climbing into the house through a doggy door to steal the dog's food, a woman finds a possum underneath her bed, and a practical joke is played on a group of teens who bite into caramel onions rather than apples. (ABC/Michael Ansell) ALFONSO RIBEIRO
(ABC/Michael Ansell)

With you taking over as host, will there be any changes to the show, or will it stick to its proven formula?

Alfonso: We’re staying pretty close to its proven format. We’re certainly not trying to make adjustments. Obviously, as shows move through time, there’s always going to be small adjustments made to continue to develop the show and keep it fresh and keep it new, so we’re always doing that. But the basic format of the show is going to remain the same. It works. My parents said it, my grandparents said it and I’ll say it after them – if it ain’t broke don’t fix it! We’re not trying to fix something that’s not broke.

Are the ‘epic fail’ videos still your favorite?

Alfonso: Epic fails will be and always be my favorite genre of the bits on the show. But I will say, that the babies are catching up. As a dad, I can relate to those moment so well because they happen in my house all the time.

Many actors don’t have a presence that allows them to crossover. What is it about how you approach your craft makes folks want you in their home?

Alfonso: My approach is, just be me, (and) I don’t really try to over think it. I walk out on stage and I just talk. I try not to put on a character or be someone else. I get to do that when I’m acting, so why not be able to just walk out on a stage and just be yourself. And that’s what I do. I’m not afraid of the moment. I think where the big difference is-is that actors, especially film actors, they perform in a room with a camera, and it’s quiet and there’s no movement and nothing’s going on and they’re in their own head focused. As a host, you’re simply in front of crowds of people, and you’re not doing anything or aware of or affected by them. You’re simply in the moment, and that’s what I do. I’m just in the moment and I enjoy being there.

There was talk a few months ago about a ‘Fresh Prince’ re-boot, are you involved with that?

Alfonso: I’m not involved with it in any way, (and) I don’t have any real information on it. My position on it is, we stopped filming The Fresh Prince of Bel Air because we felt like we could no longer make great episodes, so we stopped. I’m not a big fan of making TV show reboots. I feel like, why don’t we just make a new show and not call it The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Simply because, without James Avery, you have no Fresh Prince of Bel Air. He was the backbone of that show. Since his passing, there’s simply no reason to do it. Let’s let great creativity of the past remain just there.

Speaking of ‘The Fresh Prince…’ Alfonso will perform “The Carlton” on this week’s episode of AFV, which airs tonight, Sunday, November 8 at 7/6 C on ABC.

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