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The Paley Center for Media Presents "America's Funniest Home Videos: 20th Season Celebration"

Monday, April 5, 2010

Los Angeles, CA-The Paley Center for Media will salute twenty years of America's Funniest Home Videos (AFV), the longest-running prime-time entertainment show on ABC, on Wednesday, April 14, at the Beverly Hills location. This series has given away nearly twelve million dollars in prize money, while evaluating more than 800,000 videotapes from home viewers. Hosted by Tom Bergeron, AFV is a pioneer in today's user-generated content world. YouTube creator Chad Hurley has mentioned the impact of the show by stating, "We are providing a stage where everyone can participate and everyone can be seen...We see ourselves as a combination of America's Funniest Home Videos and Entertainment Tonight."

The popular show is finishing its twentieth season by donating its entire library of 465 episodes and specials to the Paley Center during the tribute to "America's Funniest Home Videos: 20th Season Celebration" on April 14, to be part of the Paley Center collection of nearly150,000 television, radio, advertising, and new media programs-the largest of such to be available to the public. The event will include Bergeron, host of AFV for the past nine years, and executive producer Vin Di Bona with coexecutive producers Todd Thicke and Michele Nasraway, who will talk about the show's development while sharing some of their favorite videos with special guests. For more details and ticket information, please go to paleycenter.org.

"It's a huge thrill to be able to make available to the Paley Center the entire twenty year library of AFV," says Di Bona."I am a firm believer that the history of our industry becomes the solid basis from which the next generation can examine both where we've been and see how they might improve on what we've done. For a student of television to be able to peruse through a body of work is always extremely valuable and knowing that a devotee of television is able to do the same is very rewarding. Perhaps someday my grandson Sam will be able to look at our library at the Paley Center and count the number of crotch hits the American public has endured over twenty years."

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The Paley Center for Media, with locations in New York and Los Angeles, leads the discussion about the cultural, creative, and social significance of television, radio, and emerging platforms for the professional community and media-interested public. Drawing upon its curatorial expertise, an international collection, and close relationships with the leaders of the media community, the Paley Center examines the intersections between media and society. The general public can access the collection and participate in programs that explore and celebrate the creativity, the innovations, the personalities, and the leaders who are shaping media. Through the global programs of its Media Council and International Council, the Paley Center also serves as a neutral setting where media professionals can engage in discussion and debate about the evolving media landscape. Previously known as The Museum of Television & Radio, the Paley Center was founded in 1976 by William S. Paley, a pioneering innovator in the industry. For more information, please visit /

 

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