Is there anything more American than laughing at other people’s misfortune? ABC doesn’t seem to think so, as America’s Funniest Home Videos chugs along into its 35th season, a monument to the enduring appeal of slapstick. This Sunday, viewers can brace themselves for another round of pratfalls, pet antics, and kids saying things they probably shouldn’t after a trip to the dentist.
Yes, the main draw this week seems to be teens recovering from dental surgery, their loopy ramblings captured for our amusement. It’s a reliable source of humor, though one might question the ethics of exploiting the temporarily impaired. But hey, at least they’re not the ones falling off treadmills, right?
There’s also a special segment dedicated to the timeless feud between cats and dogs, because apparently, after three and a half decades, AFV hasn’t exhausted that particular well. One can only hope for some fresh takes on the classic chase-and-conquer dynamic, perhaps a dog using a Roomba as a getaway vehicle or a cat staging an elaborate feather-duster ambush.
And, for a touch of relatable chaos, the episode features one family’s “butt paste” incident. If you’ve ever wrestled twins and a tube of diaper rash cream, you know the potential for disaster is high. It’s a small comfort to see others struggle, isn’t it?
Ultimately, AFV offers a consistent, if predictable, dose of easily digestible entertainment. It’s comfort food for the brain, requiring minimal effort and delivering maximum schadenfreude. Tune in if you’re in the mood for some low-stakes laughs. It’s AFV, after all. What more do you want?
America’s Funniest Home Videos airs Sundays at 7/6c on ABC.
