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Ahhhh to be a child in the 80’s and 90’s… It meant that this guy was probably in your living room at least once a week.  Well before we watched shows from the DVR or on our phones and tablets “on demand,” we would have to plan to be home to watch shows like Silver Spoons and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in order to see the smiling face and popped polo collar of Alfonso Ribeiro. Between shows he sipped Pepsi and danced with Michael Jackson, and in this blissful pre-Instagram, pre-Twitter world, you knew you were a celebrity by how many times you appeared on the pages of grocery store teen magazines.  He was a star. Fast forward through the 90’s with a full decade on sitcoms under his belt, he would become the host (and sometimes competitor) with the most on several reality and game shows from 2000 to today.  His most recent competition show appearance landed him the trophy as the winner of Dancing with the Stars.  For more than 20 years, he has delighted us with the “Carlton Dance” that became his trademark from his years on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – never shying away from performing it upon request, releasing the power it has to make anyone watching smile and join in when paired with Tom Jones crooning, “It’s not unusuAL…”

Now we are in the strangest, most Twilight Zone-y part… remember how we used to sit with the family in the late 80’s and early 90’s and watch the video clips of the misfortunes and mishaps (usually involving a sliding glass door, trampoline, or above ground pool) of middle America that were sent in to America’s Funniest Home Videos on VHS cassette tape for our viewing pleasure?  Well, ABC has named Alfonso Ribeiro as its new host. Oh yeah, it is still going.  It’s ABC’s longest running primetime TV show. Only now it has to compete with YouTube and Instagram videos – not to mention all those who are willing to “do it for the Vine.” Or does it? Wait.. there’s more! Tom Bergeron has hosted AFV for 14 years now… he ALSO is the host of Dancing with the Stars. Let that sink in for a minute.

AFV is one of ABC’s top family shows, and has been for a long time.  It doesn’t look like the internet age has soured us on watching babies blowing bubbles and kids kicking grown ups in the crotch from the comfort of our couches. According to the show’s executive producer, “The show is an old shoe that works. . . . With Alfonso coming on, we’ll experiment more with performance elements and we’ll ease into some new things. But we will do it slowly.”

So now there are no tapes to send in, just upload your funny video from the website.  Yes, times have certainly changed, but I’ll be honest. I really just want to know one thing. How long will it take for us to get to see the “Carlton?” Let me know – I’ll have the DVR set.