About
"A woman came up to me and said, 'I started watching America's Funniest Home Videos when I was a kid and now I'm watching it with my kid. My childhood comes alive through my child when your show is on the air.' Our niche is family programming and I'm very proud of that."
In his three-hour interview, Vin Di Bona talks about his early years appearing in Summer Stock productions and his time on the radio as a disc jockey. He recalls his days at Emerson College, where he met Henry Winkler - his future producing partner on MacGyver. He outlines his stint as a director at WBZ in Boston, which led to him producing several socially-conscious television documentaries such as Zoot Suit and Project Parenting. Di Bona discusses producing Entertainment Tonight, On Stage America, and Papal Space Bridge '87, the latter of which he worked on with Pope John Paul II. He speaks at length about creating, producing, and directing America's Funniest Home Videos, discussing all aspects of the show including video selection, hosts Bob Saget and Tom Bergeron, the longevity of the show, its various spin-offs, and its legacy. He talks about producing various other shows, including a 1991 revival of Candid Camera, DreamMaker with Richard Simmons, and Trump Unauthorized. Jenni Matz conducted the interview on January 13, 2015 in West Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Vin Di Bona on creating America's Funniest Home Videos
Vin Di Bona on casting Bob Saget as host of America's Funniest Home Videos
Vin Di Bona on how he came to produce MacGyver with Henry Winkler
Vin Di Bona on producing Entertainment Tonight
Vin Di Bona on the then-future of user-generated content on television
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on appearing in various shows in Summer Stock in his youth and being on the radio; on attending Emerson College
On the first time he saw television and early shows he watched; on going to UCLA grad school and changing his career plans; on learning about documentary storytelling at UCLA
On his first television job at WBZ in Boston and becoming a director; on returning to LA after his stint in Boston; on working at KNXT and stage managing Wheel of Fortune
On making various documentaries at KNXT like Project Parenting and Zoot Suit; on choosing subjects for his documentaries
Chapter 2
On producing the series On Stage America; on mentors Nick Vanoff, Gary Smith, and Dwight Hemion; on producing MacGyver
On starting Vin Di Bona Productions to produce Animal Crack-Ups; on working with Father Ellwood Kieser and producing Papal Space Bridge '87 with Pope John Paul II
On creating America's Funniest Home Videos; on pitching America's Funniest Home Videos to ABC and the initial reaction to the show; on casting Bob Saget and Tom Bergeron as hosts of America's Funniest Home Videos
On his producing style on America's Funniest Home Videos; on directing America's Funniest Home Videos; on the sound effects and music of America's Funniest Home Videos, the volume of submissions, and the standards of the show
On how social media and You Tube have affected America's Funniest Home Videos; on keeping America's Funniest Home Videos fresh; on the impact and legacy of America's Funniest Home Videos on popular culture; on America's Funniest Home Videos spin-off shows
On producing the 1991 revival of Candid Camera; on producing Maximum Drive and Sherman Oaks; on producing the series DreamMaker starring Richard Simmons; on balancing his entertainment side and the journalistic side and then-current projects
Chapter 3
On his then-future plans; on advice to an aspiring producer; on the then-future of user-generated content on television; on career highlights and his contribution to television history
Shows
America's Funniest Home Videos
Vin Di Bona on creating America's Funniest Home Videos
Vin Di Bona on pitching America's Funniest Home Videos to ABC and initial reaction to the show
Vin Di Bona on casting Bob Saget as host of America's Funniest Home Videos
Vin Di Bona on the shifting time slots and hosts of America's Funniest Home Videos and casting Tom Bergeron
Vin Di Bona on his producing style for America's Funniest Home Videos
Vin Di Bona on the selection process for the videos on America's Funniest Home Videos and the format of the show
Vin Di Bona on directing America's Funniest Home Videos
Vin Di Bona on the sound effects and music of America's Funniest Home Videos, the volume of submissions, and the standards of the show
Vin Di Bona on America's Funniest Home Videos being sensitive to news events
Vin Di Bona on America's Funniest Home Videos' studio audience
Vin Di Bona on how social media and YouTube have affected America's Funniest Home Videos
Vin Di Bona on keeping America's Funniest Home Videos fresh after 25 years and the longevity of the show
Vin Di Bona on an America's Funniest Home Videos collection being added to the Smithsonian
Vin Di Bona on the producers and staff of America's Funniest Home Videos
Vin Di Bona on the impact and legacy of America's Funniest Home Videos on popular culture
Vin Di Bona on his favorite America's Funniest Home Videos clips
Vin Di Bona on America's Funniest Home Videos spin-off shows
Vin Di Bona on America's Funniest Home Videos 25th Anniversary
Candid Camera
Vin Di Bona on producing the 1991 revival of Candid Camera
Entertainment Tonight
Vin Di Bona on producing Entertainment Tonight
MacGyver
Vin Di Bona on how he came to produce MacGyver with Henry Winkler
Vin Di Bona on casting Richard Dean Anderson as "MacGyver" in MacGyver
Vin Di Bona on his duties on MacGyver as line producer and second unit director
Wheel of Fortune
Vin Di Bona on working at KNXT and stage managing Wheel of Fortune
Topics
Advice
Vin Di Bona on advice given to him by Dick Clark
Vin Di Bona on advice to an aspiring producer
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Vin Di Bona on mentors Nick Vanoff, Gary Smith, and Dwight Hemion
First Big Break
Vin Di Bona on his first television job at WBZ in Boston and becoming a director
New Media
Vin Di Bona on how social media and YouTube have affected America's Funniest Home Videos
Vin Di Bona on the then-future of user-generated content on television
Pivotal Career Moments
Vin Di Bona on his first television job at WBZ in Boston and becoming a director
Television Industry
Vin Di Bona on advice given to him by Dick Clark
Vin Di Bona on how social media and YouTube have affected America's Funniest Home Videos
Vin Di Bona on advice to an aspiring producer
Vin Di Bona on the then-future of user-generated content on television
Professions
Producers
Vin Di Bona on advice to aspiring producers and show creators
Show Creators
Vin Di Bona on his producing style for America's Funniest Home Videos
Vin Di Bona on advice to aspiring producers and show creators
Genres
Adventure/Espionage Series
Vin Di Bona on producing MacGyver
Comedy Series
Vin Di Bona on creating and producing America's Funniest Home Videos
Vin Di Bona on producing the 1991 revival of Candid Camera
Game Shows
Vin Di Bona on producing Animal Crack-Ups
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Vin Di Bona on producing On Stage America
News and Documentary
Vin Di Bona on producing Entertainment Tonight
People
Richard Dean Anderson
Vin Di Bona on casting Richard Dean Anderson as "MacGyver" in MacGyver
Tom Bergeron
Vin Di Bona on the shifting time slots and hosts of America's Funniest Home Videos and casting Tom Bergeron
Shelley Berman
Vin Di Bona on producing the series On Stage America - the first episode of which featured Shelley Berman
Dick Clark
Vin Di Bona on advice given to him by Dick Clark
Allen Funt
Vin Di Bona on producing the 1991 revival of Candid Camera created by Allen Funt
Dwight Hemion
Vin Di Bona on mentors Nick Vanoff, Gary Smith, and Dwight Hemion>
Pope John Paul II
Vin Di Bona on working with Father Ellwood Kieser and producing Papal Space Bridge '87 with Pope John Paul II
Bob Saget
Vin Di Bona on casting Bob Saget as host of America's Funniest Home Videos
Richard Simmons
Vin Di Bona on producing the series DreamMaker starring Richard Simmons
Gary Smith
Vin Di Bona on mentors Nick Vanoff, Gary Smith, and Dwight Hemion>
Nick Vanoff
Vin Di Bona on mentors Nick Vanoff, Gary Smith, and Dwight Hemion>
Henry Winkler
Vin Di Bona on attending Emerson College with Henry Winkler
Vin Di Bona on how he came to produce MacGyver with Henry Winkler