I was JUST about to post the sad news, Mandy, but you BEAT me to the Punch.
www.clickondetroit.com/entertainment/2022/01/10/full-house-star-comedian-bob-saget-dies-at-65-tmz-reports/ I was watching "America's Funniest Home Videos" tonight with Alfonso Ribeiro as Host when ABC News broke into the show with a Breaking News announcement: Bob Saget, the original host of "America's Funniest Home Videos," was JUST found Dead in an Orlando, Florida hotel room at age 65.
Born on May 17, 1956 in Philadelphia, Robert Lane "Bob" Saget began his start as a successful Stand-Up Comedian who, like MANY other Comics of his Generation, made his Debut on "The Young Comedians" specials on HBO.
Like many of his fellow comics e.g. Tim Allen, Bob Saget transitioned from Stand-Up Comedy to Sitcoms, appearing for 8 seasons as Danny Tanner on the hit '80s sitcom "Full House," airing on ABC from September 22, 1987 - May 23, 1995; in Summer 1989, Vin Di Bona hired Bob to host the Hour-Long Series Pilot for what is now Network TV's Longest-Running Prime-Time Game Show.
Its name: "America's Funniest Home Videos," which made its debut on ABC on November 26, 1989; 7 weeks later, on January 14, 1990, "America's Funniest Home Videos" began airing regularly on ABC every Sunday night at 8 P.M. ET in a Game Show format remaining little changed throughout its Long Existence, with 3 Contestants per show competing Against Each Other for a Weekly Grand Prize of $10,000; in addition, during its first 2 seasons, the 2nd and 3rd place Winners won, respectively, an RCA TV Set and RCA Video Camera (later amended in Season 2 to the 2nd and 3rd place winners both earning the RCA TV Set and RCA Video Camera).
By March 1990, the series was such a surprise hit that Vin Di Bona quickly conceived a Game Show spin-off called "America's Funniest People," with Bob's close friend (and fellow "Full House" star) Dave Coulier as host for the Pilot, telecast on May 13, 1990 after "America's Funniest Home Videos."
"People" began its regular run that Fall airing Sunday nights at 8 P.M. ET after "Videos" as part of its ABC "Videos" hour for the next 4 seasons, with Dave paired with actress Arleen Sorkin and later Tawny Kitaen for series.
After ABC cancelled "People," "Videos" soldiered on for a while; in May 1997, after 8 seasons, Bob Saget left "America's Funniest Home Videos" and was succeeded the following January by former MTV VJ Daisy Fuentes (paired with comic John Fugelsang); unfortunately, ratings plummeted soon afterwards.
In May 1999, after 10 seasons, ABC cancelled "America's Funniest Home Videos" due to low ratings, with the series being successfully revived by ABC 2 years later on July 20, 2001 with TV personality Tom Bergeron as sole host.
In March 2014, Tom Bergeron stepped down as host, with his final episode telecast on May 17, 2015; Alfonso Ribeiro was announced as Tom's successor on May 19, 2015 and currently is in his 7th year as host of "AFV."
Per TMZ, no foul play or drugs are suspected in the sudden passing of Bob Saget, who was in the midst of a stand-up comedy tour scheduled through his Birthday month of May; in my personal opinion, Bob Saget, pending Autopsy
results, LIKELY had a Massive Heart Attack in his Orlando hotel.
Bob was Pre-Deceased by his sister, Gae, who died of Scleroderma in 1994 at age 47; another sister, Andrea, died of a Massive Stroke in the '80s; a Brother, Robert, died before Bob was born; and his parents, Ben and Dolly, respectively, died in 2007 of Heart Failure and 2015 after a Long Illness.
God Speed, Bob Saget!!! And May you FOREVER RIP in Heaven.
05/17/1956 - 01/09/2022