Jack Hanna’s Passport, a new Hearst Media Production Group show focused on wildlife, debuts on ABC-owned and affiliated stations April 6. The weekly show is hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and will be part of the “Weekend Adventure” educational block.  

Ribeiro hosts Dancing with the Stars and America’s Funniest Home Videos, both on ABC. 

“Jack Hanna’s Passport will celebrate the decades of adventures brought to audiences by the legendary wildlife ambassador Jack Hanna,” said Bryan Curb, HMPG executive VP and general manager, education/information.  

Hanna was the zookeeper at the Columbus Zoo and a TV show host. His programs included Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures, Jack Hanna’s Wild Countdown and Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild. 

HMPG acquired Hanna’s TV series library late last year. 

Hanna is battling Alzheimer’s Disease. His family said in 2021, “Sadly, Dad is no longer able to participate in public life as he used to, where people all over the world watched, learned and laughed alongside him.”

HMPG’s other wildlife shows include Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild, Wild Child and Wildlife Nation. Wild Kingdom had premiered in 1963 and later became a syndicated show before going off the air in 1988. Hearst premiered Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild in 2023. Peter Gros, who first appeared on Wild Kingdom in 1985 as co-host, took over as host. Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant is co-host. 

Alfonso Ribeiro has joined Dancing with the Stars as co-host, with Tyra Banks returning as host. Ribeiro, host of America’s Funniest Home Videos on ABC, won season 19 of Dancing. 

The show has moved to Disney Plus after 30 seasons on ABC. The season 31 premiere date has not been announced. 

Judges Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough all return.

“Dancing with the Stars has been such an important part of my life for so many years, and I am ecstatic to officially rejoin this tight-knit family as co-host,” Ribeiro said. “Tyra and I have a longstanding friendship that I hope will resonate with all of the fans at home as we kick off this new season on Disney Plus.”

Banks is an executive producer on Dancing as well. 

“I’ve known Alfonso since I was 19 years old and he always puts a smile on my face whenever I see him,” Banks said. “Having such a fun-loving, longtime friend as co-host warms my heart. Plus, he’s won the competition before, so he knows exactly what the stars are going through. Bantering back and forth with him live is going to be so much fun!” 

Ribeiro also hosts America’s Funniest Home Videos: Animal Edition on Nat Geo Wild. As a teen, he was on sitcom Silver Spoons, and later was on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He’s been a director on In the House, Shake It Up and Are We There Yet?, among other programs. 

Dancing with the Stars is produced by BBC Studios Los Angeles Productions. ■

ABC will air AFV@Home, a special-episode spinoff of America’s Funniest Home Videos, May 17. Alfonso Ribeiro, host of America’s Funniest Home Videos, hosts from his home, sharing humorous videos.

“AFV@Home shines a light on the fun and amazing ways people have found to pass the time while being quarantined. We found remarkable videos that we wanted to share because, at home or not, everyone could use a few extra laughs,” said Vin Di Bona, executive producer, America’s Funniest Home Videos.

The special leads into the season finale of American Idol.

AFV@Home is produced by Vin Di Bona Productions. Di Bona, Michele Nasraway and Rob Katz are executive producers. Ribeiro and Tomika Palmer-Ciaccio are co-executive producers.

Actor/performer Alfonso Ribeiro will host a new Cooking Channel show Unwrapped 2.0, the network said Thursday.

Ribeiro, best known for his role in the 1990s sitcom Fresh Prince Of Bel Air and more recently for winning ABC's Dancing with The Stars competition series last month, will provide viewers with behind-the-scenes details on the preparation of classic American treats, said network officials. Unwrapped 2.0 is a reboot of Food Network’s long-running series Unwrapped, hosted by Marc Summers.

"Viewers will love Alfonso's charismatic charm and engaging personality," said Michael Smith, general manager and senior vice president of Cooking Channel in a statement. "As a talented actor, dancer and television host, Alfonso's multi-faceted background and inquisitive nature make him the perfect fit to take the reins of Unwrapped 2.0."