2008 Woodie Awards
"I Love the 80s" enters the third dimension
Bryan O'Toole
Issue date: 10/27/05 Section: Arts and Entertainment
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Remember the days when VH1 (which stands for Video Hits One) actually showed-gasp!-music videos? Instead of reverting to that format, the channel is celebrating its heyday once again with "I Love the 80s 3-D." The 1986-87 segments air from 9 to 11 p.m. tonight, and the decade will be finished up tomorrow night.
By now, VH1 has the "I Love the 80s" format down to a science: round up a stable of B-list and lower "celebrities" and have them shoot off one-liners about a given decade's historical events and trends in music, movies and fashion. Then, film 10 hour-long episodes (one for each year in the decade) and repeat them non-stop for two months with occasional intermissions for "Breaking Bonaduce" or "The Surreal Life."
VH1 has upped the ante this time around, however, by resorting to the eye-popping gimmick that was last used earlier this year for the cinematic "classic" The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl. Interestingly enough, the results are about the same. Only the graphics are in 3-D, and these are not spectacular enough to warrant a trip to Best Buy to pick up the required glasses. Fortunately, the traditional red and blue frames have been replaced by some new technology that allows the program to be seen in the glory of 2-D flatness without any distraction.
But as much as they try to change, the "I Love the..." shows remain essentially the same. The comedic trifecta established in the original-actor Hal Sparks, actor/comedian Michael Ian Black and "media gadfly" Mo Rocca-once again return to espouse their opinions on various topics.
Although each commentator has bright spots, Black's sarcastic deadpan can provoke a laugh for even the most asinine or sobering of topics. His take on David Lynch's moving The Elephant Man compares the exploitation of the afflicted titular character to that of notorious porn star John Holmes. Comments like this are what make "I Love the 80s" so watch-able.
Yet, considering that this is the third outing of "I Love the 80s," the subject material is wearing thin. Whereas the original installment touched upon the decade's wide-sweeping phenomena like Duran Duran and Back to the Future, the writers started scraping the bottom of the barrel for this new version, choosing to cover forgettable films like My Bodyguard and events such as Paul McCartney's Japanese pot bust.
By now, VH1 has the "I Love the 80s" format down to a science: round up a stable of B-list and lower "celebrities" and have them shoot off one-liners about a given decade's historical events and trends in music, movies and fashion. Then, film 10 hour-long episodes (one for each year in the decade) and repeat them non-stop for two months with occasional intermissions for "Breaking Bonaduce" or "The Surreal Life."
VH1 has upped the ante this time around, however, by resorting to the eye-popping gimmick that was last used earlier this year for the cinematic "classic" The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl. Interestingly enough, the results are about the same. Only the graphics are in 3-D, and these are not spectacular enough to warrant a trip to Best Buy to pick up the required glasses. Fortunately, the traditional red and blue frames have been replaced by some new technology that allows the program to be seen in the glory of 2-D flatness without any distraction.
But as much as they try to change, the "I Love the..." shows remain essentially the same. The comedic trifecta established in the original-actor Hal Sparks, actor/comedian Michael Ian Black and "media gadfly" Mo Rocca-once again return to espouse their opinions on various topics.
Although each commentator has bright spots, Black's sarcastic deadpan can provoke a laugh for even the most asinine or sobering of topics. His take on David Lynch's moving The Elephant Man compares the exploitation of the afflicted titular character to that of notorious porn star John Holmes. Comments like this are what make "I Love the 80s" so watch-able.
Yet, considering that this is the third outing of "I Love the 80s," the subject material is wearing thin. Whereas the original installment touched upon the decade's wide-sweeping phenomena like Duran Duran and Back to the Future, the writers started scraping the bottom of the barrel for this new version, choosing to cover forgettable films like My Bodyguard and events such as Paul McCartney's Japanese pot bust.