Who says it's too soon for 1990s nostalgia? Certainly not VH1, which this week airs the fourth edition of its retro-chic amalgam of movie and music clips, celebrity interviews, and random trivia. With the success of the network's three previous flashback series ("I Love The 70s," "I Love The 80s," and "I Love The 80s Strikes Back"), "I Love The 90s" was inevitable.
For the uninitiated, the show takes on the mildly daunting task of compressing all of the pop culture from a given year into a single hour. The breakneck pace of the show makes for some strange juxtapositions, such as commentary on how both actor/comedian Pee Wee Herman and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas seemed to share an affinity for adult entertainment.
Despite the quirks, each episode follows a somewhat conventional format. Coverage for each given year inevitably includes any breakout bands or one-hit wonders, meaning that 1991 sees clips of both the now forgotten Seattle grunge scene with Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden as well as the also forgotten Gerardo singing his only hit ("Rico Suave"). Also included for each year are the top films ("Dances With Wolves," "Pretty Woman"), fads (slap bracelets, Guess jeans), television ("Twin Peaks," "Beverly Hills 90210") and scandals (D.C. Mayor Marion Berry's cocaine bust, the Clarence Thomas hearings, etc.).
Sprinkled liberally between clips are short bits of commentary with C- and D-list celebrities and comedians. While most of these fall flat, usually because there just isn't that much to say about what we were watching and listening to 14 years ago, Hal Sparks and Michael Ian Black each manage to get a few laughs.
Though the show is off to a decent start with 1990 and 1991, both of which aired last night, it may be harder to pull off the same nostalgic feel by the end of the series. And, since we're still smack dab in the middle of the 00s, where will VH1 go next? Can we look forward to seeing "I Love The 60s," or even, God forbid, "I Love the 50s"?
.jpg?t=20130517094513)
Article comments
1 - Mark Hasty
Next summer on VH1: "I Love The Cenozoic Era." Featuring Michael Ian Black making comments like "Oh yeah. Opposable thumbs. Well, my thumbs always got along. What's up with that?"
2 - dejon
hey why not vh1 do the years 2000 2001 2002 2003 and 2004?
3 - Eric Olsen
too soon for their vaunted historical perspective. Come on! They give and they give and they give until there is nothing left but a bloodless turnip where once stood a proud cable channel.
4 - mrbenning
Gotta admit, even though it's bullshit cheap to produce television, it's also fascinating to watch.
Kind of like a slow motion car wreck ablaze in nostalgia.
5 - Scott Pepper
Nothing is too soon as far as VH1 is concerned ... witness "Best Week Ever," which is done in the same style and with many of the same talking heads as "I Love the 90s" but covers only the past 7 days!
6 - Douglas Mays
hhhmmm...the 90s. A little soon, but then again, pop culture moves very fast. Grunge was a century ago, I guess. Then again, it was just yesterday.
To narrow it down, they have their 'best week' show also. Maybe a show "I Love 10 Minutes Ago".
Its all worth it for Hal Sparks and Michael Ian Black's commentary. Those guys are a crack up.
peaceloveguidance
7 - mrbenning
Hal Sparks I think is often a stretch. (I love the 70's? He was what, two years old?)
Michael Ian Black is great, though, if for no other reason than the fact that he pokes fun at his being on the show. (see his posts on Mcsweeneys.net about being a celebrity) I also like his work on The State and Wet Hot American Summer.
8 - Richard Porter
I believe that VH1 is airing "I Love the Millenium", "I Love Lucy" and "I Huckabees" in an all weekend marathon. MTV should be ashamed at what it has evolved into.