SteveHerold Reviews

The Go-Go's (2020)

Good Overview But Pretty Standard Rock Doc

[7/10 · 31 July 2020]

I was really looking forward to this one. I had read some good things about it and was stoked to find it already available on Showtime app ahead of its August premiere. It's a good film but really nothing more than the standard rock doc. Without insulting the film it gives you exactly what you would get back in the day on an episode of Behind The Music. It feels like some history is glossed over or skipped entirely (no mention of God Bless The Go-Go's.... Why?) I'd love to see a director's cut of this. I'm not suggesting the Go-Go's need some crazy 4-hour long career examination like the films about Petty, Eagles and Rush but they certainly warrant another 30 minutes or so. It was nice seeing original band members interviewed and it's hard not to feel bad for original manager Ginger who Jane probably rightfully suggests they should've stuck with. Worth a view for sure but here's hoping maybe a longer version will see the light of day in the future.

Top 40 Videos (1982–2003)

Syndicated Music Video Show

[9/10 · 29 April 2020]

In the early to mid 80s before we had cable TV (and MTV) this syndicated show was one of my appointment viewing shows to get my music video fix. There were a handful of these syndicated shows but I remember this one best. Kenny Noble was the off camera host, acting like a DJ introducing the clips. Occasionally they'd have a guest host join Kenny but again this would be off camera. Where I lived in the NYC area the show mostly aired on Saturday afternoons. So between Friday Night Videos and ABC Rocks on Friday nights and then this show on Saturdays I got a good amount of music video viewing in every weekend.

ABC Rocks (1984– )

ABC Follows NBC's Lead....

[9/10 · 27 November 2018]

For those of us without cable and addicted to music videos Friday Night Videos on NBC was the Grandaddy of music video shows. Appointment viewing. ABC noticed this too and jumped in on the game. For me in the NYC area we got ABC Rocks on Friday Nights at midnight. This was like music video heaven because it was only 30 minutes and led right into Friday Night Videos on NBC at 12:30. So from midnight until 2AM I could watch music videos. It was awesome. ABC Rocks, like FNV, had an off camera host introducing the videos. They also made some interesting, creative, clever bumpers for commercial breaks. If you dig around YouTube you can find clips of the opening.

Friday Night (1983–2000)

Appointment Viewing Until We Got MTV

[9/10 · 27 November 2018]

We were late to get cable in the 80s. Didn't have it until 1987. So what does a kid like me addicted to music videos do? Well, ya watch any and every music video show on regular TV. This was appointment viewing for me every Friday when I was a young teen. As a matter of fact at one time ABC Rocks aired at midnight until 12:30 and then this would start at 12:30 so I was in music video heaven. The peak of this show, for me, was hosted by Nick Michaels (off camera). He would introduce the videos and they'd have interviews with different rock stars that didn't contain an interviewer. It was great. Once they ditched Michaels and brought in Scott Muni and then started having Guest Hosts like current sitcom stars and comedians I started losing interest. I just wanted to see the videos. Eventually it turned into a full on comedy show with occasional videos. By that time I had gotten MTV and had no real need for Friday Night Videos anymore.

Rock-N-America (1984)

Goofy Underground Comedy/Music Video Show until they replaced Ducommun...

[9/10 · 27 November 2018]

I discovered this show airing in NYC area one Saturday night after I had watched SNL in 1984. I was addicted to music videos back then and with no access to MTV anything involving videos I was gonna watch. This show was originally hosted by the late Rick Ducommun and involved him broadcasting from his basement. Kinda a cool idea especially for late night TV. It was goofy, cheesy with Rick interrupting videos occasionally. He was a funny dude. And then the next season started with Rick's broadcast being taken over by Fazier Smith who would be the new host. That's where I lost interest. I didn't find Smith all too funny or interesting, he played a 80s "party animal" kind of hip dude. It was annoying.

Hey! Is Dee Dee Home? (2002)

At Least We Have This...

[6/10 · 16 September 2003]

I saw this film at the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival. I'm kinda of 50/50 on this one. And I'm a big fan of Dee Dee's. But I can't help but think Lech dug this up after Dee Dee's death just to capitalize on it. There are great moments in the film that certainly were what Lech was looking for when he shot this for his Johnny Thunders movie. But since he rarely let's Dee Dee talk about anything else other than Thunders you can't help but think what this film could've been had the true intentions when it was shot been to let Dee Dee tell the tales (although they were often embellished) about his life. Every so often in the film, Dee Dee brings up something about his childhood or the Ramones but he quickly gets back to what he's there to talk about. Johnny Thunders. You can literally see Dee Dee reminding himself, "Oh, yeah. I'm hear to talk about Thunders. Never mind that last story I was about to tell.") Anyway, it's better than nothing. But, like I said, it leaves you with a bummer as to what might have been...

The Ritual (1996)

If ya get the chance check it out

[10/10 · 11 October 2000]

i saw this short film at the Santa Monica Film Festival in 1997. it was hysterical. A very unique vision and story. I only wish i could get a hold of this on video. If you ever have the opportunity to see this film do not miss it.