After over ten years of breaking new artists and premiering videos, MTV has decided to pull the plug on TRL.
Having helped launched the careers of everyone from Britney Spears to Fall Out Boy, MTV’s TRL (Total Request Live) enjoyed an impressive run on the network that rarely offers a second season to most shows.
In recent years, the network changed to a more reality based format but TRL held fast despite rumors of cancellation.
This time around the rumors turned out to be true as it was just announced yesterday that fans would see the show’s demise sometime in November.
The Beginning: TRL With Carson Daly
In 1997 MTV began running MTV Live, hosted by VJ Toby Amies, featuring celebrity interviews, musical performances and news updates. At the same time a little known host, named Carson Daly was presenting music videos on a show called Total Request. Daly’s show soon caught on with viewers and after one wildly popular summer the powers that be decided to add the element of live television.
This marked the birth of TRL.
In the same fashion as Good Morning America, TRL was filmed in MTV’s Times Square studio in front of large windows over looking the busy metropolitan street. Fans would come from all over the country to catch a glimpse of their favorite artist doing interviews, performing, or presenting their new videos for the first time.
TRL Cancelled
In 2007, rumors began to make their rounds about the pending cancellation of the show. Although ratings had sharply declined, reports are confirming the show still had a decent fan base. After various media outlets began reporting on the rumor, MTV stepped up and said that the show would continue to air for “the foreseeable future.”
According to reports, the producers of TRL began trying the hand at different types of web based viewer interaction but were largely unsuccessful. Whispers about the network replacing TRL with another show called YouRL began to circulate. Their plans were thwarted the new show wasn’t received well by their target audience.
TRL then launched into their new season, which would be their last.
On September 15, 2008, it was officially announced that TRL would air its last episode in November.
“TRL debuted in September 1998 and has since been the go-to show for artists, actors, and celebrities promoting their new project,” said the show’s executive producer.
MTV announced that they would air a 2-hour special celebrating the show’s historic run and influence on popular culture for the final episode.
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i think its crazy to cancel this show it helped alot of artist that
regualry would of never been known.for ex...kid rock never would of got a
shot if not for trl its truly sad.........
Nov 17, 2008 1:21 PM
Guest :
well, mtv is no RTV (reality television), theres not one music show left.
so what if it didn't play the whole fivdeo, or even more than 5 seconds of
it. It kept the M in MTV. Now its a trash network
Nov 17, 2008 9:39 PM
Guest :
TRL was the only show on MTV worth watching. All the other shows are
nothing but crap! I could care less if MTV is available now. I hope MTV
goes out of business! First they stopped playing music videos, now that
cancelled the only show that made MTV worth watching (TRL)!
Nov 18, 2008 2:24 AM
Guest :
They should stop calling MTV "Music Television" if they stop
playing music.
Nov 18, 2008 11:30 PM
Guest :
Wow I remember when I was a little kid I would always try to get home to
watch trl and now they are cancelling it? What are they thinking they are
screwed up MTV so what are they going to call the channel now since they
isnt a show that shows music videos? Or are they just going to leave it
MTV for the fun of it
Nov 19, 2008 2:47 PM
Guest :
wow so now its just a network for playing variations of mindless reality tv
shows about spoiled 16 year olds? they're successfully removed the only
show that had a connected with music, news, live audience, and the world's
most exciting metropolitan center. Good Job!
Nov 25, 2008 2:35 PM
Guest :
I guess it sucks for artists more than anything, but this gives people a
chance to get outside for once and stop watching tv.
LOSE SOME
WEIGHT AMERICA!!
Nov 26, 2008 2:17 PM
Guest :
wowwwww that is so stupid. mtv is no more its only a matter of time before
mtv goes out of bussiness! theres not even morning videos anymore which
pisses me off. >:/ get rid of gay shows like NEXT!
Nov 26, 2008 2:17 PM
Guest :
wowwwww that is so stupid. mtv is no more its only a matter of time before
mtv goes out of bussiness! theres not even morning videos anymore which
pisses me off. >:/ get rid of gay shows like NEXT!
Nov 27, 2008 10:30 PM
Guest :
sad trip...end of a crazy era...if its goodbye trl then its adios mtv
Dec 1, 2008 7:02 PM
Guest :
this sucks..... now i wont know what new music is out... it was such a cool
show.. so many guest celebrities all the time.... now i guess were stuck
watching gay shows like "The Hills".
Dec 1, 2008 7:03 PM
Guest :
this sucks..... now i wont know what new music is out... it was such a cool
show.. so many guest celebrities all the time.... now i guess were stuck
watching gay shows like "The Hills".
Dec 17, 2008 11:22 PM
Guest :
NO!!!!!! :(
Dec 18, 2008 2:34 PM
Guest :
LOLITSNOTMUSICTELEVISIONANYMORELOLOLOLOLLOLOLOL
Dec 21, 2008 9:46 PM
Guest :
TRL Sucked! They never played the entire music video of ANY artist,and it
was more blabering about stuiped crap more than anything. im glad its off
the air. it was nothing wasted time on a great channel. GOOD BYE TRL
you Wont be missed.
Jan 14, 2009 1:42 PM
Guest :
mtv is so stupid now it should not be call music TV because it has nothin
to do with music. i can't stand mtv any more they have the stupiest reality
shows
