MTV To End ‘TRL’ After 10 Years
Somewhere Carson Daly—not to mention an entire generation—is feeling a nostalgic pang.
While MTV rarely plays music videos anymore (does anyone even remember that the letters stand for Music Television?), the Top 10 countdown staple Total Request Live, or TRL, was one show that still played a few clips.
Today came the news that the show, which launched in September 1998 and broadcast from Times Square during the week, will come to a close with a two-hour episode in November.
“We want to close this era of TRL in a big celebratory way, and 10 is a great number,” executive producer Dave Sirulnick told the Associated Press. “And 10 is the number that TRL counted down every single day for 10 years, and we hit this 10th (anniversary) and we thought, You know what? This feels like the right time, and let’s celebrate it and let’s reward it. And let’s let it have a little bit of a rest for a minute.“
Back in its late ’90s heyday, TRL hosted appearances by teen pop stars Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera (who dated original host Carson Daly), Backstreet Boys and ‘NSync, as well as more controversial artists like Eminem and Fred Durst.
In light of the news, Eminem released a statement joking, “Where else will I be able to start feuds, defend my honor vigorously and act like an angry teenager on national TV? Oh wait…The VMAs!”
Well, maybe if you recognize anyone, Em. As time has gone on, the players have changed a bit since you last had an album out.
So sad, it’s like losing a cherished friend.
So now there will be no music videos. Just none. Zero. Are they going to change the name of the network too?