Official: MTV Reviving TRL In October [UPDATED]

Published: Sunday 30th Jul 2017 by Sam

After years of teasing, MTV have officially confirmed the return of its former flagship show Total Request Live known more affectionately as TRL.

UPDATED details below…

The news comes after months of murmurs and was announced by MTV president Chris McCarthy in an interview with The New York Times.

October has been set as the return month and a new TRL studio facing Times Square is already being built. McCarthy said:

“If we’re going to come back and reinvent MTV, the studio is a given. It is the center-piece.”

The revived TRL will air for an hour a day initially, with the potential of building to an expanded 2-3 hours a day as the show evolves.

During its initial run, Carson Daly hosted. Now, his role is being split between five co-hosts. Though yet to be fully revealed, the line-up includes rapping comedian DC Young Fly and Chicago radio personality Erik Zachary.

 

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Having retired the show in 2008, MTV have, in recent years, been soft-testing a return in a number of ways.

These have included one-off specials for artist releases (i.e. Ariana Grande) and the creation of TRL-like show ‘Wonderland.’

The TRL comeback arrives as the network actions a return to more music related content after years of focussing on everything but.

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More than a music show, TRL – in its 90’s-early 00’s heyday – was a cultural staple and boasted moments that are etched in history.

That said…

Producers definitely have their work cut out for them adapting the format (a music video countdown show) to todays on-demand streaming climate. However, we’re buzzed to see how they plan to pull it off.

Especially as artists really could do with a TV platform to promote new material.

What do you think? Is a TRL comeback a smart idea?

Your thoughts?

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  1. Kris July 10, 2017

    It’s just one of those things that you let go. Being able to access music videos from pretty much anywhere leaves this idea antiquated. There’s no void to fill besides the one in the thinking matching over at Viacom. Come up with something better guys.

    • BIGGESTAALIYAHFAN July 30, 2017

      I grew up on TRL and “letting it go” should not have been an option even nearly 10 years ago. I hate what hate MTV has become. It’s a Music station that has not focused on music what do ever in nearly 10 years. I thought they should’ve done away with the award show at one point, but it will be interesting to see TRL in today’s musical climate. I think with MTV not focusing on music played a large role in the decline of musical authenticity. All of this goes for BET and VH1. I would to see “Making the Video” that was always a favorite.

      • BIGGESTAALIYAHFAN July 30, 2017

        Forgive me for the typos

    • Shera July 31, 2017

      I agree this is pathetic! Who do they think is gonna sit in front of a damn Tv to see artist perform when you can do that daily on MULTIPLE outlets! Bye MTv ummm errr your NO longer Relavent SMH

  2. Fancy BISH July 10, 2017

    I can see the Top 10 now….
    1. Justinesha Bieber
    2. Justinesha Bieber
    3. Ed Sheeran
    4. The Chainsmokers
    5. Justinesha Bieber
    6. Ariana Grande
    7. Bruno Mars
    8. DJ Whoever
    9. Some basic BISH
    10. Some Internet sensation

    • Yes July 10, 2017

      ?? So true,..exactly.

    • Okayyyy July 30, 2017

      Lol Perfect.

    • GirlGroupFan July 30, 2017

      Funny af

  3. S****** Blonde July 10, 2017

    It’s not the same anymore.

  4. Jamon July 10, 2017

    How about posting a picture of the previous host on the headline.

    • truthteller July 10, 2017

      Yes, why exactly are the Carters the image for this article? Surely it should be Carson Daly

      • Dustin July 30, 2017

        Cause he always have to make everything about Beyoncé haha ?

  5. Jeans July 10, 2017

    I hate that this site will find a way to make it all about jay z and Beyoncé just for clicks. Y’all pathetic!! GTFOH!

  6. Sincere July 10, 2017

    I think its a good idea because I ready enjoyed watching the count down to see who videos is in the top 10. Its will promote music even more.

  7. Jeans July 10, 2017

    It’s a nice idea in theory but nobody takes MTV seriously anymore. Y’all too far gone for too long now with these other non music shows that no one cares anymore. Window of relevance missed a long time ago.

  8. kris July 10, 2017

    Why are you treating “MTV” as a plural noun? It’s singular. It’s one network. So it’s “MTV Announces…” not “MTV Announce” — and “MTV has” not “MTV have.”

    • Memo July 31, 2017

      In British English, groups or companies could take a plural form as they are collective nouns. BE sees MTV as all the people that work there rather than the name itself like in the U.S.

  9. eric July 10, 2017

    MTV can potentially get better sponsorship than other video platforms, so it may be mutually beneficial for artists to premiere their videos on TRL. Pair that with exclusive interviews, live performances, “first listens” and sneak peaks, and then they might have a shot. Where it went boring before was seeing the same videos over and over to the point that even the network didn’t want to see them, because they would shorten playback to as little as 10 seconds for some videos while the studio host talked over it; only the top video was guaranteed to play in full. The best days of TRL was when it was Aaliyah, NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Britney, Mario, Sisqo, Nelly, and the show would move to the beach in the summer… those were the days.

  10. Jeans July 30, 2017

    Any reason to re-up a Beyoncé post! Smh.

  11. Your Name July 30, 2017

    TRL died for a reason. It was stale, and they only played like twenty seconds of music videos anyway.

    • ka July 30, 2017

      That’s what I was thinking isn’t Beyonce starting formation tour in October hmmm?

  12. missmeka1987 July 30, 2017

    The show is going to be called MTV Live not TRL and it will mostly focus on interviews and performances which makes sense being that we can access music videos anywhere So I think it’s a good idea Just had to find a way to bring it into this generations world..

  13. Jamon July 30, 2017

    Funny, I don’t remember Jay-Z and Beyonce hosting TRL ? I do remember Sam being sad, pathetic and always up the Carter’s Ass! I think it’s time for them to get a restraining order!!

  14. Stephy July 30, 2017

    The music industry is dead. But I’ll tune in…

  15. SMH July 30, 2017

    1. What does Jay and Bey have to do with this article? They never hosted the show smh.
    2. I think their time is up. MTV has sucked since 2009. They are gonna have to think of something space age to get people to care.
    And 3. Who is gonna watch this when its just gonna be some stale youtube acts, justin beiber, selena gomez, miley cyrus, dj khaled, ariana grande and all these other low budget britney and justin timberlake wannabes?? No one is here for that.

  16. 4everBrandy_Ci July 30, 2017

    This would be a good idea because in today’s market and promotion for artists it’s important. There needs to be a revamp with MTV though. I recently saw the award show nominations for the VMA’S and people were upset due to some artist being overlooked. It’s not the 90s and 2000s anymore but if they’re serious about bringing a show where artist can promote their material then they need to utilize it.

  17. stan July 31, 2017

    i welcome the re-focus on music, but the show’s concept would need to change. i doubt people would want to tune in for a countdown show everyday.

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