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''Total Request Live'' (commonly known as '''''TRL''''') is a Television program on MTV that features popular Music Video s. The program plays the top ten most requested videos of the day, as requested by viewers who can vote by phone or online. The countdown starts with the tenth most requested video and ends with the most requested. The program generally airs every weekday for one hour, though the scheduling and length have occasionally fluctuated over the years. HISTORY The roots of ''TRL'' go back to 1997 when MTV began producing '' MTV Live '' (originally hosted by British VJ Toby Amies ) from a studio in Times Square in New York . ''MTV Live'' featured celebrity interviews, musical performances, and regular news updates. Though producers downplay the similarities, ''MTV Live'' shared several signature elements with a live show on MuchMusic , a Canadian competitor's channel, including its '' Good Morning America ''-styled windows-displaying-onlookers-on-a-metropolitan-street format. Music videos were not the major focus of the program. During the same time period, MTV aired a countdown show simply called ''Total Request'', hosted by Carson Daly . ''Total Request'' was far more subdued, as Daly introduced music videos from an empty, dimly lit set. As the show progressed and gained more momentum with viewers tuning in, it was soon added to the list of daytime programming during MTV's ''Summer Share'' in Seaside Heights , New Jersey . The countdown would end up being one of the most watched and most interactive shows in recent MTV history that summer, proving that it had potential to become an even larger success by combining with the element of live television. By the fall of 1998 , MTV producers decided to merge the real-time aspect of ''MTV Live'' and the fan-controlled countdown power of ''Total Request'' into ''Total Request Live'', which made its official premiere from the MTV Studios in New York on September 14 1998 . The show has since grown to become MTV's unofficial Flagship program. The widely known acronym of ''TRL'' was adopted as the official title of the show in February 1999 , after former VJs Carson Daly and Dave Holmes began using it on air regularly. The program is now rarely, if ever, referred to as its original title, ''Total Request Live''. ''TRL'' spent its first year developing a cult-type following, by spring 2000 the countdown reached its peak, becoming a very recognizable pop culture icon in its first two years of existence; however, its influence seems to have greatly diminished since. A weekend edition of the show known as ''TRL Weekend'', with a countdown consisting an average of the week's top 10, aired for a short time in 2000. CRITICISMS ''TRL'' receives a significant amount of criticism. Some viewers complain of its habit of not airing complete videos. The show also allows audience members to make dedications on screen while videos are played, interrupting the song. As a "top 10" show, TRL repeatedly plays the same videos every day with little variance (except when a new video enters the countdown), which has led critics to speculate that the show only showcases a certain, profitable, kind of music video programming and is used to promote mainstream artists and make them more popular while leaving the more serious music for MTV2 . When MTV personality Tom Green created a novelty song 'The Bum Bum Song' it was vaulted into ''TRL'''s #1 spot after Green (at the height of his popularity) beseeched his audience to request it. According to Green's biography, MTV insisted he pull the song from ''TRL'', lending credence to the idea that MTV had specific music it wanted to promote through ''TRL''. The general format of ''TRL'' has also drastically shifted from its originating premise of showing the day's top ten with one or two guests and an MTV News segment. In comparison to its debut, ''TRL'' has added a large amount of star promotion for upcoming movies, TV shows, and albums, entertainment-related news outside of music, and fan-oriented activities. Another frequent criticism that ''TRL'' faces is that it only panders to the so-called Teenybopper and urban brackets. Sketch comedy shows like '' Madtv '', Nickelodeon 's '' All That '', and '' Saturday Night Live '' (''SNL'') have mocked ''TRL'' in the past. On ''SNL'', Jimmy Fallon (portraying Daly) would proclaim that he was a "massive tool". On ''All That'', they would call the show ''TR Yell'', and parody all of the screaming fans. They would also make fun of Carson Daly's determination to be "cool." NOTES ''TRL'' is MTV's prime outlet for music videos nowadays as the network continues to concentrate on Reality-based Programming . In addition to the music videos, ''TRL'' has daily guests as it is a popular promotion tool used by many musicians, actors, and other celebrities to promote their newest works to the show's target teen audience. Music videos that air on ''TRL'' are subject to a general "retirement" rule, that they may only remain on the countdown for a limited amount of days, the current cap is 50 days (previously 65, this number was reduced in 2002 in order to promote more diversity and give other artists a chance to enter the top ten). Artists who do manage to hang onto the countdown and reach retirement are awarded with a plaque, commemorating their achievement. See also: List Of Total Request Live Retired Videos CAREER BENEFITS Many view this show as the show that launched the careers of many teen artists from the late 1990s/early 2000s. Even though boy bands the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync were out before ''TRL'' made it on air in mid 1998, both groups didn't reach their commercial peaks until after their videos were seen on ''TRL''. In 1999, the Backsteet Boys second LP 'Millennium' achieved the highest first week sales ever from an LP, thanks in part to the many ''TRL'' fans who closed down the streets of times square in order to see the group live on the show. 'N Sync did the same thing in 2000 when their second LP, 'No Strings Attatched' topped the BSBs' first week sales, and fans closed down the streets of times square once again. For the most part of 1998, 1999 and 2000, BSB and 'N Sync would always fight over the #1 position on the countdown. Pop princesses Britney Spears , Christina Aguilera , Jessica Simpson , and Mandy Moore all made their debuts on ''TRL'' as well. Britney and Christina specifically became huge after their videos became hits on the countdown. The two princesses became regulars on the show and would appear on the show live often. If BSB or 'N Sync did not have any videos out, then it would usually be Aguilera and Spears who would flip-flop for the #1 position. Simpson wouldn't see the same type of success until 5 years later, when she finally made it big on her MTV reality show '' Newlyweds '' which helped her videos become hits on ''TRL''. On October 23 , 2002 , ''TRL'' celebrated its 1,000th episode (With the #1 video being none other than Christina Aguilera 's Dirrty ). The show reached its seventh anniversary in September 2005 , maintaining its stake as MTV's longest-running live program, and second longest in the network's entire history with '' The Real World '' continuing to claim ultimate superiority. VJS In 2003 , Carson Daly stepped down as the host of ''TRL'' in order to host NBC 's '' Last Call ''. The show is was hosted by a revolving door of VJs including Damien Fahey , Vanessa Minnillo , Quddus , La La Vasquez , Susie Castillo , and Hilarie Burton . Currently, the only hosts remaining are Damien Fahey , Vanessa Minnillo , and Susie Castillo . The rest of the VJs are currently working on separate projects, La La Vasquez is now working of what is going to be her debut rap album. Hilarie Burton is currently working on episodes of One Tree Hill , and Quddus , is now working on a movie which is set to be released soon. As of 2006 , only registered users of MTV.com may vote online for ''TRL'' videos. This is to prevent one person from voting for the video more than once. They may only vote one video per day. RECENT LIVE PERFORMANCES
SEE ALSO
RECENT TOP 10 COUNTDOWN Updated: May 1 , 2006 LOS 10 + PEDIDOS (TRL MEXICO): MOST RECENT LIST OF VIDEOS Updated: April 28 , 2006 EXTERNAL LINKS
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